Well, things are starting to fall into a pattern, and I see now why I can never stay less than 3 weeks in any place if I’m really to get a feel for it. For the last 3 days I’ve been out walking, and yesterday I took the scenic road down all the way to Welcome Center where they have really good, homemade, made as you order it, Ayurveda cooking. As good as what I cook and enjoy at home. And I was not disappointed. So, decided to go there every day for lunch, which means I get two wholesome meals in a day as breakfast is my regular soaked overnight dried fruits and almonds mixed with porridge. That leaves me the fun of doing what I want in the evening and the rest of the day without feeling too guilty, and still being able to feel like I’m on vacation.
Today I decided, the weather being lovely, to take the full walk around. All in all it is about 4 km. I imagine but not quite sure as it is just so pleasant you don’t feel the distance. I walked down to Laxman Jula, crossed over the bridge and then headed up to Ram Jula, which I know is 2.5 km along the Ganga. The walk was beautiful and I felt alive and invigorated with a sense of wellbeing I haven’t felt in a long time. I felt so blessed I found tears welling up in my eyes. (By the way, I am now sitting outdoors, at 6 PM, listening to classical music, enjoying the air on the roof here, and of course enjoying my laptop).
Just before Ram Jula, I came to vivek’s center, the place I did my panchakarma last year, and he was there, so we sat and chatted for about an hour, I noted some definite improvements in the center. I mentioned that the Ganga seemed very low this year and he explained that is because there has been a late winter, and the snows haven't begun melting yet. Once they do, the river will fill up as I remember it. And then continued on my way, back across the Ganga via Ram Jula and again over to Welcome Center, where I had another lovely lunch.
Came back, played around with the video I took last night of the party, which I hope I’ll be able to upload to my blog without too much trouble. You are invited to listen to it just to hear the music…there is not much to see…
And then Amir, the guy in charge here, came to say hello and we had an interesting, and pleasant talk for another while…he was quite excited seeing the videos I took and asked if he could use my camera to take pictures of his work here to send back to his family in Nepal…of course I agreed…I will burn them to a CD for him afterwards. He also looked at pictures of my family and his face was alive with pleasure…he is young, about 25 I think, but you can see he misses his family. He was completely taken in by the kids, with comments about all of them, and even did a fairly good job of figuring out who the brothers and sisters were…and then he saw the pic of my girls, and Mom, and he couldn’t stop commenting. But the biggest reactions were for the men in the family…all struck his fancy…and he said Yaniv looks much much younger, and of course handsomer, without his rastot. But the final comment was for Shai…he took one look at him, asked who he was, and said “He is dangerous” He should be in the movies…the girls better watch out”. I told him he has a girlfriend and he said that SHE better keep him under lock and key…he is too gorgeous.
The evening calls of the birds has just begun…it sounds like they are arguing over who gets to sleep where tonight…what a racket!!
Anyway, I am now just writing this up to let you know that my days have found their even keel, with my morning time well spent and worthwhile, and the rest of my day spent just being. I often think that it seems strange to have to come all the way to India to do this, but I just can’t seem to manage it at home. And it is something I feel I need to get back into myself and move forward. Exactly where this trip will take me, I still don’t know, but I am finally beginning to enjoy each step of the journey once again.
Just a quick observation. Considering how sick I was just last week, and howquickly and easily I recovered, I know that the relative healthy state of my body following my recent panchakarma, the combination of antibiotics for a quick jump-start for 3 days and the ayurvedic meds I wastaking, and most important, the 2 hours of daily Reiki I did tomyslef...alll worked together in beautiful harmony. Which is as it should be. Reiki is wonderful on its own but is a perfect compliment to all other forms of medical treatment as well.
Love to all
Jane
Thursday, February 21, 2008
#6..Feb 21, 2008 - assuming the #5 with the video uploaded earlier….
#5 Feb 20, 2008 – PARTY TIME!!
Well, I’m in my room now and there is a “cocktail” party going on in the yard next door…(day before the real wedding party)…if I didn’t know what it was, I would think someone was shooting a Bollywood dance movie sequence live downstairs. I will try and record the sound with the video, but have no idea if it will come out. It sounds lovely….If I wasn’t so lazy, I would get dressed and go downstairs, but it is 10 at night and am just as happy listening to the sounds from my room. This is just me. People think I’m strange, but I just don’t have any need to be IN the party…just enjoying it from here is enough for me. This will be my first attempt at posting a video directly from India. The second half of the video is with the window open so the sound is even “better”. Enjoy…or not…for me it is just for fun. If this works, I will begin sending interesting vidoes off every so often to give you a more "live" feel of the place.
If you are viewing this through your e-mail subscription, you will have to go directly to the blog to actually view the video by clicking on it.
