I arrived here in this idyllic international, spiritual community (since 1968) just over a week ago. It has been wonderful, peaceful and like a little oasis in the middle of the noise, smells, garbage and sometimes (well, most of the time!) the chaos of India. I am staying in a little guest house called Creativity with 5 bedrooms. We are an international house with residents from France, USA, Italy, Denmark and myself and my friend Theresa from Canada. The house is overseen quite capably by a Belgium woman who is a real den mother and looks after us in a most compassionate manner. It is quiet and well maintained as we have a cleaner who keeps things lovely for us (right down to flower arrangements) 6 days a week, including our clothes washing. My room is lovely with a bright orange painted wall, double bed, desk and little outdoor sitting area. Dogs and cats and cows/bulls roam wherever, whenever so I never know when I will be visited.
Quite an incident last week when I was walking through the forest on the way to the yoga centre, a bull and a cow were standing by the path, I walked by carefully and as I was passing by the bull, I was head butted in the arm, a nice bruise in green/purple greets me these days. The great thing is that I was en route to the yoga centre/healing centre and they took wonderful care of me. However, no one expects such a thing and I was in a little shock for a few minutes after.
I have been biking all over the huge complex for the last week now - many people ride motorcycles or mopeds but I am quite happy with my bright pink bike - and getting to explore all the little nooks and crannies of this fascinating place. Most of the roads are hard packed, a few are paved but the pavement stops quite randomly so I usually only bike during the day. It is incredibly dark at nite here so evening times are usually spent preparing a meal and relaxing.
We are served a lovely fruit, homemade yogurt, tea and bread/jam (homemade right here in Auroville) breakfast outside near the garden of the complex (the weather has been lovely and warm and sunny every day) and then usually I attend a yoga class or another event. Last Saturday was a half day workshop on Consciousness as Medicine given by an Indian doctor, it was wonderful and I learned a great deal and got to practice techniques which I am still practicing.
It is easy to be relaxed and joyful here as most people seem to enjoy their life and many Aurovillians have been here for many years, some since the inception of the community in 1968! It is so fascinating to see an international complex like this utilizing compassion, spirituality and kind communication to operate a community of more than 2,000.
The yoga classes (Iyengar so they are quite precise and a good challenge for me) have been excellent, usually 1.5 hours long and so reasonably priced. And I have had a facial massage/treatment and plan a craniosacral session later this week. There are many many therapists from all over the world here offering all sorts of treatments.
The most famous place in Auroville is the Matrimandir complex, too much to explain, suffice to say it is a huge structure that is absolutely magical to enter and meditate in. Check it out online for more info. I did my preliminary visit there last week so now may go any morning after 10 am. But there is so much to do here I have not been back yet.
I am really enjoying this leg of my journey but am also planning my return to Canada late December, briefly, between Dec 28 and Jan 3/4 before moving on to Sivananda retreat in Nassau, Bahamas for 3 months.
My dear son Christopher has also had some changes in his life during my absence and will be leaving Kingston to move to Calgary to accept a job next weekend. Please keep him in your hearts and minds over the next few weeks as he settles into his new life in Calgary! Burrito Amigo will remain open and day to day operations will be passed to the cook, Ben, who has been working with Christopher since he opened in May.
Thanks to all of you who stay in touch through email or FB; it's great to know what people are up to.
Namaste from India ... more from the Gypsy at 60 - plus!
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