I am the mother of two adult children, a former English teacher, practicing yoga instructor (26 year practice; 20 years a teacher); lead singer of The Starlight Honeys); I garden, hike, snowshoe, cook, write poetry, and hang out with my squeeze, Declan, my kids and two kitty cats. Life is good in NH, where we live on "Dragonfly Farm," a 30-acre hilltop and forest paradise that borders White Mountain National Forest and Conservation land. Our studio is Dragonfly Yoga Barn, where I teach daily classes, lead yoga retreats, run yoga teacher training, and more!
Did you know tonight’s full Strawberry Moon is named by Native American traditions that correspond with the seasonal harvesting of strawberries and other ripening fruits?
According to the Farmers Almanac, many tribes, including my ancestors, the Mohawk of the Iroquois Nation, used names linked to early summer harvests, including the Berries Ripen Moon (Ken’niyohontéhsha), Blooming Moon, and Green Corn Moon. Other tribes named it after the animals: Birth Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Hatching Moon. They recognized thirteen full moons in a year, each named according to what was happening in the natural world. Perhaps this is why I have such a strong affinity for the moon and its cycles.
In Europe, tribal names include the Honey Moon and Mead Moon, which also ring true for us here at Dragonfly—our bee hives are astoundingly busy! The ladies are buzzing, and I am accompanied daily in the garden as I tend to the flowers I planted for them, keeping the bee baths (yes, you read that right), as well as the bird baths clean, cool, and full, especially with the heat wave that’s coming to NH later this week.
It’s a good night to “ let go and let it flow” in the watery moon magic that abounds. Can you feel that river of energy wanting to flow through you? Are you feeling stuck anywhere in your life? In your body or mind? What would it take to clear yourself of that old pattern or habit or judgement that’s holding you back? Can (or more importantly, will) you allow yourself be soft and open enough to surrender that which is no longer supporting your being? Perhaps, if you (and if I) are willing, the space we create in releasing will make room for us to receive messages from the Divine, further supporting our body, mind, and spiritual evolution. Let your intuition shine!
This is a potent time to charge up some “full moon” water in a glass jar on your doorstep (I’ve been enjoying this ritual since early Spring. Lay out your favorite crystals and stones in the moonlight in the sweet cleansing energy of this celestial night (been doing this for years, and I love it).
Have a bee-autiful full moon day! May you eat strawberries, enjoy the long sunset, and look low in the southern sky for tonight’s “mini” but powerful moon!
So, just a wee bit of background about this Ayurveda thing love so much and why I’ve been traveling to India almost every year since 2016.
Our very first Ayurveda India Retreat Group in 2016
Ayurveda is known as the “Science of Life,” the study of longevity and how to have a vibrant and balanced health-span. Broken down, the components of the word AYUR + VEDA mean: LIFE + STUDY, and its wisdom predates all other organized medical systems on the planet. It dates back over 5,000 years before Western medicine was formally organized in the 5th century BCE, and we know Ayurveda was in full bloom at least 2,000 years before Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was systemized. Tibetan Medicine, and even Unani (the ancient medicine of Greece shared by Hippocrates) are new medical systems by comparison.
Here are some similarities in Ayurveda and TCM:
It has long been thought that much of the wisdom and established practices in Ayurveda traveled to China via the Silk Road, adding significantly to TCM. Despite numerous overlaps: both indigenous, both plant based, both include 5 elemental energies, both focused on healing the patient by treating the whole person (and that’s just a few of their similarities), they remain distinct. I love that these two ancient systems of medicine are deeply rooted in the miracle of plant medicine and the philosophy that we can balance our bodily energies to promote health and well being. Both use a 5-element system and highlight the movement of energy in the body (Qi in TCM and Prana in Ayurveda) as a way to clear what is stagnant, stale, or putrified, and move us back toward harmony in body, mind, and spirit.
The Wu Xing diagram illustrating the five elements and their cycles in Traditional Chinese Medicine.A vibrant artistic depiction of the five classical elements in a cosmic circle
Back to Ayurveda. I love coming to India to practice this medicine where it was born and shared with the world. It is said that the ancient Rishis received the wisdom directly from the plants when they went to the forest to meditate. At the time, these sages were distressed at the imbalances they saw on the earth and sought to restore balance. (Can you imagine how these sages would view today’s world and it’s chaos?) By sitting in Nature for long periods of time, they achieved profound states of spiritual connection (samadhi), receiving the eternal truths regarding the laws of nature, including the properties of all the plants and herbs, coming to understand the intricacies of human physiology, and understanding how to apply the medicine to humanity and the planet. They understood inherently about living life in harmony with all of Nature. I think this is why I love this science so much. Ayurveda is a system deeply rooted and rich in plant-based medicine, and one that is based on principles rather than rules. It is focused on treating systemic issues in the body rather than on treating symptoms like Western Medicine. It is a system that asks us to be more responsible for what we are putting into our bodies and taking into our minds, rather than seeing our body’s ailments as inconvenient and separate from our habits, diet, or emotional stress, for example, and that which we can treat with a simple pill.
