Iain and I went on an adventure this past weekend for a change of scenery from the busy holiday beach scene to the lush tropical forests of the interior of Goa. It was spectacular and reminded me of how valuable natural spaces are for the human psyche.
We ventured over 100 kms east by scooter first to a tropical spice farm and then to Mahaveer Bhagawan Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. While it was a pleasure to see how all my new favourite spices are grown it was a real delight to fall into the silence and serenity a 200 km2 piece of intact forest. This may be small by Canadian standards but it is quite substantial for this part of the world.
We live a pretty serene life near the beaches in Goa but it was still powerful to immerse ourselves in the calm, tranquility of a natural setting. There is something so soothing about hearing nothing but the wind blow, the creek run and the insects hum. It allows us to remember where we come from and what we are a part of. I find it also allows us to hear ourselves and our true expressions....when we are still enough to listen.
We ventured to the far reaches of the park to swim under a spectacular water fall, see monkeys swinging through the trees and even spot a few Guar's (moose-like ungulates with short legs-wierd).
It was a worthwhile adventure but we are glad to be home even though the dogs sometimes bark too often and the Christmas Carollers were out last night. Yes, the 450+ year Portugese influence left behind Christianity in this part of India. It's quite a sight to see an Indian dressed as Santa. I will let you know how Christmas feels in the days to come.
With Christmas nearing I wish you all moments of silence, stillness and peace.
There is a sound to silence.
Have you heard it lately?
With Love,
t
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Photos
For a glimpse of More PHOTOS of the first month visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45456994@N03/
Friday, December 11, 2009
Same Same, But Different!
Hello All,
Dec 11, 2009
Today marks my 1 month anniversary! Hard to believe it's already been this long but the calendar says so.
My new favourite saying about sums things up these days.
SAME SAME, BUT DIFFERENT
I saw it on a t-shirt in one of the many stalls on the beach and laughed aloud. I just love it. Let me tell you why.
Practising the same series of postures 6 days a week on the same mat, in the same room, with mostly the same people, one would think would get a bit monotonous, but my experience is truly just the opposite. The learning about ones self that comes from going through repetetive routines or motions just blows my mind. If we watch, we can learn. Some days I say, oh, no, not bhujapidasana again, only to realize that there is something new for it to teach me at that moment, on that day.... one day it reveals to me to be willing to try a little bit harder and find that inner strength. Another day, it shows me it's ok to fall on my nose and laugh at my imperfections. And yet another day it helps me just accept exactly where I am at with less struggle and more grace. Every time it's brand new. Always changing. What appears to be a physical practise has an abundance of depth if we choose to tap into it.
When acting with awareness we are rewarded with a vast fountain of knowledge. This is meditation in motion. If willing, we can witness our habit patterns of both mind and body and realize that we have the choice in each passing moment from which perspective to act.
So, although each of my days are more of the Same Same then they ever have been, they are also brand new and Different and teaching me SO much!
Try it!
What is it you do every single day? Watch yourself the next few times you do it and see what it has to teach you.
Hope you like the pictures! They are a small glimpse into my first month here!
With Love,
t
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Winter in Goa
Hello Friends,
DEC 3rd, 2009
This is just a short note to say Hello, tell you I continue to be doing well in this fine country and let you know I have a mailing address should you desire to send me some snail mail :)
It's winter here in Goa and I know I will not receive any sympathy from any of you but this means on my morning scooter drives to yoga I have to wear my merino wool and a new thick fleece and wool toque that I, believe it or not, bought here. It's really quite chilly in the mornings and evenings however, it's very refreshing and quite enjoyable. I realize the weather is very relative. The days are still getting quite hot, but much drier, making the mornings and nights seem that much cooler.
My days continue to consist of developing and strengthening my ashtanga yoga practise in a very inspiring atmosphere followed by good home cooking, laundry by hand, relaxing in the hammock, reading and resting. Yeah, I can't complain, that's for sure. I have really slowed down, more than I knew I was capable of. I suppose the culture is rubbing off on that front but all in all, it's very pleasant. It's opened up time and space for reflecting and really for just Being. I guess I really needed this because it continues to feel just right, for now.
