Equinox!

5am this morning, in our tantric temple in Wiltshire - the exact time of the Spring Equinox. I light the havan kund on the central sri yantra and make offerings of gee, rice and cow dung into the flames; chanting the Maha Mrityunjay Mantra 108 times. The mantra is to Shiva as the "three eyed one" that is one who has the third eye open.  Western neo-tantra places a huge emphasis on energy; breath sound and movement and all forms of Shakti, the Goddess. However, in most forms of traditional tantra consciousness is everything; it is the foundation of all, including the dance of Shakti to bring everything in to existence. The three eyed one expresses this sense of all-seeing presence and awareness.  The Equinox, the equal balance of day and night is a perfect time to meditate on the balance of Shiva and Shakti, consciousness and energy. 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This is a very sweet, beautiful movie about ageing and life and death. Unusual for featuring older women with the incomparable Judie Dench and Maggie Smith and assorted other English people who find themselves in a decrepit hotel in India. (see You Tube clip ) .  India is shown in all its colourful chaotic and contradictory exuberance; essentially as Shakti an embodiment of the feminine. It is the power of Shakti which awakens and renews these weary retirement folks, giving them life.  It shows that aliveness itself; not spiritual practice that can renew us.