I’m learning how to live from my student who is dying.
My dear friend, spiritual sister and former student Marisa is in her last moments here on earth. Marisa came to my Kundalini Yoga classes for years, took my Teacher Training and Healer Training programs and she and her husband Michael were a part of our Awareness Center yoga community. I had the honor of officiating their wedding and have watched as she created an amazing life for herself. Marisa became a teacher and a healer, traveled the world, recorded two albums and many singles, painted beautiful art, wrote a book, taught classes and workshops for years and built an amazing spiritual community. She is an inspiration to me and countless people around the world.
In all the time I’ve known her, she has had a tenacious, enthusiastic love of life. She has always lived from a big YES. If someone had a good idea, she said Yes! If she wanted to do something adventurous, fun, or challenging, she said Yes! She always says, “Yes! Let’s do it!” I’m sure that Marisa may have felt fear, doubt and insecurity at times, but she has always faced everything with the same attitude of acceptance and a willingness to do the work. If she didn’t know how to do something, she learned. If she needed help, she asked for it. Her generous heart is as big as the ocean and she gave 150% to everything she did and all of the people she loved and served.
As I watched her on her healing journey with cancer over the past almost 2 years, she has shown me how to truly live. Marisa activated and awakened many things in me. Her joyful and passionate expression ignited a fire within my core. Her courage to face hard feelings and listen to her truth opened my heart. Her freedom of spirit and willingness to leap into the unknown revived my spirit and made me evaluate my own life.
The day she went on hospice she looked me in the eye and said, “It’s time, Wahe Guru.” I took a deep breath and said, “It’s time for what?” She smiled and said, “It’s time for us to record the mantra album!” and she laughed at the look on my face. Recording an album has been a dream of mine since I started singing in 8th grade, 39 years ago. But I let doubts, fears and perfectionism get in the way. No more. My dear friend Marisa reminded me that it IS time. She has showed me that by saying yes to life, the pathway will always be revealed.
I’m learning to live from my teacher. Marisa is leading the way to the next big spiritual adventure in the field of all possibilities.
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I wrote this yesterday in the morning. Marisa ascended at 1pm. Rest in peace and power dear sister. You will be remembered and honored by your family and friends. Thank you for living your purpose and for activating all of us to live ours. In the Kundalini yoga tradition…we chant Akaal Akaal Akaal as a mantra of the undying nature of love. You live in our hearts always, sweet hummingbird colibri. I love you. ❤️
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