I have pondered sharing some of my many thoughts and reflections via a blog but have yet to set it up. I'll work on that!
I also promise to send pictures soon. Real soon.
I hope life is treating each one of you very well!
Did you notice the full moon? Wow. I find that's part of the beauty of granting ourselves time in our lives - we are better able to take in what is around us including nature and all of it's power.
Iain and I hiked up to a most perfect lookout over the ocean to watch the sun setting to the west and the full moon rising to the east. The tide rolled in below us, the swallows came out above us and for one of the first times here there was near silence. It was grand!
Some of you have expressed that you would like to send me snail mail....how nice!
I will be at the same address until mid February so, if you want to write, send me an e-mail andI will give you my address.
And, I love sending postcards so feel free to give me your address and I'll pop one in the mail!
Be well Everyone,
until next time,
much love,
t
DEC 3rd, 2009
This is just a short note to say Hello, tell you I continue to be doing well in this fine country and let you know I have a mailing address should you desire to send me some snail mail :)
It's winter here in Goa and I know I will not receive any sympathy from any of you but this means on my morning scooter drives to yoga I have to wear my merino wool and a new thick fleece and wool toque that I, believe it or not, bought here. It's really quite chilly in the mornings and evenings however, it's very refreshing and quite enjoyable. I realize the weather is very relative. The days are still getting quite hot, but much drier, making the mornings and nights seem that much cooler.
My days continue to consist of developing and strengthening my ashtanga yoga practise in a very inspiring atmosphere followed by good home cooking, laundry by hand, relaxing in the hammock, reading and resting. Yeah, I can't complain, that's for sure. I have really slowed down, more than I knew I was capable of. I suppose the culture is rubbing off on that front but all in all, it's very pleasant. It's opened up time and space for reflecting and really for just Being. I guess I really needed this because it continues to feel just right, for now.
I have pondered sharing some of my many thoughts and reflections via a blog but have yet to set it up. I'll work on that!
I also promise to send pictures soon. Real soon.
I hope life is treating each one of you very well!
Did you notice the full moon? Wow. I find that's part of the beauty of granting ourselves time in our lives - we are better able to take in what is around us including nature and all of it's power.
Iain and I hiked up to a most perfect lookout over the ocean to watch the sun setting to the west and the full moon rising to the east. The tide rolled in below us, the swallows came out above us and for one of the first times here there was near silence. It was grand!
Some of you have expressed that you would like to send me snail mail....how nice!
I will be at the same address until mid February so, if you want to write, send me an e-mail andI will give you my address.
And, I love sending postcards so feel free to give me your address and I'll pop one in the mail!
Be well Everyone,
until next time,
much love,
t
There is Order amongst the Chaos
Hello Friends,
NOV 19th, 2009
It's been 10 days now that I have been in this diverse, humid, beautiful country and life is good, very good! I am exactly where I feel I should be, which is a spectacular feeling. I am in a relatively small town called Arpora in Goa, just a short 10-15 minute drive from the yoga shala in Candolim. I am staying with Iain for the past week which is treating me so well....healthy food and good company. It's perfect. He's really taking care of me and showing me the ropes which include all the best places to eat, beaches to stroll, private clay sites to cleanse at, and markets to peruse.
I drive my very own rented scooter each morning to yoga which is quite peaceful at 6:30 am as I pass by open fields, cows (in the streets), a few towns and many, many dogs. The drive on the way back is a completely different world. Life is thriving by this time (10 am) and the streets are busy with traffic in all directions but.....I have come to learn quite quickly that there is order to this chaos. The whole country feels chaotic at times, especially in the markets, and I am in one of the calmest, friendliest places in the country. But really, it's just a different way of operating and I am slowly surrendering my linear mindset into this new way of being in order to integrate. It's quite humbling. I find the challenge is learning how to operate this way without aggression. For instance, everyone uses their horns to maintain some order on the roads. At home, we use the horn when annoyed but in fact here it is courtesy, for instance to let someone know you are passing. Try it. Honk at someone on the road next time you are out and wave with a smile. They won't know what hit them :)
Yoga is INCREDIBLE. Never before have I witnessed a room with such strong energy, dedication, determination, strength and yet peace. It's incredible to see and be a part of. Wow. I am blown away. My practice has already blossomed and I am soaking up the teachings as I sweat buckets (literally) in this humidity. It's really amazing and I have yet to try and find the right words for it. People from all over the world gather on this open walled rooftop to practice wherever they are at in the Ashtanga series and learn from these incredible teachers. I Absolutely Love It!
