My goals in coming to India, were to go deeper with yoga, explore new cultures, research interior design topics and write. With writing, I need material to write about, so I have been seeking experiences that would make for interesting stories.
If you are ready to believe, you are easy to deceive.
I went to an Arabian coffee reader in the 'Little Arabia' of Bangalore. It was a pocket of a completely different culture in the middle of India- very interesting! There was even a meat market! I must admit the experience was crazy, almost like a sitcom. One of those times that makes me wonder "Is this really happening?" This lady reads the Bollywood stars' fortunes and people come from all over to see her. I drank from the tiny cup, leaving a small amount in the bottom. It was then dumped out to dry. The rather large woman, lounging on her bed like a roman goddess, then spewed out my fortune in perfect English for about 20 minutes. (Except for when the maid came in to discuss her laundry in Kanata language, along with an exchange of money. And then the 4 phone calls she took while in the middle of my reading.) It cost 900 rupees which I chalk up to 'entertainment'. Whether or not any of this will happen is more of a self fulfilling prophecy. My question was if there had been a curse put on me. The answer was 'NO, your stars are too strong...they tried but no curse can work.' She did tell me to go dip into the salty sea 7 times to remove any negative energy. I thought this fascinating since I know this is how crystals are 'cleansed'. I was planning a trip to the coast of the Arabian Sea next week, anyways!
"The whole point of yoga is preventative", Barbara says. "Its not to be controlled by the stars, but to be aware of their influence, and control them. It should not overtake you and you needn't energize those seeds of negativity."
Then I got a quick lesson in White vs. Black magic. White is done with the willingness of the participants. Ghandi, Bill Gates an others all use white magic to bring good to the world. It benefits others, furthers society and promotes peace. Black magic on the other hand, is done in the shadows to manipulate others for their own, personal will.
Transomatic hypnotherapy session
The next day I went to Kumar's. He is popular around here. A student of Osho and an Ayervedic specialist. He puts people in a trance through deep relaxation and then goes into past lives, rebirthing, childhood repressed traumas...you name it! Well, apparently my higher consciousness was putting a veil of darkness over my past and I was not about to find out any of these mysteries. Other people have the experience of crying, remembering crazy stuff and releasing blockages. Not me.
It reminds me of the book I am reading right now called the "Yoga of Wealth", which says "It is of little consequence what transpired in the past ~ the past is never fully responsible for your future, your present is."
Many times we delve into the past or blame people and the past for our unhappiness. I am learning that happiness is a decision...its not about giving vent to ego.
As seen in a rickshaw today:
Happiness is the only good.
The place to be happy is here.
The time to be happy is now.
The way to be happy is to make others so.
Diamond Tears
Its called 'Karmic Yoga': Serving others to bring about happiness can reverse negative karma. I find myself at Bapaji Orphanage a block from my house. I have signed up for 2 hours a day for my last week, after they put me through the security and paperwork. Having 4 kids myself qualifies me as they have had problems with yoga students in the past, who are trying to 'center' themselves. Plus, the kids get so attached that they don't want them to be abandoned again by those who aren't committed. Small children grab my arms, call me 'Auntie' and speak to me in Kanata. They are abandoned, from the streets or handicapped. 60 live in the home from infants to 30 year old women. They leave when they marry, usually to Christian men. Caste is of no issue, because they do not know which one they were born into. They receive 270 rupees a month per child, but the cost is 1,000. There is also an elderly women section, who need volunteers to sit and socialize with them. Mostly they just want to comb your hair or give you an Indian head massage. As Mother Theresa says- she feels like the most selfish person in the world, as one receives through giving.
Barbara mentions that she has seen a change in my energy since my arrival. I am no longer 'defensive'. Coming to India, we tend to carry with us the stress of the West and wear it to the world. Coupled with the lack of creature comforts and the lack of peace, India has its way of transforming those who come. There is a rich history over 8,000 years old and She is called the 'Mother of Civilization'. They say when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I came in hopes of finding a Guru, but India has become my teacher.
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