On the mountain where I study Ayurveda and indulge in a month-long Panchakarma retreat each year, we are surrounded by indigenous plants. Thousands of herbs and flowers grow here in the Nilgiri Mountains, and it is well-known for its flora and fauna. It is literally an herbalist’s (and bird watcher’s) paradise. Ashwaganda grows wild along the roadside here, and all I can think of is how this herb is on practically every shelf at home: powders, capsules, and teas abound. No one really knows how to use it, but because it’s a buzz word in the health world, every company has its concoction to sell. Here, by contrast, the Doctor can point it out to us in the forest and collect it to make an herbal preparation straight out of the earth. I asked him the other day if I should use it, and he said “not right now,” reminding me that just because it’s a popular herb, doesn’t mean I should be taking it. Other herbs are more broadly beneficial with few contraindications. Here’s a picture of Dr. Sundara Raman telling us about the benefits of the poinsettia plant on skin ailments and dark spots. You can literally squeeze a drop of its milky white liquid and apply directly to your skin!
Dr. Sundara Raman, Ayurvedic Physician and owner of Mountaintop Clinic.
Some of the indigenous tribes of the Nilgiris actually rely on these plants for primary healthcare, with studies “indicating over 188 plant species are traditionally used in the region.” The biodiversity of the area where we practice Ayurveda during our retreat includes endemic species that are crucial for the survival of this traditional knowledge and which are regularly used by our physician, Dr. Sundara Raman. When your doctor can point to a flower or a leaf and tell you precisely how that plant can be used internally, topically, or aromatically, that inspires my confidence https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11933110/
There is so much more to share about Ayurveda, but you’ll just have to wait for another post! I hope this gave you a taste to peak your interest and help you understand why I am so enamored by this medicine!
If you are interested in joining me on this deep dive into plant medicine, your health, and your longevity, I invite you to join my friend John de Kadt and I in February of 2027. Details available here: www.ayurvedaindiaretreat.com
It’s been hard to write publicly these past few days. The world outside of this Ayurveda retreat seems crazy. I rarely open my computer or check the news, and yet I can’t escape it. My heart aches for this planet, and I am confused that such a despicable person is in charge of my beloved home country. If I get started writing about it, I won’t stop, so today I’m going to focus on something peaceful.
First, for those of you who don’t really know where I am, let’s get our bearings: I am in Coonoor, India, 6,500 feet up in the Nilgiri Mountains, in a tiny village called Hulical. We are surrounded by tea plantations as far as the eyes can see, wild gaurs roam freely, the forests are full of porcupines, deer, boars, panthers, and black bears (which we never see), and dozens of species of birds which we are delighted to listen to and watch from our little perch on the patio. Each day is like being on a mountaintop safari, and it is easy to just sit and watch the day go by along with the animals, the clouds, the rising and setting of the sun…
We wake up, go to yoga class, eat breakfast in the cool of the morning, visit with the Dr., take walks through the villages and the winding paths of the tea, enjoy our first of two Ayurvedic treatments before noon, and eat every morsel of an amazing lunch each day. Afternoons unfold with a second treatment, maybe a nap or another walk, a cooking class, meditation… And as if any of us could be hungry again, there is dinner, followed by either an evening program or time to retire early to read, write, or chat with loved ones at home.
Some days we get to go to the market, and although it’s always a bit chaotic down there, there is something about it that brings me peace. I love to watch the people move about. Women in their saris, children holding hands with their mamas, grown men locked arm in arm as they stroll, sparrows stealing rice from big burlap bags, Abdul snipping long strands of flowers for altars, Nagaraj and his wife Vasanthi selling sundries in their tiny shop, the same tailor tucked in on the back side of the market, sewing on an old cast iron Singer that looks like something my grandmother would have used.
In this thicket of vegetable stalls, life goes on, despite the crazy world outside this mountain city. Every face offers a curious smile and a “namaste.” I visit my handful of friends who own little booths full of bindis or fruit or flowers, and I flow along with the traffic, taking pictures, smiling at shopkeepers, posing for a selfie, sticking my nose into a pile of jasmine.
And the veggies… Oh my goodness, the abundance, the variety, the colors! People here are truly plant-based eaters, and there is so much to pick from: pumpkins, colrabi, cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant, beets, carrots, onions, beans, cabbage, radishes, peppers… and it goes on and on! People shop almost daily here. Few have refrigerators, the word “leftovers” is not even a word, and folks just cook fresh food daily. Imagine that?
Check out this display. I love the squash sliced perfectly in half and surrounded by brussel sprouts, turnips, summer squashes, okra, and the prettiest little striped eggplants!
