Our story

Greta received, when she was 4 years old an amazing vision of a new way of school. This vision guided and orientated her whole life. Richard was gifted with an ability to hear music within and share in his compositions. We both had an intimate love for nature.

With the cultural changes that occurred in the United States and in Europe during the late 1960’s, we both became interested in the wave of spirituality that was sweeping through art, literature, music and ways of living. Old traditions were being shattered and new approaches were being shared by a youth dissatisfied with war, hatred, racism, gender discrimination etc. Having preserved the wonder of our childhood, we integrated this innocence with the transformation of this cultural revolution. Intuitively we knew that in order for the world to live in peace, beauty, harmony and wellbeing, each one needed to change within. We both felt the need for guidance along this way, like a high alpine climber who has an assisting guide to reach the summit.

In our early twenties we were blessed to meet a remarkable person who provided not only the methods and teachings to assist in this spiritual quest, but was a living example of it: is Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov. The visions of a world in peace, where all races, nations, cultures and religions lived in harmony as one family were constantly nourished by his lectures and especially, his way of living. We both consecrated our being and our live to this enormous vision and mission.

Our blessing expanded into the incredible opportunity to experience within a community setting the power of this ideal wherein love is the fundamental building block for its manifestation. As our Teacher always said: “divine Love resolves all problems”, we learned how to embark on the journey of Love. No words could express the beauty, the magic and the splendor that came along on that journey. Of course, we encountered our challenges too. We learned how these difficulties engendered some of our biggest qualities and strengths. During this 20-year period we had the privilege of forming and forging a new inner being, which, of course, is an ongoing journey.

In 1995, in the Kootenay Mountains of British Columbia, we finally met on a more daily basis and recognized our similar dream of creating an educational spiritual center for all ages. Our souls rejoiced finding this resonance in another; we consecrated our 2 lives to the realization of this magnificent dream. In 1996 we anchored our spiritual marriage and inaugurated our wedding in 1999 within our 3-dimensional reality.

Along with Richard’s sister, we created a spiritual retreat center in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana and for 4 years, people from all over the world would come and stay for short or longer periods. It was during this time we fully became conscious of the gift we could offer the world: the creation of spaces of love where each one could allow the seeds of their soul to grow and discover their soul’s purpose. We elaborated methods and principles based on this process and received the name for it, Soul Essence Education.

In the early spring of 2003, in the midst of creating a school for children based on this methodology, we heard the inner guidance to go to Hawaii. Even though it seemed ‘unreasonable’ to leave this successful achievement behind, we followed our inner call. Having lived our entire adult life within a spiritual community, we did not have ‘savings on a bank account’. We did have our inner spiritual capital. With that and two suitcases we flew into our new adventure.

Arriving on the island of Oahu, we were guided a week later to the island of Kauai who blessed us with many wonders. We felt from the first day very inspired by her spiritual beauty and are very grateful for the Hawaiian culture whose Spirit of Aloha strongly breathes into our hearts, even after so many cultural changes infiltrated in their way of living. The Nature Spirits are very present and eager to co-create. Never before did we feel such openness and ease for communication with them.

We encountered and intertwined with the beautiful Ohana, community, of Kauai. We offered weekly activities for children and organized many seasonal and other community events for all ages. Very fast our circle became bigger and families became interested in our vision. In sharing our vision and mission it became clear how much our understanding, approach and methodology differed from the normal way of operating.

On January 1 2006 we established the Sanctuary of LUBOF, Living in Universal Beauty as One Family, our spiritual and educational organization, an unincorporated Church Assembly. We understood the importance of presenting a physical example, so people can feel and experience what we are talking about.

In 2008 we were offered a 25-year lease on 10 acres in the midst of a 6oo-acre parcel of land, called Wai Koa Plantation. The owners, former Bill Porter (passed away in Oct. 2015) and Joan Porter, graciously offered this space to implement our vision: a school nestled within a community.