A list of things I love about life in India...10 Holi

There is so much more going in and around my world that I need to voice so much so that I've actually developed a bit block in my throat chakra!

So I have decided since there is still a lot that I love about India and want to share with you I'm going to continue with this series but I'll only post the series once a week, the intention is the weekend so if you've been following make sure you stop by on Saturday or Sunday each week.

I will also try to get a post in mid week about some of the things that are transpiring in my world but for now the series

Number ten on the list is...

Holi

The "Festival of Colour" or better known in India as the "Festival of Love" now I could generalize and talk about all of the  Festivals, and it's true I love many but Holi by far, is my favorite and something I look forward to every single year!

This picture here on the right is from my very first Holi celebrations five years ago where I played with children in a charity school.





Our auspicious town is quite special this time of year since one of the stories surrounding the origin of Holi explains that Krishna who was darker in colour decided to paint the fair skin of his beloved Radha. He did so in such a loving and joyful manner that everyone wanted to join in on the fun.



So thousands of people flock to our town to partake in the festivities; the crowds walk the streets and attend temples where colour is thrown with wreckless abandon.

It can reach a feverish tone and I for one tend to avoid the crowds now and just play with my family and children in our home and neighborhood. The kids love throwing colour on passerby's and the giggles and shouts of "Holi Hai" can be heard all over.

No one is safe; if you leave your house there will be colour thrown on you, my in laws turn into children on this day and to watch them laugh and enjoy themselves so much makes my heart swell with love.

 My kids are at such fun ages for this festival and were real troopers outlasting some of their older siblings!

Have you celebrated Holi? If so please share with me your experience and if you've never had an opportunity consider joining us here in India next year for this celebration at our Guesthouse!

A list of things I love about life in India...9 Temples

Number 9 on my list of  things I love about Life in India is...

Temples

There is something magical about the temples of India. For me they have become sanctuaries. I honestly believe to cultivate a relationship with higher self, God, source, the universe whatever you want to call it you do not need anything but the stillness of your mind and the whispers of your heart. But the energy around you can either support or thwart your spiritual growth. Where I live in India there are over 5000 ancient temples and many new modern ones. Many of these structures have become sanctuaries for me. A place of refuge, a space where I can absorb some pretty beautiful positive vibes and enjoy the peaceful, or intense bhakti energy, depending on my mood determines the temple I visit at any given time.

When I want entertainment, fun and tasty cake I visit ISKCON; the Hare Krishna temple as we would refer to it in North America, here in my town it is called the "Angrez Mandir" which literally translates to the "foreigner temple." Most locals don't attend this temple but it was one of my first experiences with deity worship and someday I'll share the story but I feel I have a bond there, plus its often the only time I see other white people!



I'll admit to my Christian friends I sometimes feel like Jesus did in Matthew 21:12 "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and seats of those who were selling doves. And he said to the them "It is written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER"; but you are making it a ROBBERS DEN." when I enter this temple sometimes I'm saddened and disgusted how God is for sale but then it's not my place to judge if I want to live true to ancient texts. So instead I view it for what it is to me; a place of connection, a bhakti high and a source of entertainment all in the name of divine love.

Here is a video clip from the Kirtan that takes place daily;

Then there are the quiet out of the way temples that many outsiders don't even hear about, ones that feel so ancient and are picturesque to me of what India looks like. Your soul can't help but be transported to a deeper more knowing place of love and connection.

I always find in these lesser known temples there is a sense of history,I can feel the energy that existed long before I did. I often feel like I'm transported back in time, it brings out the spiritual adventurer in me.

I've been privileged being married to a local, some of these temples are tucked away and one may not even realize it's a place of worship. I feel blessed to be exposed to their beauty and gifted with their energy.

And I know this will sound a little strange but when the deity connects with me, through eye contact, a wink or even a smile, words whisper from my heart and I know I'm on the right path. Many of these powerful beacons call to my heart and I can't get them out of my head until I visit, whenever I heed the call and find my way to them I'm usually gifted with a new insight into my world, my life and my true nature.




"You may pray for an hour and still not pray. You may meet God for a moment and then be in touch with him all day." ~ Fredrik Wisloff

"In worship an increased power steals its way into your heart, an increased compassion grows in the soul. To worship is to change." ~ Richard J Foster

I lead a number of retreats yearly in our Holy Area exploring the off the beat temples and sacred areas most travel guides don't even mention, if you'd like more information make sure to "like" and "follow" Balanced Soul on facebook or email 1balancedsoul@gmail.com


There is still more to come in this series be sure to check back regularly...

