India has been calling me since I was a little girl. My first experience of ashram life took place when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was invited to Shree Muktananda Ashram in upstate New York by a family friend. I remember walking into the meditation hall and seeing the words "OM NAMAH SHIVAYA*" painted in large red letters on the wall. The sweet smell of incense filled the air. Beautiful statues of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses adorned the room. We would sit on colorful pillows and chant and meditate for hours. I felt as though I was home. I truly felt that I belonged there.
I had been invited to India several times over the years but always knew intuitively that when it was my time to go there, I would know. That time came this past December when I was invited to a friends' wedding.
Ben Lee and Ione Skye have been hosting Full Moon Puja's** at their home for awhile. I had attended a few of the ceremonies and consistently left feeling lighter and happier. I didn't quite understand who Ben's guru Amma was or why were sitting in front of his photo, I just knew that I felt safe praying and meditating amidst his likeness. Ben would reference to him (physically he is male) as "she" and explained that "she" is the reincarnation of the Divine Mother. I was a bit skeptical about this but knew that there was something special about Amma, I just didn't quite understand what.
When I received the invitation for the wedding, I instinctively knew that THIS was the time to go. The wedding was scheduled to take place in a small town near Vellore in South India. Guests were invited to stay at Amma's ashram and Amma would be marrying Ben and Ione.
I was mid-way through Yoga Teacher Training and was submersed in the history and philosophy of Yoga. In class my teacher and mentor, Kelly Wood, would reference India in almost every session. After Puja, Ben would tell me stories about his experiences with Amma and India. I was intrigued, inspired and to top it off, I had the opportunity to experience the joining of two beautiful spirits in matrimony. It just all felt too perfect. Too right. It felt as though "she" was calling me (India? Amma? Inner Guide?).
When I arrived in India, I knew I was right. This was the time. This was the experience. This trip would change my life. And it did. When I walked into Amma's ashram, a simple, and bare to the bones "guest house" in a small town in South India, I felt like I was home all over again. But this time, the mantra was different. Same meaning, different wording : Om Namo Narayani *** When I met Amma, well...she deserves an entire blog all on it's own. Let's just say, she is light itself and when you are in her presence, all worries, all fears, just seem to fall to the wayside.
I was in India for a total of 14 days. In that time, I experienced a vast wave of emotions; experienced things, people and places I have ever only dreamed about; uncovered parts of me that I never even knew existed; rediscovered the meaning of love and finally began to understand what the "Divine" means to me.
The night before I left India, I sobbed because I knew, intuitively, that India was not done with me. The minute I landed in Los Angeles the decision was already made. I had to go back. And sooner rather than later.
And here we are.
Om Namo Narayani.
When I arrived in India, I knew I was right. This was the time. This was the experience. This trip would change my life. And it did. When I walked into Amma's ashram, a simple, and bare to the bones "guest house" in a small town in South India, I felt like I was home all over again. But this time, the mantra was different. Same meaning, different wording : Om Namo Narayani *** When I met Amma, well...she deserves an entire blog all on it's own. Let's just say, she is light itself and when you are in her presence, all worries, all fears, just seem to fall to the wayside.
I was in India for a total of 14 days. In that time, I experienced a vast wave of emotions; experienced things, people and places I have ever only dreamed about; uncovered parts of me that I never even knew existed; rediscovered the meaning of love and finally began to understand what the "Divine" means to me.
The night before I left India, I sobbed because I knew, intuitively, that India was not done with me. The minute I landed in Los Angeles the decision was already made. I had to go back. And sooner rather than later.
And here we are.
Om Namo Narayani.
* Om Namah Shivaya means"I bow to Shiva." Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It is the name given to consciousness that dwells in all. Shiva is the name of your true identity - yourself.
** Puja is a sacred practice that Hindu people perform on different occasions to worship, pray or show respect to their deities. Puja is considered as an act of showing reverence to the almighty through invocations, prayers (mantras), songs (bhajans), and rituals. According to Hindus, Puja makes a spiritual connection between the deity and the devotee. Full moon is an opportune time of the month for purging rituals to take place. The Full Moon symbolizes the end of a chapter, shedding light on the things that we no longer need to hold on to.
*** Om Namo Narayani means "I surrender to the divine." We all come from the divine and are all divine beings. There is nothing more freeing. No greater truth. Relinquishing whatever "control" we think we have over our lives and surrendering.
