Blog entries

A Vegan Yogini’s Time-Out-of-Time Spiritual Practice

Teja — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:03:20 +0100

People often ask me how I am so grounded and vibrant on a vegan diet. The answer is simply that I prepare healthy foods and I focus on spiritual practices that keep me centered. I choose vegan foods that are grounding such as beans, whole grains, roots, and dark green leafy vegetables, like the collard, arugula, and mizuna greens in this photo. For that meal, I sautéd the colRead More...

Teja’s Review of Still Here by Ram Dass

Teja — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:14:07 +0100

A few years ago, my boys came home from a morning walk and handed me a book that they’d found in a free pile. At that time I didn’t see how a book on aging and dying applied to my life, so I said thanks and put the book on the shelf. Well, recently I read and reviewed two books by Ram Dass: Be Here Now and Be Love Now (click on the book titles to read those reviews), and aRead More...

A simple vegan yogini’s evening of Grace

Teja — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:19:41 +0100

Each week I pick an angel card, and occasionally I know instantly why I picked that particular card, but more often I discover the reason as the week goes along. That was certainly the case this past week when I turned over the Grace card. All week, I felt a sweetness when I looked at the card on my kitchen table, but it was not until last night that I understood its significance for me iRead More...

Teja’s Latest Spiritual Practice: Checking the Job Listings on Craig’s List

Teja — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:52:53 +0100

This is my fifth month of checking the job listings on Craig’s List, and I am sighing this morning as I acknowledge how that little annoying ritual has become one of my daily spiritual practices. I use it as an opportunity to tune in to all of the other people who are also looking for work during these tough economic times. With incredible Gratitude for the half-timeRead More...

Calling on Ganesha and Learning from Amma

Teja — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:03:02 +0100

New Year’s is an auspicious time to call upon Sri Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god who is the Remover of all obstacles. Last January, at the Radiance Rising Circles, we chanted to Ganesha the first five weeks of the year! This year, in absence of the weekly circles, I have been chanting to Ganesha whilst doing household chores. Yesterday I found this cosmRead More...

Teja’s Review of Be Love Now by Ram Dass

Teja — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:13:00 +0100

I snapped this photo of myself on New Year’s Eve, after returning from my true home, the Amma Satsang. It was the perfect way for this yogini to end the year: chanting the Names of God and meditating with a loving sangha (spiritual community). Just the day before I had finished reading Ram Dass’ book, Be Love Now, so I was already feeling quite full of loving sRead More...

New Year’s Musings from Teja in Grokland!

Teja — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:18:40 +0100

Each year on January 1st, I spend some time writing in my new desk calendar and picking an angel card for the year. Spiritual practices like these help keep me grounded and focused here on the earthly plane… As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, for 2011 I picked Release, and the year was indeed filled with much painful release work. So on the evening of December 31st, 20Read More...

Letting ShivaRatri Go Too…

Teja — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:48:07 +0100

Ahh, the last day of the year. As I wrote in a previous blog (“Spiritual Purification through Releasing Impurities”), I picked the angel card Release for the Year 2011, and it has been quite a challenging year filled with much emotional release! This final month I focused on consciously releasing as much as possible, so I can begin the New Year free from all blockages Read More...

Teja’s Vegan Party Mix

Teja — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:09:11 +0100

One of my favorite winter holiday memories is of crunching on handfuls of my Mom’s homemade party mix, so each December I make a batch of it to enjoy with my boys … here’s my vegan version of the recipe:

Teja’s Vegan Party Mix

4 cups nuts (almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pecans, cashews)
8 cupsRead More...

Michael Meade: An Angel Shining Healing Light on Veterans

Teja — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:54:11 +0100

There is a living angel walking in our midst. Meet Michael Meade: author, mythologist, and storyteller extraordinaire. Gratefully, I have been blessed to experience his great work a number of times, in Ashland and also at the Beloved Festival (2009). Last week, I watched his latest video, “Voices of Veterans: A Welcome Home Ceremony”, and I was moved to tears… noRead More...

