The Last and Beyond

Well I’m definitely not in India anymore! Flying over the snow covered lands of Canada currently!

Oh my gosh I can’t believe I spent a month in Auroville. To put it simply… the most perfect month :)

My last days were fantastic! I gorged myself on food to the point where I felt sick on the ride to the airport haha. I think my last day I had a total of 7 pieces of bread with peanut butter and jam. I had to, it wasn’t a choice!

I went on a super long bike ride through Auroville, just appreciating its beauty. I also went to the Matrimandir the last two days in a row. I had incredible experiences that were so meaningful. My last time going, I had a deep concentration in the inner chamber. That room is one of the most far out, cosmic places on earth. I’m incredibly honored to call it a sort of home for me :) As I walked out of it, it just felt so perfect and complete. I was just walking along my path… I wasn’t attached or sad or anything. I had my last concentration in the petal room- and it was gratitude, which was a great one to end on for this journey. If anything, I am forever grateful for this trip. I spent so much time by the lotus pool in the beautiful warmth and breeze. I can’t describe my state of peace. I felt like a smile! Moving through all these things, I just knew when to move on and where to go- just kept floating in my current of life. And finally, I sat beneath the banyon tree. I was drawn to one spot, where I sat and curled against a giant trunk, and I felt like I was sharing the most loving moment with a best friend.  I was! And as I sat there, so happy- not in the least bit sad- I knew I was leaving Auroville, but truly I would not be leaving. I walked away from the Matrimandir, knowing that I was really still sitting in all of my spots- sharing peace and love with all of the beautiful people who go there for the good of our world. I’m still there now! What a pleasant thing to know in my soul. That place has given me great depth and wonder. And I know I have given in return.

I went to my last talk with Ashesh which was yet again great. His series of lectures have been the most spiritually guiding activity I have done in Auroville. He is such a beautiful person :) He gave me a book called Light and Laughter- talks by two men from the ashram- “so that you will be laughing all the time!” and he signed it for me, “To Mary, with brotherly love, Ashesh.” I always have my big brother with me, and his smile that guides me!

Saying goodbye wasn’t hard or sad. My time was there, and my journey was so meaningful. As I sat at my last meal, I had the most beautiful moment. Over the past two days, many many knew people came to stay at Verite because the big massage group left. I looked around our meal time, and saw all these new, beautiful people getting to know each other and carrying on outstanding conversations, and I could not have been happier. I was overjoyed, actually. I had a profound moment of knowing how good a place I was leaving. How deeply good Auroville is. And I was so happy to know that when I left, the beautiful life I have experienced was going to carry on, changing more and more lives, and changing the world.

I had many wonderful hugs and goodbye wishes! I’m excited to keep in touch with people! I’m almost done editing my story, and I can’t wait to send it to Kiara to share with him. And Martin has been emailing me about my Vedic astrology chart, and Ganesh emails me to say hello- ahh so many true people!  I know that I will go back to Auroville, and probably to Verite because it was an incredible place to stay.  It facilitated a deep spiritual journey for me as best as any place could. My last sunrise up on the roof was beyond beautiful :)

I shared a taxi to the airport with a woman I ran into a couple times from California. She said the first time she heard me talking somewhere she could have sworn I was this girl she knew because I sound just like I’m from California. Haha, better than sounding like a New Yorker!  She also mentioned to me that Sri Aurobindo in one of his writings was asked if there were any great writers who wrote well about spirituality in their books- and he said something like “Well, there was Marie Corelli” who is a famous writer. It’s funny, that’s the second time that writer has come up over the past two weeks! I will look into her work- but maybe Sri Aurobindo was talking about me in the future- haha! Also, Rajaveni called me on the driver’s phone (we used a cab service that benefits her school) to say goodbye and that her son will miss me! Her little Tamil boy is adorable and would always sit with wide eyes and the cutest smile while I played guitar! He is a tiny little musician, and I will miss him very much!