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Endings and Beginnings

I've been quiet for a couple of weeks and I apologize for that. I appreciate the outpouring of messages and I assure you all is fine I have just needed some space to allow the dust to settle from 2014. For me last year was intense, it was as if almost every life lesson I have claimed to understand was put to the test. I was forced to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Each time I waved the white flag surrendering, begging the universe to stop, insisting that I got it, another situation occurred showing me how much work I still needed to do. I was given brief moments of serenity to catch my breath but I was forced to put into practice all I claimed spiritually to have achieved. It was a practice what you preach kind of year.

On new years eve, staying true to my Yoga Challenge and the Bhakti portion I have embarked on I went to a Goddess Temple, It is a Kali Temple. I chose this temple because she is the Goddess of Endings and Beginnings; we must release the old to let the new in. I found it fitting for the last day of the year.

Kali Ma is known as The Dark Mother; she is a kick ass warrior who offers you empowerment. The particular deity of this temple similar to the one pictured has a story attached to it that Kali was in a fight with a demon overhead when the demon's sword cut her hair, the lock fell to earth on the land of this ancient temple and the deity was born of it. And although I have been to this particular temple in the past for some reason I never really saw the deity before, this time when her eyes met mine my whole body began to tremble, something was being awakened in me.



Right before bed I read this quote and it struck a chord as the clock struck midnight: "Tonight go to sleep as though your whole past has been dropped. Die to the past. And in the morning wake up as a new  man in a new morning. DOn't let the same one who went to bed get up. Let him go to sleep for good. Let the one who is ever-new and ever-fresh wake instead" ~ Osho

On new years day I woke with a sense of excitement, I had written my good bye letter to 2014 as per my normal ritual for saying goodbye to a year. I thanked the year for its practice makes perfect lessons, for helping me to break down my walls of resistance and for keeping the abundance of health, wealth and love flowing in my life and for those around me. Then I set my intentions for 2015 which include: 365 days of Gratitude, meditating daily, having a belly laugh each day, playing more with my children, not begrudging my husband (or anyone for that matter) of his cultural conditioning, getting our Spiritual Guesthouse finished so you can finally come visit and many more.

My husband, children and I ventured out to the most auspicious temple in our home town, along with almost every other person who lives here and was visiting from outside, It was chaos which was not unexpected, we maneuvered the crowd finding our way into the back of the temple with our children in arms, had a quick darshan (prayer) during which the deity gave us a perfect view of him, I solidified my intentions for the year and asked that my lessons be gentle but firm, that my higher self have a stronger voice and I only be led to those who will continue to help me grow in a positive manner. Now I always warn those who visit Sri Banke Bihari Ji to be careful what you pray for because in my experience it will manifest

We left the temple and the crowd seemed to grow. We were walking through a narrow ally way and everyone began pushing. I elbowed and hipped as best I could to keep my very tight space; enough room to breathe for me and baby girl who was in my arms. Suddenly what little space I had seemed to disappear, the guy behind me pushed relentlessly, I walked out of my shoe leaving it behind there was nowhere to stop or turn. We were surrounded from every side, my husband and son were one person ahead of us and the relentless pushing was not allowing for another step forward or in any direction for that matter. My daughter was pressed up against me her breathing was becoming labored. I yelled at the people around me to back off but the guy behind me pushed harder, he actually pushed me where my daughter was in my arms trying to squeeze past me pressing her so tightly against me and passerbys she actually began fighting to get out of my arms. I panicked slightly crying out my Hubby's name, he yelled at the guy to step back but the guy immediately started mouthing off and continued pushing. My son seeing the fear in my eyes and hearing the argument between his Papa and this idiot began to cry, my hubby managed to get between me and guy allowing for a bit of breathing room,

I kept talking to my son telling him it was all okay as Hubby and this guy exchanged fighting words. I know my husbands power and pretty much everyone knows him in our town I knew it could turn ugly but I also could tell by hubby's demeanor he was not going to allow someone to hurt his wife and child then talk so rudely but because he had us with him and my son in his arms I didn't think he was going to smack this guy, but the guy just wouldn't shut up, Part of me wanted to see him get hit for being an idiot, his mouth kept flapping despite hubby and others in the crowd telling him to give it up.

