Transpersonal Transformation in a Sacred Night

 Shivaratri is a name for an all night trance meditative experience!

The roots of this go back to Hinduism and the God Shiva whose domain is 'Transformation', all beginnings and all endings.  (I will come back to this below).

First of all let me explain the traditional celebration, this consists of performing a ritual called an Abhishek, (ritual) this is all about purification of the transformation.  It is done in honour of the God Shiva but ultimately for our own self.

Some people will observe a fast and in particular a veg diet a must, a holy bath, prayers and puja at sunrise, and then continuously from sunset. Plays will be performed and other 'Shiva' related experiences, such at the Shiva Trance Dance; some even smoke Shiva Herbs!  To encounter the altered state.  Once the rituals are performed and Arti is done after mantras, then it is important to go into a hypnotic trance for the rest of the evening/night - a journey through the darkness.  

A Dark Night, on a Moonless night (no light)........... an ancient consciousness that holds keys to our levels of darkness, for we do have different levels and layers.  The snake here that Shiva has round his neck, is that consciousness, the shedding of the skin (transformation). Going deep and deep and deeper beyond..........

I'm sure you may have heard of the phrase 'darkest before dawn' ?  This is a real test of that phrase, for you will be tested in you trance journey, and the challenges that will be overcome.  Over the years from my own personal experiences, I have had abreactions, memories surfacing, letting go, deeper understanding in the deeper truths.  You may even have revelations and premonitions.  However, the longer you can persevere, in this journey, the better results, and you will see the dawn awakening, you will see the light arriving after the darkness.  

Being a therapist, for me this experience is all about Awakening to Consciousness and Healing.  So I take the healing experience to follow through in that way.  I have led clients 1:1 through this and have done group workshops during this night.  Three years ago a group of healers participated at my house and all reported amazing results afterwards.

This is where you can work on a specific thing that you want to change in your life, is it health? more money? career direction?  Whatever the issue, do you feel you have the commitment and responsibility?  We can even ask for help in crisis and global situations, this year I am conducting a fire ceremony and have other participants that will help and we are working with Intentions to support and the Soiux tribe and for a reversal on the dakota pipeline decision.  This is the transformation we want.

The new beginning comes after endings, and sometimes we have to close doors, chapters on things before we can call in the new beginning.  After all, we have to create space for it, don't we?   So we have to be prepared that this is what we want, whether small or big!  Sometimes you will find that you have been able to work on one part of the piece of jigsaw, and this will enable to continue the work as some things are on ongoing journey for some time.

Shiva in Hinduism is regarded as the first Yogi/Guru of the Universe, he was there in the Beginning, he is the beginning and he will be there at the end, he is the Ending.  We can call on his assistance and guidance to help us through.

I would welcome feedback and hoped you enjoyed reading.

I would like to give advance thanks and gratitude to all those participating in this year's project with me>  I have people doing African drumming, Punjabi Tablas, Moving Prayer, Shamanic Drumming, Gongs playing, Fire ceremonies, including a Sufi prayer, my list is growing.  This is happening globally from each person's own premises.   They will be linking into the global celebration and transformation!

Lots of Love Jaswinder

---