The whole idea of being 60 years old has had me celebrating all year. The biggest gift this year was to have Tara’s Cottage able to comfortably receive students and friends. There have beena steady stream of guests, mostly helping me manage my limited mobility. Here’s some snippets of the end of year celebrations.
Prema’s 60th Birthday
The weather has been fantastic. Lots of rain to keep the land green. This marvelous rainbow over Tara’s Cottage seems like the right place to start this story
Parvati and Myri were my first helpers.
One of the tasks was driving my car home. I live in such an out of the way spot. Can you find the road?
Lora Lynn sent the two end panels of her stained glass art work.
I asked for tropical flowers and a rainbow
Christina Rica Devi came for a visit. She lived five years in Kanaio, and was happy to renew her acquaintance with Mr. Matt.
Then Lena arrived
with Jersy Jack. They were so much fun and really great helpers. They dove right in preparing the houses for the birthday party.
They made signs for the four wheel drive road. Unfortunately the road was so bad many friends were not able to get their cars up some of the tougher spots.
We did post a warning, 4 wheel drive only, but even most of the four wheel drive vehicles couldn’t make it.
Aerie was our first arrival bringing flowers from Hana
She also brought new friend Leon who cut bamboo poles from her land so we could mount these prayer flags.
It made the entry glorious
The birthday girl
Yes, those are purple fingernails
Let’s get this party going.....
First a stop at the cabin
I baked a tofu loaf.....Aerie heated her breadfruit kugel.
Leon, new friend from Canada meets Sufi dearest long time friend from around the back road to Hana
Let the ceremoniies begin. Time to plant the peace pole. I told the story of how the peace pole came to us. We all said a prayer
And then everyone got involved in the planting process
As the hole filled we formed a circle around it and the pine tree that shelters it and chanted, “Shanti, Shanti, Shanti....”
Ah, there it is. A prayer of benediction
And a dance of peace. We joined hands and sang Shalom, a wonderful Dance of Universal Peace that I learned from Anahata.
We got faster and faster
Clapping and swaying
Then Jack led a beautiful Russian peace dance Mir Miru Mir.
Lena kept us in tune with the harmonium and Amira kept the beat with my drum
A final benediction prayer. Om, we offer our joy, Ah we transform it into endless wisdom nectar, Hung, may it rain down upon the earth and satisfy the needs of all beings.
