Jessamina's Blog

Preparing for this Hurricane felt different than last year. I remember, that August, Taking windchimes down..stuff like that. This year we were putting cables around outdoor furniture and garbage pails.. Literally clearing the decks. Strategically parking our cars, etc. We were, and still are safe in our home. I am abundant.. in my cozy living room, freshly showered, with food and electricity and water. Before the storm hit, my family went out to check out or local beach, Smith's Point. The full moon was almost upon us, a sacred mirror, reflecting back to us all..something. I listened for an answer here, and recalled instantly Lakshmi's creation story...Of how the Gods churned the ocean intil it was "milk"..As she rose upon a lotus out of the ocean, along with Chandra, the Moon...Peace came over the land whenVishnu- the god who supports and sustains the universe- could unite with Lakshmi. Here she is bringing her great beauty, Sounding the sacred sou...

In October of 1996 I was in a an awful marriage.. I didn't trust myself at all, as a young adult, or respect my own needs. I didn't really have any desires either. (I prided myself on that one, and used it as an excuse for not moving forward.) I felt like a martyr, and not a very good one either. I was, however, an "open" person. I did love a good adventure.. and I still do. When my mother told me of an opportunity to come to a very special Ashram as special guests of her friend, Dr. Terry Gold, to hear a talk by her  "guru" it sounded like an auspicious proposition. I was curious and had absolutely no preconceived notions of what this experience might be like. Which was a good thing. I couldn't have been prepared for the scene that unfolded as we got to the ashram, and stepped off the tour bus. We walked for quite a while up to the building, and were greeted by swamis dressed in orange robes who bowed slightly to us..beautifully kept gard...