Monday, February 18, 2008
#4 - Feb.18, 2008 No Muse
Hi All
I’m sending this off not because there is anything really interesting to write, or because I have a deep need to write…well, perhaps that IS interesting. I actually have no desire to put anything down “on paper” and for me that is a big change. I’ve felt like this for the past couple of months, even at home, but figured once I got to new places, the muse would find me again, but so far, nothing.
So just to keep you up to date and let you know that all is well, I will zip this off. I went out and about today…
the weather was hazy which was perfect for a longer walk, and there was even some drizzle on the way back. I did not even take the camera as I knew the clarity would not be good enough for any video to come out. But I went all the way down to Laxsman Jula, had a lovely lunch at the German bakery, bought a couple of books and slowly made my way back up, expecting to find it difficult, but am now easily and happily back in my room…which is dreary without the lovely sunshine. I made an appointment for a massage tomorrow, the first of many I hope, have decided not to go to Mussoorie for several reasons, and for now, just hang around and relax. I need further perspectives re: the coming 6 weeks, what I am meant to achieve here, where this trip is meant to take me, and I need to be at peace with each day to gain any clarity. Hopefully, the coming days will shed some new light on the rest of the trip here. I feel at loose ends so am not looking much past the moment…which is as it should be…am doing my best to be mindful, have met some interesting people here – different from the type of tourists I’ve met in the past in India, and it is refreshing to say the least. The town is pretty much empty, of Westerners and Indians both…the Ganga is much lower than I remember it last year. And that’s about it!
And just for those of you who were following my saga BEFORE I left, exactly 2 weeks after it was stolen, my handbag was found yesterday. I received an e-mail from someone living near my house, saying she found it thrown in among some bushes. What shape it is in I do not know, and if anything is missing, I also don’t know, but my daughter will be retrieving it for me today. So, what’s the lesson? Obviously, don’t worry. Take things as they come…don’t draw conclusions from things which seem obvious to you, but probably have much deeper meaning lurking around. I cannot for the life of me figure out why it went missing in the first place, and now why it has turned up, but I am really happy as I really like not only the handbag, but the small change purses inside as well which I have had for some years now after buying them in McLeodganj. I was considering going all the way up there just to replace them!
OK…don’t know when I will be back here again. Don’t worry about me. I am pleased that I don’t even feel like being at the computer, even though it is right in the room with me. I will do my best to answer your individual mails, but it may take longer than usual as well.
My love to all
Namaste
Jane
Sunday, February 17, 2008
#3-Feb 17, 2008-PERSPECTIVE IS ALL
Just like the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) seems to be an enormous body of water, stretching out forever, with no end in sight when seen from up close, so our own trials and tribulations in life can seem overwhelmingly difficult, unending etc.when seen from our own small perspective. If we could just see the greater picture for a brief moment, we would realize how trivial and insignificant these events truly are in the greater scheme of life, just as my friend in the following story was completely surprised by her new perspective of the Kinneret when seen in its entirety from the heights.
This lesson begins a couple of months ago when I was visiting a friend in the Golan Heights and those few days in the Golan gave me a lesson in perspective not to be easily forgotten and which follows me here to Rishikesh where I now sit and write.
My friend and I had gone up a mountain ridge to get a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee, and do some walking. It was a brilliant sunny day and from the heights we could look out and see the Kinneret stretched out in front of us in all it’s glory. Asking my friend what was directly across from our ridge view, suggesting it was the city of Tiberias, her immediate reply was “No way, Tiberias is much further to the South…this is just the “top” part of the Kinneret…it goes much further off to the South and that’s where tiberias would be”.
Well, I wasn’t quite sure as it DID seem likely to me that we were seeing Tiberias, but left the discussion until later when we could ask someone.
As we walked further up the ridge, and began to look down from a higher perch, all of a sudden, the full panoramic view of the Kinneret was revealed to us, from South end to North end (only the small Norther tip is shown in the above photo) and of course, the city directly across WAS Tiberias. But what astounded my friend, deeply upset her bearings, was the fact that HER Kinneret was so SMALL! Unimpressive even. Certainly not the “big deal” she had always envisioned it being.
She was quite disturbed by the feeling and could not release her discomfort at her discovery of this new perspective she had seen and continued to express her amazement at how seeing something from a new perspective can change the entire way you always imagined something to be.
Later on, it became clear to me that this was an important lesson for all of us to remember.
We see our lives from close up, seeing one very small section of the full picture, and we put great stock in how we understand what we see. Each small segment of our existence takes on intense importance and meaning disproportionate to its true actual significance in the overall scheme of our lives. We tend to create dramas based on these small incidences and to project them into the future imagining ramifications which could be catastrophic, terrifying and frightening . We can never see the full picture of our lives , can never view the Kinneret in its full glory from the heights as it were, but if we could, we would see how very trivial most of the little, up close scenes we see actually are. When we realize that from the perspective of the heights, everything seems small and simple…not overwhelming and enormous. The Kinneret is beautiful when see in all its glory, and although it may loose some of the impact it has on us when see from up close, its TRUE magnificence is revealed only with the proper perspective.