The first thing we talked about in the cab was how to sum up Auroville. WOW, I know I will get so many questions- and that is the most mind boggling thing to think about. Well… it is and it isn’t. I know what Auroville is inside me. It’s like it’s my soul, my foundation, a place of spiritual awakenings. But as a place, I think it is best put that Auroville, more than anything else, is a vortex of goodness. It is a center in this world where good people come, doing good things, and making goodness grow. It is a place of color, of freedom, and of peace. It is a place of deep love and caring and compassion. It is a place where people live in oneness with nature. Where people live how we should all live. It is also a place of experiments- as the mother said, “an experiment in human unity,” so it is a grounds for trying to find our future. And it is a path toward the future. A step toward the future :)

I got to the airport (wow Chennai… what a weird airport) and everything went fine. I had a great seat in the front row (lots of leg room!) next to this wonderful woman from Virginia, but then this woman sat down next to us with two little kids, and I was hoping for the best. I slept a couple hours, only to be awoken by the boy screaming at the top of his lungs, and it went on that way for HOURS. On top of that, he was sick and throwing up. Wow I cannot explain how annoying these people were! I mean, I felt bad for the woman, but she was dealing with her kids really badly- and all she said to me was a short “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a comfortable journey,” and I was thinking “not comfortable- woman this was torture!” He was screaming and screaming and screaming… and then I found out they were going to New York! Thank goodness I was on a different flight with an open seat next to me.  And here I am!

Above the clouds I had the most incredible, peaceful dreams I have ever had. I dreamed in peace- I don’t know how to explain! Now I am almost home, and very excited! It looks cold…. Brrrrrr.

So I want to do a little fun summary of the trip. Here it goes:

1.       I used half a roll of toilet paper over the course of a month!

2.       I ate local vegetarian and organic, and after Argentina this is the only way I will ever eat again. As Martin said “we don’t eat non-organic, or it eats us!” I requested a “veg” (as Ganesh says) family in Buenos Aires.

3.       I learned to live in a tree basically. Emma said, “if you want to live in the capsule, you have to have no fear of animals!” woke up lots of times with probably a family of animals inside :)

4.       I watched the sunrise every morning (woke up at 545am!) and came up with the most wonderful 2 hour routine that I will have to work into my future life.

5.       I used my own body to get around- yay for bicycles!

6.       I took cold showers with birds above me

7.       I dressed in beautiful colors, however many I wanted to! (and definitely will continue this- as soon as I got to the Brussels airport I was sad to see almost everybody in black. Wow, people in Auroville are like rainbow children!)

8.       I learned and learned- and learned what I want to learn (Sanskrit for sure!)

9.       I learned to play most of Blackbird on the guitar- now it’s the only song I know so it’s a nice repertoire with my tattoo

10.   I celebrated the full moon, and knew where it was and what phase it was in

11.   I went to the bathroom with spiders and frogs every day

12.   I didn’t have or touch my cell phone or a watch! Phew what an awesome feeling!

13.   I haven’t worn shoes in weeks!

14.   I made friends from all over the world- who I will visit!

15.   I swam in the Bay of Bengal

16.   I picked up the Indian head bobble

17.   I went on a spiritual journey that has opened me up so much more than I anticipated

18.   I wrote poems and poems and poems and drew many things and played much music!

19.   I am a really good bargainer ;)

20.   I don’t know what else! SO many things!

Thank you everybody for taking interest in my travels J I guess this is it… I can’t wait to talk to people about it! I want to share everything everything everythinggggggg! I will miss Auroville. I’ll miss the birds and the butterflies. And my friends- and the warm weather! But I’m still there- I can feel it inside me.

Yay! New York, here I come! Argentina next !!!

Gratitude, Perseverance, Peace, and Love

All the goodness in my heart

Truly

Mary

PS: I got home safely, and it's good to be home. India was so perfect, it feels like a dream! The best dream I've ever had :)

Beauty and Light

Post number 30... Wow! This really is coming to a close...

Yesterday I learned Ilahinoor with Kiara, Jivan, Maria, Emma, and Yumi. We had such a good group, and Kiara taught us this healing practice. It is a really special practice that is so profound. It's not like meditation where you have to commit to it for a very long time to realize the results. And it is not like other healing practices where you aren't quite sure if the results are there. Ilahinoor is so so simple, and the results of it are so clearly profound- there is no question about it. Such a simple practice is a tool for heightening consciousness at this very critical time. But very importantly, it is also a practice that has been brought to people on earth because so many people have risen to a higher consciousness. Such a simple, easy practice is evidence that we are progressing collectively. Because of our progress, we now have access to more accessible practices.