A Western Yogini’s Understanding of “Depersonalization Disorder”

Teja — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:34:02 +0100

Do you ever feel strange, like you are simultaneously here and not really here? It is difficult to explain the experience in words, but it is something I have noticed since I was in high school. Back then I felt completely scared and freaked out by the sensation, so I went to the priest and told him about it. He gave me chocolate candies and soothing words, which comforted me, but theRead More...

To Newsletter, or Not To Newsletter?

Teja — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:56:01 +0100

After sending out a monthly e-newsletter (The Tejaswini Playground Press) for nearly two years, in October I just suddenly did not write the newsletter. Then in November it happened again that I just didn’t do it. So I began to ask myself “To Newsletter, or Not To Newsletter?”, and as I’ve listened to my inner guidance, I’vRead More...

Teja’s Crackle & Pop Vegan Snack

Teja — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:42:53 +0100

Some people think a vegan diet means no fun, but this vegan yogini is here to say that there are so many delicious vegan taste sensations! One of my favorite little joys in life is creating fun new vegan snacks. A few days ago, I delighted in the following taste sensation, and I hope that you will enjoy it too!

Teja’s Crackle & Pop Vegan Snack

coconut oil
cinnamon
mild curry powder
Himalayan krystal salt
golden raisins
pumpkin seeds
pecansRead More...

Beauty Brings Nourishment and Meaning

Teja — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:47:28 +0100

As I mentioned in my last blog article (“Spiritual Purification through Releasing Impurities”), this year 2011 has required me to do a lot of release work. Although that work has been painful and exhausting, I am now seeing the Light at the end of the Dark Year of the Soul! The Light is shimmering through this amazing process that I am now witnessing in my beingRead More...

Spiritual Purification through Releasing Impurities

Teja — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:45:59 +0100

On the last day of November, I sat down and wrote the following in my journal: “Ahh, thankfully only one more month of this year of Release! (I picked the angel card, Release, for the Year 2011, and this year has indeed required almost constant release work.) My intention for the month of December is to release as many impurities as possible: to release negativities, fears, Read More...

Thanksgiving Sweetness with Amma

Teja — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:39:44 +0100

Much to my initial dismay, this year I was not able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my beloved Guru, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the “hugging saint” from India who is popularly called Amma, which means “Mother.” Due to financial, health, and other issues, I just was not able to make the pilgrimage down to California. Although I felt some sadness,Read More...

Teja’s Turkey-Free Thanksgiving Vegan Delight

Teja — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:27:26 +0100

If you read my last blog article, then you know that my first attempt at this recipe was “a fail.” Well, I am happy to report that when I prepared “Teja’s Turkey-Free Thanksgiving Vegan Delight” again on Thanksgiving Day, it tasted quite delightful! Although I was feeling a tad bit sad that I wasn’t sitting near Amma at her California ashram, I mRead More...

A Watery Day in the Life of a Vegan Yogini

Teja — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:38:47 +0100

Yesterday morning, when I awoke at 4:00am to take my brother and his wife and baby to the airport, my bleeding cycle began, and it was raining. My adorable six-month-old niece thought that the dark car ride was pretty funny – she smiled and even laughed at me the whole way! When I returned home, I was filled with such a deep love, and I felt in synch with the Flow of the Universe.

A Vegan Yogini’s Thanksgiving Menu: Turkey-Free!

Teja — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:19:38 +0100

In this photo I’m wearing my new beaded eyeglasses necklace that my sweet friend Jill and I made together a few weeks ago. As a highly creative person, I find it necessary to continually engage in artistic expressions. This week I’m focused on creating a vegan Thanksgiving menu, and I’m absolutely filled with Gratitude for the abundance of good, organic fRead More...

Yogini Bliss through Bhajan~Reiki!

Teja — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:12:44 +0100

Several weeks ago I invited a dear friend over to chant and have lunch. He played my harmonium and led us in singing some beautiful chants. We sang Om Namah Shivaya, and also a chant that was new to me: Rama Ragava, Rakshamam; Krishna Keshavam, Pahimam. I dropped into a wonderfully deep, peaceful place inside myself, so then the rest of the day I couldn’t stop exclaimingRead More...