NEW SURPRISES AND DISCOVERIES EVERY DAY Dec 8, 2015

NEW SURPRISES AND DISCOVERIES EVERY DAY Dec 8, 2015
The weather being cold and nasty….I’m actually sitting in my room, with the heater on, listening to music, coloring in my coloring book….warm clothes, sox and shawl and hot water bottle nearby…quite content…and having some time to even write…haven’t done this for some time.

Not having wifi for four days also gave me lots of free time…..quite a surprising blessing as well.
Just a quicky this time…
First of all, after searching for a really good cup of cappuccino, latte, whatever for over two months, I’d finally given up. Even the restaurants that have recently gotten machines, they simply don’t know how to properly prepare it.
So to my surprise, I had this wonderful Latte just now at the Raasta Café…compliments of the manager…it is not on the menu, because he is the only one who really knows how to make it….but it was really lovely!

And the next surprise, was the Japanese practitioner who came to my room to do a treatment yesterday. I’ve been doing Japanese acupuncture at home for years now and it is a godsend for keeping me balanced and managing problems before they get out of hand. About a month ago I heard of a Japanese acupuncture practitioner here but no one seemed to know how to find him. I searched for him where people told me he lived but to no avail.
In a series of synchronicities, I was given his phone number last week…contacted him immediately to make an appointment (which is when he told me he ONLY does house calls…lovely!). He came, and left, without finding me as he looked in the wrong guesthouse. Very disappointing, but we finally DID get together, yesterday, and for the first time ever in Rishikesh, I felt like I was getting a TRULY professional treatment by and experienced and proper practitioner! A combination of massage, shiatsu, enery cleansing and actual acupuncture. I will have him back again next week. Explained some very interesting things to me about my body and why it behaves the way it does…and of course did a very impressive treatment…and I am not easily impressed!
So it’s been a lovely couple of days, despite the weather. Probably won’t be able to post these as the wifi router has died and it could take a couple of days until it is replaced with a new one….but at least I have written them up.
Namaste
Jane

THINGS BEGIN TO SHIFT

THINGS BEGIN TO SHIFT

RAM JHULA

Things are starting to shift. This always happens when I am in India. The shift is more on an energy level, in perceptions of time, space and self. Many things are very subtle. Pretty much unnoticed from the outside at first, but powerfully felt within. Almost like a volcanic eruption… sudden, surprising and overwhelming.

everyday sight along Swag Ashram ghats

The photos in this post are part of the shift as I’ve realized I must do my walking alone if I am too truly receive the benefits of it on all levels. So I spent a beautiful day just roaming around Ram Jhula and Swagashram areas and ghats…and while there, taking photos of whatever took my fancy. I won’t post all of them here, but rather over a few posts.

Have you heard what happened to….???

One of the result of this shift is my really allowing myself to enjoy whatever suits me at the moment. I always have music playing, in one form or another – depending on my mood and my needs- I must have music in my life- to calm, to excite, to invigorate, to inspire, for romance, for fun, for dancing or just for its beauty. IT’s been interesting for me to note what strikes my fancy in music over the past few days…

say cheese!! Weekend tourists enjoying the Ram Jhula ghats

decisions, decisions, decisions

Finding my “aloneness” again is also a great shift. Always being surrounded by others-not always physically but mentally and emotionally – can be exhausting and draining , even when they are dear loved ones – of which I am blessed with many- 6 children, their spouses and my 14 grandchildren. And then of course my dear loving  friends. The “space” to be completely alone with ME is a rare occurrence – times are few and far between- I make a great effort to at least begin my day with just ME – but very often even this sacred time is snatched from me for various reasons. This space for me is a luxurious blessing, and I am at a place where I am now withdrawing from others around me here as well. Going within, alone, as much as possible.

weekend tourists

FOOD FOR THE FISH

along swag ashram ghats

on ram jhula bridge

dressed for the holiday weekend

tour group with guide

TRANQUIL RAM JHULA

Hope you enjoy the rest of these photos as much as I enjoyed experiencing them.

with love light and JOY

Jane

FINDING THE QUIET PLACE OCT 9-14 2015 #9

FINDING THE QUIET PLACE OCT 9-14 2015 #9

EVERYONE has a smartphone/camera

I’ve been here a little over two weeks now, and as always, it has taken me this amount of time to find my balance. The past two weeks have been filled with great joys, but also some doubts about myself and my capabilities again…and falling back into that place is always a wake up call for me. Falling back into patterns of self-sabotaging behavior is something we all do, but I am blessed to be able to recognize it for what it is and nip it in the bud.

