So, I have not told you about the Mohanam kids yet!
Every Wednesday, I am going to the Mohanam Cultural Center, to interview different villagers with my camera, and also to play with the kids! Every week, I am giving the children dance workshops. The kids are between 2 and 4, so these mostly consist of guided improvisations. We put on Indian music, and they mimic my movements and vocal expressions, like this: "Wave your hands in the air! Now dive down! Pat the ground! Now grow up, like a flower!" -It is so fun. The kids are SO cute, and they just come alive when we dance! At the end of each song, they all scream and jump and clap, "YAAAAAYYY!!!!" Sometimes it becomes very chaotic, only as expected when you have 20 three-year-olds running around, knocking into each other! Some of them get into fights vying for positions on my lap! They are all so adorable though, and it is so fun to dance and play with them. For all the kindergarten teachers out there, I don't know how they do it everyday! These kids have SO much energy, and consequently I am exhausted after being with them for three hours! But once a week is a special event for all of us to come together.
Going into the village each week is in itself an event. Since Auroville is such an oasis, there is a definite feeling of crossing a threshold when I enter the village. I go over this rough hilly pass, through two small lakes and a beautiful grove of trees. Then I enter the village, through a deep, ever-existing puddle of brown water.
People say that India is the fastest-developing nation in the world. I don't see that. Instead, I see: a man reading the newspaper barefoot on his porch at 9:30 AM. I see three women, sitting close together under a palm tree, braiding flowers into each other's hair. I see a gang of dogs and a couple of monkeys having a face-off on the corner of a dirt road. I see tiny huts made of earth and straw, and old women napping in the entrance.
I also see trash everywhere on the sides of the streets. I see standing pools of brown, algae-ridden, disease-laden water. I see about 10 mangy dogs on every street. I see beautiful trees overlooking ponds- eucalyptus, acacia, and other swaying types. But the trash at their feet impinges upon their naturalness.
In the village, I see people- living close to the earth. I see people living close to their sacred cows, and their stray dogs. I see people living a life that they know in their bones is theirs to live. Do they want to be living it? Maybe not. It does not matter- because they live so close to the earth, they can hear its wisdom thumping on their bare feet. It is like the Tamil-Indian Heartbeat to which they are connected.
Every Wednesday, I am going to the Mohanam Cultural Center, to interview different villagers with my camera, and also to play with the kids! Every week, I am giving the children dance workshops. The kids are between 2 and 4, so these mostly consist of guided improvisations. We put on Indian music, and they mimic my movements and vocal expressions, like this: "Wave your hands in the air! Now dive down! Pat the ground! Now grow up, like a flower!" -It is so fun. The kids are SO cute, and they just come alive when we dance! At the end of each song, they all scream and jump and clap, "YAAAAAYYY!!!!" Sometimes it becomes very chaotic, only as expected when you have 20 three-year-olds running around, knocking into each other! Some of them get into fights vying for positions on my lap! They are all so adorable though, and it is so fun to dance and play with them. For all the kindergarten teachers out there, I don't know how they do it everyday! These kids have SO much energy, and consequently I am exhausted after being with them for three hours! But once a week is a special event for all of us to come together.
Going into the village each week is in itself an event. Since Auroville is such an oasis, there is a definite feeling of crossing a threshold when I enter the village. I go over this rough hilly pass, through two small lakes and a beautiful grove of trees. Then I enter the village, through a deep, ever-existing puddle of brown water.
People say that India is the fastest-developing nation in the world. I don't see that. Instead, I see: a man reading the newspaper barefoot on his porch at 9:30 AM. I see three women, sitting close together under a palm tree, braiding flowers into each other's hair. I see a gang of dogs and a couple of monkeys having a face-off on the corner of a dirt road. I see tiny huts made of earth and straw, and old women napping in the entrance.
I also see trash everywhere on the sides of the streets. I see standing pools of brown, algae-ridden, disease-laden water. I see about 10 mangy dogs on every street. I see beautiful trees overlooking ponds- eucalyptus, acacia, and other swaying types. But the trash at their feet impinges upon their naturalness.
In the village, I see people- living close to the earth. I see people living close to their sacred cows, and their stray dogs. I see people living a life that they know in their bones is theirs to live. Do they want to be living it? Maybe not. It does not matter- because they live so close to the earth, they can hear its wisdom thumping on their bare feet. It is like the Tamil-Indian Heartbeat to which they are connected.
Heather this sounds amazing. Isn't is incredible how young children remind us how to laugh and be silly? I am so incredibly blessed to work with kids everyday. They help me see the light in this world. I want to share a quote with you that has been resonating within my soul.
ReplyDelete" The child within us is a spiritual power that impels us to continue our important work, to push back, change our lives, better the community, join in helping to balance the world. In order to participate in these things, the difficult marriage between soul and ego must be made, the spirit child within us must be brought to life. Once this child is reborn, developed, initiated, it resurfaces into the outer world and the relationship with soul is healed. " (Pinkola Estes)
I truly believe, Heather, that your heart has always been close to God, Love, whatever you want to call it...energy. You are very much in touch with your senses. Your natural instincts have guided you far into this beautiful woman that your becoming. Keep dancing, laughing and being the amazing person you are. Most importantly...keep your inner child alive. Children can teach us a lot about how to be non-judgmental, silly, and most importantly to believe in godly energy that can transform this world into a better place.
I love you
JESSIE
Wow! I really appreciate what Jessie shared with you. Yes, children are to be honored, respected, loved, admired, played with, listened to, and appreciated for their inherent wisdom. I have been humbled many times by the wisdom that you, Forrest, and Jack have shared with me - guiding me to be a better person.
ReplyDeleteI can picture the children clambering to sit on your lap; all wanting to share joy with you. Yes, it is unbelievably exhausting to share time and space with a group of excited, happy, social beings of the age of 2 or 3.....9 or 10...11...12...
I am saddened that India's natural world is covered in humans' waste. When some people live in a perpetual state of desperate need to stay alive, they lose insight and awareness about the importance of respecting and honoring mother nature. What one living in poverty needs is a livelihood; a way to support and sustain oneself; a path that allows one's light to shine; and that light to make a difference in the world; to contribute deeply and with great satisfaction to making the world a better place. When one has that, then stewardship of the earth is as natural as each exhalation and inhalation of breath one takes each day.
People like you can help make others' world a better place. You are in a unique position; a position of power; loving power; guiding power; healing power. Let your light shine!
Oh my God, I am so blessed to have you wonderful women in my life!! Thank you for your depth, spirit, heart and wise, inspiring words! They carry me far! I love you so much, beyond words and consciousness~ thank you for the divine quote and personal feelings. So beautiful these reminders are, through strong women-kin!
ReplyDeleteMs. Ajna -
ReplyDeleteSuch powerful words of wisdom spoken here. I believe that all humans are born in a pure state of resonance with the Unknowable (God), and to be able to play and interact with young children like you're doing increases your own resonance. I know they must totally love you!! It's amazing to me that you're already half way through your journey in India. That is sad, though not real unexpected, that the natural beauty of the place is diluted with all of the trash you see. I love the "I see…" form of your transmission. It speaks to me of how truly much you Look and See and Feel your experiences, with a clean slate of egoic consciousness. And I'm so glad that you're getting your dances chances, and moving to the music. I know that makes you feel more like You! Again, I so love that you are keeping us a part of your journey through your frequent blog updates!!! Lots and lots of love!
- Dad