As a native Californian, this was my first trip to Australia, and thanks to Andrew - it was a trip I will never forget. I came seeking a spiritual journey. I didn’t want to see Australia as a tourist, I wanted to experience its spirit. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. Andrew introduced us to an aboriginal medicine man named Frank whose simple but profound teachings have impacted me deeply. I camped in the middle of the outback with the other ten or so people in the group, who were initially strangers and who I now consider friends for life. We visited Uluru and experienced the profound energies at this sacred site. From beginning to end, Andrew was a wonderful organizer, facilitator and most importantly, a deeply caring friend to all of us. I will most certainly treasure this experience for the rest of my life.
Filaree Radich
Executive Coach - Learning as Leadership
San Francisco, USA
I can still feel the expansiveness of the Australian Outback after returning home to Northern California several weeks ago. The care and generosity of Andrew’s guidance at Uluru (Ayers Rock) along with Frank Ansell’s insightful teachings on the Aboriginal ways are still resonating for me in a very powerful way. These two men have opened my heart to an even deeper resonance, and for that I am grateful!
Laura Gates
Executive Coach - Learning as Leadership
San Francisco, USA
For most of my life the pattern has been just working to do life - trying to learn what it is I came to learn and then apply it. Working on relationship lessons, earning a living, following the never ending search for not only what is it I came to do, but how best to do it.
But every few years or so, wonderful opportunity in the form of travel and adventure knocks and in spite of many missed opportunities in other areas, this is one that I have had the good sense to follow.
I first met Andrew Leitch at a retreat in March 2009 in beautiful Kauai. The people who gathered there understood quickly that this was indeed something very special. Most of us not sure what but we knew what we shared and experienced was indeed special as we did circle after circle, sharing from our hearts.
I did not know I would see Andrew again, considering we live on opposite sides of the world but when Laura Gates (also a new friend from the Kauai retreat, emailed to share Andrew’s planned tour to the Australian Outback, saying ”here is our chance to go on walkabout” - referring to a discussion we had on the book “Mutant Message From Down Under”, there was no hesitation on my part that I would be going and even better, my husband was keen to go as well.
This journey was so incredible that it is truly hard to find the words to give it full expression. This was another journey of heart expansion - taking it to the next level.
Eric and I were the ”elders” in the group and experienced some adjustment with physical comfort and the quite cool nighttime temperatures (what do you mean I should have brought thermal). But let me say that was nothing compared to what was gained from this experience. Led by Andrew who made it all look so easy because it was so organized and because “he is Andrew”.
Frank Ansell, a medicine man from the Arrente tribe of Alice Springs, was our guide for the 3 days of camping in the McDonnell Ranges. I could go on and on about the impression Frank left on me and everyone, but will just say that I have yet to meet an individual who was so authentically themselves but also holding and sharing so much wisdom and healing ability…Frank called it Freaky Shit” - a phrase that is now a forever part of my descriptive language - to describe what is often undescribable.
We left the Alice Springs area, looking forward to the next part of our adventure, but with huge holes in our hearts for Frank. (anyone familiar with a Bob Dylan song from The Traveling Wilberry’s, containing a line “you going to the airport and I’m going home and cry”, will get my drift.)
Three days exploring Uluru, Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta, gave us the time needed to continue our journey of the heart. We walked parts of this huge monolith (6 miles in diameter), we explored, we walked through tall grass, overcoming fear of fear that we might run into something we definitely did not want to disturb, so that we could get as close as possible to incredible formations in the rock.
By this time, bonds were formed with everyone that were so deep and heartfelt that all knew how blessed we were to be a part of this.
At our closing “pass the stick” sharing, each of us in our words said the same thing. My words were “this has been the most incredible journey/adventure of my life —so far.”
Holding such gratitude and appreciation for this experience.
Eric Bell & Judy Walden-Bell
Melbourne, Florida , USA
