Confluence

It’s the act or process of merging. A year ago, I was running a course in St Louis, MO. I realized I wasn't far from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. I had to go.

I reached the entrance to the trail, which was at the end of a long dirt road. As I walked through the woods, I noticed the land beginning to narrow. On my right, I could hear the roaring and rushing of the Missouri; coming all the way from Montana. On my left was the wide and steady Mississippi; meandering through its midway point across the heartland. The woods cleared and I found myself standing on a rocky point, watching these two giants merge. There was a clear line of colors, currents, and attitudes where the two rivers met.

I sat there as the sun set, marvelling at the merger. Now, almost a year later, I'm marveling at the confluence in my own life. I'm wrapping up a wondrous 4 months of teaching at Loyola University. I directed my first show, I became a theatre professor, and I got to infuse Vedic Meditation and self care into the teaching process.

When I quit my job on Broadway, gave up my home, and went to live in the wilderness, I thought I was done with theatre. It was a wonderful chapter in my life, but I had found a new passion. A few years in, I kept getting these nudges from Nature. I was getting offered artistic opportunities and I was saying yes to them. At first, I thought it meant I was giving up on my newfound passion of meditation.

It took me a bit, but I realized I was at a confluence point. It was time to unite all the aspects of my life. The Vedic Worldview is centered around an all-inclusive experience. Confluence doesn't water down our many passions, it makes them stronger, fuller, and even more powerful. You have your talents for a reason. Ignore them and Nature screams. Bring them together and you'll find maximum support and maximum impact.