If we can use this idea of perspective to get us through the small difficult periods of our lives, knowing that the full picture is glorious and simple and pleasurable and surprisingly breathtaking, than the difficult days would be so much easier for us to get through. They are after all just a very small portion of the whole, but they are all that we can see from up close. And then the part we don’t see seems overwhelming at times. When these days come, imagine yourself up on the ridge seeing the whole picture in all its simplicity and beauty.
And why is this here on the India Journal? I realize now that it was a lesson directed at me to help me find my way through these difficult days at the beginning of my journey in India. Being sick and miserable, it was very easy for me to fall back into old patterns , forgetting that the panoramic view of my time here in India is something I cannot see, but if I change my perspective, and relax into each day as it comes, the glory of the full picture will reveal itself to me by the end of the trip. And it will be no less surprisingly beautiful than seeing the whole Kinneret from the heights for the first time.
I am working on it, but I must admit it is not easy. Each time I feel the weakness return, and the need for sleep overcome me, I tend to become despondent…Remembering the Kinneret Perspective has been a powerful lesson and reminder for me to allow all things to flow, be open to accept them as they come and know all is for my Higher Good, even though I can never see the full picture.
So, although not an easy beginning, I joyfully look forward to each new day and whatever surprises it may bring.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
#2- Feb. 14, 2008 Being Sick….Being Doctored…another interesting experience!
Wednesday, February 13th
Well, I guess sooner or later it had to happen seeing as how I’ve already been to India many times and always been healthy, except for the occasional slight cough and cold due to changes in climate etc.
But this time I’ve really gone all the way. From all the symptoms, it would appear that I have pneumonia (I haven’t had pneumonia in over 15 years, and that was also the last time I’ve taken antibiotics). I already thought about this possibility yesterday when I found myself with a fever of almost 40 ! I never get fever at all, and a fever this high really worried me. Together with the loss of appetite, complete exhaustion, wanting to sleep all day and wet cough in my chest, it adds up. But I wanted to give it another day (probably should have already gone to the doc today) and see what happened. This evening my fever is still raging, although I was fine until about 2 in the afternoon.
Everyone here has been really concerned and wanted to take me to the doctor yesterday…but now I went down to Amir, the guy in charge who always takes good care of me, and asked about going to the doctor tomorrow. He was very relieved as he has been watching me for 3 days and seeing me get worse each day. So arrangements have been made. Tomorrow the Manager will take me to the local Western Hospital in town. He will first call and make an appointment for me so I won’t have to wait on line at the clinic, and he will personally escort me and stay with me to make sure I am properly cared for. I have escorted other people to hospitals in India before over the years, including a good friend who was really sick in dharamsala, but I have never been to one myself . Well, that’s not completely true. I was in a hospital in Chennai when I burnt my leg on the exhaust pipe of a bike…but that was different.
I imagine the doctor will know what to give me and that over the next couple of days I should start feeling better. But antibiotics are not friendly to me and they in themselves really exhaust me. I hope it won’t be long before I can get out and about and begin feeling like I am in Rishikesh. Even to go down and get a phone card so people can call me, and the few things I need in my room, has so far been impossible.
But knowing I am well cared for here gives me a good feeling, in spite of the frustration of using up so many days of a too short stay in India.
Anyone out there who can send me Reiki (which I’ve been doing tons of to myself and I imagine that is the reason I am not in any true discomfort….just exhausted….), it would be greatly appreciated.
Perhaps this is a lesson for me in TRULY accepting all things that come along and believing they are all for my Higher Good. It is not always easy, and I guess being tested every once in awhile is in order.
PS: having the laptop here is fantastic. I would not be able to do this writing, including the private letters I answered today, if I had to sit in the internet café. This way I just go
down for 10-15 minutes and zap them off later or the next day. I can also play games, watch movies and it makes being sick easier I must say.
Thursday, Feb. 14th…Valentine’s Day
Well, I’ll continue this post before sending it off as I’ve been to the doctor and back, and, as is everything else in India, this too was an experience.
