Watch this beautiful story for children.
How Toddlers Teach Us
The road to the nursery school follows a steep ridge at the western boundary of the village. At the top of that hill, a panoramic view is favored by sunset watchers. In the evenings, star watchers come here to observe the heavens as we spin through space. The interconnectedness of our little lives can be felt in expansive vistas. From … Read More
Growing Up Ananda: How a Bunch of Hippies Got it Right
I was born and raised in a spiritual intentional community. To answer your first question, yes, I loved it. If you google “intentional community” and try to find a glowing testimonial from a child raised in one, you’ll most likely find none. I certainly haven’t. Every article I’ve ever read has been from someone who is coming to grips with … Read More
Generosity is Genetic: The Yoga of Prosperous Parenting
This week my husband and I did our annual budget. With two kids and barely-above-the-poverty-line salaries, this might be a terrifying experience, but for us it is not. For us, our budget is a tangible experience of the Divine; an ongoing testament to the truth that, “a consciousness of abundance, attracts abundance,” as Swami Kriyananda taught. This year we were … Read More
From Tantrums to Treats: Meditation with a Toddler
In a recent conversation with other yogi parents, I had a realization. It had been slowly creeping into my awareness, but now it solidified and it’s importance finally made sense. My spiritual practice affects my children, and if I want them to have a positive association with spirituality, I need to understand how they experience it. This reality began with … Read More
10 Reasons Community Is for Kids!
The final chapter of Paramhansa Yogananda’s spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, finds him walking with his dear friend and first American disciple, Dr. Lewis through his Encinitas Hermitage grounds. Dr. Lewis asks about a construction project underway on the far side of the grounds and Yogananda begins to describe his vision for world brotherhood colonies: In these beautiful surroundings I … Read More
The Taming of Sascha
Here I was, trying to be a peace-loving, sixties-style hippie, but my reception committee was a canine cat killer and a racist. I put the word out about Sascha. John in particular I warned, asking him please to let me know whenever he was coming over.
Divine Remembrance
One day, after Sunday service at Ananda Palo Alto, I walked through our beautiful sanctuary with my 3-year-old nephew Drew. He wanted to see the altar, which has large photos of our line of five Masters. Drew was looking up, craning his neck. He said, “Lift me up, Wohwee, I want to see Babaji.” (Wohwee is the 3-year-old version of … Read More
Raising My Daughter: A Path of Surrender
I believe the blessing I received was a gift from Divine Mother to help me in the ongoing process of surrendering my desires and expectations in bringing up my child, and following divine guidance to the best of my ability.
Seclusion for Mommies
I just took my very first seclusion. What is seclusion, you might ask? Seclusion was strongly recommended by my guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, as a means for deepening your inner communion with the Divine. Seclusion means as it sounds – secluding. Going into silence, alone and spending time deepening your inner spiritual life through meditation, contemplation and supportive yoga practices. Yogananda … Read More
