Photo: Juliet Charvet for National Geographic
My husband and I are heading now to Joshua Tree for the annual spring time Yoga festival lovingly known as Shakti Fest. It is Bhakti Fest for lovers of Shakti, and it is raining out there. In southern California rain is a godsend, so we will open to receive those showers, that grace from heaven, and we will sing and dance and do Yoga in the rain.
What is Shakti?
Simply, it is a word that means power. In Yoga, we understand it as the power of life, the power of creation, the power of creative intelligence, the power of beauty, the power of love. Shakti in the yogic lexicon means the divine feminine aspect of consciousness that is the womb of all potentially, the cause of all existence, the beauty that inspires us to come fully alive, the generative and regenerative powers that heal, renew, transform, and the love that holds it all together.
In that vein, I wanted to share with you some of the things that have inspired me this week vis-à-vis mothers, divine mother, and divine love.
Photo: Dillon Tisdel for Oh Holy Basil
Dillon Tisdel at Oh Holy Basil wrote a lovely little essay about the joys of being a mother for mother’s day last weekend and included a recipe for gorgeous Raspberry Lemon Spelt (vegan) Scones.
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Both Photos by Andrea Bemis, Dishing Up the Dirt
Andrea Bemis of Dishing up the Dirt writes about life on the farm in the Pacifc Northwest. It is a charming blog, and her Mother’s Day post with recipes for a Spring brunch lived up to her usual charm.
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Photo: Richa Hingle, Vegan Richa
Richa Hingle of Vegan Richa is just about to bring to the world a beautiful recipe book on The Indian Kitchen dedicated to whole food, plant-based living. Her Mother’s Day post was exotic, colorful and spicy.
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Spring Pastel Cherry Tree, Getty Images
My friend Dawna Matthews wrote a beautiful article called Mothering Ourselves – Self Care for Moms for the mega wonderful Green-Mom website, because mothers are the source and the gateway for wellness in the family, so you have to love and nurture yourself, Mama’s.
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Dr. Sarita Shrestha in Nepal
A giant in the world of Ayurveda is the Nepali OB/Gyn Dr. Sarita Shrestha, whose clinics in the rural villages of Nepal offer medical support to those who otherwise would go without. Known as the “compassionate Mother of Ayurveda” Dr. Shrestha is now actively in the mountains serving her people to heal, renew, and rebuild. If you would like to help, please see my friend Madhavi Rathod’s fundraising page for Dr. Shrestha’s Nepal Earthquake Relief.
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Finally, to my own mother and grandmother, whose love is boundless – I am eternally grateful for your example and your “Shakti.” These are the people to whom we should build shrines, for they quietly go about the world pouring love, kindness, forgiveness, encouragement, and hope.
Thank you to all of you who mother the world with your love!
Jai Ma!
Thank you Laura. You are so beautiful.
As are you dear Alex! Thanks.
A subject dear to me, thank you for a beautiful post and lovely & inspirational references.
Your children are so lucky to have Ayurvedic Mama!
Beautiful! Thank you.
Thank you, Lucia. Your love is eternal.
What a sweet, lovely post! Thank you for sharing the Shakti! 🙏 Shanti, Om…
Thank you, Diane. Shanti OM to you as well.
Beautiful post, Laura. A mother’s love is truly inspirational.
> Dear Laura, > > My name is Sherry Dixon and I had the privilege of taking Brava’s Deep Yoga seminar in January. I have benefited from your teachings and his. I am now blessed with the opportunity to travel to India in October and November. I would like to get some information from you on an ashram that you would recommend. I will be traveling with my husband until he leaves from New Delhi on 11/5 when he returns to San Diego. I would like to spend a week of meditation and yoga after his departure. Someone recommended Rishikesh as the place to go. Upon looking on the internet there are so many choices….. If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate your input. I am not restricted to Rishikesh but I would like to stay in that general area of India, close proximity to New Delhi. I will be traveling at this point by myself and would like to make the travel relatively easy. I will be departing from New Delhi. > > I know this is a busy time for the yoga community in San Diego with Yoga Live arriving in your neighborhood. I am grateful for any assistance you can give me. > > Namaste, > > Sherry Dixon > 4755 Mount Durban Drive > San Diego, CA 92117 > smdinsd@gmail.com > 858-220-30
Thanks, Sherry. I just sent you an email with a few suggestions. Lots of love and happy travels!
Hi,
All your recipes are great and very healthy. Thanks for this post, amazing recipe.
I would also to share something that I learned on Ayurveda, it’s an online book which I came across. A book on ayurvedic recipes for health issues. Take a look at it https://www.classle.net/#!/book/home-remedy-medicines/home/