Such a delight! So much joy! Decorating the tree reinforced for me the all-encompassing beauty of this path. With much of my family living abroad, the holidays can be a slightly lonely time of year for me. Though, just now, as I decorated this tree, I felt the warmth of celebrating right along with our huge Siddha Yoga family, and my heart is full!
New York, United States
It has not been my tradition to decorate a Christmas tree, so as
Rama Raghava softly played, I pondered how to begin. I had no experience with this.
I sat and gazed at the beautiful, earthly, green tree. Feeling artistic, choosing carefully, beginning with one ornament at time, I slowly began placing the ornaments along the branches of the tree. Next, I clicked on the garland, then the lights, and finally, the star on top! I was delightfully immersed in the process. When it was complete, the screen was beautifully illuminated, and so was I!
I realized any new, unfamiliar task or endeavor can be undertaken and completed by observing, connecting to my inner Self, using my intuition, beginning slowly, going step by step, and taking the support of the Self to become one with the process until completion. In these difficult and darker times, I feel it is most important to spread as much light as possible to others and the world around us no matter, what the originating tradition or source may be.
California, United States
I feel so blessed to be part of the Siddha Yoga
sangham. I experienced that decorating the Christmas tree has awakened a spirit of indescribable peace and love within me. It has helped to illuminate my soul.
Mersin, Turkey
I grew up decorating the huge Christmas tree at Gurudev Siddha Peeth. Today on Christmas when I sat to decorate this tree, I felt so much joy. I experienced fun-filled moments just as I did as a child. It truly felt like being in the Ashram and decorating the Christmas tree there. I could smell the Ashram aroma and completely visualize being there. I am grateful to Gurumayi for bringing me back to this joyful experience!
Thane, India
As I decorated the tree this year, I envisioned that the earth is surrounded with sparkling lights and stars. I imagined the two birds, which I placed on the twigs at both sides of the tree, are singing “Joy to the World.” The bells are awakening all sleepy beings, so that they can experience this joy. The melody of
Rama Raghava is helping to create new buds of life and happiness. For me, this holiday tree represents the tree of life.
I pray that joyful blessings fly forth from this tree like sparks to illuminate every corner of the world.
Hindelang, Germany
I always love decorating the tree, especially with my mother. This year, decorating the tree together brought back to me the delight and joy I have experienced with her in times past. It also gave me an experience of the great freedom I often feel when sharing in the creation of love and light. It melted away any negative emotions that can sometimes arise during this hectic season. I am overjoyed at how beautiful our tree is. I believe that I can feel the Guru’s grace in this tree that we have decorated together.
Hawaii, United States
I can’t believe that another year has passed, and I once again get to decorate the tree for the holidays on the Siddha Yoga path website.
This is still one of my favorite things to do. No matter what else is happening in my life, it gives me great joy to do this simple thing.
New York, United States
This morning, after my meditation practice, I felt a longing to connect with the chant
Rama Raghava. Soon after that, I went to the Siddha Yoga path website to decorate the tree for the holidays. There I discovered that the background music for the tree decoration is
Rama Raghava. I will never cease to be amazed by the synchronicities that I have experienced on the Siddha Yoga path. Each time it happens, I am moved. I feel both loved and full of love.
San Giorgio a Cremano, Italy
I felt such joy as I was decorating the magnificent Christmas tree. I found myself smiling the entire time. I needed to feel this love, and the timing was perfect. I feel so grateful.
Virginia, United States
I love decorating the Christmas tree, listening to the lovely music, and illuminating the tree at the end. It looks so beautiful. I love making beautiful things—it brings so much joy to my heart.
Konolfingen, Switzerland
As I decorated the tree and chanted, all my cares were released. I was filled with my Guru’s love and with peace, joy, and, above all, gratitude.
Massachusetts, United States
I love decorating this Christmas tree and look forward to doing it each year. Because I travel to be with my family over the holidays, I do not have a tree in my home. So, this is the tree I decorate each year!
This year, I focused on seeing the tree as a gift from God, just as my life is. As I strung the lights and garland, I experienced how my Guru’s grace, love, and guidance wrap around me and my life, embracing me. I carefully selected and placed each ornament, visualizing that each one reflected a Siddha Yoga teaching and practice. The star represented my true Self shining forth. Then, when I illuminated the tree, my heart was filled with gratitude and joy.
Rhode Island, United States
I created this Christmas tree for Gurumayi because I love her and I hope she loves it. I liked the star decoration the most. I also thought Gurumayi’s “Season’s Greetings” was fantastic and I loved it.
a seven-year-old from Somerton, United Kingdom
I contemplated what I would do today for Christmas. Then I went to the Siddha Yoga path website. What a wonderful surprise it was to discover this tree—another blessing from Gurumayi! Decorating it was so meditative and peaceful. As I look at it and listen to
Rama Raghava, it brings me joy and peace.
