March 29, 2008 -
Sitting in the airport in Delhi with much too much time to kill. It is the now 4:30 in the morning and my flight is not until 6:30, (was actually delayed until 7:30), but I can’t sleep so figured I do something useful.
This will be the last post for this trip, aside from the videos I will post this week from home.
Overweight for first time!! I always have a few KG over the allowed weight but have never been asked to pay for it in the past. This time I wound up paying $70 for my overweight.
And after having a fairly uninteresting trip travel wise, now, my last day, I actually have something interesting to write. I jotted the things down on paper so as not to forget, but will now see how many of them come to mind.
They are basically about the changing face of India. Just as the rest of the world is
changing, so is India. The changes have been very subtle over my last couple of trips, but this trip the move forward seems to be quite drastic…almost as if the country is trying to catch up with the rest of the world over night…to make up for lost time. I know this is inevitable, but I know that each future trip will bring more and more changes, and, aside from the women’s clothing, hopefully at least, India will very soon find itself “caught up”. This of course is superficial at best as the deep seated problems of the country remain….but it is truly overgoing a “face-lift” so that what you see from the outside, is quite amazing. So, below, just a very few of the many things which caught my attention this trip, many of them just now on my way back to Delhi. (I imagine that on my next trip, when I plan to stay in Delhi for awhile, there will be even more things worth commenting on).
The thing I found most outstanding during this entire trip, was the new relative “freedom” I see among Indian couples. It was always an outright taboo for Indians, even married couples, to show any signs of affection in public and in the years I’ve been coming here, except for a couple of Muslim couples, I never saw any Indian couple even touching in public. This trip, I have seen over and over again, couples holding hands, cuddling in rickshaws, husband protectively putting his arm around his wife’s shoulder, and this was not just for very young couples. Also older married couples seemed to have gotten past the long-standing taboo. I even saw unmarried younger people doing this. And this all in the sacred city of Rishikesh. I imagine in the large cities it is already a given and taken for granted.
Since I spent my entire 7 weeks in Rishikesh, and slept through the taxi ride from Delhi to Rishikesh when I first arrived, this evening was the first time I got a glimpse of anything else, and there were many things to see. First of all, lots and lots of more modern cars on the ride. It is now a truly rare sight to see the old faithful Ambassador on the road. Aside from the local Tata cars, Indica, Indigo etc., there are many Suzukis, as well as Chevrolets and others I don’t recall. I even came today in a taxi which was a Chevy 4x4. True luxury for India! But this seems to be the growing trend. For the country’s huge population living in poverty, life remains the same, but for those on the move upward, things are moving forward very quickly.
OK..getting tired of writing…will continue when I get home I guess…
It’s now a week later and I am getting back to this. So, we continue with the changing face of India. I imagine in other places of the world there have been rest stops all along highways for years. Here in Israel it is a new growing trend and it seems at every junction a mini-mall sprouts seemingly overnight. There are so many of them the last few years it is almost comical. Well, I’d never seen anything like this in India, until this last ride back to Delhi, where, starting from about 2 hours outside the city, every few minutes we would pass what is called here a “shopping complex” on the side of the road. Many were already working, and others were being built, but I asked the driver about them and he said now, outside every large city, there are many of them, and they attract shoppers from the city who come to shop in AC comfort and to find all the latest shops all in one place.
And then there is the new approach to the Delhi airport which is just as complex and confusing as the one to the new airport in Tel Aviv. And not only that, you have to pay to get into the airport area..there is a toll booth. 11 rupees!! Even the driver was surprised and he had made this journey recently and it wasn’t yet working!
Once getting INTO Delhi itself, there were also roadworks everywhere. It seems like the whole city is getting a face lift, not just the airport. The airport itself has a new look…real international duty free areas, modern toilets, freezing AC and coffee and sandwich shops offering horrible food at ridiculous prices!
All in all, this trip to India was completely hassle free as I didn’t travel anywhere and stayed put in one lovely place. It was a perfect vacation, and with my newfound freedom from fears, quite pleasant actually. Going home, I asked that all be provided for a perfect and easy flight and also asked that Raphael, who appeared in the first card I chose you may remember several weeks ago, to remove any physical obstacles which may appear along the way. Well, the taxi ride was easy, even though I tried not taking travamin for travel sickness…and I was not sick at any point along the way, even managed to fall asleep in the taxi. I really believe that all the years I suffered with travel sickness in cars, busses, planes etc., was a physical manifestation of my fears of travel…and it seems now I am finally past them.
The flight was lovely…I even had two seats to myself. Even managed to sleep on the plane which I have NEVER done before, despite delays in both Delhi and Amman and even upon landing in Tel Aviv…I was relaxed and happy the entire way. Never felt stressed or uptight. Quite lovely.
And that’s about it. I am now home..been home for a week already, and it’s almost as if I never left. I am going dancing tonight for 3rd time since getting back…have been to visit all my children, traveling to them by car…even went to see a friend on the way home. Putting together new workshops and sharing groups, working on new energy exercises and pranayama as suggested by Dudi, and look forward to a lovely 6 months at home before going back to India in October.
Namaste for the last time this trip. Hope you’ve enjoyed the videos I uploaded, even though they are very small and the quality is not really good. Sorry about that…don’t know any other way of doing it.
See you all in October. I will now get back to posting on the Mindfulness Journal, which I got away from some time ago and have many interesting things to already write about.
Jane
Sunday, April 06, 2008
#21- April 6, 2008- Finally Something Interesting to Write About
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
March 26, 2008 - PS to yesterday's post
(PS: since writing the above I’ve done a Reiki treatment to Yael and her comment one “You were on fire!”. I was also sweating through the whole treatment and I generally never get this warm while doing Reiki…so whatever has been happening, has certainly opened things up for me which were blocked before)
Yesterday also had a Reiki treatment, today, I've just come from my facial and back massage, and tomorrow I have a further "going home" treatment with Dudi. Not a bad way to spend my last few days in India.
Also found an apartment up here with a kitchen and now have the dilemma of deciding the pros and cons (there are lots) to having my own kitchen when I come back in october.
Don't think I'll write any more before leaving. and I will post the remaining videos when I get home so you'll still enjoy India vicariously for another week or so.
Namaste
Jane
Monday, March 24, 2008
Down to the Home Stretch - March 24th 2008
I haven’t been writing about what’s going on here the last few days as it’s been very intense and insightful as well. I think it probably will not get to this blog as much of it is personal and intimate, on many levels, as well as difficult to put into words. So I will simply say that I’ve been through a deep insightful growth experience involving the following, and more:
Disturbed sleep for 3 nights for no apparent reason
A deep sense of painful sadness suddenly overcoming me to the point of tears flowing, while sitting with friends…again, for no apparent reason
Doing an energy cleansing of my room to remove negative energies which seemed to have had accumulated without my realizing it.
Using my Dancing as a healing modality
Further treatments with Dudi
Newfound openness and joy and energy
I am now coming down to the “finish line”. It’s been a very short “race” against time for me this trip. My shopping chores are pretty much finished, I have a facial again on Wednesday, together with Yael this time, . I’d like another dip in the Ganga and perhaps sushi at Moksha (they began serving it last week…remember, the owners are Korean – but I haven’t gotten around to tasting it yet),. An attnement fromDudi still awaits me this evening so that I can begin passing on symbols from Kabbalah which can be used in Reiki II for those who feel uncomfortable with the Japanese symbols. I already had a further Master’s attunement from him. And to finish everything off, one last treatment with Dudi
AND THEN HOME!
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
