New Mexico Road Trip, day two Crestone & Taos

 The second day, after green tea and conversation on the patio Maka took me up to see Crestone and the row of temples there. I had brunch at a little cute hippy place called Shambala. And we explored the little gift shop and poked around in the "World Famous" Crestone free box. At a temple dedicated to Maha Lakshmi (great mother) there was an earthship with a gift store. All the stuff you'd expect to see was there. Statues of the Hindi gods, photographs of various esteemed teachers, prayer flags, post cards and candles. I gravitated to a rack of clothing where a carnelian orange garment hung peeked out at me. Taking hold I said "What is this giddy-up and go?" It was a 3 piece East-Indian outfit, it fit me and was quite affordable as the garments had been pre-owned. It's coming home with me (big smile). 

 

The day continued with much journeying as we made our way to Taos New Mexico. This was my first time there, and it was love at first sight! It seemed they may have a city ordinance to keep buildings in the old southwest adobe style that I love. We bopped around town a bit and I requested we find a nice place to just hang out, relax & contemplate since I was feeling a bit off from being stuffed into a car for two days. The Hanuman Ashram was perfect for this.

The rain had been pouring down most of the day, fading light added a glow to the rain washed gardens. Wanting to capture the intoxication of this beautiful setting it, I wrote some prose as my thoughts wandered about. I had asked Lady Mirya to inspire me regarding the the talk I was to give on her feast day, the 22nd of July.

She is in everything.

Here now, look as she dances forth from between the apple trees
 and again through the blue door on yonder pueblo.

And there She is descending? Ascending? 
 No She is Transcendent as Her radiance emerges from
 the center of a wheel of clouds blanketing the sky.

I find her in the wholeness of this flower garden, rain drenched at twilight;
 Beet red amaranth against the eerie green bells of Ireland,
 a backdrop of luminescent blue-violet delphiniums...
 The pad of the black cat there exploring this wonder.
 Yes she is in everything.

A cob horno wonderfully round and womb-like,
 fashioned by loving hands, encroached upon by vines
 and standing ready under the watchfulness of 
the regal Scottish thistle in the fading light. 
See? Yes, She is there too.

Mother's tiger lilies stand
 in resplendent greeting as you approach the temple.
Soft chanting, drumming and clapping
  of Hanuman suppliants creates trance
 as they  live their devotion.

Though the Ashram is dedicated to Hanuman it is 
Her arms that hold this place in loving embrace.

Breathe in deeply now,
 and with attention, you find Her in your Heart
 where She has been waiting for you all along.