April 2002

The Sanctuary in Tucson. Roses heavy with scent outside the cottage door. Bobcats on the prowl, moon coming into full. The pool cool, the acacia trees dropping showers of golden flowers. Skin and lips cracking with the unfamiliar dryness. Throats sore with the heaviest pollen count in years. Blessings and Challenges. Onward and Upward.

Friday morning meeting with the Tara Dhatu council, so much to share after almost a year of cybermeetings. We are intact, looking forward and backward, excited about the year's accomplishments. Developing plans for Brazil, Hawaii Retreat, Charity projects and projections.

And then, the dance .... Taras coming from Flagstaff and San Diego, Taras from Tempe, the Tucson Taras hostessing with such grace, The MUSIC ah the music.....Adam on his Tabla and dear Bruce from Salt Lake City on Harmonium and anything else Anahata asked of him ..... he and his darling dancing Lynda she came to support us and was persuaded to dance "Remover of Sorrow" such magnificence. Two Taras with different physical challenges sharing "Radiant Health" and I danced Complete Enlightenment, such joy, supporting Teresa in her graduation dance she is now fully a third level Tara.

The power of the dance, so many of the women having danced Tara so many times over the years, the movement through the mandala almost effortless, a delightful western Lama Jimpa, Kalu Rinpoche trained, marveling in the purity and the power.

Peggy and her beloved Alan, home from the hospital in Santa Cruz where Alan undergoes therapy for a bone marrow condition, our prayers for them pulsing through the dance, and for all our loved ones, challenged in so many ways.

And then it was over, Taras dispersing. Bleary eyed, we entered days of packing packing so much stuff packing. Yet somehow it all fits, Beloved Elephant old and lumbering, still leaking power steering and brake fluid. Strips of moulding peeling and flapping yet gamely ready to roll.

And roll we did. Fortunately only as far as Tempe, outskirts of Phoenix ... by car a couple of hours at most but the road was raging with wind, Anahata at the helm kept her steady as I slept in the back amongst our animals......all very happy to see us. Conchita and Margarita, the butterflies especially. They were all aflutter with news of Charley Butterfly's ascen-dance.

They also brought us the latest news about our beloved's land in Hana. Another friend of the family has preceded us in an offer which solves one of our longings.....to keep it in the family. But it may not be the place of Tara Gardens and Temple. However, that urgent request brought several possibilities as to land partners, etc. We feel pretty confirmed that we should be exploring that area of the island so you will be hearing more about this plan, we do so want to share the healing blessing of Mother Maui with our Taras.

Ummmm.....let's see where was I.......oh yes, sleeping with the animals.....in the rocking rolling wind......I thought I was dreaming, it sounded like something fell off....but I knew there was nothing that could fall off....hohoho. A glance out the window and the aluminum pole that supports our last and lonely awning was at right angles to BE with no awning attached. We had lost the other one in that great storm crossing the Badlands. Whoosh. Even rolled up the rotten canvas just couldn't handle it. Out with the bugle, call for the duct tape another shiny silver patch to be painted into the landscape. I made us a cup of tea and a fruit salad. We forged on. Slowly. Arriving at our evening Dances of Universal Peace meeting....just in time.

The next day was a first for us. Teaching Tara to the Differently Abled. Three ladies in wheelchairs (one electrically powered) two with canes, one blind and two with hearing disorders. Several unable to walk for more than a couple of minutes. Hadia, the organizer, is an advocate for the rights of the Differently Abled, a lovely woman whose arthritis keeps her sitting much more than she would like. Her gorgeous daughter Forrest had come with us on the pilgrimage as counselor, and Forrest's adorable husband Adam played Tabla.

Forrest had graduated as a Second Level Tara Dance teacher the weekend before and we put her skills to good use as I wheeled dear Erica around the circle. Yes, we formed a circle the chaired and the standing, the partially deaf Surya leading the totally blind Lisa. Fifteen powerful women one by one stepping or rolling into the center of the circle to dance Tara as we all chanted "Faith, Surrender.....Send Out Light".

My dears. When you stop weeping for the the glory and the beauty and the wonder and the blessing you can laugh along with Tara #10 whose speech was distorted and her gait was impaired but her laugh, oh my. Oh my Goddess. Oh my friends. The world is a rosier place.

The workshop was held in the inner city. The building was rented from "Kids at Risk", a mentoring program for troubled youth.

Tonight we will sleep long and deep before heading South for a quick drop in at Peggy's, a bit of Tucson shopping and back on I-10 to Silver City, New Mexico

Beloveds, Keep us in your prayers. I know we have powerful protectors. That's you. Absolutely. We are completely blessed with your loving intention. Sending you all the best of everything and lots of Hugs, Prema and Anahata