Day 1 Summer Solstice Sadhana Celebration
Sat Nam {true self, true identity}
Greetings from Espanola, New Mexico and the sacred land of Guru Ram Das Puri. We have arrived at the Summer Solstice Sadhana Celebration 2012.
“Summer Solstice is a celebration of love, ancient yogic wisdom, and deep spirituality. Here you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the teachings of Yogi Bhajan in all areas of daily life including morning sadhana, yogic diet, Kundalini Yoga and meditation, White Tantric Yoga seva, kirtan and in the wide array of classes offered.
Yogi Bhajan was a spiritual teacher, Master of Kundalini Yoga and Siri Singh Sahib (Chief Minister of Sikhs in the Western Hemisphere), Yogi Bhajan dedicated his life to uplifting humanity. After traveling throughout the world teaching, counseling and training teachers, he established 3HO Foundation International in 1970 so as to share his wisdom with the west and meet the needs of so many who were hungry for the Yoga of Awareness.”
Before I share about my experience, I’d first like to share how I stumbled upon and fell in love with Kundalini Yoga. Practicing various forms of yoga on and off for the past 6 years, I had been attending classes at an amazing studio in Tempe, called Yoga Nirvana. One evening, I saw a Kundalini class at 7:30pm, which was the perfect time, no idea what it was, I went. It was completely different than any other type of yoga I’d ever practiced, much more internalized, focused on meditation and with eyes closed for the majority of the practice. I enjoyed the teachings so much, it became the only class I consistently attended.
During class, one of the teachers, Siri Gobind mentioned the Summer Solstice Celebration in New Mexico happening June 13th-23rd. He said it was a 12 day Kundalini yoga and meditation retreat with 2500 yogi’s from 65 different countries, uniting to share in a life-changing experience. He described it with such wonder that I followed up with him after class. After further explanation and informing me of the opportunity to do a service exchange to get a major discount on the camp, I knew I had to go.
I put it in my 2012 goals, stuck it on my vision board and then proceeded to do nothing to make it happen besides telling myself I was going.
But all the intention in the world means nothing without action.
Months passed and having moved to downtown Phoenix, I had fallen out of my regular Kundalini routine. A few weeks before the June 13th excursion, I made it to one of Siri Gobind’s classes. He wasn’t upset I hadn’t been in, he only told me how good it was to see me and that he had just received an email from the retreat expressing the need for more Service Exchange volunteers.
YES!
As soon as class ended, I raced home and stayed up late in the night applying for 4 service exchanges. I even emailed the info@3ho.org contact, showing my enthusiasm, gratitude and willingness to serve.
One more week until camp and I hadn’t heard back. Agh…was it possible I wouldn’t make it? I had accepted that I wouldn’t be doing any major backpacking this summer, that was something special I did last year and though I saw others making big plans, I knew I was meant to be here. But this, this was the only trip I truly wanted to go on. The only experience I felt was so important to my life journey. So I prayed.
On June 11th, after a crazy emotional day, I received a call:
“Sat Nam, yes, is the Kelsey? My name is Prem Siri, I am the Manager of the Family Registration Service Exchange team. I received your application, we had one cancelation in our group and I would like to add you to the team, I think you are very experienced and you wrote such a nice note.”
I felt such joy in my heart to hear her words, she had such a beautiful, mysterious voice on the phone (Prem is from Romania and so her accent is just divine).
With confirmation, I made lightning fast arrangements and by divine blessing I was able to get the time off work, hitch a ride with my teacher and assemble all of my gear to prepare for this life-changing experience…
“Wahe Guru” my teacher said as we rolled up to camp, an expression of extreme awe and gratitude, almost like a wow or “omg” but more spiritual and meaningful.
We are here, after 8 hours in the heat, dozing in and out of sleep, listening to a variety of stories, tunes and podcasts.
The final leg of the drive was up a bumpy, dirt road rising forward towards the epic valleys and mountains of New Mexico. We followed this winding path until we were welcomed by signs in every language and every color of the rainbow, all in line that said “Welcome Home.” What a beautiful welcome.
“Sat Nam,” a woman overseeing parking says with light in her eyes and a bright smile on her face. She ushers us to move forward.
As I peer out the window, I see up ahead the newcomers bustling about putting their gear underneath a white tent where the baggage team is hauling everyone’s gear up the mountain.
“Where will you be camping?” says a man with dark eyes and a kind demeanor.
“Tantric Hill,” we say.
This is the camping area with higher elevation which means higher winds but a better view and closer to the “Tantric Shelter” where most of the festivities take place.
We step out to drop off our baggage and look around to take in the first sprinkle of early yogis. Most are in white, draped in scarves, bangles jingling on their wrists and some with turbans tied around their heads. A certain joy and light surrounds them.
After unloading, I have to get going, I run to the registration station to checkin for my service exchange. I’m a little late but I wait outside until Prem Siri comes out “Kelsey Wong?” and I join her inside.
I come to a table surrounded by 7 women of all different ethnicities and ages. I sit down and we all go around and introduce ourselves. Chandi a student from England and Canadian Native, Charanjeet a mother of two, newly certified Kundalini instructor from Chicago, Amar, a Peruvian exchange student studying in Las Vegas, Halle a nutritionist from Santa Fe, Lisa, a documentary film maker who’s done most of her work in Cambodia but now lives in Salt Lake City, Prem Siri and Balprem that are also from Chicago and me.
As I sit amongst these women, I can feel their strength, the power of the feminine energy and I can feel in my heart how blessed and happy I am to be in their presence.
After a mini-training, we are free to go and I meet up with Siri Gobind and Peter to set up camp. We are up in no-time and able to join the rest of the camp for dinner.
We make our way down through the Tantric Shelter and it is amazing. A grand structure with white tent overlay and concrete flooring, a massive stage towards the south and prayer flags hanging from the beams.
Dinner is being served by the kitchen, we join the line, each with our own bowl and spoon (which, we’ve brought and will use throughout our time here). We have jasmine rice, organic mung beans, potatoes and a salad made of kale, purple cabbage, corn, carrots, tomatoes and beets. YUM.
They also serve “Yogi Tea” brewed with cinnamon, clove, black pepper, kardamom pods, honey and almond milk. Our tummies are happy.
As the sunsets on the first setup day, I take in a deep sigh of peace. I am in awe that I am here. I feel so blessed to be here, so phenomanally, exponentially grateful. Wahe Guru.
In this place I contemplate my intentions for the next 11 days of camp.
I know I am here for a reason and that I have a lot of internal work to do.
My intentions for my time at Summer Solstice:
To find love in myself and for myself
To be my authentic self
To learn to live a more conscious and compassionate lifestyle
To become one with the Divine
To feel a strong sense of community
To meet new lifelong friends
To get my adventurer/explorer/experiencer juices flowing
To let go, forgive and heal
To be a better person
To be a beacon of light and love.
travelgem 