Rock Around The Clock

We celebrated our first proverbial pajama party at The Higher Haven this weekend.  Footies aside,  this was our initial shot at a Real Overnight Retreat utilizing the 19th century Farmhouse on the property, a key aspect to the vision of this place from the start. The equation to make all this work required three elements – 1. a place to live + 2. a place to teach + 3. a place for practitioners to rest and rejuvenate. While my house proved solid from day one on the land and the studio has been in place for almost two years, the third structure required an awful lot of TLC coupled with many a sledgehammer swing. Without the house, I liken trying to prop this rickety circus up the last few summers to establishing a two-legged tripod, which left me similarly feeling like one of those collapsing push button toys, God's thumb pressing me from one contorted shape into another.

All that changed on Saturday's sunny morning. The dark, thundering little cloud above my head that sputtered bolts of lightning every time I even gave thought to the Farmhouse dissipated upon the blessed arrival of The Higher Haven's first overnight campers. Lead by Bridget Erin Sheahan of Brighton Yoga Center, Alix, Allison, Brenna, Ryan and Guy all seemed to find the property - and importantly the second house- enchanting. The fact that the weather was impeccable didn't hurt after a brutally cold Spring, as it slowly warmed into the best day of the year. But it's Bridget's sunny, beaming face that's now lodged in my mind's eye, as she looked around and happily gushed statements like, "I think we just found a new retreat center," and , "you're going to do very, very well here."  

Having people here for a short extended stay already feels immensely more relaxing then those back-breaking One Days.  Saturday flowed like The Black River, the notion that simply being in this area and close to some of Lake Michigan's most pristine shoreline would be a healer for people proving true. I could go on and on but can sum up a long, boring drama-filled story by saying that the first guy to believe in this place (me) was also going to be the last guy to believe in this place (my shadowy self doubt). And now that the mind's constant questioning has been quieted with a few satisfying answers, we, (meaning me I guess) can finally move on - from resistance,from laziness, from victimhood, from regrets of the past, from fears of the future, what have you - from all the shit that's held me down. And in unleashing my Shine, I'm feeling an amped up ability to assist others to do the same.    

Brighton Yoga Center's web site cites the quote from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, "Practice for a long time with devotion and enthusiasm." And that we did. Bridget's student Allison lead her first class, a significant accomplishment. And Bridget lead a great and what I personally felt was a very challenging Ashtanga class Sunday morning. Her and her companion Guy also literally camped back in the woods, another nice first. We took part  in Ceremony, we asked for healing, we celebrated life and we nourished ourselves with grinds orchestrated by the Oven mittens of one of The Southwest Mitten's brightest culinary lights, our friend Chris Ferris. After breakfast every one headed out, with talk of an August return. If you're thinking of taking part in an overnight retreat, perhaps you could join us then. Or jump in with another group the weekend of June 23rd-24th. Right now, on the subject of overnights, I need to happily get some sleep, as I look forward to communicating with you further and seeing you soon. 

Written in the Stars

Behold, one of the many powerful astrologers I crossed paths with on my recent trip to India. And  I don't mean the man, I mean the bird, the Parrot Astrologer, who, with small, green, Yoda-like precision, here picks the card revealing my fate. "Situation over. Problem solved," declared the Parrot's master upon eyeing the card.  That made me laugh, wishfully, although the card did provide an introduction to the brother of Ganesha, Murugan, who is also called Kartikeya. "Seven years from now, good time for you, good time for your family," proclaimed the Parrot Keeper, a positive prophecy I could easily live with. Far-off, somewhere in the night, a dog barked and a baby cried.

The Indian Astrological focus came about in part because the recent trip was orchestrated by none other than James Kelleher, a learned Vedic astrologer and world renowned reader. As a student of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, James ended up assisting his astrologer M. K. Gandhi. a colorful background that fueled several great rambling bus talks on the power of Vedic astrology. James explained aspects of the Kuta System, the traditional Hindu computative method of measuring two peoples' level of connectedness in a relationship. The 0-36 Point System measures primarily the compatibility between the Moons and Nakshatras, the Moon showing emotional affinity and the ability to function as family. Of course there are many aspects to a successful relationship, but the guides say anything below an 18 could portend an inauspicious union. 21 and up I understand gets the arranged thumb's up. 

