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