This lovely man has had his corner stall since I’ve been coming here, and I have asked him so many times to take his photo, that this year when he sees me, he smiles, says hello, and immediately poses so I can add to my decade-old collection of shots. You might wonder why I need to take someone’s portrait over and over, but every time there is something different and magical about a person’s eyes, the way they engage with you (or not), even the way they keep their shop is different. The photo on the left is from a few days ago; the one on the right is from 2020. I promise myself to write down his name the next time so that next year I can address him properly.
On my way out of the market I know I have to pass once more by the fish monger, and it is a powerful smell. I take a final sniff of petals at Abdul’s flower stall, and hold my breath as I round the bend, up the stairs, and out into the sunlight. The streets are full of people, and it’s time to head for the hills.
I leave feeling happy, my eyes full of color and smiles, my heart full of the knowledge that there are so many sweet people out there just living their lives one day at a time. I’m grateful for the faces, for the beauty of the vegetables, for the expansive green of the countryside I drive up into as I leave the bustle of the city behind me. I’m grateful for peace in my heart.
My annual sojourn to India each winter is truly a coming home for me. This place. The people, the villages, the way the light hits the tea, the markets full of vegetables and fruits in every imaginable color… these mountains. I just can’t sufficiently describe it all to you, and yet each year, I try.
For those of you who may be dropping into my India stories for the first time, welcome. If you have traveled vicariously with me before, I hope these posts are a wonderful revisit. I first came to Coonoor eleven years ago on the wings of an idea and a plan with my friend John to create this experience for others. My heart is full of gratitude just thinking about all the people who have joined us for this deep adventure into Ayurvedic medicine and the profound healing that can come of experiencing its magic in this way.
The journey…
I kiss my kitties goodbye at 1:45 am, and Declan and I meet Annie and Peter in the dark of the night. I watch their sweet embrace and know that will be me in a couple more hours saying goodbye to my beloved. Dec drops us off at the Delta terminal, and I cling to him for a moment. He peels me off of him and says “off you go.” It’s hard to say goodbye each year for a month or more, but we are more used to it now.
After a quick hop from Boston to JFK, Annie and I meet Molly and check in for our flight to Delhi. It’s a 15-hour flight, but we nap a bit, pick at the airplane food, and I listen to a restorative yoga playlist that eventually puts me to sleep. Once in Delhi we are separated for a little bit going through customs, but we meet at our next gate and board our final flight to Coimbatore. The Fairfield Inn is nearby and is a 100 rupee taxi ride (just over $1). We talk about grabbing a bite before bed, but choose to skip dinner and instead take a little stroll along the street near our hotel. It’s loud and we are bleary eyed, so we head back, knowing we desperately need a good rest. If you know about the dosa at the Fairfield, then you’ll understand why we agree to get up early for the yummy buffet of fresh fruit, ghee dosa, various curries, chutneys, omelettes, and masala chai. It will be the last of grazing for a month, as we are heading into a full-on panchakarma, and that means no chai, coffee, eggs, or spicy foods. We rest well, wake up hungry, meditate for 20 minutes and then eat to our collective heart’s content. Sorry, no dosa pics–we were too hungry. Just a picture of this fruit:
Before we know it, our driver, Ganesh, has arrived to chariot us out of the hotel parking lot and into the web of morning traffic. Kids are on their way to school; motorbikes zigzag through dense rows of cars and busses. Horns toot, old ladies weave between bumpers, a cow crosses a highway, dogs sit in the dust as lorries thunder by… it is just like I remember and equally unbelievable that so many people, animals, and vehicles move in this mysterious rhythm that miraculously seems to work. We laugh, point, squeal, and shake our heads with amazement and delight. And we haven’t even gotten to the 14 hairpin turns yet!
Our ascent into the mountains comes after a solid hour of driving through banana plantations and little roadside villages. The road begins to tunnel through denser forest, and very soon hairpin #1 turns us uphill. It doesn’t take long before the landscape lifts us into the clouds. Huge trucks full of pineapples, veggies, bags of tea, and concrete blocks chug up this mountain. Motorbikes look for openings to snake through the thicket of vans and cars. Every once in awhile I close my eyes to avoid watching a near collision; but it all flows magically, and after an hour or so, hairpin 14 arrives. We roll the windows down to let in the cool mountain air.
The last mile to the retreat takes us on a single lane journey through the Glendale tea company’s emerald hillsides. We weave back and forth, squeeze drastically close to the edge of the road to pass a town bus, and then there it is: the driveway. And oh man is it a driveway! Up we go, and Ganesh does it beautifully. Doctor Sundara is there to greet us, and I offer a hug before running up to hug Jansi, Selvi, Seeranjeevi, Sathya, and Latha, our dear lady therapists.
