Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

WSM Noah and I purchased tickets to attend an evening with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I had never heard him speak before and something propelled me to be there.

I was particularly tired on Monday night - I wanted to just not go. Sister Goddess Leslie called me and reminded me it was my Joy Of Being to SHOW UP and be impeccable with my Word.

I reMEMBERed that I could JUST SHOW UP and get what I needed from the experience and leave.

With that, WSM Noah and I headed to the Westin Diplomat for an Evening of Meditation. We met up with friends, WSM Gary and Sister Godess Mina. We found good seats - an aisle in front of us and rows behind us - not too close to the front.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a short little man in a big huge robe, came out to a room of approximately 900 people.

What was OMazing was that he led us through what was supposed to be a 10 minute meditation. We easily meditated collectively for 31 minutes. Time flew. And then we OM'd together - three times - OM, OM, OM, Shanti - the vibration in the air was so powerful. The collective ENERCHI was palpitating. I felt my tiredness wash away. I felt enveloped in love, a big cosmic hug - replenished and reenergized. All my cells were vibrating with peace and calm. This is what I had come for. I was ready to leave.

To my surprise, WSM Noah told me he liked this guy and wanted to hear more. We stayed to listen to the Q&A that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was sharing with the crowd.

The gems of wisdom regarding relationships that I gleaned were:

When a person tells you they love you
and you respond: Do you really love me?
the burden on the person who said it
is huge. There is no way to respond
or validate one's love.

Isn't it funny how we never doubt that we are not
feeling good or depressed but we always doubt
our positive feelings.

Are you happy? I think I am happy. We doubt.

We didn't get home that night until 10:30 p.m.
(way past my bedtime) Tee hee ~@~

Being the Light

WSM NOAH

This post is dedicated to WSM Noah, my wonderful husband - for his patience and LOVE and understanding these last few weeks as I find my way again. As I shed the last layers of ANGER that still seems to lurk just under the surface. And  deal with the False Expectations Appearing Real and weaknesses that hold me back.

He constantly surprises me - after 10 years of marriage. He joined me for a Renew and Restore two hour yoga workshop yesterday. As we set there stretched out in asanas supported by pillows and bolsters and covered in blankets, his hand reached out across the floor for mine. I looked over at him and there he was, smiling and loving me.

I love you too my KG Choo. Thank you for being you and all that you do. This song is for you.

Sometimes I wonder where I've been
Who I am
Do I fit in.
Make believin' is hard alone,
Out here on my own

We're always provin' who we are
Always reachin' for the risin' star
To guide me far
And shine me home
Out here on my own

When I'm down and feelin' blue
I close my eyes so I can be with you
Oh, baby, be strong for me
Baby, belong to me
Help me through
Help me need you

Until the morning sun appears
Making light of all my fears
I dry the tears
I've never shown
Out here on my own

When I'm down and feelin' blue
I close my eyes so I can be with you
Oh, baby, be strong for me
Baby, belong to me
Help me through
Help me need you

Sometimes I wonder where I've been
Who I am
Do I fit in
I may not win
But I can't be thrown
Out here on my own
On my own

Sunday Scribblings #130 -- Weddings

Goddess Jennifer & WSM Michael

After hearing the Dalai Lama live in Fort Lauderdale in 2004, we decided to become peace ambassadors in our families. The Dalai Lama said and I paraphrase: "How can we have peace in the world when we do not have peace within ourselves? when we do not have peace within our families?"

At the time, both WSM Noah and I were following patterns of behaviors learned from our parents on how to "be a family" and communicate with our siblings. There was not much SHALOM BAYEET (peace in our home). We barely knew our siblings as the adults they had become. As for cousins, that was a stretch and divide apart.

Goddess Shannon & WSM Jesse

In fact, our wedding back in 1999 had been full of family misunderstandings, mama dramas and egotistical disputes. And that's just what we knew about on the surface as we were running around getting arrangements completed so we could be wed. We didn't want anybody else to have this kind of experience.

Over the years, as we became more peaceful in our hearts and get "it" (what truly matters), WSM Noah and I made a pact to attend as many family weddings as possible. We want to get to know our cousins (from whichever side and however we are related) and change the pattern. We choose to welcome all new family members with open hearts and arms.

Goddess Sigal & flower Goddesses in Real Life

We see ourselves as the official Family Greeters. We are there to do whatever it takes to make the wedding a joyous and happy occasion. We run errands, drive cars, assist wedding planners, clean up houses, whatever it takes. We are so aware that this is the Bride & Groom's day to be enveloped in a CIRCLE of LOVE.