First of all, it was decided that the Manager would take me down by bike and we headed off to the hospital clinic where he had previously made an appointment for me. The main road to Rishikesh was blocked today for roadworks, so we drove all around the back roads until we got into town. Interesting to see all the lovely houses and when I mentioned this, he said “yes, nice houses but no nice roads”…which was true enough. Negotiating the potholes and bumps was not easy, and me trying to hold on to the back of the seat with one hand while keeping a scarf covering my face with the other hand, and trying not to fall off, was not easy. But I figured 10-15 minutes of this was not so bad. We got to the clinic, and too our great surprise, the doctor was not there. He was called back to the hospital for emergency surgery. So, off to find another doctor. The next clinic was open but the doctor had not yet arrived, and the third one, had a doctor there but it would be a 3 hour wait! By this point, I was on the verge of fainting and finally, the Manager asked if it was OK for him to take me to HIS family doctor. When I asked him why he didn’t do that in the beginning, he said he felt I would be more comfortable in a regular hospital clinic instead of with a local family doctor. Well, we finally got to his doctor, who runs a lovely, clean clinic. He went in, and 2 minutes later calls me into the examining room, the doctor talks to me for a minute and then excuses himself, together with me, leaving 10 other patients to wait. He took me into a back examining room which was private, not like all the others being checked with everyone else looking on. It was an x-ray room actually. He asked what was wrong, did a thorough checkup, including the Ayurveda checks of tongue and pulse, but said in my condition I would need antibiotics as well as ayurveda herbs. Sounded good and thorough to me. No pneumonia, but very bad congestion in both lungs. I was given antibiotics, cough syrup, something for the fever and another to loosen up the congestion.
I was also given very specific instructions about what to eat and what not to eat…which was fine since I have no appetite anyway. All in all, a pleasant visit, and the whole thing cost me 25 shekel including the medications!!
So now, I imagine, in a day or so I will begin feeling better, but being out and about already lifted my spirits, driving all through my favorite places in Rishikesh, see everything again, and knowing that soon enough I will be out walking, has made me feel a little less down in general. And at least the weather is sunny. I am sitting outside on my roof writing this now and the warm sun on my back and the fresh air, are just wonderful. On the way back I even asked him to stop at an Airtel place, so I now also have a local number which makes me feel better already.
So I will end this here and hopefully get it posted today.
Be well!!!!
Love
Jane
Monday, February 11, 2008
#1 2008 - February 11th- BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
BRRRRR!!!!!
Just when I was sure there would be nothing much new to write about on my journal blog, Indian again comes up with something new!
First of all, I am sitting in my room, quite tired but not aable to sleep, after a lovely 5 ½ hour ride from Delhi to Rishikesh. The room I had last year was in some ways nicer than this one, but this room has other advantages and for now I am happy with where I am.
So, back to my arrival early this morning in Delhi. After an safe and uneventful journey (I started this trip with a very bad head cold which began 2 days before my flight and has been quite annoying- I used up the roll of toilet paper I brought with me before we even got to Amman! So when I got on the plane in Amman, I went into the bathroom and took all of the tissues they had there. This, after culling a horde of toilet paper in the Amman airport!). By the time we were only 2 hours in the flight to Delhi, I had already used this supply up and had to check out the bathrooms again for a fresh supply)
OK…so we arrived in Delhi only to find a mess of a terminal due to renovations, with signs all over proclaiming “A world-class airport awaits you!”. Well, something was awaiting us and it was a throng of people trying to get out of the airport. When we descended the stairs leading to passport control, people were simply swarming all over the terminal hall, up to the staircase, so that people who came later could not even descend and had to wait ON the staircase. Seems that for the hundreds and hundreds of people waiting to leave the airport, there were only 2 clerks on duty, 2 Indian clerks at that, who were in no hurry to go anywhere. It took 1 ½ hours to get through passport control, something which usually takes 10-15 minutes.
I felt bad for the taxi driver waiting for me but there was nothing I could do. And at least the luggage had all arrived by then and I just had to go and pick up my bag where they were all waiting.
Then I went to the bank to get money changed…waited on line about 15 minutes, only to be told when I got to the window “Sorry Madam, I have no more money left!”… So I went over to Thomas Cook, paid a handsome fee, and changed some money before heading out to my taxi. And sure enough, a nice driver with a “welcome Jane” sign was waiting for me. I apologized for the delay but he didn’t seem phased in the least. And then we headed out into the Delhi COLD. And I mean COLD! It couldn’t have been more than 5 degrees outside, and I was certainly not dressed for it. We finally got to the taxi, and the first thing the driver, named Deshraj, did, was pull out a full size very warm woolen bed blanket from the boot and give it me to cover up in the car. It truly saved my life…I was wrapped in the two shawls I had with me but this was not enough. Together with the blanket, I lay down and feel asleep…I had not managed to sleep at all on the plane which was also freezing. By about 10 in the morning it started to warm up, but the truth is, it is cold here and I will have to buy some kind of warm jacket.
And now to sleep…I am done in but very happy. Will finish this up later on today.
I slept soundly for a couple of hours and will now continue the story of the first day. This driver was superb, one of the best I’ve had in India. The trip was comfortable, not “jerky”, and quite fast as he was an expert in sizing up the situation on the road and passing whenever possible without taking undue risks. The thing I found most interesting thought about the ride, was the new roadworks being done all over India, and the roads from Delhi to Rishikesh are no exception.