I take a deep breath as I enter my room again, see the bed that Narayan made so carefully. Everything is just as I left it. Annie and Molly are in the room right next to mine, and together we look around, smile, hug, and feel the sweetness of this return. We have barely taken our shoes off before we are whisked away to massages and then treated to the most delicious lunch of yellow dal, green bean sabji, chapati with ghee, and a delicious cucumber and carrot salad in a honey-lime marinade topped with pumpkin seeds and raisins. Ohmygoodness!
After lunch, I hike the stairs to our porch and look out over the valley. The view from my bedroom is, by itself, enough reason to return. I love how when I pull open my curtain each day, the horizon is different. It could be that I wake up to see a thin glow over the mountains–a promise of the sun to come, or that the retreat is enveloped in a cloud, or that I can see valley after valley, all the way down to the plains. We are truly on a mountaintop. The sun rises over us to the east, follows us throughout our days, and we can watch it slide each evening into the hills on the other side of the retreat. Some days the clouds are so thick that the sun is like a white eyeball in the sky, doing its best to burn the fog away. I’ll leave you with a handful of snaps taken in the first two days:
I’m happy to be back in my nest on this beautiful hillside with my sweet friends, ready to embark on another amazing adventure into our health.
with love,
Katie
Katie O’Connell
Katie owns Dragonfly Yoga Barn Studio & Retreat in North Sandwich, NH with her husband Declan. Katie has been on the yogi path for nearly 30 years leading yoga retreats, workshops, and teaching yoga, Ayurveda, and meditation around the world. She is a singer, gardener, writer, sourdough baker, lover of kitty cats, thunderstorms, and intensely dark chocolate. You can find her at:
My dearest ones of all, my amazing kids (and their awesome partners!) I am so lucky to be your mama, and sometimes I have to pinch myself and ask how these two precious humans came through Declan and I and into this world… it is just a magical and miraculous gift from the Universe to us, these children. Sigh. And to my beloved man 💜 there are just no words for you, my love.
I am grateful for the sweet and deep friendships that nourish me so… I feel so held, seen, and cared for in this life. I am honored to walk with you through thick and thin, with laughter and tears, music and magic, and so much more. I am grateful beyond measure.
This beautiful land I live on… the evergreens, the moss and mushrooms, the birds, moose, porcupines, and bears. For the owls and frogs. For the way the autumn sky lights up pink and shines on Whiteface Mountain, just wow–I get to be HERE every day.
I am thankful for the rain and the fog and the snow that’s coming. For the quiet landscape of winter, and for the return of spring… for deep rest and renewal and flourishing–I am grateful for it all.
For the night sky! For the belt of stars that call me to look up each night, I am grateful.
I am grateful for my Native American bloodline and the code I carry from my mother’s family to my own. I honor my sacred ancestors today–it was not Thanksgiving to them. It was another day to honor the earth and to walk in harmony with the land and animals. May my feet honor their memory.
I am grateful for being able to go… to travel the world and see beautiful people and places… to expand my awareness of this planet. To keep my eyes open to what else is happening in the world outside my oasis–and to be more than a bystander. I am grateful for the weight of this responsibility.
I am grateful to come home to this house and yoga studio we built with our own hands. I am happy to clean each room with love and care. I am grateful to cook here in my beautiful kitchen and practice yoga on the gorgeous pine floor Declan made. I am grateful for my warm bed, knowing so many do not have a home-place like this to rest in when the sun goes down.
For all of my students, then and now… to all of the “kids” who taught me how to become a good teacher way back when. How to be patient and caring and to honor how different we all are–those years were the rich soil that grew the garden of my yoga practice and teaching. To my yoga students… omg, I just cannot express what you mean to me–I get to share what I love and you come to practice, travel, learn, share–and I can call that my job! I cannot measure my gratitude 🙏🏼 Truly, I am blessed!
For every day and every experience that has brought me to this moment as a woman ~ child ~ wife ~ mother ~ elder ~ wisdom keeper ~ teacher ~ student. For the hard things. I am grateful for you too. I have learned and am always learning how to be resilient, how to peel back another layer of story and armor, how to build my strength with compassion, integrity, and forgiveness.
I am grateful every day for this journey in this body with this mind, these eyes, this voice, and this very heart. I cherish the choice to move from my heart with every step, and how to let joy be the feedback that my heart compass follows. I am grateful for the teachers that nurtured this awareness in me–I bow to you 🙏🏼
With love and gratitude for all of this and so much more, Katie 💜🙏🏼
Happy Halloween, Blessed Samhain, Dia de los Muertos! These past few days as the veil has drawn thin, we have the capacity to sense, feel, maybe even see through to the other side of this experience. Do you believe?
