Pre-Vipassana.

Hello world!

What a wild and crazy world, you are.

Question: You know how when we were little and your parents would say something seemingly dramatic because you couldn't believe it, like...I don't feel such and such age, I still feel 25. And you were thinking, wow, no way, how could you be so out of touch with reality? You're so much older than that!!?

Haha, yes...here I am at 37 years old. Amused at my former self. I don't know that I can quantify what age I feel, but I certainly don't feel like I've gotten it figured out enough to be 37 years old. I still feel like I'm on a voyage of discovery. Why do we think when we are younger that at this age, or that one, you will feel certain of everything and have nothing to figure out but just live. I certainly don't want to be that person who thinks they know everything anymore because I'm so curious about the world and there would be nowhere to grow.

Next stop. 10 day meditation in California. It's intense, even hard core yogis I know say, "that's intense"...when I tell them I'm going. 
I don't know if I should be preparing for it but I am actually not trying to overthink it. I'm just imagining that my adaptable self will be just fine. I will definitely be letting you know after the fact as there is no technology, no talking, no writing, no yoga, see where I'm going here? Just meditation and a few breaks for eating lightly and asking your teacher a few questions if you need.

Here's the typical daily schedule...

Vipassana Meditation Course – Typical Daily Schedule

4:00 a.m. ————————- Morning wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 a.m. —————- Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room
6:30-8:00 a.m. —————- Breakfast break
8:00-9:00 a.m. —————- Group meditation in Dharma Hall
9:00-11:00 a.m. ————— Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room according to teacher’s instruction
11:00 -12 noon —————- Lunch break
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. ——— Rest, private Q&A session with teacher
1:00-2:30 p.m. —————– Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room
2:30-3:30 p.m. —————– Group meditation in Dharma Hall
3:30-5:00 p.m. —————– Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room according to teacher’s instruction
5:00-6:00 p.m. —————– Tea break
6:00-7:00 p.m. —————– Group meditation in Dharma Hall
7:00-8:15 p.m. ——————Teacher’s Discourse in Dharma Hall
8:15-9:00 p.m. —————— Group meditation in Dharma Hall
9:00-9:30 p.m. —————– Open Q&A session in Dharma Hall
10:00 p.m. ———————— Light out

Whew! I'm looking to be crystal clear after this amount of meditation. They say that you get so clear and focused and nonreactive, little things just roll right off of you... I'll fill you in on the flip side.  I've been wanting to do this for two years now. It's time. 

If you're interested, there's a lot of information online about these courses. They're run completely on donations and you're actually not allowed to pay until after you have completed your first one. That's how much they believe in them.  So, if you're thinking about it, you only have to have the funds to get there..and then give what you can and what you believe is fitting for what you have gained from the process.

I really don't know what will come of this. Maybe I will love it. Maybe I will be back on the 17th of July and say, it's total bunk for me...but go and make up your own mind about it. Either way, I'm excited and I'll check back in with you about it after. 

Their website: http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/about/vipassana

Some other websites with info and perspectives:

http://biohackyourself.com/the-10-day-goenka-vipassana-meditation-retreat/

http://misscaelabailey.tumblr.com/post/62653484024/my-experience-at-a-10-day-vipassana-meditation-retreat

http://mybrandnewlife.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/vipassana-meditation-retreat-the-aftermath/

Adventures and Soundtracks.

Meant to drive down to Wilmington last night just so I could spend a half a day there this morning. I've always wanted to see it. Ended up in Richmond, Virginia after three big old traffic back ups. Luckily, they didn't seem to be on account of car accidents as much as nonsense, which makes sense, because there is full moon trickery going on. So, I guess I will see Wilmington on Monday.

Now I will just head on down to Easley, S.C. so that I can do this aerial training with Linda...who is one of my 500 hour yoga sisters. So cool that she's now doing aerial training and when we were meeting up in Asheville last year, she had just started experimenting with it. And I just finished my own 200 hour training with 8 beautiful graduates. Things can change fast. Or slow. As we all know by now. 

I had a great time shuffling between the music app Beats and my old iPod tracks, those of which survived the transfer to the Galaxy. (speaking of which, I can't wait to go back to the iPhone....just my personal experience. Not to sway anyone...it's a huge change if you're thinking of switching either way). 

Last night I kept listening to many things, of course. But, my number two favorite of the night, Phanotgram, You are the Ocean. The number one song of the 9 hours of car living was Steadfast sung by Shubha Mudgal and spoken by Ursula Rucker. 

Inspired by the poetry of 16th century poet, Kabir. It's a goodie. Here are the lyrics. You might want to check it out. xo ~ 


This love
This, love

This love,
Is not for sale,
Nor is it to be toyed with
It is delicate and humble,
But also, sturdy and grand,
So don’t be fooled

This love
This, love

And the true fullness, of this love
In all of its grace and charity, and imperfect perfection
Is meant veritably, for only one,
And most likely, too potent
In its highest form
For any other

This love is spoiled, and greedy
And highly expectant,
Like a coddled child,
Even in its maturity
Sometimes lashing out in defiant tantrum,
When assumed shunned
This love…
Is complicated

And even in the midst of confident revolt,
This love offers up contrition
For unpleasing, unworthiness
The human heart is so contrary
And wondrous,
And very easily broken
Both blessed
And cursed
Perfect house,
For so fickle a thing,
As

This love is content and comforted,
Most assuredly when the sacred object of its adulation,
Seems to find favor with
This love,
Is always challenged,
By the reality that,
The gift of sacred love takes patience,
And faith,
And effort,
and sacrifice,
And is ever changing
in its infinite and beautiful
Steadfastness