Part Three: Shaktipat Initiation - A Blessing And More

Our Tuesday came and we had a lovely stroll through the beautiful Avenham Park in Preston. I did my usual and took lots of photos on the way - if you get me near water, I will always photograph the reflection of the moon or sun on the water - I love it!

One for the road! Taken at the very beautiful Avenham Park, Preston

When we got there we took a seat and I can tell you that Swami Nardanand Ji has a very special air about him. He is so radiantly peaceful and content, a real Guru. We learnt how he left his village in India as a small boy to start on a spiritual path studying esoteric arts such as yoga and meditation. Have to say that if these two things can make you even half as content as him, I thought they would be worth studying. Of course, true happiness comes from within but we all need a helping hand sometimes, right?

There was a short talk by the equally radiant, Swami Jyoti Ma. We gathered from this talk that there was an effortless way to become as content as Guruji and that he could help you to this by giving a simple blessing to you. This blessing would transfer the mindset of the Guru to you, without you having to do, well, anything...too good to be true? It was worth a try.

Our Guru, His Grace, Swami Nardanand Ji

The blessing was to be given at a meditation retreat in Preston with his Grace present. It all sounded perfect and the timing was great too as it was the bank holiday weekend and I knew my partner would come along to meditate as well.

The retreat itself was relaxed and there were lots of wonderful people there from all walks of life. We were both exhausted from stomping in a field to electronic music that weekend and we only just made it to the retreat at 8.30 am. In fact, for a moment we questioned whether to go or not, we were that tired (we're getting old now for raving in fields!). However, the blessing was better than I expected as I wasn't expecting to feel anything. As soon as I sat down after the blessing, I felt hot energy in my solar plexus (central energy vortex) and such intense bliss, I was concerned I might vomit and I didn't want to disturb everyone as they meditated.

What I didn't know then was what it had kick-started in me and what would follow, which to describe as intense simply doesn't do it justice.

To begin with Shakti (Goddess/Mother Divine) and Shiva (God/The Destroyer) start to fast-track clean your karma from all your lives and purify you. Shiva destroys anything no longer necessary in your life such as material attachments, toxic relationships etc. This process is tough - kind of like spiritual boot camp! My life has flashed before my eyes in freeze frames at super speed; emotions come and go quickly; intense memories startle me then leave just as quick; my mind thinks differently as it takes on the mind of my Guru - the world and my reality as I knew it begin to falter as I stumble through everyday activities foiled by startling realisations and a new level of consciousness that's indescribable.  

Shakti and Shiva working in harmony

I've been ill, so ill, for over three weeks with flu like symptoms, migraines and an upset tummy, as Shakti ruthlessly purifies the whole of me. My throat chakra was blocked from years of keeping the secret of my abusive relationships and my attacks from the past, thankfully, Guruji astral planed to me during meditation and unblocked it for me. My mind didn't stop as The Ego struggled to regain control as my spirit rose. I can see things I could never see before, like our one-ness, I can't just feel it now - I can see it. 

Before Shaktipat, I started to think that life mirrored what was inside us, but now I notice it all the time, all the synchronicities - they're actually becoming predictable at times.

Then there is the bliss: for those of you who have dabbled with ecstasy, it's similar to the high and the rushes from that, only amplified and more loving - it somehow has a stronger hold of you, like a giant hug from the Goddess herself. It just comes on from nowhere. I think of it as a reward from the Goddess Shakti for the hard work put in to the spiritual detox and hardcore healing you must go through.

This is only the start of the journey as a Shaktipat Initiate the cleansing (spiritualising every atom) will continue and the raising of awareness will grow. Eventually, my seven main chakras will be balanced and the ascent of the energy up the middle of my spine will begin - kundalini (Divine spiritual energy) rising. It's vital I keep in touch with my Guru and fellow Shaktipat's for this to happen as it should. Without the proper guidance problems can occur and kundalini can also spontaneously rise in those that are ready for it to happen, which can be a frightening experience for them.

Well, The Ego always likes to know that something has happened/worked via strong experiences and I think my Ego must be happy as the past few weeks have been so hard with so many ups and downs since the initiation. It can't deny that 'something' has happened.

The energy has levelled out a lot now and I feel more human again, though this is partially down to the fact that I begged Shakti to slow down, as it really was all too much with the illness, nausea and constant healing. Thank you, for slowing down, Shakti!

