Barnashram Family

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I love Barnashram - our little mini-community of 3 human residents and an expanding number of 'others'. We now have 9 Chicklets (they're not quite chicks any more, but they aren't chickens either. But besides that, I love the sense of community that is developing. The biggest thing lacking in today's world is community! We actually take pride in not needing anyone, in being an individual, ready to fight the world alone; and yet, inside, many are devastated, depressed, and exceptionally lonely. It is a sickness that is pervading everything. Many don't even realize it, and yet keep questioning, "What is wrong?" but are unable or unwilling to open their hearts and realize that what they truly want and need is love and intimacy with others.

"Trigger the 60's Virus" - Sure, we were young and naive back then, but there was a beauty and exploration that has since either died or gone into deep hibernation. Back then, I had a family. In fact, a huge family. And it wasn't just friends. We actually created our own family. I've been a so-called minister since I was about 15 (through Universal Life Church - long before I actually became a 'real' ordained Hindu Priest), and our 'family' started with 8 of us. We all held hands and 'took' each other as our husbands and wives (or something like that - I don't remember the exact words). From there it simply expanded. After one particular concert at Volunteer Park (Seattle) we performed one ceremony that had over 50 people, all in one big circle, holding hands, and it looked something like this:

Me: Do you... (pointing at next person in the circle)
Person: Rainbow!
Me: Do you Rainbow, take... (Pointing at each person in the circle sequentially)
Group: John... Sheila... Mountain Child... Oren... Karen... (Hic!!)Fwed!... Sunshine... Judy... (etc.)
Me. ... To be your loving family?
Rainbow: I do!

And all around the circle until everyone had pledged to love the others forever, and I still do. Everyone I come in contact with I love. I know I may not show it, but that's not the kind of love I'm talking about. The love I'm talking about is unconditional, and sometimes looks like a thunderbolt rather than a rose. Every particle of everything is God. How can it not be loved and beloved?

To me, Barnashram is much like that. The name itself means all of society, all levels of society and all facets of humanity. Of course, it also means a barn which is an ashram. Ashram means 'shelter, community, hermitage' and more.

We invite you to be part of that Family - whether close to us or far away.

With infinite Love & Blessings,
Aja

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