Egypt...Luxor...Alexandria...Cairo...

Hiking amidst the Giza Pyramids.



Kissing the Sphinx at the Giza Pyramids, climbing through the passageways within the Giza pyramids, and having the lights go out as we approached an empty tomb...what more could you ask for??



The Temple ruins of Karnak in Luxor, walking amidst ancient hieroglyphics.


Looking out from the Citadel into the city of Alexandria, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (aka The Med).


Sunset on the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt with the Cairo Tower in the background.

How to Love Like a Child

"Just One Moment Can Create a Lifetime of Love..."

~This I have learned from a boy named Hughino DeCampos.

Rama at Lake Arrowhead

I had prepared all I could, going over things and re-reviewing things just to make sure I stayed as “tight” as possible in how I left for this retreat, I felt ready and excited. The meditation from the night before I could already sense the tingling energy of Rama, amidst my thoughts… Again in the morning, the undulating golden energy permeated my meditation, rippling all over me and through me, sending constant goose-bumps and shivers up and down my spine. I knew this trip was going to be one of transformation and I was actually looking forward to it or rather I was ready…and that readiness brought me peace.

A Miracle! I was Elated! I had finally found the proper exit for the retreat after making a 2hr. long detour through Los Angeles’ rush hour traffic. I received a few more pointers in the directions to make sure I was on the right track and then I began to make my trek “up the mountain” to a supposed 5-6,000 feet of elevation.

I don’t know what “hit” me or maybe I do, Rama’s energy seemed to have taken a hold of me from inside out, I was giddy, HAPPY, and cackling away in my own laughter with no one else in the car but me to hear and enjoy it…..chuckle.

The drive “up the mountain” Is NOT for the faint hearted, that was for sure! My knuckles quite literally turned white from gripping the steering wheel so hard as I wound my way through the canyon hills, sheer rock cliffs, and drop offs into never, never land. I was whooping and hollering like a banshee, it was The Roller Coaster Ride of a Lifetime! As I serpentined my way up the mountain for a good 40-60 mins. catching my breath every now and then, I sarcastically noted how, “It’s no wonder why we have to practice meditation to come on these retreats!” *laugh* Quite frankly I was High; High on The Light.

Once everyone arrived we settled in for a group meditation and closed with one of the teachers saying a few words on the importance and difference of journaling for ourselves and our spiritual practice as it unleashes what our unconscious is trying to process within us. She mentioned an experience she had with journaling and the clear message she had received from Rama for it:

“Forgive Everyone
Love Everyone
Have No Fear”

Tears welled up in my eyes, as I felt those words permeate my soul for all the things I have been doing or working on with myself.

After dinner the next night, students were able to pose questions to the teachers in order to help them further their path. One of the teachers mentioned her latest endeavor and encounter with fear in order to answer the student’s question. She mentioned how the fear that seems to be upon us is something that becomes the comfortable catalyst to what’s next. It comes back to relaxing into it, surrendering, and letting go to the Light. Fear like all other things is an “attraction” and therefore it is a matter of changing and shifting the attention so the higher states can come through.

The metaphor that was used in relation to changing and shifting our attention within our consciousness was “pixel theft”. In life, there is a large screen with all of these pixels on it, the sunset is there, the dark side, beauty, horror, etc. It’s all there; it’s a matter of where you choose to focus the light and through that focus bring out onto the screen the various pixels that displays the picture, whether it be a sunset or the beach.

As the retreat came to an end, as with all things, I swirled and serpentined my way down the mountain from Lake Arrowhead, the quote from the book, “Journey to Ladakh” came to mind again:

“It is hard to leave a place where you can believe that anything is possible.
But that is why one must leave.
To see if you were right, to see if your insights
Can be lived in a different air, at a lower level.”
“Make retreats often…make pilgrimages to holy places.
But re-enter the world. Re-enter the world and test again and again
What you have learnt. If what you have learnt is true,
It will hold.”

