LIGHTING OUR HEARTS with
Sacred Fire and the Divine Mother
Bhakti Tour Winter 2012
with Ramloti, Director of the
Haidakhandi Universal Ashram
in Crestone, Colorado and friends
January 7 – February 7
"There is so much happening in our world today it is my deep feeling that combining Mother’s love with chanting the Divine names and Sacred Fire Ceremony is so important. It is time to do another tour around the country with the theme of Lighting Our Hearts with Sacred Fire and the Love of the Divine Mother, which I feel will guide us through this time of transition. With my ever-deepening experiences with the Sacred Fire Ritual and Mother’s Shakti, I think that sharing it with more people will create miracles.
"'Shakti' or the energy of the Divine Feminine is all around us constantly whether we are practicing yoga, meditating, chanting, sleeping, working or playing. Our awareness of Her presence and how to work with it is very beneficial and brings deep peace and happiness to all spheres of our lives. This evening of Living the Divine Mother - The Shakti Within will highlight the main energies of Mother, delving into the meaning, how to cultivate it, honor it and will include chanting to each specific energy. The two-hour gathering will also include instruction on performing a simple puja and other devotional practices to Ma. (We will be carrying puja items from the Maha Lakshmi Shop in Crestone, CO.)
Everything we think, feel, express and see manifested in this world is Her.
Understanding that on a visceral level is the path to Infinite Realization.
“As I prepare to present the Divine Mother evening, I realize that I have had no formal or fancy background of study in the Divine Feminine. My training and knowingness has come from taking care of the Divine Mother for almost twenty years and attempting to live that 24/7 at the Ashram. Every visitor that comes here is Mother’s child and Her reflection and so the morning puja continues throughout the day serving them food, answering their questions, listening to their problems, sharing their joy and most of all, seeing them deeply as Divine manifestations.
“I am so grateful to Shri Babaji for this life of mine and my service to the Mother at the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram in Crestone, CO where I have lived for over 20 years. I feel that I was first trained by Babaji when I met Him in 1981 and I did puja to Him offering Him a veil honoring His feminine aspect. I am very excited to be presenting Living the Divine Mother - The Shakti Within."
Sacred Fire Ceremony or Havan
If your location will be blessed to having a Sacred Fire Ceremony, it will be the next morning and generally last about an hour. It is a deep and amazing ceremony of offering to the Divine some of the bounty that we receive on a daily basis. Shri Babaji said that the fire is what brings the rain that grows the grain that sustains our lives. He said that this is where creation began and that the smoke from the fire purifies not only the participants but also all the surrounding area bringing peace, harmony and prosperity.
Fire is a potent Purifier. Whatever we offer to the fire is changed instantly into smoke, which carries the prayers and offerings it into the heavens. Fire is symbolic of the flame of purity and devotion within each person which transforms individual lives. Fire worship is probably the oldest form of worship still in use.
The ceremony begins with the officiating pujari reciting mantras and sprinkling water to purify the area. As a guest is welcomed in the East, so the Sacred Fire and Teacher are welcomed with an invocation ceremony offering water for the bath, perfumed oil, chandan (sandalwood paste), kumkum and rice. Flowers, sweets and incense are offered to provide beauty, delight and sweet scents.
Next all present make offerings together. Each offering is preceded by a mantra, which invokes the energy of a particular aspect of the Divine. Each mantra ends with the word "Swaha." Swaha has several meanings, one of which is "I offer," another is "I am one with God."
At the end of the ceremony we all offer the aarati lamp to the Sacred Fire and Teacher. This symbolizes the burning away of the darkness of ignorance that we have allowed to come between ourselves and The Divine. At the end of the aarati, you may make a pranam (bow) to the Fire as a Teacher - because it has taught you something valuable. If possible, sit for a few minutes in silence.
In preparation for the ceremony we ask you to come freshly bathed in loose-fitting ceremonial clothes fully covering the body. Please refrain from eating heavy food (fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, dairy and nuts are all fine to eat). For a woman on her moon, she may attend but it is not the time for her to participate in the actual ceremony as this would create conflicting energies within her body.
