Dear Friends,
First of all, I would like to wish all of you a deep and peaceful new year filled with the blessings of the Divine Mother and Shri Babaji. There are many changes going on, as Shri Muniraji told a devotee this month, it is a time for change. Some of the things that will help us face these changes are our prayers, devotion, service and comIng together in community. Even if some of our actions seem to only affect a small group of people, they are still important and we may never know the larger repercussions. Here is an example from last weekend (Christmas) at the Ashram.
I am writing this on Christmas Eve and I am filled with the wonder of a child over the magic of Christmas. We began with a lovely aarati this morning. The family that was staying with us from Denver helped decorate the temple with garlands and homemade Christmas ornaments. After that we had a beautiful new-moon fire ceremony followed by chanting and a delicious feast. Despite the cold temperatures (a high of 30 degrees!), the sun and fire warmed us and over 40 people attended.
Although all of the day was sweet, it was really this evening that touched my soul the most. Several families have made it a tradition to come up for Christmas Eve aarati followed by singing Christmas carols, and then a light supper and the exchange of simple gifts. Some of the children are now six and seven and eight years-old, so they mostly chose the songs to sing and actually led several of them. Even the four-year-old announced that she would like to sing “Little Drummer Boy” and the other four-year-old asked us to sing “Frosty the Snowman.” It was all so sweet. After the supper, many hands made the clean up easy and the continual singing of Christmas songs made the clean up very festive and fun.
This tradition has sort of grown organically, as most of the traditions of the Ashram have. Several years ago, one family joined us and then another and another. As the families thanked us before leaving several of them commented on how important this evening is to them as their families are far away and this gives them and their children such a sense family and community.
As I have mentioned before, Shri Babaji said, “The new kingdom begins from here” (speaking of Haidakhan). He described the new kingdom as a place where all would receive justice and where the lion and the lamb would drink from the same well. I deeply feel that the new kingdom of love and justice is beginning at this Ashram and that it spreads every time someone leaves with a greater love and sense of service to all of humankind in his or her heart. I am so happy to be part of this great miracle of love.
Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
Ramloti
Ceremonies and Schedule
If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire ceremony, we would like to send you a blessed item from the fire ceremony. They are:
$27 sponsorship - Copper, brass, nickel Om Namah Shivaya bracelet
$54 sponsorship - Rose Quartz, Rosewood or Tulsi Mala
$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha Mala or Copper, silver, brass bracelet
You can make the donation online by just clicking here or call 719-256-4108 or e-mail the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or send us a check made to HUA to: P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131.
We are continually grateful for all of your support of the Ashram.
Fire Ceremony & Chanting in Sebastapol, CA on Sunday, January 8
We have long talked about doing a fire ceremony at the home of long-time devotees, Betsy and James Gauer. It is finally coming to fruition and will be at 10am on Sunday morning, January 8 at 3696 Burnside Rd., Sebastopol, CA. 95472. It will be followed by a potluck lunch and I will be accompanied on the harmonium by Panna Singh on dollak, another long-time devotee of Baba who met Him in the late 1970’s. There are sure to be some wonderful Baba stories that day. Please bring your own blanket and pillow and email James and Betsy at longchenpa@comcast.net or call them at 707-824-0342 for more information and directions.
Please join us on Thursday, January 12 from 7pm until 9pm for an inspiring evening of Baba stories, images, chanting and potluck. Once again, there will be many devotees who met Babaji while He was in physical form. I will be accompanied on the harmonium by Brugesh on the dollak. This will take place at The Centre, 573 S. Lake Avenue D, Pasadena, CA 91101. Contact Maille at 818-468-7324 for more information and directions.
Makar Sankrant in Yorba Linda, CA on Friday night and Saturday, January 13 and 14.
Makar Sankrant, which occurs on Saturday, January 14, is said to be when the sun begins it northern journey enhancing all of our spiritual practices. For the last many years we have celebrated this auspicious time in Florida. This year it will be in southern California at the home of Jayshree and Chandresh Triivedi’s at 17352 Yorkshire Ave, Yorba Linda, CA. 92886. In the tradition of Haidakhan we will do late night chanting on Friday, January 13 beginning at 7pm and going on to late night or early morning. The next morning at 10am we will begin with aarati and chandan followed by a fire ceremony and more chanting. We will then have an Indian feast followed by a Makar Sankrant bath in the ocean, which is about 25 minutes away. Babaji told us that this was a very special time when there were no negative energies on the earth to interfere with our spiritual practices. We hope that you can join us for all or some of this high time. You may bring your sleeping bag if you want to just stay there all night. Please call Chandresh at 714-366-1836 for more information and so that they know how many to prepare food for.
