I've had a challenging past couple of days. Turns out the 90 day visa that we bought in the US before comming to Thailand is only a 60 day visa that everyone upon arriving here recieves free. Our current situation is that we have overstayed our visa almost one month and the penalty for that is about 15 dollars a day - ouch. We need to get out of the country ASAP to avoid further penalty but unfortunately we have a yoga exam comming in a few days that we cannot miss. On top of this stress and dissappointment I gave myself a nasty leg burn on our motorcycle muffler -ouch again. I stayed up half the night feeling bitter, icing my leg and listening to Life After Death on my ipod to put everything into perspective.
Today my view has shifted and I honestly feel quite grateful that this is all so minor in terms of what could be happening. I can use this experience as a means of practicing my detachment and surrender to life. What will I allow to distract me from my inner peace and practice? Not this! I choose acceptance and gratitude.

I am currently riding the waves of an amazing Mystical Bellydance workshop. I feel as if my entire being is vibrating and humming so loud and pure. Not to mention my hips - I have not had a workout like this in months! I am completely inspired! The workshop consists of a very technical, aerobic aspect - meaning we dance up a storm for hours at a time, and a more refined, spiritual aspect. There are meditations throughout the day and many heart opening excercises. I really feel the unique essence of every woman in the workshop is being evoked. Since there are no mirrors in the temple where we dance, we are all mirrors to eachother. As you can imagine this brings up many insecurities, but since we are recieving eachother with such love and acceptance they just wash away. I feel very called to hold a safe, sacred space like this for women in the future. My little mind is dreaming up all kinds of beautiful things....truth be told - nothing could be more important or more beautiful than this exact moment. love love LOVE

I sit in gratitude - deep, brilliant gratitude. Is this really my life? Is this real? Do I actually live in tropical paradise and have the freedom and grace of opening to self, to God if you will, in a deeper way everyday? Yes!
I dreamt last night and then I awoke within the dream. I became aware that I was in a dream and even more amazingly I became so deeply aware of how tangible and real the realm was. I remember walking down this beautiful path and really feeling the soft soil beneath my bare feet and really seeing the array of tropical plants around me. I would pass people and tell them enthusiastically, "this is a dream!"

I have been in a whirlwind of activity and beauty this past week. Dirk and Dakmar came and went. It was very sweet to spend time with them and it feels good to know that they will bring back a little slice of the Koh Phangan experience for all of you to taste. Sean is here and loving it. I think the island's charm has worked on him and he already talks of spending a 2nd month. We have made a handful of good friends and I am connecting more and more into the community of Agama everyday. Logan and I (and Sean) just completed a 5 day Tantra workshop. It was totally transformational and probably not what most of you think of when you here the word tantra. Like yoga it is a word that has been greatly misunderstood and misused in the west. It is a genuine path to enlightenment through the experience of love and bliss.
Logan and I started level 3 this month. It is demanding greater discipline and commitment to our individual practices which feels really great. We are about to go shopping for our Mexican themed potluck we are hosting on Sunday. There are no avocados to speak of, but we will try! Logan is a total alchemist perfecting his coconut yogurt and cheesecake for the party. Love you all - more later.