Transformation is my passion…

A Portland Subudian in England.

By Kate Mura

I feel the need to introduce myself as only a small amount of Subud folks know me. I was opened in 2020. Consequently, much of my latihan practice was with Fayra Teeters in my backyard, socially distanced, as safe as we could be. I am a part of our global community in large part, thanks to working with her and Benedict Herman in Masque Alfresco – the commedia dell’arte inspired theatre troupe – she ran for years. For most of Masque Alfresco’s 21-year history, I was onstage, onstage and coaching commedia techniques – I trained at the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, and have past lives playing Columbina in traveling commedia troupes.

This article discusses how Subud was a part of my transition from Portland, Oregon to Sidcup, UK (a SE suburb of London).

When I first arrived in London, staying with a non Subud friend of a friend, I was blithely and cautiously confident. I arrived a month before classes with a plan to spend 1-2 weeks looking for housing: one week to do all the paperwork and move in, then have a week to settle and nest before beginning grad school. Rose Bruford College in Sidcup is the only place in the world to get your MFA and Designated Linklater Teaching Certification, so I moved halfway across the world to get two fancy degrees for the price of one in Voice. This is the art which connects all my worlds: theatre, magic, activism, writing, singing, and Subud.

Unbeknownst to me and my recommending friend, my first host was a hoarder. Though I did have my own room, there were holes in the ceiling, the mirrored closets were so full that they didn’t close, so I had to climb into bed from the foot of it as there was no room to walk around. There was nowhere for my luggage – I kept my two big bags in the hallway. A common practice in this apartment complex, apparently. My small bag could just squeeze in at the foot of the bed. It made closing the door a challenge, but doable. My computer bag was sometimes in the living room, sometimes in my single bed. It was cramped and uncomfortable, but I was grateful as I needed all my money for the move and housing – even more than anticipated.

I arrived on a Thursday. Friday, I went to campus to start getting acquainted with my new home. Saturday, I set up a TON of housing viewings. I thought about Subud and felt the call to latihan. I hopped online and found that I was a 7-minute walk to Amadeus Center for Sunday’s latihan. That was obviously where I needed to be! A walk, latihan, and time away from Phil’s claustrophobic, recently mouse cleared, home was deeply welcomed. That Sunday, I walked over to the Amadeus Center. A hint of fall on the wind. Warm sun on my face. Only going to group latihans in Portland sporadically, my sense of timing is different as to the 15 minutes of quiet-time before each Latihan. In London, those 15 minutes of silence are sacred, and while I was still welcomed although I arrived in the midst of them, I definitely adjusted my internal clock to better align with London’s practice. Which was well worthwhile as the conversations before the 15 minutes of silence is where I started making friends, and got brought into the UK Subud WhatsApp groups.

Multiple soul connections were made that Sunday. Latihan and purging the ick of my temporary room. Meeting Hassanah who was down from Norfolk, learning about the rooms at their center and the Arts Festival that she helps put on were the others. Weeks later, after a truly dreadful housing search made harder by archaic UK renting laws and student loans not counting as income, I took a deeply needed sabbatical up to Norfolk for part of the Fall Arts Festival one weekend.

I stayed in the room at Subud Norfolk. I saw theatre and listened to music and absorbed African dancing with Hassanah and her family. We shared meals and chocolate. It was so delightful to literally wake up, toss clothes on, and walk downstairs for latihan! If it was always that easy, I’d be attending the group much more!

Throughout my first year in the UK, Subud was an anchor and community I had not expected. It helps that especially the London group is full of Subud travelers. That first Sunday we were 50/50 local/traveler. Most of my subsequent Sundays had a similar breakdown with only one or two being more locals than visitors. Norfolk was also quite international: “Immigrants, we get the job done” as Lin Manuel-Miranda wrote. The Norfolk Subud group was wonderfully welcoming!

In Portland, while it’s not difficult taking the bus over, I never felt as welcomed as I did in the UK, part of which is me. I’m 47 and always the baby in PDX, while London has such a diverse age range, as well as ethno-biography. That also makes me much more comfortable, as even with my mixed European and Slavic ancestry, I feel odd in primarily white spaces.

I did not take up the multiple offers to test, because testing would not have changed the laws in the UK, which skew things deeply in the landlords’ favor. Testing would have helped deepen my conviction that I was on the right path, in the right place, as I almost said “enough!” and booked a flight home, even before starting the program. That’s how truly atrocious trying to be a renter in the London area is, despite good credit, but not a year’s worth of rent in the bank.

Ultimately, I am glad I stuck it out, so appreciative of chosen family and community which made my stay possible. New Subud friends and the code to the Amadeus, gave me a sense of belonging and welcome I desperately needed, for which I am deeply grateful.

I hope as my theatre and coaching continue enabling travel that I find Subud to be a welcome oasis and reset. Latihan and community are intrinsically made for this work and I look forward to meeting much more of our global family.

Kate Mura with Subud friends in Norfolk, UK