It is a glorious blue sky day with warm sunshine here in Ashland. I'm sipping hot coffee (with a spoonful of maple syrup in it!), as I write this brief bit of news. Here's just a few of the things on my mind and heart ~

~ According to the Mayan Calendar, this Saturday and Sunday (July 17-18) is a really potent time for meditation. It is a portal in which to experience Unity Consciousness. A non-profit organization called Common Passion has information about this Conscious Convergence (including the many events scheduled around the world), on their website, www.commonpassion.org.

~ As I mentioned previously, I was scheduled to offer meditation sessions and Radiance Rising Circles at the Mystic Garden Party (July 21-26 in Corning, California), but a few days ago I went onto the Mystic Garden Party website to view the schedule, and I was dismayed to see that one of the focal points for the festival will be forums and presentations on entheogenics. (Entheogens are psycho-active plant based substances used for spiritual or religious reasons, such as ganja (pot), mushrooms, ayahuasca, peyote, etc.) I knew that people would be taking such substances at the festival, and although I prefer to not be around those vibrations, I planned to go anyway, so that I could soak in all the incredible kirtan (Dave Stringer! Bhagavan Das!), and the yummy yoga, and all the other delights.

If they were just offering one small workshop on entheogens, I would still have gone, but since entheogenics is going to be highlighted throughout each day and evening, I decided that I did not want my name associated with that festival. Ironically, I was preparing a brochure to bring that would explain the detrimental effects that ganja and other substances have on spiritual practices and on every aspect of healing. 

(Also, on February 28, 2010, I had posted a blog on this issue. You can read that post at: http://yogini-bliss.com/66-the-teja-challenge.html)

~ I am really enjoying writing the articles for this Teja Blog. Also, I am now posting my monthly newsletter (The Tejaswini Playground Press) on the Teja Blog, so you can either read the newsletters on the blog, or sign-up to receive the newsletters by email. 

(To sign up for the newsletters, go to: http://yogini-bliss.com/component/option,com_ccnewsletter/Itemid,61/view,ccnewsletter/)

~ In June I attended a program through Insight Prison Project, where I met two wonderful men who work for Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, an organization founded by Father Greg Boyle to help get gang members off the streets. Consider donating to this really great program: www.homeboy-industries.org

~ For those of you who live in the Ashland area, just a reminder that I still offer the Radiance Rising Circles every Monday evening, 7:30pm in the Jackson Wellsprings Community Room. We chant with my harmonium, sit in silent meditation, and share spiritual teachings. Free, open to men and women, and drop-ins are always welcome. (View the flyer at: http://yogini-bliss.com/Events-Calendar/2010-07-19/Radiance-Rising-Circles-with-Tejaswini-Rachel-Ann-Shankara/282.html)

~ Lastly, I am really enjoying Facebook these days.... find me there at: http://www.facebook.com/tejashankara

Well, sorry this wasn't as brief as I'd planned! Let's blame it on the coffee!

May all beings everywhere know Peace and Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini (Teja Shankara)

Photo of Teja by Teja Shankara.