We hug, we cry, we laugh. We meet and greet and share the love and joy in our hearts at seeing our global family expand. And we create so many beautiful memories together. And the benefits is that not only do we gain family, we get to share friends.

WSM Lior & Goddess Valerie

Since we made our pact, WSM Noah and I have been blessed with attending TWELVE cousins' weddings and plenty of opportunities to travel in Florida, California, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Montreal and Israel.

And since I so much enjoy weddings, I have been blessed with being a photographer's assistant at a girlfriend's wedding in Cincinnati (thank you Goddess Robin) and wedding coordinator for my girlfriend's blessed event (thank you Goddess Leslie).

Me & Goddess Leslie

WSM Noah and I are going to keep on sharing our love and making sure we can help in any way to keep any wedding we attend enveloped in LOVE and PEACE and HARMONY.

We are so grateful to our cousins and friends for all these wonderful opportunities to witness and share in their LOVE and envelop them in our circle of Peace & Love, Just Because.

My New Love

We have been a Meow family for 10 years now.

Our first Meow, Blackie, was a gift from Soul Mama. It started out as "can you keep her for two weeks while I am on vacation" that turned into 8 blessed years of Meow Love. She was the first to nuzzle in Noah's armpit and purr hello in my face every morning.

And then we adopted Zeko in 1999 at the Humane Society. He was just a little kitten who came right up to us and Meowed his way into our hearts. The only MALE in our menagerie, he feels a deep kinship with Noah. And Ruby Meow was the runt of a girlfriend's feral cat litter. She found her way into our home in 2000. She is the Goddess Diva Meow in our home. (Picture of Zeko looking at Ruby)

In December 2005, Blackie unexpectedly passed away. Not being able to find anything medically wrong with her, we brought her home from the vet and let her die with dignity. She stopped eating one day and drinking the next and three days later, her soul left. We buried her under a tree outside. She taught me how to deal with death and be grateful for all the wonderful moments in my life and all the blessings that the Universe constantly showers upon me.

Elly Belly came to fill the void of Blackie's departure and balance our family. Brother Gilabong brought her to us after he saw how much love we had for our Little furry Peeps. She is quite a talker and a belly sleeper.

Three weeks ago, Ruby Meow had a breathing attack. I rushed her over to the vet where she was treated for an allergy attack and placed in oxygen to help her recover. While in the nebulizer, Dr. Darko's assistant was telling me of the dogs that had arrived from the Humane Society. They were scheduled to be put to sleep when Goddess Cheryl saved their lives. Ginger was suffering from heart worms and was a little underfed and she had just given birth to a litter of pups.

When I first met her, she gave me her paw as a sign of peace. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on my shoulder. I hugged her and fell in love with her scent. I rubbed her paws and the spaces in between her toes. She smelled so good.

Now, Noah had talked about adding a dog to our family. However, he was looking for a puppy.
I came home and plead my case. A week later, we are on the way to the vet to check out Ginger. I get a feeling so I call the vet en route and find out that Ginger has been moved to another shelter (she was actually taken to a PetSmart for an adoption day). And I was so sad. However, I knew if the Universe meant for Ginger and me to be together, we would.

So, I let it go. I gave Noah time to accept and adapt to the fact that we would be a Meow and BowWow family. I gave him breathing space to come into this decision on his own.

Two weeks later, we are on the way to the vet's office to drop off records. The vet's assistant calls me and tells me that Ginger is back. Noah agrees to meet her and sleep on it. And there we are, in the vet's office and Dr. Darko says: Take her home, try her out, see how she gets along with the Meows. We were leaving on Friday for a cruise and I didn't feel right about leaving Ginger in a new environment with the Meows without us. Dr. Darko agreed to pick her up on Friday morning and keep her until we returned on Monday. And Noah said YES to the Universe.

We picked up Ginger on Monday. She was so happy, she jumped into the back seat of the car and looked at us like she was ready to head on home. I know she has experienced a lot in her lifetime that I have yet to know. I feel such a strong bond between us and know that she will share her story and secrets when she feels secure in her new home.

Everytime she hears me and wags her tail, my heart thumps, thumps, thumps to the rhythm of her wagging. And when she puts out her paw to give love, and turns over to get her belly rubbed - I feel a great big love overflowing in my heart.

Ginger is calm and mild. She allows the cats to come sniff her and has stood there patiently and quietly waiting to earn their acceptance and approval. She has not entered the bedroom yet understanding that this is Meow Territory and that they will give her a sign when they are ready.

I look forward to spending the rest of her natural life together merging our Meow Sanctuary into a Doggie Heaven.