In sharing our experience of The Millenium Event we would like to begin with a letter we emailed our friends from Somatheeram, Kerala, South India December 22, 1999.
Today
we celebrate Solstice and the bright full moon in this tropical paradise
called Somatheeram Ayurvedic Beach Resort on the southwest tip of India.
As we did yoga on our front lawn and listened to our first carols of the
season by our favorite Canadian Christmas singer, Rita McNeil, I (Bunny)
was struck by a wave of homesickness for familiar people. So ....... a good
time to reach out and connect with you and share some of our adventure here.
Thank you for being in our lives.
The
Arabian Sea is the center of life here. The seabreeze cools and caresses
us, palm fronds gently rustle, and the sun, a giant orange ball rises from
and sets into the watery horizon. Late afternoons at the white sand beach
frolicking in the waves, watching the sun set and talking with the local
children (when they aren't harassing us for rupees, sweets, or school pens)
are a treat. The sea becomes a mirror of the heavens at night as fishing
boats with kerosene lanterns are sprinkled along the coastline, a reflection
of the stars above. Come daybreak the fisherman return paddling 1,2, or 3
man kayaks of heavy wood construction. Sometimes the kayaks use a foresail.
Large wooden canoes paddled by 10 men go out early in the morning to set
nets. Ashore the giant fishnets, a column of men on each side haul in the
catch pulling to a measured singsong chant. The net is closewoven taking
in fish of all sizes. As they are plucked from the net they are sorted for
size and species, then carried in large metal tubs atop the heads of women
to the village market. A time consuming and labor intensive operation, both
of which are in long supply here.
The sights and sounds of fishing are a backdrop
to all our activities and accompany us into the treatment rooms where
sari draped women caringly apply herbal oil to our bodies, bathing, rubbing,
massaging us with hand and foot from head to toe. As we come to the close
of our 15 day Purification Treatments, we have experienced rejuvenation massage
by 1 and also by 2 people with hand and foot, the latter done on a mat on
the floor, the technician steadying herself with a rope hung from the roof
beam. We have had sirovasthi, oil poured over our head and retained by an
open cap plastered to the head; thaila dhara, a stream of oil moved across
the brow flowing back over the scalp; pizichil, a warm oil bath by 2 women
while lying in a wooden trough table (Bunny using an additional cushion in
an effort to find comfort); nasyam and tharpanun, drops in the nose and eyes;
karnapooranum, herbal smoke in the ears; thaila vasthi, oil enemas; and
navarakizhi, rice pudding massage by 2 women with grapefruit size balls of
cooked rice and herbs dipped in hot milk and rubbed over the body - akin
to going through a car wash using papier mache paste - really the result
of this whole process has been amazing and relaxing, if unusual. The doctors
have prescribed special herbal medicines and an ayurvedic diet. The restaurant
prepares superb Kerala style food making liberal use of coconut, fish curry
in spicy coconut milk being a specialty.
We are blessed to be in this tropical paradise resort, a
sanctuary to return to after an adventure outside the security guarded
gates and brick and stone walls surrounding the resort. We are an obvious
focus of interest in the village and resort with our shaven heads, a choice
we made for the Millennium and an intention for an "easy birth" for ourselves
and the Psychology of Vision 12 day Training. It feels great in this tropical
climate, especially with all the applications of oil to our head. Easy care,
easy wear to the max. We'll burn our shorn locks in a full moon / solstice
ceremony, letting go of the past and embracing the presence of a new age.
You can see and read a little about this sublime paradise on Somatheeram's
website http://www.somatheeram.com
We have minor access to the use of their computer for a small fee per minute.
A great boon for us is the ability to receive emails on their address which
they will print out for us (for free). We send you Love, Peace and Beauty
from the Abundance we are experiencing here and wish for you all the happiness
you can stand this Season and the coming year. Think Expansiveness, Forgiveness
and Innocence.
All Our Love, Jane and Bunny
P.S. It really is idyllic - great temperatures, fewer bugs than home - and
our hair really IS growing.
A small group of us had gathered at the resort
early including the Swiss organizing contingent. Christian and Claudia, who
had initially discovered the Resort, did a monumental job in bringing in
everything that the seminar would need from the music and translation equipment
to wine. Dealing with the Indian Customs Office was a challenge which Christian
breezed through in three days, a record according to the Resort management
who assisted him in the process. Our small family gathered for Christmas
Eve dinner sitting outdoors close to the stage to enjoy a Classical Dance
program hosted by the Resort. Then the stage was open and the audience was
invited to dance. The chefs and waiters joined in for a grand time. The
restaurant staff had been busy for several days stringing up large illuminated
3-dimensional stars and small lights in the surrounding trees. A nativity
scene was set up using an intricately carved gable from an old Kerala-style
house and at the appointed hour the baby Jesus was placed between Mary and
Joseph and a candle lit. A grand time was had by all.
The following day four of us went to Kovalam Beach. Indians as well as tourists were enjoying the holiday and the beach was a splash of colour with throngs of sari clad women wading into the water up to their knees. Artisans and vendors peddled their wares and the small shops offered a variety of cards, jewelry, artifacts, cloth and clothing.
December 27 we gathered in the conference hall, a large
high roofed, open air building especially constructed for the seminar at
Manaltheeram. The front of the hall was beautifully decorated with woven
palm fronds. The Indian press were there in force to record this event and
opening remarks were made by several of the managerial staff and a blessing
given as the ceremonial ghee lamp was lit. The seminar followed the usual
pattern with Chuck conducting processes during the morning session and Lency
leading a joining session late afternoon. We met for buddy exercises between
sessions and ate lunch and dinner together at an open-air buffet on the
Manaltheeram grounds. Kerala style food was served and was delicious. Free
time after lunch found many on the beach playing volleyball, lounging on
wooden benches shaded by umbrellas and frolicking in the surf. On every trip
to and from the beach we were accompanied by school boys and vendors hawking
their wares. The security guards kept the lounging area seller free. A tailor's
shop was present on the Resort grounds and many of us sported custom made
outfits.
Many whole group extravaganzas were planned. New Years's
Eve began with a performance of Classical Indian Dance followed by sharings
from several of our participants which were touching, moving, imaginative
and hilarious. We then moved to the Conference Hall for a burning bowl ceremony
where we submitted our written lists of all that we wanted to let go of to
the flames, an inspiring ritual. We celebrated with our senior Taiwanese
couple their 50 year recommitment then returned to the outdoor stage for
a spectacular fireworks display and rang in the New Year with a dance lasting
into the wee hours.
On New Year's Day we trekked the beach path
to Bethsaida Hermitage to share a service with Father Bernadine and the boys
and girls of his orphanage/school, many of whom members of our group chose
to sponsor. The following day included a gala celebration of Chuck's birthday
featuring elephant rides and much song and dance from morning to late evening.
We were also treated to a triple wedding to which the whole Resort was invited, an event gladdening our hearts and souls. And finally we experienced a heartfelt farewell and thanksgiving gathering to acknowledge the staff of the Resorts.
A free day remained and a group of us made a pilgrimage to Thiruvananthapuram to be blessed by Amaji and to see the sights and shop for gifts.
We returned to our respective homes, our senses filled with India, our hearts opened by our experiences with Chuck, Lency and our fellow participants, and our souls inspired to take the next step towards our vision in this New Millennium.