First he took me on a new “road” which most people don’t know about which bypasses the main highway for about ½ of the journey. It runs right along the Ganga and is quite lovely. It was basically a strip of asphalt about the width of 1 ½ cars, with “shoulders” on either side of the road made up from bricks laid into the sand. Every time a car came from the other direction, or he had to pass, ONE of the cars had to get partially off the road onto the shoulders. It was fascinating to see this work without arguments or anger, and most of the way I slept anyway. When I woke up he was so proud to show me this new road. And then, when this road ended and we got back on the main thoroughfare, he was even more excited and proud to show me the roadworks in progress to make this two lane highway into a 4 lane “real” highway. Meaning 2 lanes in each direction. By next year it should be done.
When I arrived at Swiss cottage, it was truly a homecoming, and Amir, the guy in charge, handed me a beautiful flower arrangement to my great surprise. Coming home to friends is a wonderful feeling. There was hugging all around, still lots of guys here from last year. I’ve since found the things that were missing in the room and made a small list for Amir and just now, 5 minutes after giving him the list, everything showed up in the room, aside from the heater which is on the way from the Narayana spa resort. (By the time I came down to post this the heater was already working in the room and everything is toasty warm.)
And that is it for today.
As I said, I am tired, not really over my flu symptoms yet, but happy and looking forward to resting for a couple of days and then getting out and about.
I am going to now try posting this directly to the blog at the internet café and I will soon see if “shlepping” the laptop all the way to India was worth the effort. Perhaps tonight I will turn on my heater, get under my 2 quilts and blanket, and watch a movie!
My love
Namaste
Jane
Monday, February 04, 2008
New Rishikesh Market Video
I am trying a new way of uploading videos before I head off to India next week. am now using YouTube. Want to see if the quality is better. If you wouldn't mind taking the time to look at this post, and the one previous and comparing them and letting me know what you think, I'd appreciate it. Want to decide how to post the new videos I plan taking during my upcoming stay in India.
Waiting to hear from you....
Namaste
Jane
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
SOUNDS OF INDIA - RISHIKESH MARKET VIDEO
I am making my first attempt to upload the few videos I took in India. I'd like to start with the sounds of India, and here is the first one. I stood on a street corner in "downtown" Rishikesh...just wanted to get the sounds and sites for all to experience. You can see from the clothing the women are wearing, that it was still chilly weather, and the street was fairly "quiet " that morning! Enjoy
Ugh!! The quality is really not very good. On my computer it is perfect, but I guess when it is resized to be uploaded, the quality changes. Hardly worth uploading. Well, maybe just to give you a feeling for the sound, and to "feel" a little more than you can in photos.
...let me know what you think...you can add a comment below.
SOUNDS OF INDIA - FOREST WALK
Just to prove that India is not all noise and bussle, here is a short video of one of my walks on the mountain above Dharamkot in Dharamsala (Mcleodganj)
MORE SOUNDS OF INDIA....PUJAS (RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES)
This first one is the Shiva Aarti held each day around 6 PM at the Shiva Ghat in Rishikesh. because of the length of the video, the final quality is not very good when resized to download, but it will give you some idea of the humble sacredness of this puja.
SOUNDS OF INDIA - PUJA IN HARDIWAR
Hardiwar is another of the sacred cities of India where the Ganges continues to flow, and the daily evening puja here is attended by thousands of people each day! It may be much more impressive than the simple one in rishikesh, but it was more commercial than spiritual. People were mainly out for a days fun, swimming in the Ganges before hand, and going out to eat afterwards, and money was collected, donations announced over loudspeakers, etc. But if WAS beautiful and impressive. so enjoy this as well...another taste of India
GANGA LANDSCAPE VIDEO
Just a quick peaceful view of the Ganges from a Ghat just off downtown rishikesh (near to where the street scene was filmed!)...the landscape is so tranquil...everything so peaceful...enjoy
HORSEBACK RIDING VIDEO
And last but not least, a very short look into the day I went horseback riding with William at the end of my trip. It is very short as I forgot to empty my memory card before going out and simply had no room left for more shots. But enjoy anyway!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
HOMECOMING
Well, I've been home for 4 weeks and life continues to flow beautifully for me. All my work in India paid off as I continue to approach things tranquily, I remain in balance and harmony with myself and my surroundings, and I continue to accept and embrace all that comes my way gracefully and in Trust and Faith that all is happening as it should, when it should and how it should.
I have had the need to begin posting again, but could not find the words to express my feelings and the things I need to share with you, but following meditation and pray for guidance, I was sent a beautifully written piece and have decided to post it as is, with proper credit to the author.
However, as it is not really any longer part of my India travels, all future posts will be on the
Mindfulness Journal and will be titled "What is Surrender?"
If you are still interested in following my journey, and in receiving continued insights re: Reiki, Mindfulness, Guidance, Direction, Angels, and Inspiration, you can subscribe there (if you haven't already), just as you did here.
Just a few pictures from my homecoming to put closure to this journal.
