trying to name it...

i am trying to come up with a name for my trilogy of

journals to india... any ideas?

please read below to see the rough draft of the text that

will go on the title page...

any thoughts would be much appreciated! 

(and if i use your suggestion, i will send you a free copy

once i get it printed:)


Namaste,

This book is a compilation of three journals, each a separate journey to India. Every day throughout my travels, I drew, wrote and painted in order to record, celebrate and process everything I experienced.  It was difficult to capture the magnitude of colors, spirituality and culture that I was both witnessing and interacting with, yet I tried my best to express what was going on in my mind, body and spirit.  Every line and brushstroke tries to convey the intense growth, excitement and constant breaking and expanding of my heart.  The things hardest to convey with pen and watercolor were the fears I felt, the smells, tastes, and the immense juxtapositions, irony and opposites that exist in this beautiful and sometimes surreal place.

My first trip, spent with a travel partner was wrought with a whirlwind of discovering things for the first time including immense poverty, rich culture and spiritual devotion.  During my second trip - alone - I visited people I knew, immersing myself for longer amounts of time and depth into two places that emanated Indian and Tibetan cultures.  I also volunteered to make art with children at an Ashram, which was an eye and heart-opening experience.  My third journey, still fresh in my flesh and bones was back to two places I had already been... diving even deeper into each one, coming full circle in so many ways and allowing the veil to be lifted a bit.  I spent time with my NY Tibetan Art School mates, connected with old friends and made new ones.  I also volunteered as an artist at Rogpa Charitable Trust and Ramana's Garden. Making art and sharing my knowledge with these two communities proved to be the most special aspects of all of my trips combined.

My hypothesis after three visits to the motherland? The ones I can verbally share are as follows; that I love India now more than I ever have, like an intimate friend who I have grown through pain with...  that I understand this place a little bit more and want to continue learning, even if I may need some time away... that I have more gratitude than I ever thought was possible - thanks to her guidance...  I have learned as much about myself as I have about the place... that I like to be looking over the edge of life to jump off and soar with butterfly wings, as well as basking in the joy and the comfort of home when I return... I discovered qualities that I never knew I had during these trips... like the ability to be grounded, to listen to my instincts and the capability to be compassionate even when my ego feathers are being ruffled... I have a bit of a broader view of this expansive world we live in and a deeper understanding of how small it can be sometimes and most importantly, that we are all so intricately connected.

Thank you for reading this.  Let us inspire each other to dream and to be of service in our own special ways...  May the light inside of you, touch this light inside of me and make this universe a brighter place to be.

Love + Peace,
Jennifer