January - February Bhakti Tour Winter 2012
Everyone is very excited about the upcoming tour and preparations are already being made. Brad Smith and Sherry Summers have been awesome on their end setting up some of the venues, learning new chants, organizing a new chant booklet and getting many of the supplies that we will need for the trip. You can read more about them and more about the tour on our Ashram website at, Bhakti Tour 2012. Here is the schedule with contacts. The evenings will run from 7-9pm unless otherwise stated. The morning fires will be at 8am or 9am but check with the contacts for certainty. If you have friends in the area, please let them know about the gatherings as they are bound to be very high and inspirational. Together we will be experiencing the sacred fire and the love of the Divine Mother which I feel will guide us through this time of transition.
Bhakti Tour - 2012
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-0-one yoga, 101 S. Graham Ave, Carbondale, IL 62901. Fire ceremony next morning at 9am. Contact: Kathy Neely at 618-457-8186 or email at info@center101yoga.com.
Tuesday, January 17 - Nashville, TN and fire the next morning at 8am. Call Julianna at 615-482-3535.
Wednesday, January 18 - Asheville, NC at West Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd., Ashville, NC 28806. For more information email catmatlock@gmail.com or call the studio at 828-350-1167. Fire ceremony the next morning at 8am at Tama Dickerson’s. Call Tama at 828-231-0296.
Thursday, January 19 - Yogaville, Buckingham, VA. at 8pm. Please call or email Sister Gayatri at 434-969-3121 ex. 144 or satsangs.celebrations@gmail.com for more information. Fire ceremony next morning. Call Hanuman at 434-969-3121 ex. 106 for time and directions.
Friday, January 20 - Charlottevile, VA. at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville, 505 Monticello Road, Charlottesville VA 22902 at 7:30pm and fire the next morning. Email Frances at
frances.frishkorn@gmail.com for more information and fire ceremony location.
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.frishkorn@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. Fire ceremony the next morning at Sura Das’s at 9am. Call Sura Das at 706-201-1287.
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 email 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 - Delray Beach, FL. at Harmony House - 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 and fire the next morning. Call Sharda at 727-363-0800.
Thursday, February 2 - New Orleans, LA. Call Jack at 504-453-9161.
Friday, February 3 - Houston, TX Call Lalita at 713-465-4178.
Saturday, February 4 - Fire Ceremony in Houston at 9am. 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
Save the Dates - Sat. & Sun. Feb. 11 & 12 and Thurs. March 1
On Thursday, March 1, Premanand and I will be doing a Divine Mother evening of kirtan, images, stories and puja in Santa Fe, NM at Santa Fe Soul at 7pm. We will also be doing a small fire ceremony the next morning at Devorah’s home.
For more information please email Devorah at
Ashram Projects
Other projects to be done when the weather becomes more conducive is replacing the covers to the measuring wares and sand filter on the water system, expanding the havan area with more flagstone as well as the path from the temple to the havan and upgrading the lighting in the temple.
Many of these projects will take Ashram funds so we ask each of you to look into your hearts and see what this Ashram means to you and to please donate as you are able. You may go to our website and donate through PayPal (you can even set up a monthly tithe). You can also send a check made out to HUA at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131 or you can call us at 719-256-4108 with a credit card number. We want to thank you for your support, love and prayers.
2012 Annual Ashram On-Line Auction Fundraiser
Yes, it is almost that time of year when we get to have a lot of fun donating items and bidding on them to raise funds for the Ashram and all of its projects. The dates this year will be from Friday, March 23 (the second day of Spring Navratri) through Sunday, April 1 (Lord Ram’s birthday). This auspicious time of year will hopefully prove to lend itself to another successful auction. The first three have grown bigger each year. Last year we made $13,500 and this was a huge part in building the first hermitage for Ramloti. We already have well over 70 items and we hope that all of you will think of something that you can add to it. Small appliances such as juicers and vitamixes that are in good condition are great sellers. Other treasures that have done well are sports memorabilia, fine jewelry, electronics and Indian items. To view what we already have and actually make a donation on line click here.
