Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart
And try to love the questions themselves 

Don't search for the answers,
Which could not be given to you now,
Because you would not be able to live them

And the point is, to live everything
Live the questions now

Perhaps then, someday far in the future,
You will gradually, without even noticing it,
Live your way into the answer

Rainer Maria Rilke

For me this piece translates the subtle, beautiful feeling that flows from a deep acceptance of circumstances; the recognition of grace at work. The presence of love guiding and healing and moving all things.

Releasing the tension of trying to fix and correct circumstances, the falling back into trust and patience- ahh... and allowing the resolution to unfold, much as in a deep opening in a yoga pose that can only really come from softening rather than striving.

Om shanti - Jennifer

Today I bestow the essence of Love upon everything

Today I bestow the essence of Love upon everything

Everyone shall be lovely to me

My soul meets the soul of the universe in everyone

Everything is beautiful, everything is meaningful

Ernest Holmes

Spring Equinox Inspiration

"And spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the spirit of love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on earth's dark breast

Rose from the dreams of its' wintry rest... "

The Sensitive Plant by P .B. Shelley

I love this romantic poem, how it evokes the wonderful mystery of life force returning in nature and as a metaphor for an inner re-awakening that is powerfully possible at vernal equinox.

I am sharing some favourite images that I like to meditate upon as we approach the tipping point into spring; rich in symbolism, depicting the Pagan goddess Eostre re-birthing and re-animating the land.

This can be fully observed in the green lanes of Glastonbury; hawthorn tips, nettles beginning to grow,  and glorious symphonies of birdsong that are an enticement to open all windows and doors and fully receive  nature's sound bath, despite the still chilly weather.

Spring Equinox by Nina Ulana

Eastre by Jacques Reich

Spring by Hans Zatska

Eostre Goddess of Spring by Lost in Black and White

Artha, Goddess of Spring Equinox by Caroline Gully-Lir

Ostara by Cynthia Rudzis

Rebirth of Spring by Pablo Montes

Goddess Ostara by Mickie Mueller

Equinox blessings, be well

Jennifer

Winter solstice in Glastonbury 2012 - sacred ceremony and silent landscape

Dawn ceremony hosted on St Edmunds Hill with sacred water, fire, incense, drum, chant and a portal to pass through.

Glastonbury Tor was framed in soft pastel clouds and plumes of delicate mist, then the sun erupted through spectacularly. 

View of Glastonbury Tor from Well house Lane showing the constant line of pilgrims making their way to St Michael's tower.

In contrast to revelry on the Tor, a silent meditation at Chalice Well Gardens.

Strong solstice sunlight illuminates the glorious gnarly bark of an ancient yew tree in Chalice Well Gardens.

Away from the gatherings of people, Glastonbury's quiet lanes deliver the blessing of tranquility and the teaching of silence and stillness. Bare hedgerows and shapely trees animated by nature's sounds: trilling birds, gentle wind and water gurgling in rivulets and forming streams.

Glossy ivy assert the presence of a rude and vigorous life force in the evergreens.

Sycamore drupes are a delicate and lovely silhouette and represent the beauty of death, the cyclic nature of the seasons and existence- how all passes and changes form.







Solstice blessings from the heart to all.  A few more pics on my facebook page.

Jennifer

Kirtan with Upahar at Shekinashram

Butterfly Barn, Sve Dame community, Auroville

 

I am very pleased to tell you about a great evening kirtan taking place the auspicious night of the Venus Transit with Upahar Anand

Upahar, originally from the UK, now divides the year between Italy and Tiruvannamalai in south India, site of Ramana Maharshi ashram, sacred mount Arunachala and a town of spiritual pilgrimage where the transformational energies are strong.

 

I was blessed to attend his kirtan several times during my recent trip and always achieved a wonderful feeling of connection and love. 

Our paths kept crossing. We first met over idlis at the Sheshadri Bhavan in Tiruvannamalai, introduced by Lillah,  friend and fellow Glastonbury yogini who I was visiting.  Then I attended two evenings with Upahar in Auroville where I was a long term guest. 

Sea of souls - Tiruvannamalai

Upahar was excited to know that I was from Glastonbury as he had played the ashram in 2010 and was keen to return, Would I hook him up? Of course!

I hold such strong and positive memories of Sunday morning kirtan, sitting cross legged in Upahar's house, knees touching my neighbours as the room was so full of people, including several familiar faces from Glastonbury.  

 

 

Many people I did not know, nonetheless we were sharing a powerful experience. One morning in late January felt particularly strong, I witnessed an ecstatic sensation something like being part of an ocean, the congregation of singers rising and swelling as a single entity as my heart surged in my chest, carried by the sacred songs. Utterly moved, to tears, several times and I looked around the room and saw that I was not alone.

Fortune also gifted me the blessing of an afternoon session in a temple, the day of my birthday, when I had travelled to Tiruvannamalai, having left Auroville after two months, I surrendered to the lure of the town.

 

Upahar is an accomplished and experienced multi-instrumentalist, adept on harmonium, guitar, drum, vocals and flute.

He has an extensive repertoire of chants and songs; well known bhajans and some interesting less familiar material. Upahar is strong on Shiva and Shiva energies and also weaves sufi influences and poetry into his sessions.

 

Unmissable! Come, share and participate in a field of divine love at a time of amplified celestial vibrations.

Kirtan with Upahar, Shekinashram, Glastonbury Weds 6th June 2012  7pm

Hope to see you there!

Peace and blessings

Jennifer