Basically in Ilahinoor you use your hands- either your own or you can work in pairs or groups- to stimulate the old brain (in the amygdala), the pineal gland, and the pituitary gland- or the 6th and 7th chakras, the third eye and the crown. Everyone involved has nothing to do or think about- they only have to be an empty vessel for the divine energy to flow. Making a bridge between these parts just by touch, and then moving your hands to your heart, your third eye, up in the air to heaven and down to the core of earth, you feel an intense rush of energy. Heat and circulation of energy through your chakras. Ilahinoor works from above, down to the bottom. You both recieve higher planes of consciousness, but you ground it. The human body is the bridge between the divine and the earth. Ilahinoor works to clear out bad energy, allowing the "Divine Light" (Ilahinoor) to flow through you. I feel honored and deeply thankful to have been initiated into this practice, and now I can share it with people as I leave Auroville, and I can work with the energy on my own whenever I want. This morning I practiced on the rooftop, and I felt so one with the wind and the birds and the earth. I could feel the breath of the world! It's such a sweet, beautiful thing. Good for the spirit and the body :)

Last night Martin gave me another guitar lesson- but this was different. We went with an amp and a mic and we played in a dark field for the stars :) When you add electricity, music can reach other levels and beings. Martin says he and his friend play, and the clouds change! It's funny because I've been playing less than a year, and he has been playing for years and years and years. I just try to keep up, and bring his spirit into my music. But we saw a couple shooting stars as we played, and the crickets got louder to give us their rhythm. It feels exactly how it should- we should always been making harmonies with nature. Why do we think of the beauty of nature, and ourselves as separate? We are living on this earth, too, and it is the most beautiful thing to fit in the balance, just like a flower or a breeze.

Today I closed out my financial account and Emma and I are going to do some shopping :) Yay! Adios!

Mar

sunset after sunset after sunset

Yumi is beautiful :) we had a great last night for her up on the roof

aww this makes me so happy!

the moon lullaby

a waxing moon: great for bringing new energies into your life

om!

and the sky goes on and on

Friends :)

Buenas tardes! "I am so busy doing nothing" as Ashesh says. hehe

Yesterday I concentrated in my 8th petal- Peace! Deep blue. Very good experience. Going to the Matrimandir for me is like going home. I love spending time there. It is the source of so many things for me. My energy, my silence, my power, and my joy. My strength to share everything. My guidance for my path.

Later in the day I went to Mudra Chi. Anandi (who leads it) is nuts. We had a big group with many new people, and nobody understands her because she is crazy! She runs around saying millions of things in ways nobody understands and she is in her own world. I love it :) Anyway, today I went to her house for just a little while to get some contacts for Buenos Aires! She gave me a letter and some incense to give to her friend who has an antique shop in San Telmo, and she gave me some great contacts of people who will be able to help me stay with an indigenous community! Auroville is so incredible for connecting people all over the world. I just ask people here if they know anyone where I am going, and bam- I end up with a bunch of friends to get to know!

Last night Ganesh and I went to dinner at New Creation restaurant for... PIZZA! Ganesh and his father work at Verite- they are from Tamil Nadu. He is the nicest person I have ever met- and he just loves loves loves having friends, sharing with them, and learning from them. So we had some really impressive pizza (I think an italian guy runs the place) and we chatted. Ganesh showed me photos of his family, and told me stories of India. He does not stop overflowing with sincere gratitude for having friends from all over. When one of his friends who stays at Verite leaves, he makes sure he spends some quality time with them. He's just so genuine, it warms my heart! He treated me to the whole dinner! It just gave me a great hope and joy that people all over the world love meeting each other, and really know the good things in life to appreciate.

Today I had my very first ever massage!! and it was free... wooo! The group staying at Verite is doing a massage workshop. So today they invited some of us to get massages! It was so good for me to have somebody else work on my body- to turn it over to the love and energy of another person. I am always always working with my own body. I really appreciated having somebody else's energy taking care of me.

After visiting Anandi, I had a wonderful discussion with Martin- and he wants to employ me as an artist for a bunch of publications him and his coworkers are working on! He does a lot of work with Vedic tradition, and we are going to have a longer chat about it within the next few days, but he says he has looked for an artist for a very long time who can paint with a dream-like, feminine quality- beautiful scense of the soul of nature. I am honored and overjoyed that I can put my art to a great cause! I hope it works out :)

everything inside and outside

Lunch was yummmmers, and then we had a chocolate party! Martin's friend grows and makes chocolate- so he pulled out some strawberries to tempt Barney with for dessert :) Photo documentation of the fun we had!

Barney- the chocolate warrior slaying all the strawberries in his path!

hahah a fabulous photo of the fun

Martin- you are just bundles of fun :)

somebody liked her first chocolate adventure!

