Tapati's Labyrinth

1 IN 3 Teenagers is Abused in a Relationship

Uses the actual detective report from the Chris Brown assault on Rihanna and depicts in to raise consciousness about dating violence. We hear the report but it is so different seeing it.

Previous videos:
Mar 24	-	Saving Jane - One Girl Revolution
Dec 2	-	Little Dragon - Twice
Dec 2	-	Rare Earth with Peter Rivera - I Just Want To Celebrate

If you would like to add me to your contacts, please give me a little information about you first. I will warn those who are still passionate about Gaudiya Vaishnavism that this may not be the blog for you to read, as it may present contrary viewpoints. If you are very open and broad minded about spirituality, then you may like some of my material. If I know you in real life, be sure to let me know. I have another, active blog at livejournal and that's where I do most of my networking under the user name tapati. I am planning to use this site more for spiritual blogging and am not really trying to build a network here--though I welcome thoughtful and interesting feedback. Blessed be--Tapati

Bio:

I began my journey as a child fascinated by the mystical. I sought spiritual experience at every opportunity, but they were few and far between in my lukewarm Protestant family.

I became a Catholic at the age of 13, then started looking again at 15 when they no longer answered my burning questions. My search led me through every religion they had a book about in our library until I found Hinduism. My friend Carolyn and I celebrated Krishna Day before we even knew about ISKCON. Later we found an ad for Krsna Book on a box of incense. We became registered members writing to Swarup Das in L.A.

I joined the St. Louis temple, moved on to Chicago and out to L.A. (My friend Carolyn was basically deprogrammed by her family.)

I married and had 2 kids (later divorcing my abusive husband), left ISKCON in 1979 over the appointed guru issue, practiced KC until 1989, after I came out as lesbian. There seemed no place for me there. Gravitated to paganism where I remain in an eclectic practice. I love to read the Buddhists also and really appreciate the Unitarian Universalist Church for it's stance on individual religious choice.

Later I came to realize that I am bisexual. I met Dave in 1996 and we married in 1998. I have two grandsons who bring me great joy every day. Dave has become a Grandpa.

I am a lifelong Democrat and active in liberal causes. I have volunteered on a suicide crisis line and continue to stay in touch, I may go back after a bit of a break. I donate regularly. I have been active in Triangle Speakers, an organization that goes into schools and businesses to educate students about GLBT issues in the hopes that future generations won't think we are evil people all out to corrupt them--because we aren't.

I am dealing with a number of health challenges, the most serious of which are heart disease and migraines.

Hobbies: Gardening, sci fi, mysteries, cooking, social activism, suicide crisis line counseling, filling up my ipod.

Music I listen to (not a full list): Ani DiFranco, Tool, Libana, Metallica, "classic rock", blues--Koko Taylor, r&b, NIN, Pink Floyd, Tempest, and other eclectic genres/groups. The older I get, the more my tastes widen. I can enjoy classical in some settings but coming from a working class background I didn't grow up appreciating it and don't seek it out.

Grandma Tapati reads Shel Silverstein

Grandma Tapati reads some favorite poems from Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, one of his classic books for children. This is a project for my grandchildren--the two grandsons I already have and the grandson or daughter that will be born... more

Previous playlists:
Sep 5	-	Grandma
May 11	-	Spoken Word: Grace