DIVINE LIGHT

I have put everything into perspective, including the complete non-desire to write, and realized, as always, that this is the amount of time I always need to adjust to change, of any kind. Even good change in a place I am completely familiar with.
And now that I have understood once again, that I am as good as, or even better than I have been on past sojourns here…life begins to settle in and I find myself completely at peace with myself.

RAM JHULA EVENING

However, I am still having some difficulty finding the QUIET PLACE this time, mainly due to all that is so disturbingly happening at home. I am finding ways to deal with that as well.
I have been blessed to have met a lovely new friend, (more to come), and to have already begun working. I am enjoying cooking for myself when I feel like it, but mainly enjoying the pleasures of having someone else prepare food for me, even if it is just steamed veggies or fabulous fruit salads.

RAM JHULA GHAT ON A QUIET EVENING

And of course, I am doing Reiki, meditation, pranayama and yoga EVERY day.
I will be posting further photos and stories as the days go by. Yesterday and today and am privileged to be an invited guest at the Mehandi (henna) and then marriage celebrations of the son of good friends, and will be writing about this as well.
Namaste
Jane

BLESSED SHIFT IN WEATHER FOLLOWING THE STORM OCT 15-16

BLESSED SHIFT IN WEATHER FOLLOWING THE STORM OCT 15-16 #11

STORM ROLLING IN OVER THE MOUNTAIN

WiFi back up and running….explanation below…hopefully will catch up on things here now with lots of great photos and videos from the fabulous wedding celebrations during the week…
We had a couple of evenings of serious thunder storms, rain much heavier than expected this time of the year, but the final result is a blessed drop in daytime temperatures, as well as really cool evenings and mornings, needing even a little shift in clothing. It is perfect walking weather, and I am now able to sit outdoors on the roof almost all day long, do my meditation outside in the morning, and if no one is around to see me, even my yoga.
I can now begin all the walks I so love to take here…but , thank God….I have lots and lots of work this past week and all through next week. So I’ve taken one day off, and on Monday will take my new friend out for her first real walk in Rishikesh and I’m sure we will have a lovely day together.

MIST IN THE MORNING FOLLOWING THE STORM

I’ve been without internet for two full days so far, which in many ways is a great blessing, but because I have so many lovely photos and videos to upload so that I can share them with you, it is also quite frustrating. But is also the perfect lesson in acceptance and gratitude for ALL that we experience. It truly is all GOOD.
This all another result of the storm…seems to have damaged the main optic cable and although they claim to be working on it, it is still not working.
So, I will enjoy the quiet time, enjoy my work, and all the lovely food I am eating…do writing as it suits me, and eventually this will all find its way to you.
For now, another lovely day winds itself down. Waiting for my friend to come up and I will be helping begin doing yoga for the first time (she is 75 years old), with the very gentle program I was given years ago here in Rishikesh and which serves to to this day.
Life is good, full and blessed. I am most grateful
With love light and JOY
Jane

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING – OCT 9 2015

THERE’S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Including stomach problems in India!!

SUNRISE, MOON AND MORNING STAR

In the 15 years I’ve been coming to India, despite having an extremely sensitive stomach (or perhaps THANKS to it because it makes me super cautious), I have never once experienced any sort of stomach discomfort….UNTIL TODAY! Actually, it didn’t surprise me…two days ago, I went down to eat at one of my very favorite restaurant for truly fresh food and delicious dishes…The Ganga View Restaurant. When I arrived, I didn’t see one familiar face, and something looked different…the bakery display was empty, as was the restaurant. THIS should have been enough for me…as this was a place where sometimes I might have to wait for a place to sit!!! But I went down to my comfy place, saw the menu (completely different), and already realized that it had changed hands. I was very specifically “told” to get up and leave, but I was tired, hot and very hungry and decided to stay figuring “how bad could it be?”
That same evening my stomach was slightly upset, and yesterday I didn’t feel up to doing anything at all, and this morning, woke up with “delhi belly” and a general weak feeling. Immediately went down to Dr. Arora, my ayurvedic doctor. I was planning to go to him today anyway for a general consultation….but obviously that wasn’t going to happen. He checked my pulse and immediately said “what have you eaten the last couple of days that wasn’t good for you?” Gave me some pills, which I am to take for three days, and keep eating my regular, good for me meals of porridge, steamed veggies, fruit salad and kitcheri in the evening, and all will be well.
Not a very interesting post but waking up to the blessed view above was definitely compensation!
I am always blessed by God and the Universe
Much love light and JOY
Jane

LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
….and this is something which challenges me each and every time anew during my time in India.

with full Acceptance, Joy, Gratitude and FREEDOM FROM FEAR!