Finally I had enough, I turned and yelled in Hindi for him to shut up, enough was enough, 

Silence hushed over the entire crowd, see in India a women wouldn't usually raise her voice to man, especially in public but I had had enough, these were my beloveds he was upsetting, for no reason other than his own issues, whatever they may be. I stared into the guys eyes daring him to speak another word. After a moment he dropped his eyes, looked to my husband for a split second who simply gave him a look like "you've been told, final warning" He stayed quiet and we all continued walking. Everyone around us began greeting me on our traditional way and saying happy new year, helping to ease the tension, one police officer even offered me a small smile after the exchange.

Kali Ma I thought to myself as the crowd opened this is going to be an empowering year indeed...

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Bhakti the path of love...

"During a certain phase of the journey, we are not open to understanding the parts of ourselves that play against our own happiness. We are not really willing to get to know ourselves - we just want to get rid of our symptoms that bring suffering. In this phase, prayer and devotion are like a bargain that we use because they meet our needs, It is natural to start off like this, but at some point we must let go of this bargaining in order to continue along the path of love, Devotion is not meant as an occasional practice; only when it is firm and steady can it lead us to the experience of oneness. what builds this steadiness is self-awareness" ~ Sri Prem Baba

I started the Bhakti portion of this Yoga Challenge at one of my favorite temples here in my sacred town. It is my intention to engage in some form of prayer, worship everyday for a minimum of thirty days, but if the results are anything like the rest of this practice it will become as much as part of my world as eating food and drinking water.

"When speaking of Bhakti we could be referring to an emotion, a practice, a school of philosophical thought, a popular movement, or state of consciousness. The common thread that connects all of these uses of term is its relation to the souls dormant love for God that is seen as the very essence of our being. The idea that the very purpose of human life is uncovering that essence is found throughout the worlds spiritual traditions" ~ Radhanath Swami

For me it is a a bit of a step back, back to the source of my love for this quaint little town. This temple is where I was introduced to my first Hindu God. I live in the town where Krishna was born. He is known throughout Hinduism as the ultimate enjoyer. The lover of love, silly and carefree, strong and bold but the core of my learning in relation to this being is the purpose to life is to enjoy, to enjoy every moment of every day and in truth isn't that what we all are really craving?

Day Nineteen of my Challenge - put to the test

Presence, what does that mean?
For me it means being fully aware and engaged in whatever it is I am doing.

We live in a day in age when multitasking is all the rage, the more we can get done in a single moment the more effective we are, but for who?

Does any one task truly get the presence of mind it deserves?

I used to get frustrated with my husband because he is not a multitasker, he would get frustrated with me because I wouldn't do something "with mind" as he called it. Together we are finding balance.

When we are present in whatever we are engaged in our whole being is there, we are not thinking about what else has to be done through the day. We are not replaying what has already occurred this week, we are simply being. Now yes one can consciously choose to spend  time reflecting on past events, or planning what we'd like to accomplish in what time period but we must be aware of where our thoughts are at all times, this for me is presence.

I'm just as guilty as the next gal, I often catch myself writing this blog while I'm cooking dinner or thinking about my next status update while I'm reading posts from friends. Catching your thoughts or rather letting your thoughts go is surrender. Surrendering to what is, without trying to escape from the reality you've created around you and embracing all that life is the presence I'm cultivating with this challenge.

Today I was tested in surrender, firstly it marked the beginning of that lovely time of month we women share, I don't usually blog about menstruation but trust me I bring it up because it will be relevant. I decided to do an online yoga class geared at honoring the menstrual cycle and was half way through the VERY relaxing practice when my phone rang, the kids were sleeping so I jumped up to answer it, hubby informed me that my friends were here. "What?" I stammered...

I had been chatting with a friend who was in Delhi on vacation and hoping to make the trek to our auspicious town but her husband had been under the weather and they were beginning to run short on time. She mentioned that today was the day they would like to arrive but I didn't hear from her so I assumed her hubby was still not feeling up to travelling. Low and behold here they were in our Holy Town searching for us, she couldn't get through on my phone and I wasn't receiving her messages on social media.

For a second I panic'd, what was I going to do with them? Now that my monthly visitor had arrived it wasn't like I could take them to any of the five thousand temples our town in known for. I have mentioned numerous times that we live in a Holy Town here in India and with that comes certain rules; like not entering any sacred site while menstruating.

