London wedding and death of a Holy Man

I keep remembering those bleak London streets in 1997, strangely silent with the exception of a few screams and sobs. The enormous waiting crowd, united in shocked grief. And two tiny boys, walking with bowed heads, their lives shattered by that car wreck in Paris.

And the heartbreaking sight of one simple word MUMMY on a wreath.

Love Life and Joy

So pleased to see some happiness for one of those stoic little boys in 2011. Kate Middleton has achieved what my six-year-old daughter sighs for – to marry a Prince. May they live happily ever after.

And a death in India of the Guru, Sathya Sai Baba, who died this Easter. I’ve been a long time on a spiritual path and during my quest, I spent time at his ashram in India. I found him to be a fully-realised man who not only answered the question that had tormented me for years, but sent me away from his ashram saying ‘I didn’t need to follow the guru’.

Through Sai Baba, I met several people I have respected and loved over the years. I have felt quite melancholy all week remembering the ashram, the smell of the blessed food, the incense and the early morning devotions and Darshan.

Above is a photo of a younger me (no make-up and I had been very ill when I first arrived in India) with one of my stunning Italian friends, Raffaella, who I met at the ashram. 

The Italian women always looked beautiful at the ashram. They wore fresh flowers in their hair. The monkeys bit and terrified; the elephants were glorious in their baths. Food never tasted as delicious as the simple food there. And Baba was like an elegant, gentle child whose energy would strike the large crowds as he appeared for Darshan. 

 Om Sai Ram