Well, this is getting lengthy.
I mostly wanted to paint a small picture of my new, temporary world for you all and say Hello!
I hope life is treating you very well and I send you much Love!
Until next time, be well and may you find order in the chaos!
ciao!
t
NOV 19th, 2009
It's been 10 days now that I have been in this diverse, humid, beautiful country and life is good, very good! I am exactly where I feel I should be, which is a spectacular feeling. I am in a relatively small town called Arpora in Goa, just a short 10-15 minute drive from the yoga shala in Candolim. I am staying with Iain for the past week which is treating me so well....healthy food and good company. It's perfect. He's really taking care of me and showing me the ropes which include all the best places to eat, beaches to stroll, private clay sites to cleanse at, and markets to peruse.
I drive my very own rented scooter each morning to yoga which is quite peaceful at 6:30 am as I pass by open fields, cows (in the streets), a few towns and many, many dogs. The drive on the way back is a completely different world. Life is thriving by this time (10 am) and the streets are busy with traffic in all directions but.....I have come to learn quite quickly that there is order to this chaos. The whole country feels chaotic at times, especially in the markets, and I am in one of the calmest, friendliest places in the country. But really, it's just a different way of operating and I am slowly surrendering my linear mindset into this new way of being in order to integrate. It's quite humbling. I find the challenge is learning how to operate this way without aggression. For instance, everyone uses their horns to maintain some order on the roads. At home, we use the horn when annoyed but in fact here it is courtesy, for instance to let someone know you are passing. Try it. Honk at someone on the road next time you are out and wave with a smile. They won't know what hit them :)
Yoga is INCREDIBLE. Never before have I witnessed a room with such strong energy, dedication, determination, strength and yet peace. It's incredible to see and be a part of. Wow. I am blown away. My practice has already blossomed and I am soaking up the teachings as I sweat buckets (literally) in this humidity. It's really amazing and I have yet to try and find the right words for it. People from all over the world gather on this open walled rooftop to practice wherever they are at in the Ashtanga series and learn from these incredible teachers. I Absolutely Love It!
Well, this is getting lengthy.
I mostly wanted to paint a small picture of my new, temporary world for you all and say Hello!
I hope life is treating you very well and I send you much Love!
Until next time, be well and may you find order in the chaos!
ciao!
t
Hello From Mumbai
Hello Friends,
NOV 10th, 2009This is just a quick note to let you all know I am safe in Mumbai!
Wow, what a place.
I learnt today that there are as many people as the whole population of the Yukon (not just Whitehorse) in 1 sq km of this metropolis. That about sums it up! Lots of people everywhere!
It all feels interestingly familiar though. The temperature and the smells particularly remind me of Nigeria with the exception of the random passes of sweet incense and chai tea. It's just like I imagined and then some. Colourful and crazy!
We are experiencing abnormally strong rains due to a weather system off the coast in the Arabian sea so it feels like monsoon season!
I surprised myself and felt very comfortable after arriving. I ventured out on a 1 hour train ride by myself to see Sanjay Ghandi National Park. It is a touch of solitude in the middle of all this chaos. The tropical forest was soothing and I even went on an Indian 'Safari' ride and saw white and orange tigers and lions! All on day 1!
And in a few hours I will fly to Goa where I expect it to be much more peaceful to start yoga early next week!
I hope this finds you all very, very well.
Sending you warmth and love!
:)
t
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