Less than two weeks have gone by and I’ve already received my first insights and wonderful, blessed understandings of what I am truly capable of, with complete Freedom for Fear in all new aspects of my life.
This has been an interesting almost two weeks…the time it usually takes me to acclimate to my home here in Rishikesh, to settle down energy wise, to regain my balance and of course recuperate from flying, long taxi ride, unpacking, shopping etc., etc., etc. And this time the weather was unseasonably hot, much too hot for my comfort, and no AC anywhere. It was not an easy few first days, but ever since has gotten easier by the day, and brought me wonderful new lessons about myself and what I am capable of.

TAPOVAN LIT UP AT NIGHT…MY FIRST TIME TO VIEW THIS ALONE

What has actually happened over the past few days, is the dispelling of age old myths about myself and my abilities, and exposing them for what they are: completely untrue (I am sickly, weak, lack energy, bad joints, poor feet which need special shoes, easily fatigued, weakened by the heat, etc ). In addition, I’ve finally gotten past a life long fear of the dark, especially being alone in the dark, which had been made even worse the past five years due to cataracts. The fear was so powerful, so overwhelming, that it was visceral – felt in my entire body, and simply paralyzed me. For years now, it has been difficult for me to see at night, and here in India, where there are no street lights in most places, making the dark total, I have not ventured out of my home area after around 4 in the afternoon, ever, being afraid of being caught out once the dark set in. It was extremely confining, and definitely frustrating and annoying.

MY SHADOW ON THE DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD

I’ve come back to India after two successful cataract surgeries…I see better than I have my entire life (been wearing eyeglasses since the age of ten-which I no longer need), and decided, among other things, to check out the night fear.
So, over the past few days just about all of the above has been tested, and passed with flying colors. I am nothing like what I’ve been led to believe my whole life….I can do ANYTHING…anything I want to do, anything I choose to do, anything I need to do, even if it is difficult or demanding…and do it well and with nothing worse than a headache or tiredness at the end.
I went walking in the heat of the day, much further than I ever allowed myself in the past, wearing nothing but flip-flops (no special, expensive shoes or sandals for bad feet, knees, hips, back), did all this despite a headachy feeling in the morning (which would normally keep me home, resting the whole day), and had a marvelous day out. My headache actually went away DURING all this…
And then yesterday, decided to go out after 4, and just enjoy! Which I did. No fear, no problem with the dark, (flashlight on my phone was all I needed for the dark mountain roads) and a glorious feeling of being FREE AT LAST to do what I want, when I want!!

DARK ROAD LIT UP BY PASSING TRAFFIC

Now this all might simple boring and no big deal to most of you reading this, but believe me, these are things which I have given myself several huge medals for for outstanding achievement! I haven’t felt this pleased and proud of myself in a very long time, and look forward to whatever the rest of this journey holds in store for me!

with full Acceptance, Joy, Gratitude and FREEDOM FROM FEAR!

…and just for fun…this is a shot of the very limited view from my room, through the other guesthouses which block it, of the Ganga at night

with love light and JOY

Namaste

Jane

SOUL FOOD-OCT 7 2015

SOUL FOOD-OCT 7, 2015

BEING IN THE MOMENT

Sitting here at Swiss garden for breakfast…

…decided to treat myself to my favorite, aloo parantha and masala chai…rather than the standard, healthy, good for me, porridge. This is breakfast to feed my soul as well and that is no less important to my good health. And to my great surprise, and joy, it is actually chilly! What a pleasant and welcome surprise….hints of the cold to come in a few months, but delightful right now! And a further added blessing, the Wi-Fi here is not working so I am able to completely relax….

I am gently reminded of the pleasures of days past before all this was available. Just relaxing, being with all that is surrounding me, doing my needlepoint, reading….this is a powerful reminder of how much we miss out on when we become slaves of this new technology…..On the other hand, technology is a great blessing…as I sit here in Rishikesh, writing on my computer, I am able to listen to a radio station from Israel, just as if I was sitting in my living room at home….the best of both worlds!

EVENING WALK AND LIGHT SNACK IN LAXMAN JHULA

It’s been an interesting day in general, and will write more about “getting out of my comfort zone” in the next post…the rest of the photos in this post were made possible BECAUSE I was able to get out of that place controlled by fears…and in addition to these lovely things…

PICTURE PERFECT…SUNSET IN LAXMAN JHULA

JUST DID MY FIRST CARD READING….BEAUTIFUL!
Just being back in “service” again always does wonders for me…being in my purpose…and these readings, which basically bring deep insights to the person sitting opposite me, are extremely gratifying to say the least.