Something has changed in me…
In the days after the retreat, as I have sat down in meditation I still can clearly see with my mind’s eye the golden light that permeated my mind, body, and soul. I have such a clear, distinct sense of Rama in my life and I am at peace.
Something has changed in me…
I feel immense gratitude and joy for being able to cultivate, nurture, grow, and deepen my conversation with the Light (Rama). I never want to go back; I only want to move forward.

Something has changed in me…
And I am beginning again.

Stuart Wilde and The Aluna Worlds

The dreaming and the reality of what is can be such a clash of idealism, at least for me. I was fortunate enough to have met Stuart Wilde and learned a little more in depth of what it is that can help us live a purer, higher life to be able to commune and walk beside the Tao. Two things Stuart touched upon was:

· Letting Go
· Forgiveness

Just these 2 aspects begin to help purge our souls of whatever it is that does not serve us.

In the process of letting go, I am reminded of the dragon in The Hobbit, where he sits and sleeps atop his vast collection of gold, precious jewels, etc. The dragon in actuality has no use for the gold, as he can’t wear or eat it, it does not sustain him physically, but he hoards it as if his life depended on it. The greater irony is that if anyone was to ever take one piece or item from his vast collection, the dragon could somehow detect it and would begin scouring the lands for the thief who stole his treasure.

What a perfect example to how we hoard things (people, emotions, experiences) that does not nurture or sustain us, yet we pile it underneath us as if our life depended on it. And the thought of someone taking one of our “things” away from our pile, can sometimes lead to such ravenous vengeance. Therefore, the process in letting things go can become a powerful realization of what burdens us, overloaded with heavy emotions that can be released to allow room for freedom.

I ask, “What price would you pay for your freedom?” “Could you give it All away?”

As with the process of letting go, one inevitably encounters forgiveness. Forgiveness is easy to say, but the act of applying it to every aspect of one’s life can be quite challenging. Forgiveness has you look at not only what has been wronged of you, but also what has been wronged by you. To think one a saint becomes a comical thought when you bring forgiveness into the picture. Forgiveness shows you that no matter what was done to you or by you that all ties can be released and healed. It is in this release and healing that one can cultivate more humility and love for oneself and others.

This is what I have learned, what I am processing, and what I strive to be. My love and blessings to you on the journey you are on. May you enjoy every moment of it.

Yoga Teachers!

The Story of a Samurai

Ten thousand years ago, in a remote village, high on the mountaintop, a Samurai once lived. At a very young age, he left his village, his family, and friends knowing that he had an inner quest that called him forth to fulfill. When he was making his preparations to leave his village, everyone mocked and ridiculed the audacity of the boy who dared to embark on such an adventure. Even the ones closest and dearest to his heart, tried to fill his head with fear and doubt in order to be able to avoid the change of not having him there. But he had set his mind to it, call it stubbornness or a strong will. He fasted, prayed, and meditated for protection on the journey before him. Internally he secretly doubted his own choice of action as well, as he could not find the words to describe or explain what he was setting off towards. He feared the thought of having to return back to the village one day having failed in his quest, “oh, the ridicule he would receive”, he thought, but he tried not to think about it and set his focus upon the task before him.

Before long he set off on foot with a few possessions, some food, and water that would sustain him for a few weeks, and after that who knew…

The boy was careful to ration his food, as he knew not what he would encounter or face on this journey. As the days passed with little to no company, the boy was left to his own thoughts. By the second week into his quest, he became restless, feeling the absurdity of what he was doing, and doubt began to fill his mind and heart again.

On the last day of the second week, the boy came across a cobra who was hungry and hunting for food. As the boy saw the cobra he recoiled in fear and instinctively poised himself to fight. But the cobra in his infinite wisdom spoke and said, “why do you want to kill me when I have done nothing to you?” The boy answered, “but you are hungry and looking for food, and I could be the victim that you prey on.” As the cobra hissed and sighed, “then you have no understanding of ahimsa, non-violence.”