Many of you commented about the remembrance of your pets on Oct. 27~28, a special part of the Dia de los Muertos week which is a day of calling your departed pets home for the night. Today I hope you will post the name of someone you are remembering tonight and tomorrow as we move from Samhain~All Hallows Eve~Halloween into Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 1. Feel free to share a memory or a tradition if you like, or a picture of your Samhain~Halloween~Dia de los Muertos altar on my facebook page:
Let’s talk about Ireland and SAMHAIN, pronounced Sow-win or Saa-wn. Some have noted that the Irish holiday of Samhain coincides with Halloween, but did you know Samhain was actually the inspiration for Halloween? And did you know in IRELAND the tradition is to carve potatoes and turnips on Halloween? And that when the Irish came to America they discovered gourds and pumpkins to carve? Yep. Let’s remember some of Halloween’s roots and bring spirituality back to our dearly departed spirits!
Samhain was a time when the folks of Ireland could feel the veil was thin… it was the time between seasons, between the bounty of harvest and the long winter, a time to gather inward, to survive on summer stores, sit at the hearth close to each other… and yet there was and is an inner knowing that the spirit world and all that is outside of this human body is close by… accessible… maybe even tangible if we listen. Sometimes to listen we need to go outside, outside our comfort zone, outside our homes, outside of our neatly-packaged beliefs even, to grow our awareness wide enough to sense and feel what is beyond this limited body and thinking mind.
The ancient Irish were once afraid of the spirits, thinking that they would be stolen on these nights, taken from their human lives by evil ghosts. Somewhere along the line, they began to make scary face masks and create costumes, to beat their bodhran drums, and march into the fields under the full harvest moon and build enormous bonfires to scare away the evil ones! But over time, the people came to see the Aos Sí, the “unseen folk” as ancestral spirits returning home, seeking the warmth and welcome of fires and family. It truly is a tradition that understands we are more than this physical body bag of flesh (is that halloweeny enough for you?) and that we are spirit once the body bag is gone!
What does this Irish tradition teach us? Don’t be afraid. Love conquers fear every time. Are you missing a loved one? Go out tonight under the dark sky… open your heart to the wondrous possibilities of a sweet visit from a spouse, a friend, a granny, a child, a pet that has left its physical body behind. And maybe someday, when your physical body has dropped away its bones and muscles, you too will come back like a whisper to visit your dear living ones for a moment on this Samhain night.
I posted on October 27th on my FB page about Dia de los Muertos here in Mexico, and how the celebrations happen over many nights, spanning October 27 through November 3rd. It is a holiday with so much tradition, so much tenderness, and with so many layers, I have grown to love it deeply over the past 13 years I have been coming to Central America.
Some of you might remember traveling with us to Costa Rica in 2012–our very first yoga retreat!! Or Guatemala and Nicaragua between 2015 and 2017. Then came Mexico, and for the past 7 years, I have to say, this place really has our hearts. When it comes to Dia de los Muertos, Mexico and its little “magic towns” here on the Nayarit really take this tradition to the absolute… the streets, the shops, the restaurants, the casitas, the stairways and tiny cobblestone paths… every place becomes an altar, a place of remembrance. I love that the way I feel in India is so similar to the way I feel here. Holidays, the Divine, family, and tradition are all paramount. And the colors! Oh my goodness, like India, the murals, the clothing, the textiles, the decor, the incense, the food, the flowers!!! Truly, I am a lucky girl to have these spots on the planet that stir my soul the way they do!
Anyhoo… back to my post!
October 27th is for our pets, our dearly departed and beloved furry family members who have stepped out of their physical paws and tails and into a light body that, if we remember them in a special way, can still visit us!! But only if we believe, if we keep our hearts open, if we remember to keep their sweet faces on our altars, and on October 27th-28, to put out special treats. I imagine Maizy Moon and Seamus will eat those even if they are left for Puddy, Sweetie Pie, and Mr. Paws (and going way back: Lefty, Lola, Buckwheat and Millie, Daisy, Sweet Pea, and Goodbye Girl, Buddy and Spirit, and Oatmeal, my very first kitty). That’s a lot of kitties over my 50+ years!
Preparations for Dia de los Muertos are well underway here in Sayulita, where we have spent the last 3 years visiting during this beloved season. The town is decked with colorful flags, the restaurants put out their skeletons reminding us to put a little meat on our bones, and the shops are full of sugar skulls, candles, marigolds, and altar decorations. EVERY nook and corner here becomes a place to pause.
October 28th, people prepare their altars and light the first candles and lay out white flowers. We honor all of the souls who have passed on. It is a collective moment for all of us here still embodied to honor those released from their human form. The candles light the way so our departed loved ones can see their way back to us when they come through the veil to visit on their special day! This is a sacred journey for our loved ones, and they are asking us to be aware of them and to call them back in for sweet moments of memory. Pull out pictures and mementos, tell stories of your loved ones, and know they are listening! If they hear us talking about them, and we light the way, they have a moment to return, to touch into this realm, remind us they are always in our hearts.
Today, October 29, is the day of tribute to the unclaimed spirits who have no families to welcome them home. On this day, we can put out a tall glass of water to quench their thirst, as they may have been traveling a long way to find a family to welcome them in. You could write a love note and put it on your altar with the simple words: Welcome, or “all are welcome here” or whatever way feels special to you to acknowledge the spirits who seek the abode of a loving family.
