A Friendship Blessing and update from Coonoor, India
"May you be blessed with good friends.
May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.
May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness.
May this change you.
May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you.
May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging.
May you treasure your friends.
May you be good to them and may you be there for them; may they bring you all the blessing, challenges, truth, and light that you need for your journey.
May you never be isolated.
May you always be in the gentle nest of belonging with your anam ċara."
- John O'Donohue
Dear anam ċara (soul friends)!
Just jumping on to share a few photos and update you before I take off on the next leg of my journey.
I have been in Coonoor, south India for the past 25 days, and tomorrow will be moving onward to points along the southwest coast of Kerala with my dear friend, Greg, before co-leading our retreat together in Bali in March.
Before we arrive in Bali, we have a six-day plan to hit Guruvayur, Kochi, Alleppey, Vallikavu, and Kanyakumari, which are home to a couple desirable ashrams, a kayaking adventure, elephant sanctuary, and the southernmost tip of India. From there, we will fly one hour to Sri Lanka from the airport in Thiruvananthapuram for six days of rest and recoup before making our way to Bali on the 11th.
We will meet our guests at the Resort for our retreat start on the 14th!
The last few days since I wrote have been filled with new experiences... such as changing my nose piercing for the first time (which I never thought I would do in a foreign country), getting a dental cleaning for 1350 rupees ($20 USD), and receiving my certificate completing 112 hours of Level 1 Ayurvedic course study with Dr. Moulee!
I can feel my cup of gratitude pouring over and only hope that it reaches and touches each and every one of you back home. I miss you all very much and appreciate your continued support and expressions of love!
View from my room at the retreat center in Coonoor
Delicious pom fruit, papaya, small lemon and fresh pineapple juice for breakfast
Sun rising over the mountains on an early morning walk.
Namaste,
Ashley