The first full Moon after the longest day of the year – Summer Solstice –  is celebrated as Guru Poornima.

It is a special day when all spiritual aspirants and devotees in India and around the world are grateful for the sage Vyasa ,that represents the first  Guru as he edited the four Vedas and other divine scriptures, and their respective gurudevs ( spiritual teachers , enlightened masters). It is a time for paying respect to one’s teachers with meditation, chanting and prayers. Alternative ways of celebrating are observing the vow of silence and studying the books  or writings of your Guru, or mentally reflecting upon his teachings. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally,  spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual ‘sadhana’ from this  day.

The Guru ( literally  means one who leads “from darkness to light”) is a spiritual preceptor whose teachings enlighten us in the journey of life.  Our very first Guru is our Mother, that has literally taken us from the darkness of the womb into the light of existence as human beings.

Each Full Moon carries a special energy and this one is related to the  Grace of the Guru. The Grace of the Guru is a connection with the light of Source, the Divine within us. Gurus are those who have dedicated their entire extistence to the preservation of this sacred flame.

From our ancestors to today fire has always represented a direct connection with life force and the Divine within,to have sacred qualities. In ancient civilisations  the temple’s  priests and priestesses were in charge of guarding the sacred fire. Mirrors were used to focus the  sun’s rays to ignite  flames that would burn perpetually as a symbol of the presence of the Divine.

The Guru is the guardian of that sacred flame. He is an external entity until we ingnite within us the fire of Devotion. Then we have found the thread to our own inner light.

Ultimately the Guru is not a separate entity , he/she lives within us in the inner sanctuum of our heart. We  connect with our inner guru through the Light of Devotion.

Personally i am deeply grateful to my mother, my very first Guru , and all the incredible teachers who i have met on this path. Living or no longer in human form their teachings will always be with me. Here find a way to connect with your teachers / spiritual preceptors by chanting or reading this verses from the Guru Gita:

Pooja to the Guru from the Guru Gita – where  Lord Shiva tells his wife Parvati about the Guru, the proper ways of worshiping the Guru.

Dhyaana moolam guror murtih

 Pooja moolam guror padam

 Mantra moolam guror vakyam

Moksha moolam guror kripa

“The Guru’s form should be meditated upon

the feet of the  Guru should be worshipped

his words are to be treated as a sacred Mantra

his  Grace ensures final liberation”

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Alessandra