Rishikesh Impressions

I'm kind of in a Judy Densch-ish space today. So pleased I took two days to settle in. Yesterday I grooved around Ram Julah (the side of the river where my ashram is) with the people I met on the way here. Veronika (a Czech living in Oz), Patrizia (an Italian living in Texas) and Robert, an Oz thru and thru. We landed up walking to Luxman Julah, the village at the second bridge, and joining a dance class in another ashram. Everyone in Rishikesh seems to have swallowed serious chill pills and are grooving on Loooove Baby :-)

I've connected with Sita Giri - an Amazing being. More about her later. But she asked me to attend Satsang in the Luxman Ashram this morning so.....
I didn't sleep well last night and woke up late this morning. My room in the ashram is comfortable enough albeit freezing cold. Took me a while to get myself together, shower, wash hair, put on my finery, have a tea in my room (scored a kettle from the shop keeper Krishna)
Have just walked along the Ganges River from Ram Julah to Luxman Julah, and this is where the Denschish part comes.
I still can't work out how to get my pics from the iPad on to blog so follow this for now.

Shop keepers sweeping outside their shops and washing down the cow poo and pee from the previous day. The aromas of India are not so much about spices and patchouli here.
a small smiling man with no arms, clutching a grass broom in his left foot, sweeping the piece of roadside that he occupies durning the day.  He sits and smiles at everyone who passes. What an Inspiration.
Ladies in beautiful sari's, oranges, reds and yellows, passing by silently.
A man driving a laden mule.
Cows and dogs everywhere.
Elderly men in orange robes sitting in squat pose on their blankets against a wall, a pot of chai in front of them, reading the newspapers in the early morning sun.
And on and on.
I'm enjoying a coffee at the diving Cafe Coffee Day now. Signing off so I can get to Satsang with Shanti Mai, meeting Sita Giri for lunch and invited to drink tea later with a man I met in the dance yesterday.
Isn't Life Incredible!!!!

My bags are packed. India awaits. I've done what I can do. It's time to surrender to this journey.
Here's a poem which touches my soul and speaks its' language.
See you all at the Mata Ganga.


Antonio Machado

Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt - marvelous error! -
that a spring was breaking out in my heart.

I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt - marvelous error! -
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt - marvelous error! -
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt - marvelous error!-
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

Before the Beginning

In November 2011, at the Ganges River, in front of the magnificent statue of Shiva, Mel with the hazy sunset behind, a slightly quizzical expression, ponders......
Why am I here? What's this all about?
It was the Kundalini Yoga Festival 11.11.11. and my very first visit to India.
What took me so long? Well we might ask. But only 2 days after this picture was taken, I made an inner vow to return in February 2013 to undertake the Intensive Teacher's Training.
2013!!
At the time was so far in the future, it seemed like a dream. That, and the fact that I've never planned anything longer than a couple of weeks ahead. The whole thing seemed crazy.
But crazy has a way of creeping up on me.
Now I'm counting down the days, and it's only 10 to go before I embark on this next great adventure in Life.
Viva! Bring it on..............