I can hear you now echoing my same questions years ago "who is going to know?" "will someone be checking you before you enter a temple?" and the answer is no, no one will check and I, along with my husband, would be the only ones to know. I recently caught myself arguing "explain to me why?" No one has a clear answer, its just not considered clean. Again the feminist in me bangs her head against the wall. this mentality from ancient times sure I can understand but nowadays we have extra absorbency pads and even better tampons or Devi cups. I'd still like to know what makes us women impure during this time so please enlighten me if you know.

In the meantime I choose to surrender. I chatted with my friend over chai and explained the situation, she too being married to an Indian and living in 'Westernized' India six month out of the year said it probably wouldn't stop her but respected my decision. We discussed many "rules" while she was here that I abide by, "How do you do it? How do you handle being told you can't do something?" she asked with genuine curiosity. I explained I'm the one that made the choice to live in a foreign culture, one that came with rules and restrictions. I can't expect it to change just because I'm here and would like it a certain way. I made the choice so I have to accept what is the reality around me. I bend rules where I can, I get away with a lot more than my Indian sister in laws but some rules no matter how absurd they may seem, have meaning, and if they mean something to my husband my love for him allows me to just follow it. Does it hurt me to not go to temple for a few days out of each month? No not at all, so why fight it? There are so many wonderful things to focus on about my life here getting caught up in the restrictions are not worth my time.

Its probably a good thing I didn't know she was coming I would have stressed not knowing how to entertain someone in my Bhakti town, but we had a blast, We went to Prem Mandir which my hubby and I lovingly refer to as the Vegas of Vrindavan with its lights and water show. With so much to see and do outside of worship it was a perfect evening. We were able to sit outside enjoying the sights and sounds of the grounds,  my three year old guided them inside the temple for Darshan (prayers), we ate great food and laughed loudly.  It really is a spectacle and my friends loved every inch of it! I was there, not worried about what will do tomorrow, trusting it will reveal itself when the moment arrives, for now I'm basking in the ability to surrender and gratitude for the lesson of day.

Day Eleven of my Challenge - As promised more on one of my favorite Festivals we celebrated

After pondering yesterdays blog I think I've come to the conclusion that the universe delivers us situations based on our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and life. One can say "fate" delivers us opportunities, what we do with these chances that are offered determines our destiny. Which is always changing depending on our choices, our thoughts and our actions (or sometimes non action.)

So yes God has us exactly where we are supposed to be, surrounded by the people and circumstances that will give us the deepest reflection of our truth. The more we resist what is the longer it will stick around (good or bad). We must learn to accept what is, knowing it is for our highest good (which like a loving parent is the only thing the all loving universe wanst for us) so really it is about surrendering to what is so we can manifest what will be!

As promised I will tell you about one of my favorite Indian Festivals we celebrated a few weeks ago, it's called Bhaiya Dooj (or Bhai Doj)

"Nowhere is the bond of brotherly-sisterly love glorified with such grandeur as in India"

Sisters visit their brothers home and in a ceremony they put an auspicious mark called a tilak on the forehead of their brother, this is a mark of love and protection, they then perform aarti of him (a worship) by lighting sacred fire also known as holy flame, then they give their brothers a coconut which is considered God's Fruit. Sisters in turn are lavished with gifts and blessings from their brothers

My husband has two sisters both of which came and spent the day at our home. My son has six sisters and my daughter nine brothers, it made for a wonderful day filled with laughter and love.

These are some of the sweetest pictures of my children during the ceremonies.

My absolute favorite photo is this one of my son touching the feet of my daughter asking for blessings

There are few more festivals we celebrated that I will discuss further in future blogs for now I must Repose...

Diwali the Indian Christmas?

We just celebrated a few major Hindu Festivals here in my family home, Diwali which was a two day festival, choti (small) Diwali followed by Diwali. It has been described as the Indian Christmas and although I have celebrated it before in other parts of India this was actually my first time at home with my family for these auspicious days.

