Well, I made it through the move. I felt a sense of urgency to update my blog today. Yesterday, I was speaking with someone who attends classes with me and she was saying another fellow Yogini friend, who had read my previous post (but only partially) where I mentioned I was moving, thought I meant I was moving out of the country to India. Screech...halt...I am not moving to India.
I have happily moved into a new place in Lakewood and I love where I am living. I intend to be here, in Dallas, as long as possible, growing, thriving and evolving with this sacred community. Making this change was incredibly challenging for me because I have needed to find strength and courage within myself to face my fears and to trust in the Flow. In the past, most of the life-changing decisions I made were with the support of a partner, so it didn't feel as scary. Although I am seeing someone who is an incredible and loving energy in my life, I am working and practicing to be strengthened from within, rather than needing someone to hold my hand through it all. Or, to catch me if I fall. I am seeking the support of the Universe to guide me and srengthen me for the first time ever and I am trusting it to be with me each step of the way.

As I write this, I just glanced at my travel altar of SRF gurus that I take with me wherever I go, when I am staying away from home. In the picture above, the gentleman at the top left is Lahiri Mahasaya who was the teacher of Paramahansa Yogananda's parents. The man just below him is Mahavatar Babaji, who was Lahiri's guru. To the right of the lotus flower is Yogananda and to the right of Yogananda is his guru, Sri Yukteswar. Of course the last two pictures are Jesus Christ at the top and Bhagavan Krishna at the bottom. Just as in Christianity, Jesus Christ is believed to be the holy incarnation of God, or the Son of God. However, SRF also respects Krishna as being a Divine incarnation as well, and the avatar to the East. And, it teaches us that God, or the Holy Spirit is within each of us. We are not separate from Divine Consciousness, but only in our minds, or because of the veil of illusion (maya) that exists through the 5 senses. It is the 5 senses which keep us earthbound, or attached to the physical reality of our existence, continuously seeking illusory and temporary pleasures, which only result in temporary fulfillment, and therefore, pain. So when one prays to the SRF gurus, they pray to the teachers in the following order: "Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, Guru preceptor Paramahansa Yogananda, saints and sages of all religions, I humbly bow to you all. Free my life of all obstacles of delusion and lead me to the shores of Thy fulfillment." Of course this is only one prayer, you could ask for anything you are seeking to realize, and one not need to say all these names.

Last night as I was meditating, I had an awareness come to me. True joy can only come from non-attachment to anything material in our physical reality. If we are attached to something materialistically, there is a fear of loss that drives that attachment and when we have any fear within us about losing anything physical, we can not fully know the experience of joy, which is beyond the grasp of the senses. In fact, joy can not even authentically exist in the face of fear. So, I am realizing I am being awakened in many ways through my recent experiences. And, I am always grateful for the spiritual realizations which come through this blessed practice of Yoga. When I say Yoga I am not referring to poses, but uniting our Will with the Will of God-Universal Will, in other words, going with or embodying the Flow in all aspects of our life.

One of the things I am so happy about is this cleanse I am on this week. Some of you may be familiar with the Master Cleanser. I am not rigorously following this cleanse, but I am drinking some of the lemonade which is made from lemons, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. I recently found out, thanks to a fellow Yogi from Pizza Hut, that a powdered form of this can be purchased at Whole Foods, so I have been using this. For my cleanse, I am also drinking Raw Chocolate, vegetable broth, and when I must have a little nourishment, some raw cashews and avocado. I am on day three and plan to continue through Friday. It's been intense in moments, but I feel amazing to be rebalancing and realigning my health after a few stressful weeks preparing for my recent move. Something I also experimented with for the first time, which is prescribed in the Master Cleanser, is a salt water flush. The salt water flush must be done with Sea Salt. This is something Dharma Mittra emphatically recommends as a cleansing practice in Yoga. A salt water flush is an intestinal cleanse. This washing of the intestines has a Sanskrit name, Shankhaprakshalana, as it is a cleansing practice which is thousands of years old. The experience was amazing! I have gotten colonics in the past, but I prefer this greatly over a colonic. It felt natural, whereas a colonic has always felt forced to me. It's always a little awkward talking about this stuff, but I want you to have this information.

When I attended the workshop with Dharma back in March, he repeatedly suggested this practice to us as a way to keep the body optimally healthy and free from disease. He actually said that if he ever found out he had cancer, or any other disease, the first thing he would do is cleanse the colon with a salt water flush. Then, he would cleanse with raw fruits and vegetables, go somewhere relaxing, meditate in Savasana and send the cancer cells love. He said he would say to them, it's either going to be you or both of us, so you better leave. I thought his perception about treating illness was enlightened and ingenious. Even a great master like Yogananda believes in the importance of traditional medicine as a powerful resource. And yet, he would encourage anyone to adhere to personal and spiritual practices for well-being and healing, as well. There is a widespread belief that the root of all disease can be traced back to the colon and that disease begins on our plate. I would suggest researching online for more information if you are interested in doing a cleanse, or feel free to e-mail me, as well. The salt water flush is easy, but is most effective when practiced during a cleanse. It would not be as beneficial to eat a cheeseburger and then flush your colon, only to eat some french fries the next day. Cleansing practices are most beneficial when a purified diet is followed regularly. The salt water flush consists of 1 Quart of warm water mixed with two teaspoons of salt. Plan to clear your schedule for a couple of hours and stay close to a restroom. That's pretty much all I have to say, I think the rest is self-explanatory.

So, as we cleanse away the summer over these next few weeks, may we be grateful for the struggles. There is a song I play in class sometimes, called Wash Your Spirit Clean by Walela. Here are a few of the lyrics which speak to me...

Give away the things you don't need
Let it all go and you'll soon see
And you'll wash your spirit clean
Wash your spirit clean
Go and pray upon a mountain
Go and pray beside the ocean
And you'll wash your spirit clean
Wash Your spirit clean
Be grateful for the struggle
Be thankful for the lessons
And you'll wash your spirit clean Read more