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There was trash littered by tourists, and dogs begging for crumbs. Pilgrims dunk themselves in the river to be washed of their karma. It reminds me of the Christian baptisms of my childhood. I loved them. I wanted to be sure I was saved. I still believed in things like that then. We stand next to the pyre and watch fire consume bodies. There is no escaping this truth, so I have come to sustain the gaze with my naked eyes. Are there people somewhere who don’t burn like this? At the end of the earth there is a crossroads between the living and the dead. There are people praying to be released of their regrets. They pray to be washed of their karmas, known and unknown. I have come to the mouth of the river to write my story, the story of my ancestors and my family. Our fates are braided together in this life. I come naked of offerings, no flowers or incense, just the burning of my soul in this world-weary body. When I came back from the boat ride to heaven, I ate an omelet and then slept on a cushion in the sun on the deck. I had a vision of how everything connected. I saw myself rising out of the Ganges wrapped in bloodred fabric next to a stone temple with carvings. I finally understood why I was born to such difficult parents, why I endured so much pain. I wanted the spiritual trip. I wonder if my own son would realize the same thing when he thought of the tough times his mother has put him through. Standing next to the burning ghat, a little boy asked me what my tattoo was. It is a snake in a perfect circle eating its own tail. I say it is Shakti, the primal sacred mother who created and destroys the world, eating herself. Life, death and re-birth through her sacred, smoldering yoni. We stand next to the pyre and watch fire consume bodies. There is no escaping this truth, so I have come to sustain the gaze with my naked eyes. Are there people somewhere who don’t burn like this? I read what I have written to Rohan when he wakes up. I tell him he will be in my book. “All the world will be in your book,” he says, “the burning ghat, the Shakti, the coming and going.” He is silent for a moment. “Sometimes with our eyes we see something beautiful and don’t see how difficult it will be. The sun was beautiful this morning, but the burning body was hard to see. This is truth, no?” “Yes, this is truth,” I say, “Satya.” “Truth is pain though, truth is hard, no?” “Yes,” I agree, “it can be, but the truth will make you free.” I have come to tell the stories that I have kept inside for so long. Rohan asks if we have hard things to see everywhere in the world. I say yes, but in America we hide dead bodies in wooden boxes because no one wants to see them. We put fancy clothes and makeup on corpses. Rohan says that here the corpses have the clothes removed and that men are laid down on their backs and women on their stomachs, the opposite. I have come to Varanasi, the City of Lights, to cleanse my karmas, to wash my stories in the sacred river and let them burn, to be baptized and reborn. My body, precious to me now, will someday be a piece of kindling. My story is precious to me, but it is the same as every other story, in the end. Pa g e 28 Psalm Isadora (www.psalmisadorayoga.com) grew up on a born-again hippie commune in Northern California. From a young age, she had ecstatic experiences with the Spirit that did not fit in the dogma of the religion she was raised with. The misuse of power in organized religion and personal abuse led her to leave the church and go on a search for personal truth with God. This search led her to study and teach yoga in America. As her thirst for knowledge grew, she traveled to India to study Tantra, where she experienced the balance of feminine divine energy that she found missing in her religious upbringing. Psalm will lead three workshops at The Journey Expo Pittsburgh 2011 on April 30 and May 1. More information and tickets are available at www.thejourneymag.com. Ma r c h • Ap r i l 2011 t h e Jo u r n e y
The Akashic Records A universal library of personal records for guidance and learning. visit us online... www.thejourneymag.com T-F 12:00-7:00 pm S&S 12:00-6:00 pm www.goddesselite.com (440) 777-7211 GODDESS ELITE 23140 Lorain Ave. North Olmsted OH Celebrating 25 years in business • Natural Earth Crystal • Tumbled Stones • Candles • Jewelry • CDs for relaxation, meditation and uplifting the spirit • Mineral Carvings • Buddhas and Kuan Yins & Statuary • Rebecca – reading every Friday and on the 1 st and 3 rd Saturday of the month • Elizabeth – 2 nd and 4 th Saturday of the month • Hank - reading every Tuesday Aura Photography - Aura Photographs on the 1st Sunday of every month from 1:00 to 5:00 Stephanie is an Intuitive and a certified Akashic Record Consultant. Through her ability to access your records and, with your questions, insight is provided into your past and present. So that you may bring yourself into alignment with your future goals and objectives. Direction, tactics, and wisdom are just a few of the elements gained to allow you to advance and remove any blocks within your path. Your highest potential can be achieved by recognizing recurring patterns which may often prevent or hinder from achieving your highest potential. For a consult please contact Stephanie Tel: 724-799-4200 e-mail: symmetryof8@gmail.com Eden Energy Medicine in Cleveland One-Year Foundations Program Donna Eden, a highly effective and renowned healer, is among the world’s most joyous and authoritative spokespersons for energy medicine. She has taught about 50,000 people how to work with the body’s energy systems. The four classes of the Foundations Program will be taught by Douglas J. Moore, Ph.D., a faculty member of Eden Energy Medicine as well as a psychologist & life-coach in Cleveland. Class 1: May 19-22, 2011 Class 3: Nov. 3-6, 2011 Class 2: Aug. 11-14, 2011 Class 4: Feb. 2-5, 2012 F Make-up classes are available if one is missed. Other dates available specifically for Rehab Specialists. Open to anyone interested in learning Energy Medicine for themselves, family & friends, or their clients. Tuition: $995 per class. Register early, space is limited. For Additional Information & Registration: www.dougjmoore.com or call 216-462-0537 READINGS BY Theresa Psychic Astrology • Palmistry Cards • Business Astrology Private Consultations • Parties Lectures • Astrology Charts Readings at Bucci’s Brick Oven on Smith Road in Middleburg Hts. Tuesdays 5:30 to 8:30 PM Theresa A. Manjas (440) 943-1814 t h e Jo u r n e y Ma r c h • Ap r i l 2011 Pa g e 29
Page 1 and 2: Issue 57 | March.April 2011 HEALTH
Page 3 and 4: Hay House, Inc. proudly presents
Page 5 and 6: The Front Porch Welcome to the Fron
Page 7 and 8: We were born before the wind  Als
Page 9 and 10: The human archeological record date
Page 11 and 12: PITTSBURGH professionals at your se
Page 13 and 14: He continued to breathe and stretch
Page 15 and 16: As she plunges toward me I see as m
Page 17 and 18: suppose if you’re alive on the pl
Page 19 and 20: visit us online... www.thejourneyma
Page 21 and 22: YOUR MASSAGE THERAPY CAREER BEGINS
Page 23 and 24: Dark Before the Light: Lessons From
Page 25 and 26: Yoga Studios Namaste’ Yoga Studio
Page 27: Killing my Karmas: Rebirth by Water
Page 31 and 32: If you or a loved one are strugglin
Page 33 and 34: t h e Jo u r n e y Ma r c h • Ap
Page 35 and 36: in areas of career and finance. Thi
Page 37 and 38: t h e Jo u r n e y Ma r c h • Ap
Page 39 and 40: Fellowships of the Spirit 2011 Open

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