Meditation not Medication

I started meditating in 1995 when a Spiritual Master moved into my neighbourhood. Mrs. Geetha Subharam, a trained meditation master was the guide that I prayed for. She was warm, loving, friendly, hospitable and beautiful. A consummate entertainer, Geetha was unflappable. She shared the secrets for successful meditation and growth on the spiritual path. She was a mother, a friend, an aunt, and a neighbour. Never judgmental, she shared her home and her family, leaving no doubt to her sincerity.

I started meditating every Sunday at her home. A few persons came and shared their weekly journey, their challenges and joys, we became one circle of light and love. Over the next fifteen years I reduced my need for medication of any kind.

Headaches were cured by Reiki, colds and flus stayed away, and there was nothing else to worry about.

My four year old niece was with me one day as I dressed for a Meditation gathering. She did not want me to leave. As I tried to explain that I would have to leave her for one hour to go to meditation, she replied with big brown innocent eyes "But...I'm not coughing!"
I laughed "No darling, not Medication...Meditation."
I remember that moment to this day. She was right!

Fatima, Lourdes and Medjugorje

The stories emanating from these humble towns are consistent with the Transfiguration story in Luke 9:28- 36.

This is also consistent with my story. As a little toddler, I had a serious accident. I had a near death experience which allowed me to have a heavenly encounter.

As my spirit left my body, I glided up a beautiful technicolour green mountain. The mountain was framed by an amazing blue sky. Two beings "clothed in lightning" were at the top of the mountain. As I came close to the lover of my soul on the right, the words "no...it is not your time yet, you have to fulfill your purpose" were burned into my consciousness. While fingers reached but did not touch...I fell backwards, hand outstretched, heart aflame, down into a blank space. The space called my body. I was revived.

Joined by a Simple Prayer

On July 22, 2008 I was asked to pray for an Opening Ceremony. I researched several prayers and came upon a lovely daily prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I combined lines of that prayer with the Prayer of the Holy Spirit, the Lord's Prayer and the Emmaus Prayer for timing. I hoped to reach each heart and bless each soul. The result was that one person at the Ceremony requested a copy of the prayer. Later that week we spoke to each other about the prayer.

That simple prayer joined two persons who had prayed fervently before the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Guadeloupe on December 12, 2008. My prayer was one for healing, his prayer was for a new commission in Retirement. Unbeknownst to both of us, Our Lady heard our prayers in El Salvador and Uruguay and on August 17, 2009 we were able to share our personal stories of the miracle working power of Our Lady and the intersection of these graces through a brief encounter in Jamaica.

"Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen."

Our Lady of the Blue Mountain

In March 2008, I went to do a labyrinth walk and there I learned about Our Lady of the Blue Mountain. A beautiful white statue from Italy sits at the foot of Jamaica's Blue Mountain at St. Martin De Porres Church. This wonderful lady and her baby, Jesus, depict serenity and the bittersweet life of Christians. I visited her statue, and benefited from meditating in that place, overlooking the little basic school, flanked by two beautiful grand palms, I call them "Goodness" and "Mercy". The story I was told was that Our Lady wanted a pilgrim site in the Blue Mountains, but due to constraints, her pilgrim site is at the foot of the Blue Mountain. There she stands, serenely surveying the children at play, while holding her beloved son. When you sit in their presence, you can literally share thoughts, feelings and ideas. My visits there are less frequent now, since she has guided me to find the Living Stream Book Store and St. Peter and Paul's RCIA classes. I will be back over the Lenten season....to sit, to listen...to hear.

Our Lady

On December 12, 2008 on a visit to El Salvador, I visited El Salvador Del Mundo Church. This huge beautiful Catholic Church had a dimly lit ante room with a beautiful mural of Our Lady of Guadeloupe. The vision touched my heart. I had seen many pictures of Mary, but this bronze beauty took my breath away. I visited the Market and saw how artists depicted Mary, with great emphasis on her EYES. I returned to Jamaica, and started to learn more about the story of Our Lady of Guadeloupe. Within a few weeks of my return, I experienced two miracles. The first was the appearance of a seasoned artist at our Christmas Play. He created the central prop, a tree called "Half Way Tree" within 24 hours. The second was an offer of financial support for a project, in its embryonic stages. Buoyed by this experience and seeing my Aunt make a full recovery from a serious surgery, I started to research Our Lady. On February 6, 2009 I felt overwhelmed by the readings on Fatima. The children, the visions, the words of Our Lady were too much for my poor mind and soul. I broke. I needed to find a sanctuary to hide my ignorance. So much information is available, but was not shared with me, up until now.