MY FIRST "MEAL"
TEARS OF JOY
HAPPY
MY OWN BED AT LAST
Namaste in 2008
Jane
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
India Journal 2006 - #75 - June 13, 2007 - I Have Met...
I have met amazing people on this journey. Not your usual array of seekers and searchers and would-be Buddhists, yogis and so called people on the journey to enlightenment (although there were enough of those as well), but a very eclectic assortment of people truly on a spiritual journey. All travelling a different road, some alone, others with the help of a guru (or two), but all honestly in search of the same thing and understanding of the same thing.
That there is only one God, one Truth, one Universe and that we are all connected cosmically through a kind of web or network, like the waves in the ocean...each a wave in its own right but in no way separate from the ocean, from the whole, or from the other waves.
And that the further we move along our own path towards this ultimate Truth, the further we move all mankind along this road to a better way, a better life, a better world...to more love, peace, harmony and compassion etc.
Each one of these people had developed, or had given to them, their own honest practice. Many are novices along the journey, while many have been travelling for a good part of their lives (PHYSICALLY on the road with backpack for over 25 years in some cases!!) as well as spiritually travelling the road.
Some follow their path with the help of organized but honest and true adherence to Buddhist practice, others follow the teachings of one of many gurus and swamis, living a good part of each year on an ashram, or even in retreat, others combine several different practices, and others, like myself, are on a personal journal of discovery using whatever tools best suit the current phase of the journey.
Many seem to be truly far along their journey to me, and it was a true joy and privilege to meet and "compare notes" so to speak, with them. For the first time in my life finding people who are truly spiritual with no judgment of another's way to discovery and growth and no need to prove their own "way" best, or right or true.
And the MOST amazing thing in meeting them, is that many began to see ME as much further along my own path than they themselves are, and to seek me out as a "light" being. I was most humbled by this but it has also been a very powerful affirmation and validation of the results of my own work, my Faith and the Truth of the Divine guidance, direction and love I am showered with each and every moment.
This whole journey has been a great privilege for me and God and his Universe have seen me worthy enough to bring these people into my life at this point for further encouragement and confirmation that I am indeed worthy and deserving to be in service to others and act as a loving and pure channel for Divine love and light!
And with that, I think I will conclude this Journal and this Journey. It will not be easy to continue moving forward upon my return to reality, but that is truly the real test. Many of the people I met have lived a good part of their lives in semi-retreat, apart from the real world...cut off from family, country and reality per se. Living alone or in an ashram and moving along their journey in isolation, or being in touch only with their guru etc.
They have commented that I am both courageous, and blessed to have come as far as I have while still clinging to reality. By living in real life situations, with family, logistics of earning a living, the daily distractions of the worldly life always with me. But I know that for me, this is the ONLY way I can move along my own path while at the same time being able to serve others and help them begin their own journeys of self-discovery and growth in spirit.
I intend to find the way to remain in my new frequencies, my new "lightness" and continue my service upon my return home. I remain open and accepting to embrace all that is sent my way, with complete freedom from fear and in the knowledge that all is exactly as it should be at each moment of each day.
I am truly blessed and grateful for all those blessings...
Namaste
Jane
India Journal 2006 - #74 - June 13-Weather Pics
I know you must be saying "WHat is this? She must have posted the wrong photo"...but this is the view this morning. Everywhere...it is as if some giant eraser has wiped out everything and left a clean white slate. It has been like this since 6 when I woke and it is now after 10.
And below, a series of pics from the day the Monsoon began. You can see the clouds as they begin to move in and then later on, as the day progresses into evening (it normally would have still been light at that hour, but that is how dark it was by 6 PM)you can see the heavens threatening. It is quite impressive and very humbling, these displays of the power of Nature.
Monday, June 11, 2007
India Journal 2006- # 73 - June 11, 2007- Monsoon Has Come!
1:20 PM....
MONSOON began about 15 minutes ago!!
Woke up this morning and it was hazy and overcast, no sun and definitely cooler than the last 4 days. As the morning wore on it happily looked like there might be a little rain to cool us off. At least it was not as stifling as the last few days. Did some errands and then met Joy by "chance" and we came to Nick's for lunch when the big black clouds started rolling in fast from the mountains. We figured it would rain a little and by the time we finished eating it would end and we could walk back even in a little rain.
Well, without warning, it started coming down full force...a real deluge...and at first everyone thought it would be enough to run under the tin roof outdoors, but it lashed at us from all sides and everyone just had to run upstairs and inside.
Powerful wind, globs of rain instead of rain"drops", and then hail. Like rocks...it was so noisy we could not hear ourselves talking to each other above the storm without shouting. This is truly the first monsoon rain of the season, even though it is about 10 days too early, but hey, everywhere in the world the weather is screwed up these days..
Maybe the next couple of days will be cool enough to do some walking before I leave.
