Hi everyone!  When participating in spiritual groups, I go by my spiritual name, Vaishnavi.  It was given to me by Amma in 1994, translated at the time as the power of consciousness.  I was initiated into the Transcendental Meditation teachings and practices in 1975 and this advaitan perspective has informed my life since then.  I began my studies of Ayurveda in graduate school in the 1980s.  I am now a Clinical Psychologist and a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner.  Over the decades I have experienced many excellent teachers and their presence, as well as thorough programs of learning:  Dr. Vasant Lad, Maya Tiwari,  Dr. David Frawley, Maharishi Ayurveda for Health Professionals.  I also took two series of courses in Vedic Counseling from Dr. Suhas Kshirsargar.   I have long been a consumer of Vedic Astrology, but these courses increased my interest.  I was especially fascinated with the nakshatras – as my job is to help people with their struggles in the area of mind, hoping to turn their attention from the world of the senses to the process of Self realization.   I struggled for a while with books and piecemeal learning – but in the end realized I needed to put myself before an excellent teacher (as before) who has a deep understanding and presence.   I am 71 years old and still conducting psychotherapy into which I integrate the best of modern and Vedic sciences.  My intention this year is to free myself from the constraints of the psychologist definition and segue into full time Vedic Counseling.    I am thrilled to make some new connections; the isolation of COVID is both a relief and difficult.  I enjoy the solitude [Hasta nakshatra] but also missing my peeps [Libra ascendent]).