No matter how much I struggle to stick with my day-to-day routines (including meditation), I’m always grateful for the boost of bliss and inspiration I feel after a Kriya initiation!
Feeling inspired
My deepest why for practicing
I’ve been receiving an increasing number of out-of-the-blue comments from people hoping to hear me play flute more often.
I’m also getting a lot of encouraging feedback about my recent, more regular practice sessions.
Then — to top it all off — I just “happened” to stumble on an old blog post from August 2019, in which I shared something I wrote way back in the early 2000’s, when I was new to Ananda:
“What I want more than anything is to be able to simply be the vehicle for music to course through. I want to be the pipeline and the music the water. And I want to be a wide-open, pure, smooth, silvery pipeline for the sacred water to flow through, not a rusty, corroded, constricted, obstructed pipeline that blocks the flow.”
I can still remember that the inspiration behind writing those thoughts was to more deeply understand (and communicate to others) WHY we need to practice and improve and aspire toward perfection.
Not to impress or to compete or to gratify our ego. But to be an ever more pure channel (or vehicle) for the Divine Flow and, through our ever-deepening attunement, to eventually merge into oneness with that flow of the Divine.
Full to overflowing
At a certain point I find myself wondering, “Just how much inspiration can a person take in, anyway?!?”
Because come Friday afternoon of SRW I often feel like I can’t absorb even one more insight, one more bit of wise guidance, one more heartwarming story.
But the truth is that — somehow! — there’s always room for more, especially when it’s so filled with joy. 🤸♀️
A much-needed pause
I’m always grateful for Thursday evening of SRW.
Saturday was Sevaka retreat. Sunday morning was service, while Sunday evening all the singers, instrumentalists, and dancers came together for our one full rehearsal. Every weekday starts off with music before the morning class. Monday evening was kirtan. Tuesday evening was the concert. Wednesday evening was an inspiring Q&A session with Jyotish and Devi. Thursday afternoon is music and inspiration for donors at the Gratitude Tea.
But tonight…there’s blessed nothing.
Ahhhh…. a chance to catch our breath and clear some mental and psychic space for three more days of inspiration still to come.
The Ananda Music App is launched again!
The previous launch was mostly for Ananda devotees in India, which meant it happened at the rather inconvenient hour of 6:30am Pacific time.
But this launch was for the US audience, and what’s fun is that an entirely different group of music people* shared stories about Swami Kriyananda, the inspiration behind the music, and how it has impacted our lives.
We all had a great time. And now, if you’d like to learn more about the app, click HERE.
* Including Dharmadas, Nirmala, Dambara, Ramesha, and yours truly
Running on fumes
It’s been a while since I’ve been quite this tired…depleted, really.
In fact, by the end of Sunday service I felt like I was running on fumes!
But the nine days in a row of absolutely amazing inspiration makes it all worth it.
A beautiful Kriya
I’m feeling so grateful for tonight’s Kriya ceremony.
The Temple of Light was close to full; the inspiration level was through the roof; and the loving devotion in the room was palpable.
What a blessing.
Inner Renewal Retreat overload
I’m talking some serious overload!
This is pretty much how full I feel — mind, body, and spirit — after receiving four days of Inner Renewal Retreat inspiration (thanks to Jyotish, Devi, and today’s wonderful panel).
And…we now have two days of Kriyaban Retreat ahead of us — phew.
I love my life. 😊
Staying flexible
Whether we like it or not, life has a way of keeping us flexible.
Which lately seems to be the whole raison d’être for this ongoing pandemic.
It’s really frustrating, but we’re determined to find an uplifted and joyous way to still share the inspiration of our Christmas music with the world.
Waiting for inspiration
Which doesn’t always arrive on schedule. That’s when I start looking for an inspiring image at least.
This beautiful rose is the one that drew my attention.
Such delicate perfection is — in and of itself — an inspiration!