About the Events
We will be carrying a portable havan kund (copper vessel for fire ceremony. Where we will be carrying most of the sacred offerings for the fire, we ask the hosting location to provide some fresh flowers, 1/2 pint of ghee (clarified butter), small sticks and kindling for the fire (not broken with the foot) and some sweet for offering (dried fruit, bought specially for the occasion). The morning will include chanting, puja, fire ceremony and chandan (application of sandalwood paste).
We will also be carrying devotional items, mantra t-shirts, books, cd’s, malas and Om Namah Shivaya bracelets from the Maha Lakshmi Shop which we will sell at the different venues. We can bring an item especially for you, if request it by January 3 at http://shop.babajiashram.org/ All events are by donation and all proceeds go to support the Ashram which is a 501(3)c nonprofit organization.
We have our own small sound system (for smaller venues) and projector which are easily set up. A plain light colored wall for projecting images on is sufficient. Please feel free to call me at any time at 719-480-5514. I am deeply looking forward to spending some very shakti-filled time with you.
East Coast/Southern Tour Members
Ramloti has been director and pujari (priestess) at the Divine Mother temple at the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram in Crestone, CO for over 20 years. Between her daily communion and hours of practice with Mother, meeting Shri Babaji in 1981 and 1982 and over 25 subsequent trips to India; she brings a wealth of loving energy and shakti to the gathering. She plays the harmonium daily at the Ashram and will be leading several of the chants. She has been leading tours around the country since 1981 when life at the Ashram permits. She is excited to be doing one again after four years. For more information on the Ashram and Ramloti go to babajiashram.org
Sherry Summers is a teacher of Tantra-Hatha Yoga training with Yoga Rupa Rod Stryker. Since 1995, she has been guiding students to regularly experience the radiance of their own souls through Bhakti, Karma Yoga, Tantra, Kundalini and, especially through Divine Mother worship and Agni practices, both internal and external. With a background in capoeira, movement, Iyengar and Tibetan Yoga, she creatively weaves mantra and chanting into her classes, workshops and retreats. She feels music is the Divine gift that surrenders our egos to pure love! With this tour, she returns to sharing kirtan after an absence of a few years, thanks to the strong pull of the Haidakhan Baba lineage and the grace of the Divine Mother. Jai Ma! For more information about Sherry go to sherrysummers.com
Bradford Smith is both an accomplished musician as well as an inspiring Kirtan leader. After experiencing the bliss of Kirtan he has been leading and encouraging people to sing from their heart for the past 6 years. During a visit to HUA for spring Naviratri in spring 2007 he started his journey with Divine Mother. He plays keyboards, harmonium, drums, Native American Flute and Tibetan Singing Bowls. He lives in St. Louis Missouri leading Kirtans, performing at New Thought Churches, and practices Sound Healing with the Tibetan singing bowls. He has produced 7 CD's of his solo work along with various bands. bradfordsmithmusic.com.
The Schedule
West Coast Tour
Sunday, January 8 - Sebastopol, CA - 10am Fire ceremony, aarati, chandan, chanting and potluck at James and Betsy Gauer’s home, 3696 Burnside Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472. For more information email longchenpa@comcast.net or call 707-824-0342. Please bring your own blanket and pillow.
Thursday, January 12 - Pasadena, CA - An Evening of Baba Stories, Images, Chanting and Potluck at The Centre, 573 S. Lake Avenue D, Pasadena, CA 91101. Contact Maille at 818-468-7324.
Friday, January 13 - Late Night Chanting in preparation for Makar Sankrant at 17352 Yorkshire Ave, Yorba Linda, CA. 92886. For more information and directions please call Chandresh at 714-366-1836.
Saturday, January 14 - Makar Sankrant - Yorba Linda, CA - 10am Aarati, fire ceremony, chanting, satsang, bhandara and optional trip to the ocean for a Makar Sankrant bath. At the home of Chandresh and Jayshree Trivedi's, 17352 Yorkshire Ave, Yorba Linda, CA. 92886. For more information, directions and to let them know how much food to prepare, please call Chandresh at 714-366-1836.
