(not necessarily in that order)
I discovered and promptly fell in love with this quote by Helen Keller today:
“I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower — the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.”
What evocative imagery! I loved being prompted to ponder “how the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower”.
And I love absorbing myself in the truth that God is expressing in, through, and as each one of us in much the same way.
This isn’t really the perfect metaphor, because Spiritual Renewal Week has been showering us in light all week long. The speakers, the friendships, the music, the special events, Kriya…all filled with light and love and joy!
So, it’s not about coming out of darkness into light, but simply that it’s been a really long, full, intense week and we’re finally within sight of the end.
In yesterday’s blog post I talked about our upcoming Christmas concert, but I didn’t mention any specifics!
So, here’s the scoop: the concert “premiere” will be Sunday, December 20 at 6:00 pm (Pacific time). All the pertinent information , including the link, can be found at www.ananda.org/christmas.
Plus you can check out the other inspiring events which are listed there as well.
And of course I want to mention yet another wonderful event (which isn’t listed on the Ananda website): Ramesha’s LIVE Kirtan Concert!
He invites you to join him for devotional chanting and short periods of meditation that will help you open your heart to the deep blessings of the Christmas season. It’s happening this Saturday, December 19 at 5:00 pm (Pacific time) on Ramesha’s Facebook page.
Here’s to a glorious, inspired, heartfelt, joyous, uplifting, fun, beautiful Christmas (take that COVID-19)! ✨
For once I’m writing my blog post before noon. Why? Because inspiration hit early for once!
My friend, Lisa — who feels, as do I, a deep love for the poetry of Mary Oliver — shared a poem that really spoke to me today. And I felt to distill its message down to these words to live by: Go easy; be filled with light; shine.
Trees remind us that we, too, have come into the world to do this. But how quickly we forget…
WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
@2006 by Mary Oliver
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
Published by Beacon Press in Thirst, p.4
Close to twenty-five years ago (back in the dark ages of actual network television) I happened to catch part of a movie that really intrigued me.
At the time I was part of a small women’s group dedicated to spiritual growth and one of us had shared with the group about St Germaine and the violet flame. I don’t remember much about it now, but at the time I was struck by the way the movie makers used imagery of violet light; it seemed to speak to my heart.
Afterwards, I wanted to see the whole movie but couldn’t find a copy anywhere. Come to find out it was a made-for-TV remake of an old Disney movie and it wasn’t available on video. Darn!
I gave up on finding it but it would nevertheless pop into my mind once every five years or so. Well, this happened again recently, except now I could get on the internet and Google and — amazingly enough, I found it!
It does, indeed, have an admittedly hokey spiritual component to it. In a nutshell the overall theme has to do with the fact that we all come from one source; we’ve (almost) all of us forgotten who we really are; the key is to overcome fear and move toward the light; and the goal is to return to our true home.
Yeah, it was hokey, but I was in tears at the end — not because the movie was well done; it isn’t, really — but because the essence of the message resonated deep in my soul.
So, what is the name of this movie? I’m a little embarrassed to tell you, but it’s the 1995 Disney remake of “Escape to Witch Mountain.” We enjoyed watching it AND I was able to satisfy my decades long desire to see the entire film.
Way back in the day — when I first found Ananda — brochures and program guides were a huge part of how I tuned into the essence of what Ananda was and what it meant. But the class schedule and calendar of events weren’t what conveyed that essence. I was struck more than anything by the light in people’s eyes.
I didn’t consciously identify that what I saw shining in their eyes was JOY, but I sure as heck knew that I wanted what they had.
Which brings me to this most recent video of our Ananda Worldwide Virtual Choir. Created in honor of Swami Kriyananda’s 72nd discipleship anniversary, it features one of Swamiji’s most beautiful songs: Peace.
I watched it repeatedly when it was finished, soothed by the melody, harmonies, and lyrics. And I realized something…
Videos featuring Ananda devotees (in this instance, singing) are the new, updated version of the program guide/brochure. And, more than the content of the video, it’s the light shining in the eyes of sincere devotees that draws people.
I invite you to listen to this beautiful music while gazing at faces filled with sweetness and listening to voices expressing joy. See the light beaming from their eyes and know that all is well.
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
–Albert Camus
It’s been quite a while since we had rain, and it feels like we’re getting to admire the autumn foliage for much longer than usual. Now, I’m no scientist or botanist, and I know next to nothing about photosynthesis or chlorophyll. Which means I get to make up my own story about fall foliage and what it means (to me, at least). 🙂
It seems to me that the leaves absorb light throughout the spring and summer, then start losing it as they gradually diminish in the early fall and begin changing colors. But as the season continues, with the days growing shorter and winter drawing near, it’s as if nature gives us one last show…a final display of vibrant light and a sense of warmth. I’m sure you’ve experienced it: when you’re walking or driving along and you suddenly see a burst of light through the trees…and you realize it’s the fall foliage, glowing as if lit from within.
Sometimes I have to just stop and marvel at the incredible light emanating from the trees here at Ananda Village. They are so very, very beautiful! And I like the idea of each leaf going out in a burst of glory, as the spirit of the tree quietly turns within and prepares to enter the stillness of winter.
