Kundalini and the Art of Being ... 1I intended first to stay for a few days at a yoga retreat center in
Northern California called Ananda Village, which was founded by
the author of a book I’d read recently, The Path, Swami Kriyananda. I
also planned to visit Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, and
perhaps a few other National Parks. And I was determined to spend
some time alone in the desert.
A few days before I was to leave Eugene, I came across Jeffrey
in town. It had been a while since I’d seen him. I was glad to be
able to connect before taking off on my trip. He was pleased to hear
that I was leaping into such an adventure of my own volition—he
had made a similar decision years before when he’d suddenly quit
school, sold all of his belongings, and became homeless, simply to
facilitate personal and spiritual growth through the challenges the
lifestyle would inevitably bring. Although I certainly didn’t plan on
being without a home indefinitely, I was up to the challenge for a
few months, or at least until another option came forth. Jeffrey rec-
ommended a book to me, Right Use of Will, and then, with a deep
gaze and a hug, wished me well on my journey.
On my way home that day, I stopped by the local metaphysical
bookstore to get the book that he had mentioned. It had a beautiful
symbol on the cover and was subtitled Healing and Evolving the Emo-
tional Body. It seemed like just my style.
Following my last day of work at the pizza parlor, my final task
was completed when I sold my old Datsun pickup truck a few days
later, the day before I planned to leave. The next morning, I got a ride
with a friend, Allen, who was in the mood for a little day trip down
to Ashland in southern Oregon. He dropped me off in the center of
the small, quaint town.
I gave Allen a hug goodbye, then started hiking through town, my
loaded pack strapped to my back as evening descended, looking around
for somewhere safe to throw down my sleeping bag for the night.