East Coast/Southern Tour
Monday, January 16 - St. Louis, MO. - Fire ceremony at 9am to bless the tour. Email Sherry at sherryyogabliss@yahoo.com
Monday, January 16 - Carbondale, IL. at one | o | one yoga, 101 S. Graham Ave, Carbondale, IL 62901. Fire ceremony next morning. Contact: Kathy Neely 618-457-8186 or email at info@center101yoga.com.
Tuesday, January 17 - Nashville, TN and fire the next morning at 8am. Email Julianna at juliana-art@comcast.net.
Wednesday, January 18 - Asheville, NC at West Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC, 28806
For information email catmatlock@gmail.com or call the studio at 828-350-1167. Fire Ceremony the next morning at 9am, call Tama at 828-231-0296.
Thursday, January 19 - Yogaville, Buckingham, VA. at 8pm. Call or email Sraddha 434-969-3121 ex. 144 or satsangs.celebrations@gmail.com and fire ceremony next morning at 7:30am, call Hanuman at 434-969-3121 ex. 106.
Friday, January 20 - Charlottevile, VA at 7:30pm at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville, 505 Monticello Road, Charlottesville VA 22902 and fire the next morning. Email Frances at frances.frischkorn@gmail.com
Saturday, January 21 - Washington DC at Yoga Chai, 1744 Columbia Rd. NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20009. For more information and directions go to www.yogachai.com or call: 207-746-YOGA (9642) or email frances.frischkorn@gmail.com.
Monday, January 23 - Wilmington, NC at 1924 Chestnut St., Wilmington, NC 28405, and fire the next morning. Call Larry at 910-254-1314.
Tuesday, January 24 - Pittsboro, NC at Avalon, 102 Sibling Ct., Pittsboro, NC and fire the next morning. Call Kelsey at 919-360-7443 or email her at Kelsey.lapoint@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 25 - Columbia, SC at Yoga Masala, 711 Bluff Road, Columbia, SC 29209 and fire the next morning. For more information email info@hotyogamasala.com.
Thursday, January 26 - Athens, GA at Unitarian Universalist Church, 780 Timothy Road, Athens, GA 30606 and fire the next morning. Contact Suradas at rahasyamusic@gmail.com
Friday, January 27 - Atlanta, GA at the Karin Kabalah Center, 2531 Briar Cliff Rd. #217 Atlanta, GA. 30329. Call Alok at 404-320-1038 or emai kabalah@mindspring.com.
Saturday, January 28 - Jupiter, FL at Transformational Studies Institute, 900 E. Indiantown Rd. #310, Jupiter, FL. 33477. Call Jim at 561-371-2832
Sunday, January 29 - Del Rey Beach, FL. at Sal and Sarena Morello's, 102 Avacoda Ave. Del Rey Beach, FL. 33444. Fire Ceremony, aarati, chanting and potluck at 10am. Call Sal and Sarena at 561-274-0883.
Monday, January 30 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - at Benicio Farina’s home, 1601 NE 40th Ct., Oakland Park, FL 33334. Call Benicio at 305-710-9040.
Tuesday, January 31 - St. Petersburg, FL - at Sacred Lands Preservations, 1620 Park Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33710. For direction call (727) 347-0354. For Parking use: 1700 Park St N. Fire ceremony the next morning in Tresure Island. For location, time and info about the program, call Sharda at 727-363-0800.
Thursday, February 2 - New Orleans, LA. Call Jack at 504-453-9161.
Saturday, February 4 - Fire Ceremony in Houston at 9am at 1226 Wycliffe Dr. (West Side of Houston) Houston, TX 77043. Call Lalita at 713-465-4178.
Sunday, February 5 - Plano, TX 10:30am Puja, Kirtan, presentation and lunch at the home of Bhavani and Tiru Ramasamy’s home, 5929 Wamego Ln., Plano, TX. 75094. Call Bhavani at 719-464-4363.
Monday, Feb. 6 – Drive home to St. Louis
Tuesday, February 7 - St. Louis, MO.- Fire Ceremony in Thanksgiving for Tour at 10:08. Email Sherry at sherryyogabliss@yahoo.com