Longing...

Longing for gardening season and the fragrance of fresh marigolds...

For the Love of Marigolds

Photo of Atul Dubey by Ken Hermann

You all know how much I love marigold flowers!

For that reason alone, Danish artist Ken Hermann might just be my new favorite photographer.

His series of Flower Men portraits shot in Kolkata on the banks of the Hooghly River is so spellbinding I had to share it with you.

This video really brings Ken's inspiration and the fascinating city of Kolkata to life.

Also, be sure to check out his series of portraits titled Holy Men.

Ok, I have to go make a marigold mala now, enjoy!

Mahatma Gandhi, Saluting the Great Soul

Image Source

October 2nd is the day we celebrate the birth of Mohandas K. Gandhi, known the world over by the honorific title Mahatma or great (maha) soul (atma).

Each year the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace hosts a garlanding ceremony at the statue of Bapu (an affectionate term meaning "Papa" or "Father") in the plaza immediately south of the Stanley A. Milner Library in downtown Edmonton.

The event takes place at noon on Sunday October 2nd, 2016.

It is free of charge.  All are welcome to attend the brief talk and ceremony, to offer a Mala (garland of flowers) and wishes for peace.

Natural Beauty: Sandalwood and Marigold Scrub

Thank you Rul, for this Ayurvedic beauty recipe!

What you need:

- One fresh, organically grown Marigold flower
- 1/4 tsp. Sandalwood Powder
- 1 tsp. Virgin Coconut Oil

What to do:

- Remove the petals from the blossom and place them in the mortar.

- Add the sandalwood powder and coconut oil.

- Crush/grind together with the pestle until you have a smooth paste.

- Rub gently onto your face and body.

- Rinse off, or wipe with a wet washcloth.


Enjoy your soft, glowing skin!

Raja Yoga Summer Camp is in Full Swing!

Prasad from the Mahaganapathy Temple

Thanks to all who came (despite the tornado warnings!) on tonight's Raja Yoga Summer Camp field trip to the Mahaganapathy Temple!

It was such a beautiful experience and so wonderful to share it with you!

Thank you to everyone at the Temple who made us feel so welcome, you've given us an evening to remember!  Our eyes and ears and hearts were filled with sights and sounds, customs and kindness!

I can hardly wait until we go back on Wednesday, July 17th, 2013!

If you'd like join Raja Yoga Summer Camp, email me:  tarawoltjen@yahoo.ca

Ganesha holding Tara's marigold

Also, thank you Tara from the Yoga Within Hatha Yoga Teacher Training class. 

Tara, of all the students and friends I've given peace marigolds and marigold seeds to (and there have been lots!), you're the first ever to plant them and bless me with a bloom! 

Namaste!

Best wishes to you and all of your classmates as you complete your Yoga Teacher Training!

Atha yoganushasanam (Yoga Sutra 1.1) ...NOW the teaching on Yoga begins...

Jai Ganesha!

Happy Earth Day!

Bhoomi Devi, Mother Earth

I hope you're having a wonderful day, and were able to get outside to plant some seeds or walk the dog, or just breathe in the sights and smells of Spring!

Its such relief to feel the sun on my face and get my fingers in the soil again.  To celebrate, I planted some marigold seeds, with a prayer for peace and plasticity. 

May we receive the blessings of the Earth's abundance with thanks and praises, and tread lightly on her graceful form.

Happy Earth Day!

Here is a beautiful performance dedicated to Bhoomi Devi, by Vrinda Devi and the bhakti-ful Mayapuris.

Click here to watch it full screen on YouTube.

Happy Navaratri!

Today is the first day of the annual Hindu nine-night festival of the Divine Mother! 

Each fall for the past ten-ish years, my Mom and I have celebrated this festival together. 

Our first introduction to Navaratri was in Val Morin at the Sivananda Ashram.  We arrived just as the leaves were turning from lush green to a spectacular rainbow of gold, orange and red, clueless but eager.  We left the morning of the year's first snowfall with more than we could ever have expected!

Tantric priests performed Pujas, offerings of rice and flowers, japa, Devi Bhajans, and readings from the Devi Mahatmya. 

 photo borrowed from Wikipedia

Written by Rishi Markandeya around 1500 years ago, this Great Glory of the Goddess tells the story of how the Divine Mother (known by many names including Kali, Chandika, Devi, Shakti, and loads more) kicked some serious demon butt and saved the Devas!  They had to put all their powers together to create her and then had to spend aLOT of time writing and singing songs about how awesome She is to thank her!

We were told that if you practice all nine days (plus a tenth for blessing books and tools of your work or spiritual path) with sincerity and devotion, all your prayers, spoken and unspoken will be answered.

The End.

Or not...You know how it goes - every year I come up with new prayers, and so every year it's like starting from scratch...

On our own, we don't practice as formally as we did at the ashram.  Our pujas are held each day whenever our schedule allows, and we act as our own pujaris.  Our altars are dynamic and personal. 

Our flowers are simply whatever we grew ourselves or nature provided us.  Mostly we're just grateful for whatever the frost hasn't taken! 

This year we've been blessed with a bumper crop of marigolds that we have been re-seeding ever since that first Navaratri when part of our karma yoga was deadheading the flowerbeds in Swami Vishnudevananda's Samadhi Estates. 

This humble little flower, sacred in India for it's fiery color, represents "Plasticity" according to Sri Aurobindo's disciple, The Mother who considered that the highest attribute of a yogi.

Styling our own ritual has become a part of the devotional practice.  We honor our own craftiness, courage, creativity and abundance.  We trust that our "mistakes" will be overlooked. 

We embrace unconventional thanks and praises too, like Rob Brezny's heartfelt and hilarious poem/prayer:  A Prayer for Us.

And we eat fruits and Indian milk sweets and just in general - whatever we please - as in, whatever we think would please the Goddess in us!

I encourage you to craft your own ritual to the Divine Mother for the next couple of weeks. 

Make a little altar somewhere where you can sit for a few minutes each day and offer your longing, your dreams and your gratitude to the Divine Mother.  See Her in your Self.

I will post more in the next nine days as we celebrate the three main personalities of Shakti:  Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.  Shakti means power.  Empower your yoga practice by checking out the tools and rituals of the ancient yogis for yourself, embracing those that feel right to you now. 

I'd love to know how and where you're celebrating so please leave your comments and feedback!

Jai Ma!