Speaking of Godesses and Mothers

February 10
Yesterday I got a hug and a mantra from Amma. If you haven't met Amma, you should. She is the guru mother of thousands of devotees all over the world. John has been to see her a few times in the states, so when he said he would like to check out her ashram in Kerala, I said I was willing to give it shot. Of course, I had some fears about all of it. (I know, I know, Marcia, Marcia, what are you so afraid of) Guess I'm a slow learner. John understood my fears and assured me that we could leave at any time.
So, about the hug. First, I had to go through all these steps to get it. Like get a token, wait in several different lines and endure a bunch of controlling women all charged up with "mother shakti" telling everyone what to do.
Second, I had to overcome a bunch of awkward feelings about being hugged by a complete stranger in front of thousands of other people.
Third, I had to take off my shoes and walk around in my bare feet in a room full of strangers.
But, I overcame the obstacles and managed to settle into a pretty sweet hug from Amma. Once I hit her shoulder, everything else just melted away and I was just resting there in her arms. I could have stayed there for hours.

I can vaguely compare it to one other hug that I got from my own mother. A couple years ago I lost my sister Joanne to cancer. I spent a hard night vigil at the hospital with my older sister Ann keeping Jo safe and comfortable while she was dealing with the difficult pain she was in. It was a night of great sadness, little sleep and too much time to look into the void. My mom showed up the next morning, completely distraught, but the minute she walked into the room, all I remember is falling into her arms and sobbing there like a five year old for a very long time. Her first instinct was to love me instead of dealing with her own loss. This was the kind of loving energy that Amma projects out to the millions of people that she has hugged.

According to the devotees at the ashram, Amma is a "fully realized being" which means she is in a state of complete bliss all the time. I believe them and even if they're wrong, Amma is pretty amazing as a completely human being. She has brought so much humanitarian aid to the world we should worship her for just that. Look her up. Google her. Check out "Embracing the World". She's amazing.