We waited about 45 minutes and it seemed to let up a little and decided to make our way back ...I had just a short walk, and although it was not raining as hard and the wind had died down, I was soaked through in less than 5 minutes...but it was not cold out and actually it was quite nice. I rested in my room for awhile and hope it stays nasty like this for the next couple of days...much better than the heat for sure.
The rain has just started again but I am right across the street from my hotel and restaurant, so no problem...I was supposed to go visit a friend today at 6, but think I will call it off. Don't want to push my luck and find myself getting chilled from sitting at HER place all wet after getting caught in the rain on the way to her.
And maybe it will even be cooler in Delhi when I get there....we'll see in a few days.
Namaste
Jane
Sunday, June 10, 2007
India Journal 2006- #72- June 9-10 The Heat, the Butterfly and Making the Most of ...
Just a few days left...I have taken to sitting outdoors, either on my own balcony or at Nick's from around 6 PM until it gets dark. And I am rewarded with a cool breeze, although the air is still sultry and humid. And with lovely dusks and sunsets...always with the mountain peak and its changing face in front of me. Also napping, or at least resting under the fan during the worst hours of the afternoon. No real appetite but doing my best to eat 3 meals a day. I will miss this all when I get ome. Where will I sit each evening? Who will lovingly serve me a lite meal in such a lovely, [peaceful setting? And as an addition to these last days, each day, at some point
a friend finds me and we sit for awhile just passing time when the heat keeps us from doing anything else. Yesterday I went to see "Happy Feet" but the sound wasn't working properly so the whole effect was lost and I will see it again at home.
I've finally had to do my last minute shopping here. What I had planned to do more cheaply in Delhi's Main Bazaar, but with temps hovering at 48 degrees there, I doubt I'll be able to. Will probably not get back to Anokhi at Khan market either as planned so will save some money as well. Even the heat is a blessing at times!!
This morning, at breakfast, an angel came to see me just to let me know that the world is still a lovely and pleasant place to be...despite the heat, and my leaving here soon...This time disguised as a butterfly, which flew past me, returned, and then lighted right on the page of the book I was holding and reading. It sat there, as if looking at me, for 3 minutes! It was white with lovely blue markings and blue antennas and eyes.
And now to get on with my day. Which, at 9 AM, is already sweltering.
Feel like just sitting here in the shade for awhile longer and not moving. But have some things to take care of and then will go rest until lunch time. Such a difficult existence these last few days.
Well, I met a friend at the restaurant attached to my hotel, and had an urge for a burger. Ordered a Tofu burger with chips (!)...It was scrumptious...I really really enjoyed every bite of it...but for a few hours following, my stomach let me know that this was definitely not according to the rules.
I am now fine, after a read, a nap, and a glass of mint tea...and meeting with another friend for an hour or so. Ordered my taxi, bought a book which hopefully will get me through the next days (I seem to be devouring them at an incredible rate lately...that's what comes from not walking 3-4 hours a day). And now here I am, posting what might just be my last, if not next to last journal entry for this trip.
So...namaste to all...it's been fun sharing with you...hope you enjoyed as well.
Jane
Friday, June 08, 2007
India Journal 2006-#71-June 5-8, 2007 Getting Close to the Wire
Just going over the past few days with some interesting meetings and comments and thoughts. I am getting close to the wire so to speak, and trying to make the most of every moment despite the fact that conditions are not ideal.
The weather has finally gotten hot here as well and will remain so for another couple of weeks until Monsoon begins toward the end of June. Yesterday for example, at 5 in the afternoon when it had already started cooling down a little bit, it was 30 degrees in the shade...it was well up into the 30's during the day, morning hours being the hottest...I am using my fan all the time now, even at night, and last night I slept without my blanket for the first time...just top sheet and little bed cover...it doesn't even get really cool even at night now, although it is pleasant enough once the sun goes down around 8 PM. If I am in the shade, it is OK, but the weather has pretty much confined me to town, as I cannot go walking any longer. Even if I take a Rickshaw up the mountain, it is still too hot to walk around up there, as much of the walking is in the sun. I go for a walk for about an hour, just up and down around town in the evening, and of course still walk back and forth during the day, but spend lots of time relaxing in my room or on the balcony in the shade.
So, what has happened over the past few days...
Well, William left 2 days ago, and I am once more left on my own. But, as I will write soon, never really alone it seems, at least not for any significant length of time.
I sent out my final package, weighing about 6 KG. And, although it is fairly simple here, just take the package to be parceled right next door to my hotel and one door away from the Post Office, and then into the post office and off it goes. Problem was, one of the 500 rupee notes I had (and the very end of my money that day), had a small corner torn, and so the Post Office refused to take it. so I went off to change it at the Bank, but when I got there, there was a very very long line. Remember, each person is depositing or withdrawing money in general, or paying a bill, and they do not have the automatic counting machines like banks at home have. and in Rupees there are MANY notes to count. So first the clerk has to count sometimes thousands of notes, and then recount them, then give them to the person who also counts them to be sure, meaning each person in line is there at least 15 minutes, many longer. There were 10 people on line in front of me. So I asked one of the other clerks if they could just change the note for me, but was told I had to wait on line!! And that's when I decided to beat the system. Walked back to the POst office and told the lady there that the bank said the note was good and did not need to be exchanged. I was very quiet, but did not back down, and after much discussion among the Postal employees, I found myself with the proper change in hand and a receipt for the package. I was so proud of myself.