California, United States
I love decorating the Christmas tree every year; it is so much fun to do! I have all the same ornaments for my real tree—cardinals, peacocks, swans, angels, bells! I’ve been collecting ornaments for years, and the ones that remind me of the Siddha Yoga path are really special to me.
It was very relaxing to decorate the tree and listen to the
Rama Raghava chant!
Georgia, United States
Decorating the tree while listening to the sweet sounds of
Rama Raghava connected me with a delightfully fun space of silence within. Seeing this beautiful tree every morning brings joy to my heart!
California, United States
Decorating this blessed and beautiful Christmas tree, accompanied by the sweet music of
Rama Raghava, immediately took me to one of the purest times of my life: my childhood, when my brothers, my cousins, and I used to decorate my grandmother’s tree all together, with our hearts full of hope and happiness. I wanted only to play and be with my family all together.
I am so grateful to Gurumayi for awakening in my heart this true Christmas moment and for filling it with love and joy.
Mexico City, Mexico
Can you hear my giggling while I decorate the tree? The parrots—those lovebirds from the heart’s cave—seem to feel very good perched on the tree while we listen to
Rama Raghava. Yes, this tree decorating brings moments of dancing lightheartedness and childlike sweetness.
Hindelang, Germany
As I placed each ornament on the tree, I felt suffused with sweetness and an increasing joy. When it was complete, I sat and looked at its beauty, feeling at peace. It brought back scenes of my childhood with my family. I recalled my mother taking great care of the star, and the thrill of climbing the stepladder to place it at the top of the tree when we had finished hanging all the decorations from its branches. I am grateful for this sacred experience.
Perth, Australia
I am so thankful for the splendor of this tree. Each ornament seems to be filled with the infinite love that the Guru has awakened in my heart. I feel the sweetness of recognition and gratitude as I decorate. I experience that the sparkling string of lights wrapped around the tree is the Guru’s love illuminating my life. I am smiling with joy, swaying to the sweet melody of the chant, and feeling immersed in a shower of blessings.
Oregon, United States
Decorating this sacred holiday tree brought me back to carefree, gleeful, and peaceful days of my childhood. I felt I was in “meditation in action” as my mind became very still and serene. Such a delightful experience!
St. Laurent, Canada
I am so grateful for this joyful activity—a beautiful chant, beautiful ornaments, and a sparkling outcome! A perfect holiday blessing!
Michigan, United States
Awesome! This is the most beautiful tree I have ever decorated... and I am 74 years young, so there have been a few. It’s such a peaceful and satisfying way for me to enjoy the light!
Iowa, United States
I always look forward to decorating this tree for the holidays each year at Christmas. Doing this brings me so much peace and happiness. I feel as though I am decorating with all the beautiful tools of my Siddha Yoga
sadhana that Gurumayi has continued to offer us throughout the years. The stories, the music, the
satsangs, the images of nature and art—all have made my life so much better.
I feel gratitude from the bottom of my heart. May we all stay safe, healthy, and at peace in our hearts during this holiday season and in the new year!
New York, United States
As I decorated my virtual Christmas tree while
Rama Raghava played in the background, I experienced a profound sense of peace. I felt so content. I lovingly added the decorations, and then realized I was totally alone, smiling to myself.
Indore, India
Living alone, I usually don’t have a Christmas tree. So when I saw this tree on the website, I felt immediately awed by the many means and opportunities Gurumayi gives me to experience divine love.
For me, decorating this tree represents following the Siddha Yoga path. Like my
sadhana, this process is filled with many wonders along the way—all leading, I trust, to the great light at the culmination of my journey.
Port Douglas, Australia
What a fun and easy way to connect to the joy and peace inside! I loved watching my son decorate the tree with a big smile on his face. It was such a warm and heart-filling experience for both of us.
I am grateful for this wonderful gift and the many other gifts on this website that bring us back to love again and again. Happy holidays to everyone!
Nagano, Japan
Decorating the tree has reconnected me with how it feels to be a child—full of surprise, enthusiasm, and joy in celebrating and seeing the presence of grace and love in everything.
Madrid, Spain
While decorating the tree, I felt as if Gurumayi were right there with me, choosing the ornaments for me. Listening to
Rama Raghava made me feel as if all the wonderful stars of our galaxy were there with us too.
I had such a wonderful time, and now I feel that my Christmas celebration has really begun. Merry Christmas to all!
Farrukhabad, India
As I took my time decorating the tree, I had an amazingly awesome experience remembering beloved teachings and virtues each time I put an ornament on the tree. I imagined I was placing love, compassion, kindness, and many more virtues. When I put the star on top, I felt my whole body lighting up. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to decorate the tree and experience the inner Self.
Vadodara, India
Our son has been asking to decorate the Christmas tree on the Siddha Yoga path website almost every day. He loves putting all the elements together and his enthusiasm is very contagious. He teaches me that the same practice can be exciting and new at every turn.
Heidelberg, Germany