I understand the correlation between Diwali known as the Festival of Lights and Christmas. People go all out to decorate their homes with hanging lights, much like we do back in the west for Christmas. Unlike the West there are no presents exchanged, quite a few boxes of sweets were delivered to our family home but that is where the pressure to give ends. It was a relief to not have the material nature which accompanies Christmas with this holiday or so I thought. It exists but under a different guise; first I was instructed by my sister in laws that I needed to purchase new clothes for me, my husband and my children. After doing so I was then told of a day Dhanteras which occurred just before Diwali where something metal had to be purchased for my kitchen and any major purchases that are planned for the year will often occur on this day, many people buy cars, washing machines, anything and everything that has a metal content. Because I have a new kitchen I was told to buy all new dishes but we are still in the middle of restoring our Spiritual Guesthouse so we opted to just purchase one simple pot, my hubby assured me it had nothing to do with the quantity of items it was simply important to purchase something.

Small Diwali was upon us when I was asked to view my new bed sheet. "What?" I asked. Yes it was important to put a new bed sheet on your bed the night of Diwali, nobody could really tell me why and my husband called everyone mental (crazy) and I wondered about all of the people living in poverty in this country and how they could possibly please the "Gods" involved with this holiday without any money. But then again everyone finds a way to enjoy Christmas and I think it is more about the feeling that comes along with these festivals rather than the pomp and circumstance.

Other similarities I noticed included; cleaning, everyone I know in Canada does a nice good clean before they put up their Holiday decorations but here in India we had to clean the same space a dozen times, I kept being told Laxmi Ji is coming (The Goddess of Wealth) and not to be disrespectful but I was like "and...what? she'll be pissed if there is a speck of dirt on the floor?" I don't know maybe I'm just misunderstanding but I've mentioned it before I don't believe God or in this case Goddess will bless me or not bless me simply because my house was not "up to standards" I think our blessings has far more to do with the energy we pull in and the intentions we set.

The cooking was also similar in the fact that there was massive amounts of food to consume. We cooked all morning and ate all day, it was great. There was no specific foods to be cooked for this festival as their are for others in the Hindu Calender, there was no traditional food to cook like how most families cook turkey and mashed potatoes in the west (or nut loaf in place of turkey in the case of my home) we just chose favorite dishes from each family member and did our best to make everyone happy, my big job was to mix flour to make puri (deep fried bread). A job all of my sisters complain about but I quite enjoy, it's physical and you get to get your hands dirty, I've liked from the very first time I was taught how to do it.

The day arrived and decorations went up, it was beautiful, the family sitting and enjoying life together was wonderful but what I liked most and what gave me that nostalgic Christmas vibe was the sense of youthfulness rekindled by everyone in the home. We set off hundred of fireworks and my husband and his brothers giggled like school kids as they argued over whose bombs (as they are called here) made the biggest blast.  My son had some fear with all of the loud noise but my daughter embraced it. All of the kids of our home ran around playing with sparklers, cracking caps and laughing in delight throughout the entire night, my babes literally passed out from exhaustion, just like last years Christmas.

All in all it was a heart warming celebration and yes definitely as wonderful as Christmas!

There were a couple more festivals that followed I'll blog about next...

A Hindu fast brought me to a new place of being...

Karva Chauth was yesterday it is a fast observed by married Hindu women for the well being and longevity of their husbands.

Firstly I don't believe in any God that looks upon people as good or bad, deserving or undeserving, I believe we are born with one gift bestowed upon us from the creator and that is free will. There is some karma that comes into play, circumstances of life etc... but the reality we live in is our own manifestation. Our thoughts create this world. Simple. Conditioning and cultural beliefs continue to limit or empower us and dissolving patterns that no longer serve and taking control of ones thoughts is work, something I've been working on for over a decade now and it's still a work in progress. I'm telling you my beliefs because I could not approach this fast the same way my Hindu born sister in laws and mother in law did.

All of my western friends and family ask "well when do the men fast for the women?" The answer is "they don't" at first four years ago when I heard of this fast this was my response. I was angry that it always falls to the women to ensure health and prosperity for their husbands but time has changed my viewpoint.

I couldn't observe the fast back then, I had just given birth to our son who arrived two and half months premature. I was in Canada my Husband was frantically trying to get his visa to join us, I was overwhelmed, scared, but filled with all of the strength a mother can muster, I needed all my energy for our baby and my healing. my husband concurred.

The next year when the fast arrived I was pregnant with our second child and while many women still observe the fast while pregnant it was something I was not comfortable with especially with all that had happened in my first pregnancy, fortunately my husband and family in India felt the exact same way.

