I imagine people who’ve also gone through what I‘ve experienced — people like my parents and those before them — who didn’t have or weren’t taught the language, understanding, support structure, and self-care that I had. At a time and place when the words depression or anxiety didn’t even exist in common thought yet. It breaks my heart on a different level. Yes I know ‘times were different then’ — but it doesn’t negate any of the pain and struggle… But this also reminds me WH

SELF-TRANSFORMATION … is not easy. Practicing self-love and self-care is not easy. Learning to make better choices for yourself is not easy. Stepping through any threshold of change always requires that extra effort, commitment, and discipline to push through. Resistance is real! But every small effort counts. Real change does not come overnight — or over a weekend workshop. It takes time, it take patience, and it takes diligence. Practice, practice, practice. It’s okay to fa

Today is a reminder to stop and smell the flowers. Progress is often not linear. Many students feel like giving-up after years of trying and pushing, yet not ‘seeing tangible results’. A few gentle reminders for this dark moon: • Not all results are tangible. Something as subtle as ‘feeling less tired’ or ‘being less triggered’ is an important state that is often overlooked! You have grown — but you don’t realize it. Ask trusted people around you for reflection. • Purificatio

The teachings of Goddess Durga is primarily the path of conquering asuras — namely, those inner demons that manifest from the ego-self (ahamkara). Twice a year, we are granted the 9 sacred nights of Durga, the Navaratri, which begin on new moon, energetically condusive for such an endeavour, to go deep into the shadow-realms with courage, power, and strategy. Durga whose name means ‘impenetrable fortress’ holds us safe as She guides us into the inner labyrinth to face our del

… sublime yogini, entered into my consciousness some years ago thanks to my yoga teacher. It was during our 5-day Tapas training, when she was expounding on how none of the devas could rouse Shiva from his deep meditation, and thus Purusha (consciousness) began to withdraw from the world. They called upon Shakti, who upon hearing their cries, took the incarnation of Parvati, Daughter of the Mountain. But unlike Her previous incarnation Sita who walked the Path of Fire — Parva

We are living now in an extraordinary time. Two realities existing at once, the proverbial — no, literal — heaven and hell. The splitting of the atom. The nature of Light which is both wave and particle. Sublime paradox of shadow and light. We were told we had to choose a side and vilify the other — but as I saw my ‘self’ reflected into two halves, I realized… Ascension is not a matter of denouncing one, but the ability to hold compassion for both — one half in the shadow, th

Dreams are particularly potent and fluid during spiritual immersions and retreats, as the veils between the worlds are held opened (and guarded, mind you) by the Teacher. Imagine the delight (or shock!) when one student dreamed of the Goddess Durga at night — and received as a gift a small murti of Her right the next day! Sometimes, the Goddess makes Herself known very directly by those who are ready to work with a specific energy, or have a prior karmic connection. It’s pers

Nepal is a beautiful place, this I’ve always known. Since I came here to celebrate my 37th birthday some years back, I’ve returned many times — twice even with student groups. It was never my intention to do sacred journeys here. There is always that risk of over-exposure, commercialization, bastardization, and dilution of beauty — and spiritual teachings. When something becomes ‘too easily accessible’ it is the nature of human beings to take things for granted. Eat Pray Love

Is Your Desire for Connection, Validation, and Being Seen — Propelling Your Internal Growth? …. Or is it blinding you from being exploited by ‘spiritual gurus’, marketing experts, and collective projections? As we prepare for Rahu to conjunct with the Sun and Mercury in the next few days for the coming month — all in the emotional, unconscious waters of Pisces — these questions come to the surface. Are you able to tell apart your own need for validation, from the work that ne

In our search for someone (or something) better — don’t forget to become better ourselves. If we are not even ready to show-up for ourselves — who are we expecting to show-up for us? Contentment is great; but let’s not confuse that with settling for less, diminishing our potential — or dare I say it — hiding from the risk of having to leave the old and familiar behind. Live freely, or love fully — both require the truth and commitment to your very being. Fortune favors the bo