After today, things really ramp up… but I hope to post more on that later. For now, just opening our hearts to the great mystery of life, death, and the expansive beyond and all that is possible feels like a wonderful practice.
With love, the tenderness of memory, and the sweet joy of sharing this life with you. Many blessings on this day and always, from the magic town of Sayulita,
The 10-day celebration of Ganesh is nearly complete, ending on the full moon September 7th. If you read my last post, you will recall the story of Ganesh, the elephant God born from Parvathi’s desire to have a devoted protector If you haven’t checked it out, you might want to peek at that one first: LINK HERE. I shared the story of Ganesha’s birth, death, and return to life, all in the course of a single day!
Today’s post is a sweet share that tips a hat to another love of mine–Ayurveda–and the five constitutional elements, or pancha mahabhutas, that make up all of life: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Ganesh is well known as the stable, grounded, somewhat stubborn, loveable protector, associated with the element Earth. Thus, Ganesh rules the muladhara chakra, the root, the energy center of the body typically associated with earth and the qualities he embodies as a being. Ganesh is often seen with red flowers in his hands or adorning his forehead, red being the color of the root chakra and the red earth of India.
Pics from our first India Retreat in 2016: Ganesha’s hand, broken tusk, camelia
While balanced earth element brings physical and emotional stability and groundedness, too much earth can get you stuck. Likewise, too little earth and excess air, and we are floating away untethered. Let’s dig in a little deeper.
When the root chakra is out of balance, there is either too much or too little earth at play. Too much earth can show up as lethargy, depression, and resentment, being attached to things, ideas, people, food, etc. If there is too little earth, someone might lack grounding, experience anxiety or scattered thinking, and feel unstable in their body or mind, feel uncomfortably cold or experience dryness. When the root chakra is balanced, however, we feel calm, supported by and connected to our tribe, physically stable, and mentally put together (thank you earth+water=stability!).
The stories of Ganesh show us that our dear elephant god has the capacity to be overly attached to his sweets (too much earth element), while in other tales, Earth is his superpower, keeping him calm, slow, grounded, and content to just be. Let’s have a wee story or two, shall we?
Photo I took of the Ganesha Altar at Blue Mountain’s home in Maul.
Did you ever wonder how Ganesh ended up with a broken tusk? It’s one of my all-time favorite stories of the gods, and I think you’ll see why. It all begins with a grand feast held for Ganesha on his birthday. Picture sweets galore, so many you couldn’t possibly taste them all.. but one particular dessert is Ganesha’s fancy, and he loves it so much that his mother has made sure there is a mountain of them: modakas! These little rice dumplings brimming with coconut and jaggery are his very favorite, and so Ganesha can’t help himself. He eats and eats so many of the coconut treats that his belly balloons to capacity! After his birthday feast is over, Ganesh climbs precariously up onto his VERY undersized chariot driven by Mooshika, his devoted little mouse, who steers the diminutive cart down the moonlit road under Ganesha’s weight. Mooshika tries desperately to keep the rattling cart on the road, but it’s all over when the mouse sees a snake slither in front of them, and when he veers to the side, Ganesh tumbles out of the topsy turvy cart in a heap. His giant belly pops, exploding all of his sweets like a canon! In his distress, Ganesh bumbles around in the moonlight, desperately picking up all the modakas, and stuffs them back into his belly! In a flash of insight, he grabs the snake and quickly ties it around his belly to hold all the sweets inside! Can you imagine the scene?
Chandra, the full moon, who has been watching the whole fiasco unfold, is so amused and begins to chuckle and then to laugh out loud. Poor Ganesh, frustrated and embarrassed, cracks off one of his tusks, hurls it up at the laughing moon, and POP! Out goes the moonlight, and all the world is dark!
Little Ganesh on Mooshika, from Bhaktapur, Nepal
We can see how overindulgence, attachment to food (or anything), frustration and resentment (no one likes to be made fun of) can lead to a disastrous situation. Don’t worry, dear reader, I promise to continue this story in my 3rd and final post on Ganesh, but for now, let’s get back to the elements and another Ganesh tale that demonstrates the best of how Earth shows up in our dear Ganesh!
Because he is so rooted (and perhaps a little bit lazy), Ganesh often chooses the path of least resistance (and for Ganesh, least exertion is key); but his sweet temperament, paired with his deep wisdom makes up for his preference for moving a bit slower–or shall we say, more mindfully?
One day, Ganesh and his brother Kartikeya, the valiant God of War, are hanging with their parents Lord Shiva and the goddess Mata Parvathi, when they are challenged to a special task! Now, before I tell the story, know that Ganesh and Kartikeya are about as different as two brothers can be: Ganesh is portly and jolly, the epitome of gentleness, while Kartikeya is muscular and athletic–a total action man. They are equally smart and capable, just in very different ways, and although they adore each other, they are very competitive, especially when it means receiving the affection of their parents!