Today we have a little group spiritual/healing gathering with Kiara. I've invited Jivan and Maria- we'll see who else comes! I'm so lucky that Kiara is here, because he is sharing with us the practice of Ilahinoor- which means "Divine Light". It's a practice to embody the divine, to embody all of creation. Look it up on his website- ilahinoor.net. I'll have to tell you about it in the next post.

Yumi is leaving tonight and I am so sad! Yumi- you are the best roomate! I will miss you lots, and when I go WWOOFing in Japan I will be sure to go to your farm!! I can't wait!

3 days and counting. To quote Martin, "But we never really leave."

hugs

Mary

Sadhana photo post!

Last night I went to Sadhana Forest again for their eco-film club (after a nice day of reading all of Kiara's book!)

We had a nice talk with the founder of the project, and then we were taken on a tour of the grounds, where I saw the most beautiful sunset I have seen here in Auroville!! Check out dees photos :)

yummies

no shoes ever ever ever

our tour

the dorms- so simple and nice

traiditional Tamil Nadu huts- under the big blue Indian sky :)

aahhh, breathe it in! magic!

Evolution

Chau! I am in my last week in Auroville :( and I am veryy busy relaxing! Haha!

I've been going to the Matrimandir many many times, and I have concentrated in 7 out of the 12 petals! unfortunately 3 of them are closed, so I won't be able to get to all of them.

Ashesh's new series of talks has started up, and this has been amazing for me. Every time I go I learn so many things. For me, this trip to Auroville started as learning about the physical place, what is going on here, and how I can bring it back with me later in my life- what I want to DO. In the beginning I did many workshops about the DOING, and the "reality," but that was the first step in my adventure here. My journey evolved into the truth behind Auroville- the human unity, the spirituality, the evolution of humans and this earth. And from here I have gone deeper and deeper into my own spirituality and the spirit of the universe. That is why I have done more relaxing and less DOING- relaxing for me has been deepening into my spirit, and learning worlds upon worlds. oceans upon oceans.

Yesterday I met a new guest at Verite named Kiara Windrider. He is very much like me, and our meeting is not just a meeting but another guide along my path :) Kiara is a pisces, a writer, has studied psychology and peace studies, is interested in shamanism and astrology- basically he is a very important guide for me along my path because i so strongly correspond with him! I'm reading his book- Journey into Forever: Surfing 2012 and beyond- which is so far a well written, outstanding synthesis of biology, physics, narratives, spirituality- everything that contributes to the evolution of human consciousness.

It's funny- I am not surprised any more that my path is so available to me, that it is overflowing in my surroundings. Everywhere I turn I find something or some one who is my guide. All it takes is a simple "Hi, what's your name"- and if you are open, you will know when you need to speak these words! This is how Kiara and I met, and it is a very important meeting.

My meditations have been so deepening lately. After a month of meditating every morning, and many days more throughout the day, I find that I am coming to a stillness point- a point between breaths, that gives me life. It feels SO good to meditate. And I've come to a moment where I no longer even think of my breath, but just am my breath. Complimenting this, my concentrations are even more intense. Concentration on the divine- the mother, or god, or the force, whatever you want to call it- is the most fundamental practice of integral yoga. A concentration may be a mental/spiritual concentration inside your mind/soul that leads you further into the peace of the divine, or it may even be making an offering of everything you do to the divine. The first step is to establish a relationship with the divine: if it is hard for you to believe in god, then it starts at "if you are there, god, help me to see you" and it progresses from there. These concentrations are the way to consciousness evolution. Each time I go to the Matrimandir, I sit by the lotus pool and concentrate on the divine- I like to say the mother (Sri aurobindo says in this way, it is most easy to communicate. the relationship between us and the divine is as a child to its mother). And each time I concentrate, I am left with a massively profound new understanding. New way of "seeing". a knew, expanded knowledge. This has been so powerful for me. My spirituality is growing so much more than I knew it could before I came here. And it was meant to be this way, which is why I am here :)

Last night at Verite john and marion organized a viewing of a movie interview Satprem- a French man who spent many years with the mother and Sri Aurobindo. It is called "man after man" I believe. I am going to buy a copy. It was so incredible, I think it is important to share the main points with you guys if you're interested.

