(not necessarily in that order)
My dear friend, Nandadevi, is in my thoughts and prayers tonight. Her heart has been acting a little funny, so she’s getting it checked out.
I saved this photo and quote quite some time ago — like, at least a couple of years!
Now feels like the perfect moment to share it, while holding the vision of her standing calmly in the light and love of Divine Mother.
Today was my six month follow-up appointment with the bone marrow transplant doctor from UC Davis, and he was even more enthusiastic about how well I’m doing than my oncologist was!
I don’t have to see him again for a year. Whoo hoo!
Sometimes when there’s so much to do (as is happening in these days!) I can feel the overwhelm slowly but surely starting to paralyze me.
So, I’m grateful to be reminded that I can ask for help, for guidance, which makes all the difference in the world.
There’s quite the storm happening right now. Best I keep this short in case the lightning comes any closer!
Last Sunday I was on Day 6 of my weeklong retreat at Blue Sage Sanctuary, and Ramesha was sending me photos of our slightly snowbound apartment (the above photo was taken from our kitchen window).
Today everywhere we look is green and brown again, thanks to the rain which has been coming down steadily for days now. And I felt very blessed to be back in the Temple of Light for Sunday service, after missing last week.
But the thoughts, insights, and lessons of the retreat are very much with me still.
Tonight is not — I repeat, not — the night to stay up into the wee hours.
We’re already losing an hour due to Daylight Savings, which means getting to rehearsal at 8:45am will feel like 7:45am.
Groan.
I forgot to mention it in my blog post, but yesterday’s appointment was the first time we heard my oncologist clearly and unequivocally state that I’m in remission. She also went on to say that my lab results are “very good”.
I have one maintenance medication that will help me stay in remission, but I know that the love and support of family and friends — combined with my own efforts to keep my energy high and my aura filled with light — is equally important in keeping all dis-ease at bay.
But — gosh! — it sure feels great to be officially in remission!
The past three days have been quite the contrast to my week of Ayurveda bliss!
Here’s what I’ve been up to from shortly after my return home (Tuesday morning) to now (Thursday evening): town for bloodwork; grocery shopping; Mahasamadhi event; monthly Sangha meeting; music team meeting; office; town for appointments with oncologist and the infusion center; more grocery shopping; Oratorio rehearsal…while also catching up on a backlog of emails and messages.
It actually feels like a bit of a cosmic joke!
Well.
I had every intention of writing thank you notes (and this “thank you” update) before leaving for my weeklong ayurvedic healing retreat at Blue Sage Sanctuary, but for a variety of reasons that didn’t happen.
However, as is so often the case, it’s actually better this way.
Why? Because if I had written before I actually experienced the retreat, I would have been expressing gratitude in the abstract: “I’m so grateful for the gifts that are enabling me to go on this retreat.”
And now? Well, now I can say with absolute conviction: “Your generous gifts helped to make possible one of the most profoundly transformative weeks of my life.” It was perfect in every way, and for every aspect of my being.
I had very little idea of what to expect from a weeklong panchakarma immersion. The two weeks beforehand were filled to overflowing with commitments and events, as well as a big snow storm that arrived just in time to complicate my even getting there. Needless to say, I was feeling a fair amount of stress by the time I arrived, but I could feel the palpable peace and serene beauty of the retreat environment helping me relax right from the start.
The daily Ayurveda consultations were deep, informative, insightful, and even fun, while the physical treatments ran the gamut from cleansing to relaxing to uplifting.
There isn’t time or space to share all that I felt and all that I learned; in short, it was altogether transformative. I’m more grateful than words can say.
Namaste.
“Remember this: When I am gone, only love can take my place. Be absorbed night and day in the love of God, and give that love to all.” — Paramhansa Yogananda