Write down what you want help with (see post: John of God: What kinds of things can I ask for help with?). You can do this before you arrive, or there is plenty of paper and a few pens at the Casa de Dom Inacio. Typically they suggest no more than 4 issues you want help with, but I’ll leave that up to you.

Ask anyone who speaks English where the interpreters are located. As you face the open to the air main hall were people will be sitting waiting for the session to start, the translators will be outside, just to the right.

Wait in line, and then give the interpreter your list. They will translate it into Portuguese for you. Ask them to point out the bookstore, so you can walk over and get a free ticket to the “primeira line” (“First time line”). You don’t absolutely have to have a ticket, but will make it easier for them and for you.

Meanwhile, people who have been there before, and who aren’t going in front of John of God that session have gone into the 2 current rooms (I will do a post on the current rooms in a few days). They then close the door.

People sit in the main area. If they are going in front of John of God, they wait until their line is called. Usually things are said in Portuguese with occasional English. Sometimes there is a lot of English spoken (sorry very little French, and no Spanish is spoken). Occasionally there is only a tiny bit of English spoken. It doesn’t really matter. All the work is done energetically, so it is fine if you don’t understand (I actually prefer it when they don’t speak much English; it makes it easier to meditate and feel the energy.).

Note: occasionally people feel a little feint or woozy or strange as they sit or stand in the main room. If you think you might feint or if you feel badly, raise your hand and/or ask someone near you to get someone from the Casa de Dom Inacio to help you. You will be in good hands. If necessary, they have an “infirmary” where you can lie down.

Everyone has a ticket that identifies which line they will be in. They will call the lines by name. Sometimes in Portuguese and English, sometimes just in English.
If it is in Portuguese it is still very easy to hear the line names, because when they are spoken they sound very much like their English equivalents.

• “primeira” sounds like primary
• “segundo” sounds like second
• “operação” or “cirurgia” sounds like operation and surgery.
• If you are confused: If you see people getting in line, show someone your ticket and point to the line. They will let you know if it is your line. They usually walk along the lines and make sure that people are in the correct line; so relax, it will be easier than you think it will be.

Note: sometimes they change the order of the lines, so pay attention. I will describe the typical order, but sometimes John of God feels the order should be different that session.
You may want to go up to the triangle before the session begins, but it’s not necessary. I will explain that in another post.

It will usually be some time before you the “primeira” line is called- anywhere from an hour to 2 hours or more-but you never know. 

They will start the session. People will be up on stage and speaking. Again it might all be Portuguese, or they might be some of it in English. Usually they start with everyone standing and holding hands with the people next to you and reciting the Lords Prayer and Hail Mary (if you don’t know them, or they are in Portuguese, or if you don’t feel like reciting them just hold hands and join in on the intention of the moment—gratitude, asking for blessing, and forming a group energy).

More on your first time before John of God in the following posts.