Kelley's Journal
Poonam’s Indian Recipes
After the Spirit Guided Journeys trip last November I promised to post the recipe for the chicken mince dish that Poonam Illuri of Gaia Bangalore taught us to make. The problem is, I forgot to take a picture of the dish last fall. But, during my March visit Poonam...
Meditation at the Ganges
A white stone. I saw it from the corner of my eye and heard its silent call. My hand reached, then I hesitated. Was I allowed to pick up these stones that littered the riverbed? I stretched my arm overhead, a camouflage maneuver, as I glanced at the others...
Temples near Mysore
Come along with me next fall and you will have the opportunity to visit some majestic temples on our travels. We'll also take time for a stop at the Kaveri River where she meets with two other rivers in a powerful yet peaceful merging of goddess energy. The Sri...
Why south India
It is vast, the country of India. So many places to see, things to do, people to meet, that planning a trip there may seem daunting - but it doesn’t have to be if you join me in October for a journey to southern India. For four years Bangalore, in southern India, was...
India Road Trip
I find it a bit tough to nap when I am traveling by car in India. There is too much to see and even if I close my eyes for a moment, a sudden lurch or rapid swerve of the automobile, and I'm wide awake, curious, and sometimes alarmed, about what is going on around me....
Mysore Sightseeing
Mysore is one of the loveliest cities in south India, known for it palaces, gardens, and temples. While I love Bangalore, and it is my home base in India, I love spending time in Mysore to enjoy the peaceful vibe the city has to offer. March in Mysore is hot, usually...
Yoga in Mysore
Mysore, in southern India, is a well-known yoga town. The most famous yoga school in Mysore is undoubtedly the Sri K Pattabhi Jois Institute,teaching students in the Astanga Vinyasa yoga tradition. If you are not an astanga yoga student, however, there are other...
Mysore India Trip
I recently returned from a personal journey to India and while I was there, I headed 140 kilometers southwest of Bangalore to the city of Mysore. Mysore is a beautiful city and one of the stops for the next Spirit Guided Journeys trip in the fall of 2015. I...
My Real Work
When we are at a crossroads and life seems to be a challenge but for some reason we know that we have to go on, our real work has found us and we have found it. It is there, staring us in the face, shining like a beacon, daring us to walk right in and take the big chances. I know that my work is here, now, in this glorious, awful, luscious, heart-breaking place of not knowing.
Celebrate the New Year
"A poor man celebrates the New Year once a year. A rich man celebrates each day. But the richest man celebrates every moment." From Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Celebrating Silence. Today is January 3, 2015. Three days into the new year. The celebrations are seemingly over....
The Coconut Cutter
The coconut cutter came to our villa in India. We watched as he scrambled up the tall tree, eventually reaching the leafy branches where the ripe coconuts waited. He smiled down at us from that great height, yelled something down which may have been the Kannada version of “timber” and began to cut the ripe coconuts.
Testimonials from India
The first Spirit Guided Journeys (SGJ) sojourn to southern India is over and what an amazing trip it was! One of our presenters called it a pilgrimage and I think that word aptly describes the experience. For me, the journey was transforming. And I am grateful to all...
Yoga, food and fun at Gaia Bangalore
October 30 was a busy day for the Spirit Guided Journeys group. Actually, all our days were eventful and that added to the fun. On this particular day we left our lovely lodgings at the Alila Hotel and traveled the short distance to Gaia Bangalore. Our morning began...
Peace on the Journey
Traveling is an amazing experience. I always learn something about myself when I am in a different culture and away from all that is familiar. On the recent Spirit Guided Journeys trip to India, I learned about releasing control in order to care for myself....
A Day of Ayurveda in India
On October 29, the Spirit Guided Journeys group traveled the short distance from our hotel to AyurvedaGram, but it was as if we'd been transported to Kerala for the day. AyurvedaGram is an Ayurvedic wellness retreat on the outskirts of Bangalore, India. Each...
First Trip to India was Great
The first Spirit Guided Journeys trip was a success, with pictures to prove it. I thought I'd share some photos and our itinerary over the next few posts. Plus, I will be adding more photos to the Pinterest page for Spirit Guided Journeys. On our first full day in...
Spirit Guided Journeys is in India
The Spirit Guided Journeys group arrived safely in India in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 26, and since landing we have been moving nonstop. So far, in the past week, we've had some amazing workshops with local teachers including Swami Devanand of the...
One Month to Departure for India
Only one month and the first Spirit Guided Journeys (SGJ) trip to southern India departs. All the months of preparation, from booking hotels to engaging speakers, to finalizing the transportation details are complete. Now it’s time to attend to final details...
Travel to Chennai, India
The Spirit Guided Journeys group will head to Chennai, India on November 6, stopping on the way to tour the temples at Mahabalipuram, a world heritage site. The temples at Mahabalipuram were carved out of stone by the Pallava Kings in the 7th and 8th centuries. After...
Travel to Pondicherry, India
On November 3, 2014, the Spirit Guided Journeys (SGJ) group will travel to Pondicherry, India to stay for three nights at Quiet Healing Center. Pondicherry, or Pondy, is situated next to the Bay of Bengal, 160 Kilometers south of Chennai. Pondicherry, a former...