Dear Friends — I’ve been blogging on my website for over a decade (which is a really long time!). After a lot of thinking, I’ve decided to officially retire my website blog. Moving forward, I’m excited about creating an on-going newsletter + publication on Substack — a wonderful new online space for writers, where the potential for building community and creating new offerings feels like a great opportunity and next step. I hope to see you there! xo, Kajal
p.s. For now, I’ll be keeping the below archives of my blogs available here as they are. And, over time, I will revisit and revive some of them— with revised and refreshed editions posted on Substack.
Travel Diaries: Giving Back, Helping Many
When I returned from India this past January, I wrote a blog post called Travel Dairies: Retreating to India where I shared a little on meditation retreat I attended through Dhyanyoga Centers and the beauty I experienced on a daily level at their ashram. While I was there I got a tour of the facility grounds---it's amazing how much they've added and expanded to their grounds. I've been doing volunteer work with this organization for over 18 years now and they hold a very special place in my heart...they're actually the inspiration behind our Giving Back Program.
Month of Shiva
In Rishikesh, India, there is an amazingly gargantuan murti (statue) of shiva in the middle of the Ganges River. It is not only gorgeous but oh so inspiring! Some parts of the year, the statue is completely submerged into the water and at other times, he sits in all his glory above the water.
Why Are Cows so Sacred In India?
Many people wonder why cows are so sacred in India...and the answer in short is that they're quite generous and pretty divine:).
The magic of meditation.
I love India. There's something so magical about being there...but so hard to put into words.India is a country full of all sorts of extremes that can stimulate your senses and evoke a lot of emotions. These extremes are not compartmentalized or segregated, but instead they all co-exist. There's richness and poorness, spirituality and materialism, spicy and extra spicy :), wide open farmland and overly congested cities, traffic jams and water buffalo crossings, delicious aromas and putrid smells and a deep innate sense of the constant bustle and peaceful stillness that life has to offer.It's amazing.
My traveling boots are on...
Hello all!Well, I leave for India this weekend and boy, am I excited! I have not been to India since 2006 and I know so much has changed....for the country as well as for myself :). This will be the first time my family in India will meet my husband...this Thanksgiving marks our 7 year Anniversary, so this visit is definitely overdue!