GANGA AT SUNSET

It has been a blessed day!
I am deeply grateful

With love light and JOY
Jane

END OF ONE WEEK OCT 4 2015 #5

October 4 2015 PHOTO POST END OF ONE WEEK

SARIS DRYING IN THE SUN

A full week has gone by since my arrival and it has been nothing like what I expected, and everything I expected and more. After being away for two full years, the impact of finally getting back and realizing how much my soul needs to be in this place, has left me moved to tears of joy more than once over the past days.
In addition, the welcome I’ve received everywhere I went has been nothing short of astounding. But the final surprise gesture which was totally unsuspected, came at one of my favorite restaurants, 60’s Beatles Café, yesterday. I love this place for the ambience, the wonderful music always playing softly in the background, the truly delicious and special food served (see a couple of sample pages from the extensive menu)

VEGAN CHOICES

SPECIAL SMOOTHIES

and of course a view to die for (especially at sunset).

PRACTICING MY SELFIE SKILLS

While there, relaxing on one of the lovely sofas, drinking a smoothie and recovering from the heat and long walk-enjoying a fabulous breeze coming off the Ganga….one of the owners handed this to me with a big mile and greeting. I was totally surprised, truly moved to tears-which in turn totally surprised the owner!

Later on in the evening, watching a lovely sunset which is only possible when we are blessed with clouds, I went back to coloring mandalas as a relaxing, sort of meditative practice I began awhile ago at home, with a new collection and coloring pencils which I bought here

I’ll hopefully be writing more about the week-which has been filled with ups and downs, some doubts, but great joy and contentment as well-and I’m extremely grateful for these blessing-but at the moment, have no great urge to write – so will let my photos speak for me for the time being.

GANGA RAFTING

CROWDS ON LAXMAN JHULA BRIDGE

TOURIST TAKING FAMILY PHOTOS

SNACK ON THE GO

GANGA BATHING

WEEKEND TOURISTS

VIEW FROM MY TERRACE

Namaste
Much love light and JOY
Jane

EARLY MORNING WALK #4 2015

October 1, 2015
EARLY MORNING WALK DOWN TO LAXMAN JHULA, ALONG GANGA PATH AND BACK ACROSS RAM JHULA

I decided the only way I would get past this spell of unseasonably, really hot weather, is to take advantage of the cooler times of the day. So this morning, I was already out walking at 6:30 AM and walked for 5.5 km with ease, and took lots of photos.

VIEW FROM LAXMAN JHULA EARLY MORNING

First of all, it was deliciously cool, even chilly, and down by the Ganga, the wind was so strong it was kind of scary walking across the swaying bridges. Look at these shirts which were hung up on the trees to dry, and apparently be ironed as well, and you can imagine the wind blowing off the Ganga….or this willow tree blowing in the wind

CLOTHES DRYING AND BEING IRONED BY THE WIND

WILLOW TREE ALONG THE GANGA NEAR RAM JHULA

But it was delightful…
Secondly, It was a whole new experience. After so many years of walking in India, I’ve never been out at this time of the day and it was a completely different experience. ALL shops were closed, very few people in the streets

EMPTY STREETS

LOTS of stray dogs which scared me a little as they kept approaching me…..but a while new world out there. Of course, no colorfully dressed woman in scores to photograph, but a I saw things which I’ve never noticed before on walks when I’m usually surrounded by people on all sides.

DOOR FRONT IN LAXMAN JHULA

And of course, seeing the town slowly come to life, mainly children going to school, street cleaners, several people bathing in the Ganga or setting up stands to sell to people later in the day…quite lovely to say the least.

STREET CLEANERS

SCRAP COLLECTOR

And the lighting on the mountains and Ganga and bridges was so different and beautiful to see.

NOTICE MOON SETTING OVER LAXMAN JHULA

VIEW FROM LAXMAN JHULA EARLY MORNING

RAM JHULA EARLY MORNING

SUN RISING OVER MOUNTAIN NEAR RAM JHULA

A VIEW FROM AFAR OF WHERE I LIVE

Hope you enjoy the photos in this post….look forward to doing this more often, maybe even tomorrow in a different direction.

I AM EXTREMELY BLESSED AND GRATEFUL

with love light and JOY

Jane

NOT in Rishikesh Today!

I should have been writing this post from my room in Rishikesh

and wishing you shabbat shalom from there.

But as things have a way of happening in life, things don’t always happen as we plan them.  And this is usually a blessing, sometimes in disguise, very often immediately understood (as is the case today).  But that doesn’t make it any easier sitting in one place when you expected to be someplace else.  So to ease the situation, I’ve decided to at least enjoy the blessings of my memories and here are just of few of them from Rishikesh, Dharamsala, Varanassi, Haridwar….there are of course endless memories, and perhaps over the next couple of months this is what I will be posting here….

So, from Israel, I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom…much love light and JOY