Follow the Ashram on Twitter and Facebook!
Through the skillful means of some of our more technologically knowledgeable friends, the Ashram has entered the modern world of communication. We have a twitter account and a facebook page where we will be posting quotes from Shri Babaji and the Sapta Sati and announcements about upcoming events. We want to especially thank Molly Rowan Leach for spending so much time helping us. Molly is involved in many humanitarian endeavors catalyzing the good. To read more about her work go to www.malirownapresents.com.
The links are at the top of the page. There is also a button above to subscribe to this newsletter, if you are not already receiving it, this will give you the most detailed news about the Ashram.
Recent Events
Just before Christmas, Shri Muniraji was found unconscious in his home in Haldwani. He was rushed to the hospital and then helicoptered to New Delhi were he underwent a series of operations. After receiving a pacemaker and a stent, he is resting and recovering nicely. We are deeply grateful to Shri Babaji for blessing us all with Shri Muniraji’s continued presence and guidance to us all at his advancing age of almost 84 years old.
Meanwhile, Ganga who has served Babaji and Muniraji for the last 20 years, has been seriously ill in the hospital. She is in a hospital near her family in Italy and in dire need of a liver transplant. Please keep her in your prayers.
Fire Ceremony in San Jose, CA
We had a beautiful fire ceremony at the Shukla home in San Jose, CA in honor of their 38 wedding anniversary and their daughter’s second anniversary. About 50 people attended from all around the country. Following the ceremony we sang bhajans and had a delicious feast.
Thank you for inviting the Ashram to participate in such a special day. We pray for the blessings of Shri Babaji and the Divine Mther to fill their lives.
Christmas at the Ashram
As I wrote about in the above letter, it was a very sweet time. With the colder weather, we do not have the amounts of visitors we normally have for holidays but the quieter times give us more time to be with the folks that are here.
New Year’s Weekend
The sun shone brightly on this weekend and even though some of the roads were snowy, several visitors and families made their way to the Ashram to spend the last day of 2011 and the first day of 2012 with Mother and Baba. It is inspiring to see so many people that prioritize spending this time at the Ashram rather then doing something more commercial or social.
Calendar for 2012
January 8 - Fire Ceremony, aarati and potluck at 10am on Sunday, January 8 at 3696 Burnside Rd., Sebastopol, CA. 95472. For more information email James and Betsy at longchenpa@comcast.net or call them at 707-824-0342.
January 12 - An Evening of Babaji from 7pm until 9pm at The Centre, 573 S. Lake Avenue D, Pasadena, CA 91101. Contact Maille at 818-468-7324 for more information and directions.
January 13 and 14 - Makar Sankrant festivities with late night chanting on Friday and fire ceremony, aarati, chanting, lunch and ocean plunge on Saturday at the home of Jayshree and Chandresh Triivedi’s at 17352 Yorkshire Ave, Yorba Linda, CA. 92886. Please call Chandresh at 714-366-1836 for more information and so that they know how many to prepare food for.
January 16 through February 7 - Bhakti Tour East Coast and South Coast. Go to, Bhakti Tour 2012 for locations and dates.
Monday, Feb. 20 - All night chanting for Maha Shivaratri with Lingam Pujas (10pm - 4am)
Tuesday, Feb 21 - Maha Shivaratri fire ceremony at 10am followed by a meal.
March 1 - An Evening of the Divine Mother with Ramloti on harmonium and Premanand on drum at Santa Fe Soul. Email Devorah at devorahsara@yahoo.com for more information.
March 22 - March 30 - Spring Navratri - Divine Mother Festival with daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, reading, chanting and other ceremonies.
July 3 - Guru Purnima
October 15 - 23 - Fall Navratri - Divine Mother Festival with daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, reading, chanting and other ceremonies.
November 13 - Diwali, Festival of Lights
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
We also just refreshed our stock of Krishna Das CDs. They sell for $18.
Although you can view most of the our items (not the calendars yet) on line at www.shop.babajiashram.org you may not be able to order them. If you come up with this problem, just call us (every day from 10am until 5pm Mountain Time) at 719-256-4108 with your order, questions and a credit card number like in the olden days. It is really nice to connect in this way, we love to talk to you. We accept Visa, Mastercard or Discover.
The Shop is a major support of the Ashram, so we deeply appreciate your patronage.
Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!
