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

To me, the Great Narasimha, brings together the dual components of Tantra: ‘upaya’ and ‘prajna’, skillful means and perfect insight. When the asura Hiranyakashipu secured the boon that he could not be killed by the following conditions: • in day time or at night • inside a dwelling or outside • on ground or in the air • by human or animal • by any known weapon or tool The wise Vishnu took on the form of Narasimha — ‘man-lion’, such a ferocious beast that was neither man nor a

“Asuras are part of Hinduism along with Devas, Yakshas (nature spirits), Rakshasas (fierce man-eating beings or demons), Bhutas (ghosts) and many more. Asuras have been featured in many cosmological theories and legends in Hinduism and Buddhism.” Are ‘asuras’ — what is commonly translated as ‘demons’ or ‘power-driven beings’ — actually ‘real’ or literal? Let me explain. For simplicity’s sake, and based on my own understanding and experience, asuras can be divided into 3 plane

I’d like to make one thing clear: We pray to the many gods and goddesses, the higher energies. But Prayer is only one part; the other part is Practice. PRAYER and PRACTICE complete and balance one another. Without Practice, prayer becomes empty. Without Prayer, practice becomes dogmatic. Practice is what we observe and act upon outside of Prayer. The choices we make when we think no one is watching. Personal Practice, or Sadhana, goes deeper — time and effort is consciously c

One of the ‘silver linings’ of the lockdowns were that most of the sacred sites and energy portals in the world could get a rest, and sift away all the ‘heavy energetics’ left behind by tourist hordes and well-meaning ‘spiritual seekers’. I’ve written about this topic before — Bali is a good example of the consequence of ‘emotional dumping’ by people who go there and ‘leave all their baggage behind’ — contaminating the energy of the land and place. Basically ‘emotional dumpin

Understanding the Roots of Scarcity Lakshmi is most well-known as the Goddess of Wealth and Money. That’s great, but the truth is, She is so much more than that. And when one delves deeper into Her spiritual teachings, Her tantra, one will be amazed by the depth — and potential for transformation — She brings. Lakshmi is, after all, Maha Prakriti, the primordial essence of all creation, the Mother of the very fabric of existence as we know it. Today, however, we will be talki