Category: Family Moments

Posted in Being Prayerful, Celebrate Today, Celebrating Existence, Family Moments, Love and Blessings

Celebrating New Year’s Day 2026: Grounded, Grateful, and Guided

Posted on by rachaelathomasj

Trust me when I say that New Year’s Day unfolded just the way my spirit needed it to—slow, intentional, and filled with meaning. No rush. No pressure. Just calm vibes, gratitude, and a deep sense of alignment with what truly matters.

Being the person that I am, I rushed through Old Year’s Day sorting some overdue pending stuff but before the kids went to sleep I told them this, “This is your last hug for 2025. When you get up it’s going to be 2026 and you will be showered with more love, hugs and kisses.” So said, so done!

New Year’s  day began with a group family call, and in that moment, I was reminded that distance never diminishes love. Hearing familiar voices, sharing laughs, and exchanging blessings instantly warmed my heart. It felt like the perfect way to welcome a new year—connected, supported, and surrounded by love.

Spending quality time with family was the heartbeat of the day. Watching their excitement, listening to their thoughts, witnessing their enthusiasm and the entire opposite, sharing simple conversations, and just being present reminded me that these moments are the real treasures. No elaborate plans were needed—just time, attention, and love. Their joy grounded me and reinforced why I strive to build a life rooted in purpose and balance.

One of the most sacred moments of the day was our visit to Lord Hanuman. There was a powerful stillness in that space—one that calms the mind and strengthens the spirit. Spending time by Lord Hanuman, visiting the temple, all of it was deeply symbolic. Each step was filled with quiet prayer. For me it is letting go of what I need to, giving thanks for lessons learned, and welcoming the strength, discipline, and devotion needed for the year ahead. Collectively it brings clarity, humility, and peace—exactly what I need to carry into this new chapter. We were also able to meet Datta devotees who are like family members to us, and this too is a great blessing!

There was also a gentle satisfaction in having New Year’s Day responsibilities sorted early. Most times I am rushing but this time I wasn’t. Clearing small tasks felt like clearing mental space. Truth be told, I started sorting on Boxing Day. It allowed the rest of the day to flow effortlessly with me doing things I needed to and me being me.

The warmth of the day extended beyond our home through lovely neighbours who are simply the best—kind exchanges, genuine smiles, and that reassuring reminder that goodness lives in everyday interactions. These moments may seem small, but they are powerful, they are meaningful, they uplift us and connect us.

As the day settled, my thoughts turned inward to intentions for a better year. Not louder goals or unrealistic resolutions, but quieter promises to myself. I choose peace, to protect my energy, remain focused and driven, be more present, and continue growing with grace. It promises to be year of conscious living, honest effort, and meaningful moments.

New Year’s Day didn’t demand anything from me, but it aligned me. With family, good neighbours, friends, faith, simplicity, and love leading the way. It is the most authentic start I could ask for.

Here’s to moving forward with calm vibes, a grateful heart, and steady faith. Here’s to celebrating existence one intentional day at a time.

From me to you, I wish you health, happiness, and an abundance of blessings in the year ahead. May you be surrounded by positivity, light and good vibes all the way!

Posted in Being Prayerful, Family Moments, Festivals and Celebrations, Love and Blessings, Spiritual Reflections, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Sri Swamiji's Teachings

Guided by Light: A Deepavali Blessed by Sri Swamiji

Posted on by rachaelathomasj

Deepavali is and has always been a very special occasion for us — a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate light in all its forms. But this Deepavali 2025 was different. Like other days filled with blessings, this for us brought an abundance of blessings, quiet joy, and those sacred, unexpected moments that only divine grace can arrange.

We knew from the start it would be a simple celebration this year. With both our schedules and Shiva coming home from work on Deepavali morning, the plan was to make the most of our day. Our kids filled the day with warm excitement. After their Deepavali program at school last Thursday, they had been counting down the days, and their enthusiasm was evident in their joy.

Their excitement wasn’t the loud, restless kind — it was that special kind of energy that fills every corner of the home. They were bubbling with happiness, talking about lights.

Lunch was simple — not the full traditional spread this time, but what we felt like having. For me, it turned out to be a gluten-free, slightly odd fusion of flavors, but it felt just right for the day. The food, the laughter, the calm — everything flowed naturally. The afternoon stayed quiet too, with the kids happily drawing and coloring, their little creations adding color to the calm rhythm of the day.

As the sun began to set, we offered our prayers and lit some deyas, watching their soft glow spread through our home. The warm light felt symbolic — a reminder that Deepavali is about is about the quiet strength of light overcoming darkness, both around and within us.

Later that evening, Shiva and I decided to take the kids for a drive to see the Deepavali lights. It was meant to be a short outing, just to let them enjoy the sparkle of the night. But, as it often happens when the Divine guides your steps, we were led somewhere far more meaningful and we were where we were meant to be.

Our drive ended at Sri Datta Yoga Center, Carapichaima, by Lord Hanuman, in time for the evening aarti and everything that followed. The moment we arrived, everything felt perfectly aligned.

In my heart, I know that Sri Swamiji Himself had guided us there — turning an ordinary family drive into an extraordinary spiritual experience. He knew I miss home and He gave me the place I always refer to as home, by the feet of Lord Hanuman. The atmosphere was serene, sacred, and filled with a light that went far beyond the flicker of lamps. It was the light of Sri Swamiji’s blessings, of peace and inner renewal. Meeting Datta family at DYC is always a blessing and meeting Sadhna there was exactly that. The kids were immediately drawn to the sight of her lighting deyas so you could imagine their excitement when they got the opportunity to help. We were able to witness the initial lights, witness evening Aarti and then join in helping with the lighting of deyas around Lord Hanuman. When Punditji (Pundit Durga Prasad Sharma) finished Aarti he joined and Shiva and the kids too, while I helped with sorting the deyas. A visitor who stopped by also did the same. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the final result was an amalgamation of lights.

Watching the deyas shimmer was in every sense a humble, heartfelt Deepavali offering, filled with love, gratitude, and faith. The temple glowed with divine radiance, the air filled with the soft hum of devotion and the light of deyas. If Sadhna was not there lighting deyas, we would not have known the aarti was pending. If Sadhna was not there lighting deyas we may not have stayed for as long as we did.

Standing there, surrounded by divine energy, I realized how perfectly the day had unfolded. We began with simplicity — no big plans, no extravagance — and ended in sanctity. What started as just wanting to show the kids the lights had turned into a night of divine connection and deep inner peace.

It was the perfect evening for us with Sri Swamiji (Sri Datta Nada Prabhu) turning our quiet family day into a spiritual journey. As Punditji (Pundit Durga Prasad Sharma) pointed out lighting 365 lamps in the presence of Lord Hanuman on Deepawali is an immense blessing and we were fortunate to be a part of this. As the Facebook post states, “Each flame representing every day of the 365 days of this year symbolizes power, purity, and the cosmic alignment that connects our home with the divine power of wealth, positivity, and protection.”

Screenshot from Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre Trinidad and Tobago’s Facebook page where the significance of the lighting of the 365 deeyas is explained.

Deepavali 2025 reminded me that blessings can come quietly, wrapped in peace, family, and divine timing. Sri Swamiji always guides and everything unfolded as a present beautifully unwrapped. With Him, everything is extra special because it is guided by His Holy Hands.

 May this Deepavali and every day ahead be filled with peace, joy, and the boundless grace of Sri Swamiji. 🪔