Love Welcomes All

On June 20th, I with my best friend and her daughter embarked on a drive to LA that would give me perspective,growth, and a blessing. I was going to receive my first darshan (hug)from Amma. (Amma’ as she is known all over the world today, has inspired and started innumerable humanitarian services. She has earned international recognition for her outstanding contributions to the world community. She is recognized as an extraordinary spiritual leader by the United Nations and by the people all over the world.)

When we arrived at the Hilton in LA. I was excited. After an intermission and a ceremony for Devi Puja(Navaratri (nine nights) is one of the greatest Hindu festivals. As the name implies, this festival is celebrated for nine days, in which God is adored as Mother. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures. During this period, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped as three different manifestations of Shakti or Cosmic energy. ) Amma appeared on a platform dressed in a traditional purple dress with a silver crown. She was absolutely beautiful.

As hours passed , we enjoyed  old Hindu mantras, vendors , lots of warm friendly faces and a delicious Indian meal I awaited for my turn to receive a hug(darshan) from Amma. I  took in all the atmosphere I could. I watched as Amma embraced  every person one at a time on the platform that she was on.She was sitting Indian style and as she embraced people ,she gave them a Hershey’s kiss and flower petals. Suddenly, I was tapped on the shoulder…I was asked by one of her staff since this was my first time receiving a hug if I would like to go onto the platform and sit  so I could be in Amma’s presence. I was honored and said yes!!! She lead me to the stage and sat me down next to other people that were mediating and for some observing a woman who has given her life to service. A service of love. 

 As I watched a mass of people get hugged , I realized  that it was finally my turn !!!!   I re approached the stage and was seated in the line to get a hug. When I finally got up there, I was told by her staff that I have to get on my knees and walk to Amma. I instantly locked eyes with Amma as she smiled and opened her arms to me. I fell into her arms and for only a short moment (while she rocked me and kissed me on the head whispering “my child , my child,” sweetly in my ear. )I just let go of everything. I needed this so much. Before I knew it I had a Hershey’s kiss and flower petals in my hand. I was helped up by her assistants and as I walked away I sent a prayer of gratefulness and love thanking Amma as I walked off the stage.

It was 2am when we left LA. I smelled of ginger…like Amma. I was completely in awe. This woman is so full of love ,of life, and of wisdom. She is truly God in human form. She is a saint. If all of us could have such compassion and love for one another just think of the possibilities that this world can endure. I have learned from my experience that it starts from within. You have to love yourself first. ( To learn more about Amma go to www.amma.org )

Love and Light -Til we blog again- Namaste

M

This was posted on a very good friend of mine’s MySpace bulletin and I just had to post it.  Enjoy…!

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Compare these stories:

The American, Time magazine/CNN version -
http://www. time. com/time/health/article/0,8599,1815538,00. html?cnn=yes

A lovely story. Really. Goes a long way to say that homosexuality is biological. Great. Gay men’s brains are more like straight women’s, and gay women’s brains are more like straight men’s.

But then, look at this, the Toronto Star version of the same story -
http://www. thestar. com/article/444461

“important new proof that people are born gay”
“So in fact there’s a (genetic) predisposition”
“should erode the moral judgments”
“rebut any argument that it is a mere lifestyle choice”

Why was there absolutely no mention of this in the Time piece? We’ve known since the early 90s that gay brains are structured differently, that they work differently. Cons have always argued that they’re made that way by constantly repeated “devious” choices. The fact that this study blows that to pieces is the truly groundbreaking, game-altering news.  How the hell could the American press just forget to mention that?

Something happened today. I just know it. You know those days when you look at the date and you just know that it’s somebody’s birthday or something important happened on this day in history? I know today is important, I just can’t remember why?

Beyond that, I am not usually the type of person to venture through the bowels of my past. I found myself reading pages that I should never have visited in the first place. I was curious about the ghosts and how they were doing. I wanted to check on them to make sure that, even though they might not think I care or even like them anymore (whether I do or don’t), that I still wonder how they’re doing. Friends. Ex-boyfriends.