Before the boy could respond he was left alone as the cobra slithered off. In the days, months, and years that followed this meeting, the boy, now a Samurai met various other teachers along his path.

He met the tree that taught him satya, truthfulness. The dog that taught him Asteya, non-stealing. The crocodile that taught him Aparigraha, non-greediness. The lotus flower that taught him Samtosa, contentment. And the Sun that taught him tapas, heat.

As the Samurai grew in his years, he could feel the lessons that were bestowed on him, which were seeds being planted and over the years through his inner practice and quest had allowed those seeds to be watered and nurtured with consciousness and awareness. Through his travels he began to hear stories about a beautiful women named Samadhi and deep in his heart he knew he wanted to claim her heart and have her as his Beloved. He was willing to sacrifice every thing he had and every part of his soul to her, he just had to meet her and be given a chance to win her over.

As he searched high and low for Samadhi, he felt he was close. And before long he was on a road that led to a village where Samadhi supposedly resided. As he walked the road towards this village he began to notice certain things that felt vaguely familiar about this particular area, but he couldn’t quite place his finger on it. When he finally had the village in his line of sight, it dawned on him that this was once the place he had called home, a long, long time ago, when he was a young boy. Shocked and stunned the Samurai began to hesitate towards the village as his pace lingered, then slowed. He knew not what to do. He had once set out on a quest, and in many ways he gained experiences, knowledge, and wisdom that he once never had, but the only thing left to do on his quest was to be with Samadhi.

He picked up his courage and with great intention proceeded towards the village. By nightfall, he had reached the village, which was still and quiet, as everyone was fast asleep. The Samurai made a camp and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted from the day’s thoughts and emotions of returning back home so unexpectedly.

In the Samurai’s dream, he met and married the beautiful Samadhi. He realized with infinite wisdom and compassion that the treasures, which we seek, are always where we are now. The journeys, quests, and adventures along the way are only the catalysts to bring us back to where we started, with a different perspective, possibly, seeing our True selves for the first time. And in this “seeing” one may live from enlightenment.

A Journey to Ladakh

In the book, A Journey to Ladakh, the journey that Andrew underwent there captured and expressed the spirituality of what I experienced through China.

A quote in the book embodied the meaning of practicing meditation, “it is not a questioning of becoming, it is a question of uncovering what you really are, of letting yourself be yourself, of letting everything that is not yourself fall away.”

Ironically, from my readings I relished the simplicity through the lack of material things through which Ladakh captured. It brought out the consciousness of the people, of a culture, of a world that the Westerners now long to seek. It warmed my heart to read Andrew’s accounts and experiences of meeting his guru, Thuksey Rinpoche. He seemed to have clarified for me the way of Tantra, “…the way of working with all the energies and powers of living, refusing, and denying none of them, but using all of them, transforming all of them into wisdom.”

Andrew somehow found the words to describe his journey through Ladakh and finding his guru that fully embraced his emotions, thoughts, and doubts that questioned God and the Light of Eternity existing right before him; all around him and through him. All of his studies, education, and knowledge seemed to dissolve, as he had to begin to feel his way on this new path. What a testimony of the permeation, change, and transformation of having Light in one’s life.

“Tantra is alchemy, the alchemy that turns the filth of the self into the God of Selflessness.”

The powerful description of a man starving in a dark room, while just across the hallway there’s enough food for many lives explains the movement in how free will can change us, despite one’s karma or samsara. This example begins to explain the unnecessary suffering in one’s life or world. It epitomizes the power and strength of will for an individual to be taught, want to listen, and to be able to follow through on his/her will.

Finally, “it is hard to leave a place where you can believe that anything is possible. But that is why one must leave. To see if you were right, to see if your insights can be lived in a different air, at a lower level.” China had it’s own magic for me, filled with wonderment, learning, and growth. China allowed me to believe and see God and Light. Now that I have left, I want to see if my insights can be lived in a different air, at a different level of consciousness.