Last year I was in Canada visiting family with our two children. I decided to attempt it but I've admitted I cheated, sort of. The premise is that we fast from sunrise to moonrise, well the moon was visible by mid afternoon, so I did my little pooja and ate, I forgot the part aboutwe  watching my husbands face, but we still laugh at my attempt.

My husband questioned my ability to complete the strict fast that does not allow for even a single drop of water. I knew he wanted me to do it but would never pressure me, plus there is the whole cheating element, I mean I could always sneak a drink in my room when no one was looking, but why, what would be the point.

This time around I approached the fast as a challenge. I have climbed the Andes and jumped out of an airplane, there isn't anything I haven't accomplished that I truly wanted to.

I chose to observe this fast because it means a lot to my husband. I don't need him to fast for me in return. Just as I love him, not because he loves me but because I love for the beauty of loving.



It was a long morning without my usual liter of warm water and hot cup of chai but fortunately my kids were tired and took a three hour nap by lunchtime. I dozed on and off with them through the afternoon, at one point a saw the biggest spider I have ever seen in my life crawl across my ceiling, I jumped up and grabbed our broom but I knew if I started banging around trying get it out of my home I'd wake the kids so I settled back down. I knew it had to be a hallucination and then remembered all animals have a message for us; "The spider is a remarkable figure of feminine energy and creativity. Spiders are characterized by the skilled weaving of intricate webs and patience in awaiting their prey, Spiders remind us to tune into life's ebbs and flows and ingeniously weave every step of our destiny."







A little while later I was laying in a meditative, or comatose depending on how you look at it, state when a ray of purple light shot down through the ceiling into my head and coursed through my body. All of my training as a holistic healer knew my crown chakra had just opened.


The crown chakra is our connection to the divine, and our ability to be fully connected spiritually. I knew Goddess energy and just been awakened in my body, I felt different, empowered, beautiful and alive in my feminine energy.






My husband came home and took the children so I could help prepare the feast for our pooja (worship ceremony) and ourselves. I dressed in a beautiful red and gold sari and in true Chanda Mama (the moon) tradition she stayed hidden until hours after her normal arrival. Along with my mother in law and four sister in laws (and my Nanny Ji via Skype) we did pooja in the room that houses our home deity, making offerings of sweets, bread and curry and rice to the divine. Then each of us took turns doing a ritual to the moon and our respective husbands.

My husband then brought me to our room and fed me a glass of water, it was romantic and beautiful. We shared a delicious meal along with our children and look of love in his eyes is even stronger than it was the day we married...

"Love so vast, love the sky cannot contain, How does all this fit within my heart?" - Rumi

This week we got married in a traditional Hindu ceremony. Although the experience in itself was foreign to my Christian-Judeo society upbringing there was a familiarity throughout. One of my favorite things about a Hindu wedding is that the bride and groom arrive at the altar as God and Goddess, in human form. The recognition of God self is a core value in the Hindu faith.

There were many rites involved, too many to fit in this blog but I will highlight a few; we greeted each other by placing flower garlands around each other’s neck, this is done in acceptance of one another. We then sat cross legged on the floor as the Pandit (Priest) lit a sacred fire in front of us. We made offerings to the fire (which represents God) while he recited prayers, we committed to one another and our spiritual growth as a couple. My partners sister placed sacred cloth over my shoulders and one over his; tying the two in a marriage knot. With my foot asleep we were asked to stand, my right foot was completely numb; it felt like nothing existed from the knee down. Feeling unstable I shifted my weight to my left.

We were instructed to take seven steps and I wasn’t sure if my right foot could bare my weight, I questioned how I was going to stand on a “nonexistent” foot but when my partner took my right hand in his I felt assured he would catch me if I fell, telling my brain my foot was there I realized this was symbolic of all major life decisions and trusted the feeling in my heart, I was nervous of losing my balance but deep down I knew it was safe to take the step.

We circled the fire seven times to represent seven lifetimes we were committing to one another. The seven blessings that were bestowed as we walked included; May this couple be blessed with an abundance of resources and comforts, May this couple be strong and complement each other, May this couple be blessed with prosperity and riches on all levels, May this couple be eternally happy, May this couple be blessed with a happy family, May this couple live in perfect harmony, true to their personal values, May this couple always be the best of friends.

My partner then recited these vows to me in Hindi:

 “We have taken the seven steps. You have become mine forever. We have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought I am sound. May life be honey-sweet for us. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled.”

My soul is not only home, the longing has finally settled…