Storytelling

Painting a picture of the places, people, and experiences I've had thus far has not been as easy of a process as I thought. However, I am encouraged to become a storyteller and thus I must begin typing/ writing/ hashing- out of few of these stories that have been boilin away....

As I sit and type this it is dusk at the ashram: the stars, and planets are shining brightly in the early morning sky. I am sitting here with a cup of green tea, and staring into my past experiences from the last couple of weeks...

Winter Soltice:

We held a fire celebration for the Winter Soltice at the ashram.

Shanti- the main guru at the ashram- led the ceremony. It was held just beyond the porch, next to a paddock (marsh) around a small fire circle. Atma, Sara, Bhakti, Shanti, and I- all five of us, sat cross-legged in a circle. One person sat at each cardinal direction (N,S, E,W) to represent each of the elements of nature (Air, Fire, Earth, & Water). Offerings were fed into the fire: at the North, Shanti sat with a bowl of Ghee which he carefully spooned into the fire; to the South, I sat with a bowl of herbs (euculaptys leaves and other herbs); to the East sat Bhakti with a bowl of rice; and to the West was Sara who gave peices of incense.

Part of the ceremony was chanting in Sanskrit with mala beads. As the fire swirled, and the chanting began, I watched the eyes of those of us gathered there.
When it was time to give our offering...I nervously reached for my bowl of herbs trying hard not to mess up the ritual. There was a time during the chant when the offerings were given, and I was taught a special way to hold the offering and release it into the flame. As the chanting continued I was able to move into the rythym of the chant and release my offering with my hand position "mudra" placed at my heart and mind totally centered on the flame. It was a beautiful ritual to practice.

A Mokupu owl, Izzy -the neighbor's dog, joined us for the end of the celebration. After the last of the 108 chants finished, we all sat around chatted and laughed. It was a beautiful way to honor the wisdom and balance nature offers and begin the "New Year" together.

Lakota Indian Sweatlodge (the next story to come...

Biking to the town of Whangamata & the local Beach (14km)

The Ashram at Ohui

The beach at Ohui

Life here can be a challenge. Challenge encourages growth.

I am still trying to figure out how to live in NZ for the year without many possessions and a low income. I am learning to trust my inner being- my instinct...my soul...my higher mind. This time and space has been good for self-reflection, and exploration. I am learning and developing more self-awareness by being in a new environment.

When I am truly alone- is when my true self is revealed.