Sublime Surrender

Krishna Das taught me about sublime surrender in Miami on Valentine's Day. Before heading down south, I braced myself for the crowd. Not too many devotees of Neem karoli Baba and Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, make their way to these parts of the world.

No ticket in hand but a promise from a friend of a friend to purchase me a ticket was all that was offered upon arrival at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

I had to find this woman... although I didn't know what she looked like. A woman with dreadlocks was all I had to go on. Christie was her name. She held my fate in her waiting list hand ..number...62. All in all over 200 people were on the wait list.

Hundreds -- hundreds of people waited in line. Some had not checked in and others were holding a place in line to get a prime position at the pew. A waiting list room was airless and the energy rivaled the twirling chaos before the big bang. All I wanted to do was escape. I've got to get out of here, I thought. crazy crazy energy...

Up until this point in my life, I haven't let on, except to a few close friends, that I avoid crowds at all costs. Something in my energy body goes haywire and I lose all sense of self.

So wouldn't you know, while heading to the waiting room, down a long narrow corridor, I blew a gasket and started to vibrate with ricocheting energy. Shaking internally and sweating externally, I saw an open door and made a beeline.

I was intercepted by a man who asked what I needed. Mumbling somewhat incoherently, I indicated that space was all I needed. QUIET space. He ushered me into a small room that offered cushions, I placed one on the floor - took up half lotus position and began to chant OM.

The man and everything else disappeared. I found bliss within. Nothing mattered. I was safe and the cacophony of sounds melded into sublime surrender.

A few minutes later the gentleman offered me assistance and led me hand in hand to the registration table. He proceeded to secure me a ticket to the event when a woman greeted him warmly... "Krishna Das," a big kiss followed, " Namaste. Oh, I figured it out. It was Krishna Das who was holding my hand and leading me to safety. Funny how life works...

My girlfriend asked me how it all happened? According to the Law of Attraction, I shouldn't have gotten a ticket because all I kept thinking was, " I'm outta here!"

Yet a door opened and I took the opportunity to exit, which allowed me to enter a new realm of divine intervention. The assistance, the support... Maybe it does comes from sublime surrender.

Oh, and the a final note:
I hooked up with a friend and we entered a side door of the church because she is healing a leg injury. In the first pew was Krishna Das's travel mate from India, my friend, Ram Giri.

A big hello, hug, warm wishes and an invitation to sit in the front row. YES, I said with my friend and her husband in agreement that this would be a good place for me to sit... sublime surrender, kick ass kirtan and a whole lotta of love.

What a great Valentine's Day ... and did you know ... The moon was in the 7th house and Jupiter aligned with Mars?

Time Out for Time In

Coming back from retreat has been awkward. Disproportionate attention to grievances has mingled with the acceptance that I am the one looking.

As fear coincides with hope this New Year, I am reminded of some simple truths:

1) Take time out for time in

2) Bring out the china and crystal

3) It's OK to lose your way -- it's only for today

4) NOW is all we have

5) '09 rhymes with Divine

May creativity, prosperity & health be abundant this year.

Going Deeper

In my desire to go deeper, a random pick of three weeks for a desert retreat -- turned into a potpourri of celebrations.

During my stay, unbeknownst to me at the time of booking, the following holidays were honored with various rituals:

Fall Navratri, nine days to honor the Mother.
Rosh Hashanah - "The Day of Awe" Jewish New Year.
Yom Kippur - Day to "Atone" become "At One"... with Self, All Life and God.
The Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known as the Little Flower.

The Feast of St. Teresa of Avila

This confluence of events has led me to believe that there is a great connection that links and binds us all together.

Although religions and traditions follow their own unique guidelines and teachings -- the core of our praying, seeking, searching, worshiping is one and the same... we seek to feel a deep connection to life, nature, purpose, God, the Divine Mother, Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Mohamed.... and the list goes on.

Going Deeper

Going deeper, going within,

not to a place,

nor to a height,

nothing to achieve,

nor to delight.

Going deeper to

balance the senses,

bombarded with processes

and silly old messes.

Going deeper offers new ground,

fertile areas not to be found.

Just a place to root and grow,

like the flower that bends just so,

holding firm to moist soil,

wet with dewdrops of lament and toil,

All this is written in history books,

void with naughty and hallow looks.

Go now and pierce the hearth of each day,

so you can go deeper,

and find your own way.

Held Captive

I have been held captive by the deserts call,
walking step by step through he scruffy underbrush,
careful not to disturb the prickly cactus.

High above the trees the clouds tumble in,
obscuring the snow capped peaks;
leaving me breathless...speechless.

Every cell of my body is enlivened here in the desert.
Words and thoughts do not root, each moment a sacred gift.

Plans and purposes meld with fleeting moments,
to quick to capture in poetry, prose or plots.

And yet, I walk along the path that has been forged by the hungry souls that prayed before me --- seeking serenity in solitude.

Here in the desert, on this monastery...
it is the ultimate experience of God laughing at the human plan.

And yet, it is truly Divine!

Two Worlds

A young woman who lives in two worlds,
awakens to poetry,
words dance across her mind;
enlivening the senses,
one by one.

Transported from sleep,
the images produce greater awareness
of awareness;
leaving the dreamtime,
behind.

Small acrobatic leaps
burst forth with delightful images
and invitations;
to merge into today,
holding the promise of liberation.

And then,
the to do’s come into focus,
and the promise fades away;
in a swallow or gulp, if you will,
of preparedness.

Jumping up,
she moves forward;
leaving behind the mingling of two worlds
that become one, once again.

Fear and Faith

There is only one way to categorize this life that I am witnessing…it is filled with fear and faith. Everyday, as if on cue, each rises up within me. Thoughts permeate the horizon with projections that create everything from exuberance to exasperation.

It all began on Saturday when I actually looked at the components of a book proposal. Yikes, geeez, wowweekoozoowie, what have I gotten myself into? This is a complicated convoluted, complex undertaking. Demographics, statistics, platforms, market strategy...couple that with the book; defining, proposing, hooking literary agents and publishing houses… yikes is right.

A stream of doubt… uncertainty…. more doubt…..resistance….all rise up simultaneously and then a gentle voice pushes through the throng of disjointed thoughts…. Go to the desert Liz, do your work, do not be concerned with the fine details today. No do’s and don’ts. What is before you now? Trust… have faith. Turn toward the fear – embrace it and through it you will feel faith, inner guidance, trust and confidence.

Yes, yes that’s what is being called for… confidence. And with the Jewish New Year just days away…

It is the perfect time to imbue the deep abiding faith that inherently drives this soul to reside in truth and see beyond the projections, the false sense of unworthiness and the distortion of separation.

Norman Vincent Peale once said, “One of the greatest moments in anybody's developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide from himself but determines to get acquainted with himself as he really is.”

Tomorrow I will drive into the desert and once again be nurtured in an environment that both consoles and brings light to the darkness. I know my true purpose in embarking on this part of the journey is to steep in these rich life filled moments and carry the essence into prose.

Join me throughout the journey…. multimedia presentations will be enhanced with blog updates.

Alecia Berman-Dry, thank you for the blogging tutorial. Your loving support is deeply appreciated and I am forever grateful to you. You fill my faith wallet aplenty.

May clarity arise from each vibrant moment today and when fear and faith meet again, as is often does, may confidence dispel the fear and restore faith, moment by moment, breath by breath.

Higher Ground ~ Crestone Spiritual Centers