• we are at a state on earth that necessitates an evolution. there is rampant pain and suffering everywhere, and we are causing massive damage to our world- the earth where we are born. we simply cannot go on like this. Like the first fish whose respiratory system had to breathe on land, we must evolve into something else.
• The first fish on land ends up out of the water, on a beach, in the sun. the incredulous difference between its life and its former life is worlds apart. its former life seems silly- living under water. As humans evolve, we are entering into a new state that cannot be predicted. we must enter into nothing. there is no way to conceive of what we will be- because in conceiving, you immediately meet the human species.
• we are conscious beings now, and as conscious beings we can cooperate in our own evolution. matter drives evolution (the divine involution or descending of the divine through planes to the lowest- the form of the inconsient- means that our being descended into darkness, the lowest, and then a prayer arose from the darkness to see the light, and evolution began. now the level of matter is the the level that yearns for light). Matter must evolve- it must come to a conscious state.

These are three really important fundamentals. We must evolve. We must evolve into nothing- an unpredictable new consciousness. Matter drives evolution, it needs consciosness.

On top of this, there's the theory that there will be a big event or moment where consciousness will evolve. Kiara writes about this happening, and the interviews with Satprem talk a lot about it. I guess I won't go on for longer than I already have here, but to summarize- I feel in my soul that we are on the verge of a great awakening. Kiara's book is great- it gives all the scientific, physical, and spiritual evidence for this in a very not-ridiculous way. It all makes sense. Shifting magnetic fields, volcanic action, sun spots, consciousness calendars from ancient traditions, spirit communications... all of these things align. Maybe you think this is ridiculous, lots of people do think so. But here in Auroville you really feel consciousness- of individuals, of groups, and of the world itself. Everyone here knows in their hearts that a new consciousness is arising at the world level. In groups, we talked last night about how from one generation to the next you can sense the difference in consciousness. For example, Satprem's movie was 30 years old and you can tell the difference in his consciousness from the middle age people here at Verite. Then there is my generation, and everyone last night pointed out that  they think me and my youth generation represent a new consciousness. And then there is the next generation beginning to emerge, that will be an even newer concsiousness. So I guess you can look at it at like its theory and it is right or wrong, and you can view the world and time that way. Or you can feel what is happening in your spirit, and live and anticipate in that way.

In either case, the most important thing is to be a good person :)

There are so many things I want to say about consciousness, humanity, evolution, my path, my experience... wow! It's all one. Kiara and i were talking about being writers, and I'm feeling the creative piscean flow inspiring me to write again. I'm going to finish editing my novelette within the next day or two, and then I think I am going to begin writing a new one!

I am so excited for this journey to continue into Argentina! From place to place... moment to moment! I'm so full of joy and love :) and I'm sending it to everyone in our one family! Take some... take all of it into your hearts!

<3
Mary

my spotttttt! above all the trees :)

henna!

favorite meal- BREAKFASTTT

papaya, banana, apple, pineapple, pom seeds, yogurt, organic bread and peanut butter, chiku jam, and chai :)

...YUM

... I am going to miss you, breakfast!

Moving along the Way

"Good morning starshine :) The earth says hello!"

Hmm where did I leave off? Yesterday was a really really full day! Lisa and I went to Pondi early in the morning. The first thing we did was visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which was such a lovely experience. It is overflowing with all different kinds of flowers, especially because the mother gave spiritual significances to each type of flower. We meditated for a bit, and went to the ashram bookshop where I picked up a couple things. My own, tiny size copy of Savitri- which I cannot wait to read from front to back. I think later on I'll put in a few quotes, because it is so much more than you can imagine. I got a book of poetry by Sri Aurobindo, his master book on Integral Yoga, and a couple other little things.

After the ashram we walked down to the promenade while we waited for all the shops to open up. Pondi is kind of weird city- it has the local district which is a typical Indian city, but because it was colonized, it has the French district- which is all very nice, beautiful buildings, a gorgeous park, and the promenade along the sea with cafes. I snapped some nice photos for you guys!

Gathering water by the water-gatherer statue

Shadow Scattered

 
We did a bit of meandering around the main street, and we bought a couple of little trinkets. I got a nice journal of hand made paper that I think I will use in Buenos Aires- carry India with me to there! And at the very end of our morning we found a guy to give us some great henna! Yay! I was amazed how quickly he did it- he just takes this cone of ink, snips off the end, and starts drawing on your arm. I find that Indians- from their art, to their mandalas, to this henna- have such an interesting way of drawing. They use fundamental shapes and curves, and sort of build off of them. It is a beautiful thing! Many many local people crowded around to watch us get our henna- they appreciate the beauty of the art as well, not just us tourists! haha

Get me some henna! they paint it on real dark and globby, and then it dries and you peel it off. I'll have a photo up tomorrow or something of what it really looks like now- it's beautiful!