So much that has been going on in my life lately has been misconstrued and manipulated into things I could never fathom. I don’t really care too much about what the world thinks of me, but sometimes I wonder what my world thinks. My close friends are always genuine and truthful with me. It makes me feel sorry for those kids whose lives consist of involving themselves negatively in any way shape or form into other people’s lives, simply because they can’t stand their own. Their so-called friends training them to be the bitchy conceited types that well LOVE!

I advocate so much for human rights. Speak out against violence and hatred. The thing of it is that there is so much hatred within the minorities for each other that there is no way that we can expect others to not feel the same way about us. Let go of your pain and move on with your life for your own sake. Eliminate the negative forces in your life that are making you feel the need to be hateful and cause pain to others so that you can do something worthwhile with your time. It’s not as long as it seems and your cutting it short. Put your thoughts into words and actions. You might just be surprised that you can make a difference in your life and those around you.

This weekend is Pride Weekend for Fresno. The month is full of pride weekends. Just remember that Pride celebrations don’t necessarily mean you have to set yourself on fire to show how much of a flamer you are. It’s a celebration of individuality. It’s a celebration of love and respect. And it doesn’t necessarily have to last for just a weekend. We can be unique, full of love and have respect for ourselves all the time! And we should!

MUCH LOVE EVERYONE!

Today we are going to talk about online dating and finding love on the internet. In this day and age it is widely accepted to plaster your life on the internet for everyone to see and read with hopes that someone will bite your bait. I’m pretty sure that the gays were practicing digital dating long before everyone else. What choice did we have? I mean, once you’ve dated the few decent guys that show up in public settings you really have no choice but to expand your horizons.

I’m definitely a skeptic when it comes to internet dating. I’m sorry, but even in person people lie to make themselves look better. How on earth am I expected to believe that what people are typing about themselves is true. I mean look at the photo! The camera is at just the right angle to show that when you meet this person you are in for a big surprise! Just because you have a six-pack doesn’t mean I want to kiss your face!

So what if this is in fact the best way to date (I couldn’t help but smirk while I was typing that). In theory it should be. I mean you’re basing your feelings for this person on what you are learning about them; how they form words, their humor, their kindness and their intelligence. To put it shorter; WHO they are! I’ll be the first to say that there HAS to be some sort of physical chemistry in order for it to happen! Am I right? So there’s the dilemma.

Tell me what you think.

You can’t get blood from a turnip.  It just never works.  You can get at something that’s simply not there in the first place.  I once knew a wise man that used to say, “If it’s not in the well, the it will never come up in the bucket.”  This is so very true.  This is a lesson I have learned the hard way unfortunately.  You can’t expect something from someone that they simply cannot give.  You cannot expect honesty from someone who is inherently dishonest.  You cannot expect truth from someone who only knows lies.  You cannot expect love and respect from someone who has no honor or soul for that matter.  You cannot get compassion or love from someone who is cold, hard, and dead on the inside.  So many times we spend so much effort and so much energy trying to get from people things they simply cannot give.  You can’t get blood from a turnip, so stop trying.  Stop setting yourself up for disappoint and heartache.  Hear the wisdom from the turnip!  Move forward, move on, stop wasting your time…stop casting your “pearls” before swine.

I just hate it.  The closet is nothing more than a mirage.  It’s a fantasy; a delusion.  It tricks you into a false sense of salvation.  It’s a temporary solution that doesn’t solve anything at all but rather makes your life more complicated.  It offers the illusion of safety and security when all it really delivers is fear and death to your soul and spirit.  The closet is about lying, secrets, and dishonesty, all things that are not good for anyone, regardless of your motivation for doing so.  The closet is a trap.  It’s a brutal, harsh, cold prison in which one’s true, beautiful, and wonderful SELF rots away and dies.

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