The story goes that Parvathi and Shiva have been given a sacred mango, which they don’t want to split in half (ahem, doesn’t sound like great parenting, but this isn’t my story). So instead they ask their sons to compete for the golden fruit. Ganesh, being the foodie that he is, sits at the feet of his parents ready to win the mango! Karthikeya mounts his beautiful peacock, ready to fly into action! The task: to circle the entire world three times. Whoever can do it fastest wins the sacred mango! Karti zips off on his peacock in a flash, the perfect demonstration of speed, skill, and athletic prowess. An observer would certainly think Kartikeya has left our gentle, grounded Ganesh in the dust! But at the end of it all, who gets the mango? Ganesh, who barely moves a muscle. How is this possible, you ask? In his wisdom, while his brother loops around the globe at warp speed, Ganesha slowly circles his parents three times, claiming that they are his whole world. Of course he completes the thrice circumnavigation first and wins their affection along with the succulent sacred mango! Smartypants Ganesh doesn’t have to break a sweat… he just takes his sweet time, leads with his heart, turns on his charm, and lets the mango come to him. HA! Kartikeya is quite angry, and feeling duped, turns on his heel in frustration. Legends say he became a monk for awhile, but that’s another story!
Our Dragonfly Yoga Barn Ganehsa Altar ❤️ Notice the peacock feather for brother Kartikeya 🦚
Clearly, we need a balance of all the elements in our being: Earth to keep us stable, calm, and grounded, water to bring buoyancy and hold earth together to create form, fire to transform matter, thought, and experiences, air to bring energy and enliven the subtle being, and ether / space to hold it all. Are you more like Kartikeya or Ganesh? There’s no wrong answer, just an awareness of what elements show up in our body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Sigh… I adore this elephant god with is coconut candy-filled belly and his flash of anger at the moon… his quick insight, charming humor, and conservation of energy in winning a delicious prize, despite his brother’s vast athletic talent. I also feel for Kartikeya who tries so hard to do what he has been asked, only to feel undermined by his quick-witted brother. Keeping the gods human so we can recognize ourselves is the brilliant fun of Hindu mythology. I have learned so much about myself over the years studying the gods and goddesses, their (our) pitfalls and triumphs, our human personalities intertwined with their divinity. It’s really like looking in the mirror. We are all sacred beings, part of the one divine cosmos, even if we each have our own distinctive character. I appreciate the reflection. I hope you’ll join me for the follow up story in my next post on Ganesh and the full moon!
Today, August 27th, is an auspicious day, the Lord Ganesha’s birthday and the beginning of a 10-day celebration throughout India (and worldwide) for those who love Ganesh, the elephant god with the broken tusk, round Buddha-like belly, and little mouse as his escort. He is as sweet as the treats he loves to eat, as Kapha as they come, and as wise as the day is long. Join me for a little story about Ganesha’s birthday!
When I first learned about Ganesh it was over 20 years ago, and I was a newly-minted yoga teacher only just discovering the Hindu deities. At first I didn’t latch onto Ganesh; but now I take him everywhere with me. You see, Ganesh–my rotund and rooted elephant friend–is known as the “remover of obstacles,” and who doesn’t have obstacles in their pathway? (Maybe more on that in a later post). Ganesh is about WAY more than removing obstacles though. He is a protector, a sturdy and rooted being, wise as the day is long, and a benevolent giver of blessings. And I love him. I remember when I found this OM pendant and saw the curves of Ganesh’s trunk and tusk taking the forms of the symbol representing the sound of the Universe, it instantly became a fixture around my neck.
Ganesh is the child of the Goddess Parvathi, born from her own need for companionship and protection during long periods of time when her husband Shiva took off for the mountains to meditate or go hunting. The tale goes that one day while Parvathi is heading to her bath, she asks the bull Nandi to guard her door so that no one will come in; the trouble is, Nandi is Shiva’s bull, and his allegiance is to Shiva, so when Shiva returns home and asks Nandi to step aside, he does as his Lord wishes, and Shiva enters Parvathi’s room without her permission. To say she is P-O’ed is an understatement! Parvathi vows that the next time Shiva leaves for the mountains, she will take it upon herself to create a being that will be as loyal to her as Nandi is to her husband.
The day comes when Parvathi takes the dirt of her own body, mixes it with turmeric paste, and breathes life into her new son, Ganesha. Parvathi instructs Ganesh to guard the door and allow no one to pass while she bathes, so he plants himself as a guard, a sturdy protector of his dear mother and vows to let no one pass without Parvathi’s consent.
