Goa Seaside and then The Wedding

Our trip eventually to Goa was a much needed respite after working long days with so much travel in dense traffic at the start and end of the days. We stayed in south Goa, which is a sleepy part far from the excitement and glitter of North Goa's highrise hotels. Imagine eagles and other water fowl dipping in the waters at early morning and various fishing boats of all colours and shapes.
































 







The Wedding~ Raja and Cecile had their traditional Tamil wedding this morning at the auspicous hour of 7:30 am, which means the sari dresser came to my door at 4:30. We had stayed up at a party last evening after just traveling by air all day long, celebrating in style with Beatles music played by classmates of Raja's from years ago. Noone got much sleep, especially the bride and groom but they were radiant, gracious and beautiful to behold as hundreds of people came to pay their respects. In traditional custom, there was a NOISY band clanging mystery instruments throughout (calling in good spirits, dispelling evil perhaps?)  A young hindu priest lead the ceremony and several other men chanted throughout as he poured holy water, oils, lit wood sticks, gave flower petals of rose and jasmine to Raja and Cecile to hold in prayer and then throw on the alter of all sorts of symbols. It was extraordinary and beautiful and overwhelming, all at the same time. Much like most of India.
Meals were served on large banana leaves, with small piles of curries and sauces and chutney and little fried pies of lentil flour. We ate with our hands and enjoyed all the smiles from across the hall as we were witnessed trying not to use both hands, but only the right one.

Our time has been very scheduled throughout the past weeks, but finally I can post the photos which I think are remarkable. Love to all.

Completion of the 6 day training

Father Godfrey and Patti

One of my small groups- such meaningful work and healing

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Feb 8, 2011- Yesterday we completed Raja's 6 day Integral Somatic Psychotherapy Training with 45 participants. It was a new way of working and we all took in the great gifts that came with it. Instead of asking participants to practice on their own, each Assistant Trainer provided the sessions that Raja had just lectured on, in small groups of 5. It was very deep work, and the first opportunity many Indian therapists had had to do personal work in a very long time. i.e. much gratitude and willingness to dig in deeply and stay with the process. Because it is so somatically based, it was new for many. The question again and again on the first several days of "what are you experiencing in your body, as you say that or recall that event?" was lost to many. Those beautiful eyes looking questioningly at you.... such a shift and a new way of working. But over the days we saw a deep awakening in the felt sense, and ability to move out of the thoughts and into the emotional body.

I myself found it to be very gratifying because I was able to see and hear through their stories and life's events what it is like to be born and raised here. I cannot imagine a more meaningful way to work, to travel in India. Yes, I heard the suffering but also witnessed the abiding spiritual nature of their lives, their love and committment to family and to wholeness. The participants came from all walks of life and are mostly highly trained, master's level therapists and above. Many are part of the Don Bosco order, who's mission is to provide support, education, therapeutic services, housing etc to impoverished women, children and youth.



More than 40% of Mumbai's population consists of children below the age of 18. Many of these children, because they come from families still struggling to settle down or subsist, they are in dire need of care and protection. This may include the 'railway children' who are the runaways that left impossible situations and live on the platforms of the railways and children of prostitutes. I will attempt in another post to describe more clearly all that we learned that this order does in India. While the government may not offer social programs for the care of the marginalized, Catholic Services and Don Bosco order do: they have the highest quality of individuals who are committed to lending that hand, emotionally, physically, spiritually and intellectually, to those youth in need.

Thanks to all who have sent a comment to me. It is of great support and warms my heart to know you are following. We have had little time for internet, but are now heading to Goa today for 4 days on the beach together! Pictures below are of street scenes, Mumbai view from my room window, incense & dyes sold outside of a temple, etc. Love to all~

ISP Training Begins

Raja and his wife and SE practitioner Cecile arrived along with our final team member, Patricia, making us a total of 11. We spent much of the day yesterday going to temples, the largest being the temple of Maha Lakshmi or the deity of prosperity. We bought and offered lotus blossoms, and I was gifted by the attending holy man with a lovely string of white chrysanthemums which I took to mean that good financial fortune is on the way! If I must, then I graciously accept. Raja then took us to eat at the now famous Leopold Cafe, which was where a local terrorist attack (of an open machine gun on the crowd) took place several years ago. He says that it was at the time a western hangout, and that the cafe's owners (Baba Lovers!) stubbornly opened it's doors the next day, refusing to agree to be terrorized. I like that.

Day 1 of Raja's Integral Somatic Psychotherapy training of India.

Our first day of training went well. 45 participants, all with a minimum of master's degree and with some form of practice or work. They are incredibly sophisticated and align with deep process. We broke into small groups after the morning lecture and demo, where each of the Assistant Trainers did personal sessions with members of the group. I was deeply touched by this process and the stories I heard. One of the women works with young female prostitutes and their children in Calcutta, the red light district. Another with individuals and family members with schizophrenia. These therapists are strong, open and capable- and I am absolutely honored to be able to offer them support and a sense of safety in the body through this ISP.

An aside for SE therapists reading this blog: Raja has asked us to focus right away on primary emotions vs  tracking sensations or defensive orienting responses. By expanding tolerance for emotional states and increasing the container for the emotional body, quick changes can be made. We assistants found the day to be somewhat challenging like riding a bike that has no handle bars or a different balancing system. I am glad for the challenge and trust his intuition and wisdom, so am game for it. I can see the wisdom in it, although it is a new form of process.