While Indian Parrot Astrology was a fun tourist experience, this true, age-old, star studied method to see if two people are suited or bondable is a constructive study, a look at the potentiality for unconscious levels of rooted connectedness between two souls. It's interesting too how rich the psychology of our modern families and relationships have become, given the primary reason for such relations, according to James per Swami Sivananda  was "just for basic needs", or security, for survival. Regardless, a reading can be very valuable in showing how two people are wired, and how they might be wired together. The Baggage Claim Department as James calls it, the place where personality patterns are revealed, chemistry considered, and challenging planetary periods negotiated with grace.  

India's Girl Power

Do you remember the term Jet Set? Am I dating myself here? I remember hearing that phrase as a kid, the expression labeling an international social group of wealthy people who travelled the world to participate in social activities unavailable to the common man, or ordinary people. I love traveling the world and exploring far-away cultures. But do you know what (or who) I equally enjoy? Ordinary people! Ordinary people are where the money is at, I jokingly say. The money or the Dong or the Sol or the Rupees.

I learned this during my first true international excursion  to Vietnam ten years ago. Like the Viets, Eastern Indians are modest in spirit, with a sweetness reminiscent of the silver foiled Haldiram’s candies they passed on at the start of the trip - royal traditionalists of the finest elements. Reserved like the Vietnamese, they're quieter and less playful. 

A bit of chiding brought their playfulness out:

“Sir, may I tell you something, sir?”

Me: “But of course sir, what is it?”

“You, with your beard, sir. You appear to be… Abraham Lincoln.”

Me: (laughing) “Oh, sir, it’s a fine compliment, sir (love the sir thing, it’s so cool). You do know sir, that Abe Lincoln was our Mahattma Gandhi, yes? And if I take a closer look here at you, with perhaps a Doti (the traditional white wrap garment) and the iconic specs, a similar resemblance, no? (Much, much laughter).

Much laughter coupled with much head warbling, as the Indian’s share their own funky, original head jiggle. The Bobble as its referred to "can be a nod, shake, slow turn, raise or spasm of an Indian’s head”, informs an online source. True! Researching, I was happily surprised  to discover The Indian Head Bobble defined by Wickipedia:“The head bobble, or Indian head shake refers to a common gesture found in South Asian cultures… the motion usually consisting of a side-to-side tilting of the head in arcs along the coronal plane. A form of nonverbal communication, it may mean ‘Yes’, ‘Good’, ‘OK’ or ‘I understand’, depending on the context. Many different styles define the move . As my dear friend Sherif – and I made some dear friends on this trip – put it so comically: “Did you see THAT guy? I thought he was going to snap his own head clean off.” The warble is downright endearing, and so I thank India again, with a deep bow, along with a vertical, horizontal, and circular neck motion.

Comedic, soulful exchanges lit the way from arrival to departure. On an in-country jaunt that had us on IndiGo Airlines, the former advertising creative in me noticed their snappy marketing, with decent copy and engaging ideas. Having their air hostesses sport buttons that read Girl Power was one of their better ideas. “I want you to know how much I like your pin,” I told one of the sky stewards. “You gals appear very empowered and this looks like a great gig for you, traveling your own land and being of service to people.” What I didn’t know at the time was that India’s Girl Power is an entire movement, inspired by female leaders, many rape victims themselves, on a mission to combat a culture of rampant disrespect and harassment.

When we disembarked, Shanti (meaning Peace in Hindi) was at the door smiling wide. “Sir, I want to thank you for your kind words. I appreciate what you said to me. And I’d like to give you my pin.” Baby Ghat back. My Goodness, Om Namo Shivia, like an arrow - or sharp pin - to the heart, I’m still glowing now as I recount the story (I lingered at the luggage carousel, but unfortunately this was a group trip). My plans to marry Shanti and move to New Delhi aside, I sported that pin proudly all over India, down and all around with the collective, worldwide healing of the feminine Divine. And not just in Hollywood folks. Or Bollywood for that matter. Namaste.