When Shiva arrives home, he sees the strange boy and orders him to move. Ganesh flatly refuses and even fights off members of Shiva’s army, completely unscathed and as grounded to the spot outside his dear mother’s door than ever before. Now Shiva, who is a pretty even-tempered mountain man, becomes angry. And when Shiva gets angry, well, we all know the fire of destruction will fume out of his hands! Shiva loses his marbles and wields a sword that slices Ganesh’s head from his body in a gruesome and mindless instant!
When he learns that the dead boy is his beloved’s own son, he falls in remorse. Parvathi, however, can not be consoled. (It is said she wailed so long and hard that her crying echoed over the valley below Mt. Kailash!). After her cries, she grows fiercely angry and threatens to destroy all of creation (important backstory: Parvathi is a form of Devi, Parashakti, the Divine feminine, the power of creation itself– a woman not to be messed with!). Anyhoo, Lord Bramha, the Creator is a bit worried by her threat, so he and Shiva agree to Parvathi’s two terms: one, that Ganesh be brought back to life, and second, that he be revered as a God among the gods themselves. Agreed! Brahma himself goes to the woods to find the head of the first beast he encounters and returns with a great elephant’s head, which Shiva places on Ganesh’s body as he lovingly breathes new life into the boy he now calls his own son.
There’s always more to the story than the story itself, but for today, we’ll leave it at this!
Happy (double) Birthday, dear Ganesh. May we all be as brave and steadfast as you! May you offer your protection when we need someone to stand up for us. May we receive the blessings and kindness you offer to all beings!
It’s been a bit since I’ve posted, but we are deep in the process now, and with a group of 14 amazing humans, we have all been taking a deep dive into Ayurveda on all three realms: body, mind, and spirit. There are so many things I could write about today–so many of those deep things–but today I’m going to share a few of the beautiful things about this place beyond the panchakarma: the puppies, the kitties, the bulls, the bees, the flowers, and oh my gosh, the people. Enjoy looking 🙂
This little bee with the see-through wings spent an entire day on the front face of one of our steps. I almost didn’t see it, but the bright yellow band caught my eye. If you peek closer, you’ll see that there is a delicate white stripe around each “ankle” on this beautiful little wisp. As we are going up and down the stairs all day (to treatments, meals, yoga, Dr. appointments, abs class, walks), I had the delight of seeing this unusual creature dozens of times. And then one trip up, she was gone!
A week or so ago, we had a spell of cloudy days, when the fog rolled up the mountainside and completely obscured the valley below.
It rained two nights in a row, and the drops pelted against the metal roof. In the morning there were more tiny new visitors I’d never experienced here in India before! The pictures don’t really show just how teeny these guys are. Each toad was only the size of my index fingernail, and the lizard barely an inch long! Those of us in the “Crows Nest,” as I call our perch above the Doctor’s house, spent plenty of time checking out their stripes, dots, and diminutive feet! Zoom in to really see the itty bitty bauble toes on the lizard, each with its own little white dot! Check out the way the brown toad has wedged himself into the moss in the corner of our step. I think he looks a bit like Ganesh 🙂
Just for scale, here’s that little peeper on the right next to a sign about 20 inches wide:
Each day, regardless of weather, we walk through the villages, down the paths through the tea, along the forest road, and back up the BIG hill that is our driveway. Here are a few of the other creatures we encounter along the way:
VERY BIG BISON
Okay, these cows and bulls are big. Like I mean BIG. And these particular bison are not even as big as the biggest ones we’ve seen and even walked past while out on the trails. This photo is literally a drive by snap–and they are a ways off in the tea. You do NOT stop to coo at these honkers. One day Karen and I happened upon a handful of bison, one on the pathway, and the others in the tea. There was a baby, so we didn’t dare pass. Thankfully, a local village lady saw us stalling, and she went ahead slowly and “shoo shooed” the female off the path. She instructed us to follow her, and we scooted by within feet of the big guy, sporting horns I cannot describe. There are no pictures for obvious reasons. When you meet a bison on the trail, you don’t stop for selfies. People have literally been gored up here in the mountains doing just that. Not these yogis!
Meanwhile in the village, there are cows, a few goats, dogs, cats, and always monkeys leaping from rooftop to rooftop. I love the one of Karen holding the most adorable puppy who just wanted to follow her everywhere!
And everywhere we go, amidst the tea, alongside the animals, walking, smiling, working, and sitting in the sunshine are the wonderful people of these mountain villages. Here are a few elders, youngsters, and those in the middle:
One special visitor got lots of attention this week: Mr. Teddy. He meowed us as we walked to yoga at 6:30 am, he followed us on the first part of our morning walk, he was there at mealtime looking for treats, and he followed us up to the crows nest where he confidently inspected every bedroom and made himself right at home with all of us up here who were happy to scrub him and hold him as he purred away.
It’s one of those years for orange kitties, I guess, because yesterday we went to town and found a pile of kittens begging for our attention:
Another day coming to a close here up on the Mountaintop, and as always, it feels like hOMe here. Sending you warm wishes from all the creatures and beautiful people here in India!
