Hey blog, it's been a while. Guess what— Caroline is exploring again! Well, I suppose I'm always exploring, but once again I'm headed to a land far away where the people in my life may have never been. So it's time to start cueing y'all in again, for India round three.
First a quick catch up: I've spent the past year and half living and working in beautiful Bend, Oregon. Wilderness Therapy was the calling, and I answered with over 30 eight-day shifts living in the woods with people who challenged, motivated, inspired, and ultimately changed me. Tremendously. To the point where I'm out of touch with that deep, wise, inner self. A place I've had glimpses of in the last couple years but have not been immersed in. And so, India beckons.
I had a feeling that eating dehydrated food prepared by a variety of struggling youth, relying on layers and fires for warmth, and fighting the demons of trauma and loneliness would only be sustainable up until a point. I didn't reach that point, but I'd seen others before me reach it and I knew I didn't want to reach it. And with support I announced my need to take some time away, to hit the reset button, before I was burnt out from this cathartic line of work.
So I took a hike, I listened to my gut, and tuned into my heart. Suddenly all signs pointed to Auroville. If you've followed my adventures before, you might remember how special of a place this was for me on my last visit to the Pondicherry region. I found myself encountering my soul in the most surreal way on one magical morning at the heart of the city, and I've been drawn to return ever since that fateful visit.
I could go into an extensive history lesson on Auroville here but I'd rather unfold the details as I encounter this town throughout my own experience. In the meantime, I will highly recommend a quick visit to any of these sources. My pervious visit here:
http://www.carolinexplores.com/2014/12/this-post-will-be-one-of-those-that.html
The Auroville website: http://www.auroville.org
A documentary: https://youtu.be/hU40Ba4GXjE
There are also countless videos visitors and residents have made over the years at this incredible place, so if you're interested further, they're worth a watch.
So there's the why and the where. The why has more to it which will also unfold along my journey back oversees. The when is on January 10th, starting 2017 out with a big shake-up, and hopefully staying until early April. I'm already bustling with excitement to get back to my home away from home, by way of Portland, and LA, and Seoul, and Singapore, and finally Chennai... See this why I asked for podcast recommendations! I have a feeling I'll need all this travel time to mentally prepare myself anyways.
Well my next post will be coming to you live from incredible India. Again, I'll try to maintain a consistent pattern of updating those who are interested on this platform with pictures and stories, if I'm not too immersed in the present experience at hand.
This couldn't be possible without feeling the undying support from so many beautiful people in my life, and for that I am endlessly grateful. Maybe my words will inspire others to explore new worlds for themselves, even the hidden worlds of the inner self.
Stay in touch with me through iMessage, email, snapchat, or telepathy!
carobot
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With love,
Caroline