I have apparently lost weight this trip and as I have been as careful as I can manage to eat properly, and stay away from cakes and sweets (generally speaking...), the weight has stayed off...I guess I am thinner than when I left home but I really feel good, and when I truly have the need, I eat something sweet, cake, or chocolate etc. But certainly not on a regular basis. I also seem to get along on much less food, particularly not having the need to eat anything, usually, between meals.
Just as William left and I thought I would settle down to a couple of quiet, alone days, Shanti (the healer who did the aura transformation for me, met me and asked for a few Reiki/healing sessions. I began them a couple of days ago and so far we have done 2, with 2 more scheduled. They have been very powerful for both of us. I find myself more and more tuned into events and feelings in other people's lives, intuitively, with much guidance...but I am no longer doubtful of what I sense, and the things I understand and then discuss with my clients, are always intense and important for them. Every time I move deeper into these places, I have more and more faith in the guidance I am given, and in myself as a healer. It is a true blessing to be in this new place. When I finished with her that day, I thought to go for a lite dinner and early to bed.
Just as I finished eating at Nick's, Vanessa, a friend from Rishikesh walked in and sat down with me, and shortly after, Akhilesh walked in as well. He and Vanessa also know each other as she took a meditation course with him. And we sat and talked for 3 hours. It was 10 by the time I headed home and on the way a an urge for chocolate. I bought a small bar with fruit and nuts and headed to my room. Ate the chocolate and read for awhile and was sure the late hour together with the chocolate would preclude easy sleeping, but I slept like a log until morning!!
Things seem to just keep flowing beautifully for me. The next day I met Yanna, the lady I met at the beginning with broken wrist, and we spent some pleasant time together as well. It seems that each day has some kind of social "event" occurring without any pre-planning. Yesterday I went to get one more thing from Ashok, the chemist, and met his girlfriend there and we sat and spoke for quite awhile as well. That's where I saw the temperature...he has a thermometer on his balcony.
Last night, decided to pick a Tarot card for some quick insight into my homecoming and what to expect or to do, direction for the next few months, etc.. Well, the card
I picked was PATIENCE...which says, in short......"simply be alert, patient, waiting...contented in waiting...be passive...let nature take its course like phases of the moon...not sleepy or indifferent...be ready for something momentous...a time full of mystery like the hours just before dawn...it is time when the only thing to do is wait!".
Couldn't have found something more perfect to take home with me!!
And that's about it. Today was even hotter yet. It is only 10 AM and it must be 35 degrees already....I will make it through the next few days with this enforced resting...and hopefully come home to cooler weather...although from what I hear, it is no different at home!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
India Journal 2006-#70-June 5, 2007 - ANGEL IN DISGUISE
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
William is more than just a great guy sent to make my final days in McLeod more pleasurable before my return home. He is basically a catalyst for further deep and final cleansing of baggage and his presence seems to give me intense focus which enables me to review past lessons already learnt over the last years. And in reviewing, and actually reliving them in very vivid dreams, the insights learnt from those lessons are even more deeply imprinted...never to be forgotten as I continue forward.
It is as if he has been sent to intensify every other form of detoxification I've been through this journey and make possible a final, indelible imprint, never to be forgotten and therefore never having to be re-learnt- of those lessons which have made such enormous changes in my life. Every important lesson in my "education" over the past 8 years has been given a thorough review, by forcing me to return to each incident, each relationship, relive it, actually FEEL it once again, and permanently ingrain the lesson deep within my soul making it absolutely definite that I will never again have to "do these courses".
I am now completely free, liberated, and can truly move forward with a "blank slate" as it were, into the new future which awaits me!
This past week has left me feeling renewed, younger in spirit and unburdened, lighter than I have felt in a very long time.
William is just another one of God's messengers, angels in disguise, lovingly sent my way in answer to prayers for further guidance, direction and clarity. But this time, the disguise is not a tree, or a channeled message or poem, or a dream or a bird or a tarot card. This time the angel is disguised as a wonderful, fun loving, cute, intelligent and perfectly lovely and loving guy who has brought nothing but lightness and joy into the past few days.
Usually my lessons are not learnt pleasantly. Very often they are quite unpleasant, but I could not have imagined a more pleasing way for this last lesson of this trip to be experienced.
Although I happily and gratefully accept any guides and angels in any form they may take, I would LOVE to have more angels like William in the future!
I am truly blessed. Thank you!
