By Joan (Jayadevi) Bragar

Back in January, when I first got Gurudevi’s 2024 Calendar Journal, I had no idea how I would use it. When I open it now, I read pages filled with insights and reflections on my yogic journey. 

This practice continuously deepens my connection to my Self as Shiva. For example, today’s quote from Gurudevi was:

“The trick in relationships is this: for a yogi, the friction is about changing you, not helping you get what you want from others.”

This teaching reminds me how to have something to give to my family over the holidays. I need to find it within myself first. Through meditation, especially daily meditation with Gurudevi in her Meditation Club, I am filled within. Thus, I am supported in having peaceful and loving relationships with my children and grandchildren.

Before we meditate, Gurudevi expands on the day’s Calendar quote. She reads the section of her teachings article from which the quote comes. I use the journal pages to take notes on it and to reflect on my experience after meditation. This journaling practice deepens my grasp of our mystical tradition.

Our new 2025 Living Mysticism Calendar Journal is now available in the Ashram store.  It has convenient references for every daily quote. These support you in going to the source articles to understand each quote more deeply. The 2025 pages are also slightly larger, so there is more room for writing what you are learning. I especially appreciate this for, in 2024, I often wrote sideways up the page to record all that I wanted to capture.

We have among us a living Master of the Shaktipat tradition — Gurudevi Nirmalananda. My appreciation for this blessing deepens as I use her Living Mysticism Calendar Journal. Through it, I deepen my connection with her.