I love your website and G-desses diaries although I have been taking yoga on and off for the last ten years, I have never knew the power and peace that yoga brings specially when I am reading your blogs, it takes me to another serene place. I am very lucky to have met you and be able to use your guidence to find relaxtion and stressfree life once again. Besides, I can’t wait to read the rest of your search on Lackshmi. Thank you for bringing light into my day and I am grateful for the blessing I have received from your yoga teaching and your continued support.

This is sooooooooo beautiful! I am so touched and honored that you shared it. It is so moving and I connect with it tremendously. I think that when others hear your story, you are giving them permission to then share their stories and the power of the feminine will come out more and more from behind closed doors. The feminine is so beautiful and has so much to offer us and I am so excited that you stepped forward with your story.

In sisterhood and love,
Tabby

Last Christmas, I was late for Mass – by a few hours. By the time I got to church, it was quiet and dark, nearly all candlelit. I found an alcove where I could kneel and pray to the Virgin Mary. After a few minutes, I had an astounding vision of Her, in her blue robe, hands outstretched, with the healing light of one thousand suns gently radiating from her heart, straight into mine and a dear friend of mine. The experience was indescribable, suffice it to say that it was a complete feeling of absolute union in this light. I felt at that moment that everything that needed healing in my life was healed already. As if that was not enough of a blessing, I had no idea that was just the beginning; all I knew was that I wanted nothing more but to know Her more after that. I purchased a book of prayers to the Virgin Mary and fell in love with a short, simple and beautiful one in particular. I memorized and said it daily.

A few months later, I was in transit in Taipei , Taiwan , walking up and down the terminal, I saw a small area with prayer rooms. One for Muslims, with a prayer rug on the floor, one for Buddhists with pillows for meditation, and a small room for Christians, with a simple wooden cross, some wood benches and a small picture to the left of the cross.

I decided to go inside and pray for my father who I was worried was ill. I went inside and walked closer to the wall to inspect the picture. It was a picture of a Black Madonna, with two scars across her cheeks. In small print, it stated “Our Lady of Czestochowa.” Something about that long Polish name made my heart beat a little faster. I had a foggy idea somewhere in the back of my mind about what I had just seen, but wasn’t entirely sure, so I sat on bench, and pray as intended. Then I rushed to the free internet kiosk and typed in “Prayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa” and there it was…my prayer – the one I had been saying daily! I had changed the phrasing “Lady of Czestochowa” to simply “Holy Mother” months ago and I had forgotten the long difficult word Czestochowa .

I was excited and very happy, and admittedly, a little bit freaked out. I read everything I could about this Black Madonna. There were myths about why She was black, how She had protected a church from ruin, how She ended up in this town in Poland , and why She had scars on her face. That She had undergone fire, attacks, traveled a difficult journey, and was imperfect – this made Her absolutely perfect to me. In that prayer room in the corner of an airport terminal, She found a quiet space to tell me She had heard my daily prayers of consecration, that She is here, understands my vulnerabilities, is with me through difficult moments and that She is here with me on this journey. In the dark silence of a church, She had invited me to speak to her and I had accepted it – I believe this will be a lifelong conversation of love, understanding and wisdom, and it will happen, only when I am willing to be silent and willing to be surprised.

xo – Lydia, http://www.blissdanceandwellnesscenter.com

love you,

Mom

~Katy

YAY for you! This blog is great…I just love how you jump into action!

xo,
Charu

Lots of love,
Ingrid