I thank you for holding this work in your hearts, for reading along on the blog and sending encouraging words. Love to all.

Being Fitted

Jan 29- The team became more acquainted over brunch that our young wait staff had prepared for us. Leta, Bijorn, Ursala, Margaret and Madita were an international representation of SE over the globe from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. My longtime friend and colleague, Jeanne duRivage from New Mexico days, is also on the team: mischief and merriment cannot be too far away with the two of us! All team with remarkable backgrounds and talent makes me feel humble and grateful to here.




But our day was not to be devoted to learning about one another, but to be spent shopping and being transformed into our beautiful Sari selves! Mimansa and her dear sister-in-law Deena took us on a whirlwind of shops with so many textures, colours and choices. Ready-made wear, yes, but the real excitement was about being fitted in full sari for Raja and Cecile's wedding later in the month. I cannot express to you how absolutely beautiful and gorgeous these materials were. I eventually was overtaken by a piece of deep burgandy with brilliant gold edging and accent embroidery which absolutely brought out all colour and life in my face. I know I will feel quite regal and elegant wearing this to Raja's wedding.

I am falling in love of course with India: such a mix of horror and beauty in one breath. The poverty is knee-buckling with images of begging women with babies in arms, emaciated dogs roaming the streets and constant horns blaring from insane traffic. Dodging on-coming cars and scooters from both directions is an art, which I do not feel well adapted to at all. I follow Mimansa like a duckling any time we are on the street; being on my own would be overwhelming in Bombay/Mumbai. But then being awoken at dawn by the prayers of a mosque next to our apartments in that ethereal way pulls open your heart. How can you not love India? It feels like one of those fatal love affairs in which you realize danger is afoot, but you have absolutely no control over your heart.

Arriving

Jan 28- The flights to India were effortless; long of course and tedious in the way that boredom can hone down into the bones. But effortless. The 15 hour flight from Newark to Bombay became 18 hours due to yet the 6th winter storm hitting the East Coast in 30 days. De-icing of the plane and runway- as well as later having to circle round and round Bombay to wait in que for landing- put several more hours on the trip. Heavy air traffic at night with arriving flights. But my travel buddies were good: a sweet couple from Seattle. We bunked down together in a cozy way in "our little corner of the world" for the duration.

When I got through immigration that night around 11:50pm and walked out of the baggage area I was met with a sea of literally hundreds of unfamiliar faces, mostly men’s, with placards and calling out names insistently. The Indian government has thankfully erected a metal railing which holds the taxi drivers and greeters at bay, which lessens one’s general level of activation. This gave me great heart, as 3 years ago in Bali you were greeted by the same throng, but in a very 'up close and personal' way. I walked around and around the arena but no placard for "Patti" to be found. I was feeling overwhelmed imagining some snafu on the third walkabout when I heard a female voice calling my name. I saw a sweet faced woman who had to be Mimansa, at the far back of faces. She had been unable to make her way to the front. Father Godfrey came later; we waited happily for the next flight to arrive an hour later with 4 more team members and eventually made our way to the very comfortable and well appointed Aruba Home apartments that night, around 4am. Almost 26 hours after leaving Asheville: a long journey but only the beginning of this one.

An Invitation

Sometimes life offers you an Invitation
They come in prettily wrapped packages
As well as gnarly, hateful looking glances

This one arrived in the depth of the night
With an aromatic presence and compelling question
"Will you become my Betrothed?"

Whether you accept or decline in the moment
The Question will continue to linger
Until your heart answers on it's own.

Yes. I'm yours.

Endless Preparations and Secure Bases

Leaving my home and work for a month requires attention to so many details and plannings. Endless and exhausting. While I am evermore an organized individual, I long for time to simply sit for a moment to contemplate this journey. The greatest challenge by far has been finding the right person to house sit for my elder cat, Kitty Woo. While it seemed like a 'done deal' 10 months ago, as time got nearer one person after another fell through. A good friend who volunteered last year backed out at the last minute, leaving an opportunity to find resources where it felt like there were none. I do recommend HouseCarers.com which is a fine little operation that links homeowners to housesitters. It is up to you to do all the time consuming actions of interviewing, calling references and doing background checks. But it does have many good choices. Especially for such a premier place as Asheville, NC. Happily, with only 9 days to go, I have settled on a lovely woman recently retired from teaching who is game for the adventure. She needs a retreat base and my home is just perfect for that! She flies in next week, we meet and I turn over my keys to her!

That is allowing me to feel much more deeply the impact of what I am choosing to do. My Dream Group this last Wednesday ended in a circle of love and hugs around me, wishing me well on the trip. This sense of connection, security and love is just what I need to venture forth into a part of the world yet unknown. Being a seasoned traveler to 3rd world countries doesn't mean I don't feel trepidation as I leave. Not at all. It only means I have taken chances before, stepped off planes in lands never seen with unfamiliar currencies and languages, been on buses deep in the interior jungles of Central America as a lone white-skinned woman, caved down into the open maws of the earth. Having that secure circle of love and encouragement allows me to journey out into the mystery ... to take the risk of showing up as I am out there in unknown lands... and to return to this home base of love and support.