Photo by Ashley Marie - CC License

On this playground of life, we get to choose how we spend our time: we can choose to run around doing things that lower our vibrations, OR we can choose to commit to regular, daily spiritual practices that raise our vibrations. Each small change that we make within ourselves then ripples out and benefits all of Creation. This year I intend to help raise the vibration of the human species, through my work as a cheerleader for spiritual practices. (This paragraph is repeated each month for emphasis, since this is the theme for the 2011 newsletters.)

Here is some recent news from the playground of my life ~

~ In keeping with my goal to visit Mt. Shasta at least 1-2 times per month, at the end of June my dear friend Jill and I drove down to attend the Shasta Amma Satsang. We arrived early to have some exploration time, during which we drove up the mountain as far as the road is cleared… and I delighted to take a few barefoot steps in the snow! Then we filled our water bottles at the Headwaters of the Sacramento River, and settled in for the satsang, which rekindled the Amma sparks in my heart… and I met a shining woman who gave me a great affirmation to say when I am wishing I could move to a different locale: “I am multidimensional.” For more details about this delightful Shasta pilgrimage, please read my blog article “An Amma Devotee’s Pilgrimage by Sacred Mt. Shasta”

~ This year the Americana Holiday of the Fourth of July offered me a big surprise: a very deep connection with my inner Happiness. I joyfully watched as even more Fiery Teja returned to my being that day. I wasn’t expecting to have such a fun day alone, and I wrote a really great blog article about my experience: “Teja’s Independent Independence Day!”

~ My older son turned 14 on July 7^th, and I am feeling super grateful for the special time that he and I shared that morning over cups of soy chai at a local coffee shop. Our family then gathered for a birthday lunch. I served the fixings for TLT’s (tempeh, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches), along with BBQ chips, vegan chocolate cake, and several flavors of Coconut Bliss non-dairy, vegan frozen delight. My little niece Lily (born May 21^st) also graced the party with her sweet presence, and then she took a three-hour nap at my cottage! All in all, this has been a summer filled with wonderful family connections, and I am feeling very blessed by that.

~ On the July Full Moon, I took one of my brothers and one of my sons with me up to Mt. Ashland to enjoy the sunset and the full moon rising. Although quite cold, we had a fabulous time hiking around and sipping hot cocoa. While sitting on some tall rocks and gazing at the full moon, I said we should speak our intentions to the moon. My son immediately said that he’d like to find a billion dollars, to which I quickly responded, “Oh, that’s similar to my intention!” It’s not so much the money that I’m desiring, as it is the freedom that the money would give me to travel… to both give & take retreats. The retreat that I am most interested in attending is December 7^th-12^th on Maui, Hawaii… it will be led by Ram Dass, Krishna Das, and Sharon Salzberg. So I spoke my intention to the Full Moon, saying that my ideal plan would be to visit Amma in Castro Valley over Thanksgiving, and then to fly to Maui for that retreat, and then for my boys to join me on Maui for a Christmas vacation. I added that I am willing to surrender those plans if they aren’t meant to be, but I really would like for them to be!

~ Last weekend I drove to Mt. Shasta by myself and enjoyed a magical time hiking barefoot and chanting in an enchanted forest. Then I attended an evening of Amma bhajans (devotional songs) that filled me with incredible Bliss. Please read the blog I wrote about my hike that day: “Happy Teja Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa on Barefoot Hike at Red Fir Flat (on Sacred Mt. Shasta)” and please view the 21-second video I took of myself chanting Om Namah Shivaya while hiking barefoot, with bells on my ankles: Yogini-Bliss on YouTube.

~ Although this has been one of the busiest, craziest summers of my life, somehow I have found the time to continue writing regular articles for the Teja Blog. This month I have already published 16 blog articles, and most of those articles are about the transformational time I spent with Amma in June. Also, last week I posted a book review of Krishna Das’ spiritual classic, Chants of a Lifetime: Searching for a Heart of Gold, and they posted the link for my review on Krishna Das’ website! You can see that link and follow it to read my review here: http://www.krishnadas.com/press_cuttings.cfm

~ This week I am happy to introduce a new feature here on the Teja Blog… it’s called “Ask Teja”… if you have any questions you can email them to me (teja@yogini-bliss.com) and I will do my best to answer them! For more information about this, please see "New Teja Blog Feature: Ask Teja!"

~ And finally, if you haven’t already experienced the Stay Strong video, I highly recommend it! With many of my favorite chant artists in one video, I cry every time I see it! Here’s the link: Stay Strong

~ On this great playground of life, “let’s all come together and take care of each other… stay strong and keep your faith alive!”

May all beings everywhere know the Strength of Deep Inner Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja filling water bottles at the Headwaters taken by Jill Rothman; photo of Teja and sons on the birthday taken by the boys’ papa; photo of Teja with sunset on Mt. Ashland taken by Teja’s son Gabe.