Each year, Shambhavi chooses a theme for us to learn about, contemplate, practice with, and embody. Jaya Kula’s theme for 2024 is “healing.”

Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen are my home spiritual traditions. In these traditions, magic is fundamental to reality and mystical experience is what we humans call deeper contact with that reality.

Direct realization spiritual practice emphasizes the direct encounter. It de-emphasizes faith, trust and belief in favor of finding out about Reality firsthand for yourself.

I was reading something I wrote years ago.

“Sri Anandamayi Ma plucked elaborate rituals, whole scriptures and languages from the wisdom-laden air. All teachings of the one wisdom teacher, the Guru tattva, were hers. I know it’s insane, but I want to be like Ma.”

Ok, that was a bit over the top. But my point is this: Ma manifested, as she put it, because of our aspirations.