MANNABLISS
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to assist a few people that were transitioning from this world (one who I have not seen for fifteen years but who I was called to in a meditation). Then, our soul family one by one began appearing out of nowhere (it was one or two people at first). That was also the time that Darnelle (my partner at Mannabliss) and I were brought together to develop a meditation curriculum for behavioral health staff. PS…Darnelle is an amazing yoga teacher, behavioral health therapist and clinical supervisor. She had not had the exposure to Bhakti or the language of energy, which I shared with her along the way and she picked up so easily (because her asana practice has completely prepared her for it!) One evening when chanting together, I finally got the call!!! I was told (in meditation) loud and clear that it was time to gather the troops. I understood that we should have an event and invite folks over. Another great characteristic of Darnelle is that she is an instant manifester. She put together an invitation within the next few days and we had our first event that same month (November 2013) which was a huge success. We had over 60 people show up. Our events from the inception have followed a pattern. We have a potluck dinner together (communing over food), learn about a consciousness and spirit raising practice (from a community practitioner), and close with 1-2 hours of Kirtan/Bhajan (the singing mantras and the names of the Divine which is a key component to my devotional practice). All of our events are donation based for the practitioners (for Darnelle and I it has been purely service work with no monetary gain). That was almost three years ago. Since our first event, we have held events almost every month (sometimes several times a month and more recently weekly). In addition to hosting local practitioners and Kirtan musicians, we now also, from time to time, host nationally known folks. But most importantly we have developed a community. My house is fairly large and it turned into an ashram of sorts, our spiritual hub for the community to reside in. I learned that many of the over a thousand folks in our area that we have gotten to know all felt a draw to move to our community in recent years in pursuit of their spiritual journey. Lucky for me that Darnelle and I opened our doors at that exact moment (if one can call that luck.....I call it Divine guidance). Through my home and our events, we have been able to set the stage for folks to play in the wonderful energy of love and bliss and to realize their true potential. Not one person that has come through our doors has not immediately felt the charge of energy. It is an instant, “aha, I get this and I want more!" More than ever, we became aware that by acknowledging our Divine nature, expressing it, honoring it and its Source, we have created an environment of healing and growth.
We came to more fully understand that much of our suffering comes from not addressing the needs of our spirit and from acting out of alignment to our true Divine nature. Our question then became how to help more people connect to this lovely beautiful way of being. A year ago, when brainstorming ideas, we decided that there were already so many centers, healers, and practitioners out there, but that we were working in silos and that nobody knew where to find us. We also felt that although there are many practitioners and paths, we are missing a unified community as well as a unified message and platform or mechanism to find us. That is how Mannabliss was
born: a website and a magazine designed to showcase our resources, learn from each other, and gather as one big tribe with a unified message and voice. We were always clear that Mannabliss is about making spirituality and consciousness mainstream and accessible. We don’t have to go in a cave for ten years to find it, or change our diet, or change our religion or style of dress or do anything that is outside of the norm. We prescribe seven values (which you will see in the next few pages) that are simple to keep. We feel that spirituality should be accessible to all of us however we choose to express and connect to a practice and to the Divine. Although you may see us or others choosing to express our spiritual practice with certain music, or scriptures, or practices or attire, we believe that there is enough room for limitless diversity in the spirit world (some dance their devotion, some pray, some play music, some teach, some meditate). The common ground is we all LOVE!!! We all agree to be compassionate. We all agree that we believe and serve in a Divine Source. We all agree to engage in a spiritual practice of choice, to not engage in judgment of another’s path and to not engage in acts, thoughts or behaviors that are harmful to others or our planet (check out our values for a full explanation of what we stand for).
We invite you to join us in our mission and our community. As a Mannabliss tribe member, we encourage you to:
1. Post articles on our website and submit them for consideration for publication
2. List yourself on our website as a yoga studio, healer, conscious business and/or tribe member. List your classes and events.
3. Start a forum or group
4. List your events or classes
5. Share or information with your friends and invite them to join
Together we can and will make this earth into the magical playground it was intended to be. Welcome to our Mananbliss Tribe. I am sending you all so much love!!!
Vivian Demille