Photograph of NirAdhArA by Michelle Angel
Sunset agnihotra in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Jubilee Angel ©1999
One Body: Covered By Grace Quilt
12' x 17'
[click to enlarge]
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“the Light which residing in the sun illumines the whole world, that which is in the moon and in the fire – know that Light to be Mine.” Bhagavad Gita 15:12
NirAdhArA
For over a year now I have been a resident staff member of Ananda Ashram anandaashram.org in New York state at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. This is a Yoga-Vedantic ashram, founded in 1963 by our Guru-ji, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati (Dr. Ramamuti S. Mishra). I was brought here to heal and the sadhana I am practicing in the photo on the right has much to do with that healing. I have been practicing Agnihotra / Homa Fire Ceremony daily over a year as my sadhana.
Read more on my Blog: agnihotrin.blogspot.com
In Agnihotra, nothing Is destroyed, only transformed. In a polluted environment, there are fine material changes during Agnihotra which can be seen with Kirlian photography. The structure of the chemical elements and their connection to the molecules are restructured. Quantum physics is only beginning to place awareness on how the ancient Vedas have always understood those theories. The recent discoveries in the West of the power of ultraviolet photons has been practiced by these guru teachings for thousands of years, harnessing and releasing healing effects to the atmosphere. Combined with Sanskrit mantras, this fire ritual is a potent transformational tool for environmental and personal healing. The Sanskrit language is the science of the vibration of sound and so these mantras are tuned to the purpose of world peace and healing. These sound waves are carried by the prana (life energy) of those chanting. The purification of the atmosphere through Homa leads to intensification of prana, this influences both the physical health of all living beings and the human psychic constitution. The state of psyche is directly dependent on the quality and quantity of prana available. Atmosphere, prana and mind are connected. Prana is the breath of life, many traditions call this “Spirit”. We are all connected via this nexus of subtle energies. Agnihotra produces a powerful energy field supporting and strengthening this nexus for healing the human condition and promoting world peace. We broadcast that peace and healing during meditation during the fire and after.
I am completing a 2 year course in Interfaith Ministry at The New Seminary in NYC where I will be ordained at St John the Divine in June 2008. newseminary.org/
SARVA SUKHINO BHAVANTU, SARVA JANAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU, LOKAH SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU (Sanskrit) poetically translated: May all beings be fulfilled, may all beings be healed and whole, may all beings have their needs met, may all beings be protected from harm, may all beings be at peace, may all beings be free. Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14 (also called the Metta Prayer)
“proclaim Liberty throughout ALL the nations and unto the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a Jubilee unto you” Leviticus 25:10
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Prison Quilt
One Body: Covered By Grace, quilt 12 x 17 feet textile paint on muslin, pieced assemblage, hand and free-motion machine quilted. An image of a cross emerges from a sea of faces. This enormous quilt is a result of sacred art workshops meant to revive and encourage the creative spirit of women in prison. Each woman was provided an opportunity with paint and cloth to express gratitude for her beautification in spirit. In penitence and prayer she may have painted herself onto the cotton fragment. The intent of the process to wipe away tears, the handkerchief-like squares were given to the hands of caring people in the larger community who joined the pieces as it formed the unified body which reflects the image of Christ. This act of blessing by many hands is consecrated in the quilt as it is returned to the chapel at MCI-Framingham where we hope for many years its visual voice will shout out jubilee!
Click this link to read more...
vision • venue • vessel • [vocation]
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