I'm looking forward to seeing what else Shakti brings to me and to spending more time in meditation with my fellow Shaktipat Initiates.

Our wonderful Swami's do lots of charitable work and Guruji has set up an Ashram in India for deprived children to study and follow esoteric practice also. As well as this there is a medicine camp there, support for elderly women, shelter for the homeless and a spiritual hub and help centre. If you'd like to find out more or donate you can do here http://siddhaashram.net/services.htm

Have a happy Thursday and wonderful weekend, everyone. 

An Introduction To The Weird And Wonderful Life Of Louise.

No matter how young or old we are in this life, at some point, something will have happened that we can’t explain, perhaps that shook us, or made us question, maybe the meaning, purpose or if there is more to life than the simplicity that first meets the eye.

I, myself, have had many of these moments. Starting from a young age, as young as I can remember, I had a sense that I had knowledge of life before this one. It’s hard to explain the way I felt, it was just as if nothing was a new experience – things that excited others were missing the joy and excited expectation from me -  some might describe this as depression, but I felt deep joy at others things and I wouldn't personally describe it as depressed. I also knew things would happen before they did, including people dying. I was a very sensitive and some would say difficult child (my mum would say that!). I picked up on others emotions and feelings, even if I had never felt the same emotion before. As a child this can be quite frightening, especially as some of the things I felt were very adult emotions. Little did I know that I would carry this fear forward into my adult years, learning coping techniques and shutting down the light that shone within me, so I could “fit in” better. Through my childhood I often stood back and watched others play as I felt overwhelmed by the reams of information I received in each situation. I also felt a close infinity with people and beings that I could see but others didn't seem to be able to, I felt protected and at peace with them and chaos when I was with other humans. As you can imagine this made friendships very hard to form and though people thought I was ‘nice’, if they were honest, they also thought I was ‘weird’, let’s face it – I was both!

Over the years it became harder to supress this and things kept happening to force the issue more and more, building like a crescendo within me. A bit like a box with things in it you don’t want others to see, but the lid doesn’t quite fit properly, so every now and again, people get a peep, so you squeeze the lid back on again, only to find it fits less and less, until you can’t keep the lid on anymore. I will write more about these experiences as I share what I now refer to as “my evidence”. The reason I call it that is because my Great Aunty, Rose Haigh, who is a Spiritualist, once told me “find your own evidence” and at the time as a young woman, I wondered what on earth she was talking about.  Over the past six months in particular, I have discovered what she was talking about, on an epic scale and this blog is to share with those interested, what that evidence is.

There are many people, including Great Aunty Rose (and she is a great aunty!), who deserve a blog post all of their own and I will write about these people later.

I accept fully that it is just my own evidence and that it will resonate with some and not at all with others. I’m totally accepting of this and I’m open to questions, debate even, although, I will say that as I’ve experienced it for myself, you will find it hard to question. The same way I wouldn’t be able to question someone else’s life experiences.

To give you a taster of some of the topics I will be covering; the blog will be about the practice of reiki and how it has profoundly changed my life for the better. I will be covering my experience of The Universe, the Laws Of Attraction, the places I have been and the realisations I have made through meditation, Shamanic Journeying and connections with Angels, Guides and Ascended Masters, my spiritual awakening and journey, the people who have inspired me, including those who have come into my life for that purpose then left again. I will also write about the spirits I have seen and the energy healing work I have done so far and plan to further. I can only promise to write from the heart and see where it leads us.

I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts, feelings and own life experiences, so please do leave comments and any questions that you may have.

I’d like to offer up thanks to those that helped and guided me to start and write this blog. I have immense gratitude for your love and support, as always.

Thanks for reading and please come back for more.

I’d like to finish by adding that if you are my friend or even if you are an acquaintance, I know these subjects may be all too uncomfortable for some. A wise lady called Jayne Darkes once told me that announcing you are going on a spiritual journey is like a snake shedding the skin it no longer needs. It is painful but necessary to leave some of you behind in order that you can be beautiful and function again. How true. For those that can’t stay, I wish you all the love in the world for your own journey.

Lots of my photos feature pink orbs from behind the sun. I will post some more over the coming months. This signifies to me the end of one path and the search for another in my life, with the sun shining down to represent the happiness that awaits.