As we made our way back to the bus we got a little bothered by people trying to sell us things, and I ended up with a drum just for fun. People make you feel bad for buying things at such a high tourist price (although I'm a hard bargainer) but in the first place we have such an unequal advantage, coming to their country and automatically getting lots of money for so little of ours. It sort of seems fair to equal it out a bit by paying more- and that higher price is still so little to us.

Lisa and I were talking about Indian (and she has been to many Asian) cultures. Being a young girl is so incredibly difficult when you are traveling around here. It's not dangerous, and it's not that you can't handle it, but it is almost offensive how harrassed you get by people trying to sell you things, everyone staring at you, and not getting service. We waited at a cafe for 20 minutes to get drinks, and the waitor waited on everyone else, even people who sat down much later than us. Finally we just left. And everywhere you go, you cannot avoid being stared at. From the beach to the city streets, a young girl- or in general most western women- cannot blend in or travel around unnoticed. It is so uncomfortable and invasive to be the center of attention when you don't want any attention at all. It's very overwhelming and makes me want to avoid cities as much as possible. That's why I plan to travel by WWOOFing- out in the country!

Anyway, we didn't like the Pondi style of clothing- very classic Indian- so we went to Kuilupalayam after lunch for some clothing items! I picked up a couple things so that I can look comfy and beautiful like everyone else here! It's so incredibly cheap, it's hard not to spend a little!

I did qi gung at Verite in the evening. I wanted to try it and thought I would like it because it pretty much goes hand in hand with tai chi. But I was overwhelmed at how hard it is! My muscles are not strong in the right places, my joints do not bend in the right direction... I was disappointed, because qi gong makes sort of building blocks for tai chi, and this means that my tai chi isn't as perfected as I thought. I actually got really overwhelmed by this, but I've realized that I don't know if I necessarily need the rigidity and perfection of tai chi/qi gong. Tai chi gives me flow and energy- I feel smooth. I'm not sure it's right for me- not part of my own integral yoga- to practice the solid, structured part of these practices. Maybe I'll give qi gong a shot back in South Bend this coming year. But for now, I'm listening to my soul, and I shouldn't push myself. It's a new moon, and it's a time for me to build on what I have. I don't think I need to keep pushing into new things.

After qi gong and dinner Lisa and I did ethnic chanting! WOW so fun! This lovely young young couple runs it, and they seem to have traveled all over the world, picking up shamanic/tribal/spiritual songs and instruments. They plays some basic beats and we did some nice songs about nature and being one with the earth and having light and dark in balance- great stuff! I was really inspired musically. So many people around me are incredible musicians. I have a strong hope for one day being like that :)

It's funny... I'm here on my own, I'm such an adventurous person. But I also feel really really intensely where I am on my path right now. And funny enough, I feel so young. I loved the moment I turned 20- I said now people think I am older! But I have totally sunk into this point on my path- embraced it completely, and it surprises me that at this point I am such a little child! I'm just beginning! I'm on a great start- but it's just the start. I want so many things, I want to be so many things, and sometimes I think I can be them all right now. But I feel so young right now. It's a lesson, and it's also wonderful. From here, I have hope. And from here I can learn so many things and admire so many people. Also, it's most important not to look to far into what I want to be ahead of time. It's important for me that right now I am young. This is what I have learned since that night at family constellation.

Today Matrimandir petal, goodbye lunch with Lisa and John at the Well cafe, and then Ashesh's Integral Yoga workshop this afternoon. Plus, I'll be playing guitar up on the roof for the sunset. Being up there- it's my jam! When I'm there I feel so free. I've never had a special spot like that before- but I feel limitless and really open to divinity when i am on the roof in the presence of the sun, the moon, and all of creation! It's such a blessed spot. My soul yearns to spend as much time there as possible before I leave.

morning moon before the new moon. it's great to observe the sky from one place every day and night. I think I might be able to get a photo of the waxing moon and the sun rising, but the moon's course moves more than you think each day- and it might be under the horizon for sunrise before it grows again into a crescent.

Love and kisses and hugs and rainbows from Auroville!
<3
Mary