Navaratri Blessings

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone! I have been deeply touched with gratitude for the postings of

love and support recently. I am going through a time right now where, in order

to fulfill some commitments, I am working hard (like, twelve hour days, 6 days a

week). It is well beyond my own strength to work in this way, and for a while I

was quite caught up in confusion and stress about it. But I kept praying,

meditating and chanting and about a week ago, Divine Mother's grace brought me

to the wisdom of surrender, and I began to pray, " please Mother, I am not strong

enough for this. Please be strong through me and let Your love and wisdom flow

through me. "

 

Since then, there have been little miracles every day. A friend who told me

that one day as she was hiking she 'took me with her' (in spirit) and held my

hand and prayed with me 'release resistance, release resistance, surrender

surrender'. Little adjustments being made in my day to ease my workload when I

felt overwhelmed. The Deep Presence of Shree Maa in my meditations, taking the

form of many Goddesses to offer me healing in my body, heart and mind. Me,

hearing kind words and a kind tone of voice come out of my mouth in response to

someone when I was so tired I didn't know what to say (thanks, Maa...)

 

Lately my Chandi practice has simply been to recite the 'Seven Verses That

Express the Essence of She Who Relieves all Difficulties'. I love these

mantras, and can recite all or any of them anywhere, no matter what I'm doing,

and thus maintain connection with these prayers whether still or active.

 

I have particularly come to adore this mantra: " When you are pleased you destroy

all informities, and when you are displeased you frustrate all desires. No

calamity or disease befalls those who take refuge in you, and those who take

refuge in you invariably become a refuge to others " .

 

And then last night I was doing some spiritual reading which focused on the

prayer of St. Francis, a favorite. And all of the sudden, this little 'aha'

happened. I felt that the above mantra and the St. Francis prayer are the same!

" It is in dying that we are born to eternal life " ...and " those who take refuge

in you invariably become a refuge to others " . In other words, the 'little me'

releases it's selfish perspectives, needs, wishes, so that Divine

Presence/Universal Love, Peace, Truth and Wisdom, can flow naturally, blessing

All in this Beautiful Dance of Creation.

 

I have loved St. Francis since I was a little girl, and only became aware of

Shree Maa a few years ago, but it made me feel that She has been with me all

along, sneaky Divine Mother, transforming Herself into all forms of Love just to

stay close to me in my explorations. Sometimes it feels like the rest of my life

will be just this 'aha'; her showing me " yep, that was me too! "

 

A friend once said to me (regarding spiritual practices), " We practice in times

of ease so that in times of trouble we can take refuge in the habits of Divine

Transformation that are already there " .

 

Shree Maa and Swamiji, thank you for your steadfast demonstration of the highest

form of living. I am grateful for your Holy Presence, teachings, and the

community of love and learning that you have established and extend throughout

this entire creation.

 

Jennifer