Another Trip to Yogaville

I have been blessed many times by my visits to Yogaville. When my dear friends, Andi and Jonathan Goldman, teach there, it gives us an opportunity to see one another in person. Since moving to the east coast from Santa Fe, seeing them in person happens much less often.

Typically on the final day of their weekend course, I’m given the opportunity to share the Divine Name Essence with each of the participants in the class. After the workshop is over, I’m asked to stay and let people try additional essences, mists, and other products I offer.

The Divine Name Essence is just one of the series of products I co-created with Jonathan Goldman, which infuses his Divine healing sounds into my sacred healing oils. We call it the Essence of Sound. Whether you use the oil while listening to the music, or on it’s own, they bathe the body and energy field in those exquisite vibrations and people really seem to love them. I know I do. Andi and Jonathan do as well. Many of those who love his music greatly enjoy the oils also.

When I was in Yogaville at Jonathan and Andi’s workshop this spring, I met many of the people who live and work at the ashram. It was the first time I felt really connected with the community there. One of the wonderful ladies who has lived there since the early 80’s invited me to come back to stay for a weekend. We were collaborating to lead workshops and Goddess experiences together.

So many wonderful things happened this time, I hardly know where to begin . . .

When most people think of Yogaville, they instantly think of the LOTUS – Light of Truth Universal Shrine. What a gorgeous facility radiating such wonderful loving energy. People meditate there daily on the upper level. The lower level contains a collection of artifacts and sacred objects from many of the world’s religions. It is a place honoring all traditions.

Yogaville - The Lotus Temple

The image at the top of the article, of the hillside with two temples as you move up the hill, are what you see if you are standing in front of the LOTUS and look up the hill.

The first night on my trip to Yogaville, my host took me to the top of that hill (in the top photo) to watch the sunset. Others showed up who were doing the same. We ended up joyfully telling many stories and laughing until long after the sun had set. Looking down on the Ashram from that vantage point was so lovely.

I met with many people, did a private energy healing session for one of the ladies who lives there, and shared Dancing Dolphin Sacred Healing Oils & Mists, pendulums, and bracelets, with many. At lunch one day, my host suggested that I show my pendulums to a particular swami. I was so surprised that this deLightful woman that I’ve seen there many times is quite an accomplished dowser and absolutely loved the various pendulums I had with me and especially the one I gave her. Who knew swamis were into dowsing? I certainly didn’t.

Much like here, there were deer everywhere.

My host took me to see a statue at the farm – where they grow organically many vegetables and flowers. Just as we were leaving, the guy in charge drove in. He had just returned from selling produce at the vegetable stand. After our introductions, I asked him about the stand and the vegetables they had for sale. He went on to tell me all about it and then offered to walk around with me to pick fresh vegetables to take home. Beautiful, and very scrumptious, squash, peppers of all colors, some very unusual and yummy tomatoes, and many other veggies began filling the two huge bags I got to come home with. It was amazing the amount of vegetables I got for the money I spent.

For dinner on Saturday, instead of eating as we usually do in the dining hall of the ashram, we drove 10 miles to a lovely little town and enjoyed a wonderful Italian meal at a restaurant owned by a former student of my friend and host for the weekend.

Every Saturday night there is a sacred gathering. There is typically a short video clip of Swami Satchidenanda speaking followed by talk or music by one of the presenters holding a workshop there at the time. David Newman (Durga Das) was there that weekend. So Saturday night’s gathering involved his music and much dancing. The evening always concludes with participants being offered food that has been blessed.

It was the weekend before Spring Equinox, so on Sunday afternoon one of the wonderful women from Yogaville facilitated a Peruvian Despacho. It was held on top of the hill overlooking the LOTUS. A large group of us gathered and shared in the beautiful ceremony honoring the harvest and blessing the earth.

I had planned to return home on Sunday evening. But one of the women I’d connected with at a meal was teaching all weekend and wasn’t available until Monday. I stayed the extra day so she and I could get together for tea. Tea turned into lunch and could easily have turned into dinner. We had so many things in common, from interests to philosophy. It was a powerful connection and we are planning a collaboration for the future.

The thing I am constantly reminded of is that fewer magical things happen if you never go any where and do any thing that is outside the normal for your life and your routine. When you live fully in the present moment, always open and anticipating wonderful things to happen, they usually do.

Have a glorious day and enjoy your adventures at Yogaville or somewhere else!

Bestselling author Debbie Takara Shelor signature
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Takara Shelor
Follow Me