Today is Diwali (Deepavali). The Hindu world celebrates one of its most popular festivals. It is a day of beginnings. It is a day that the victory of Light over Darkness, of Good over Evil, is celebrated. It is a day to worship the Divine as Mother Lakshmi. It is a day to fill our homes with Light. Sri Swami Shivananda Saraswati has this to say about Mother Lakshmi and Deepawali: "Sri Lakshmi, the Goddess of all Auspicious Qualities, is worshipped. All the Daivi Sampatti (Divine, Virtuous qualities) have their origin in Her alone. She is the Source of Peace, Love and Joy. She is the Mother of all, who preserves and protects every one. On Deepavali day Goddess Lakshmi is invoked and the devotee prays to Her to bestow on all Her choicest blessings, in the shape of Peace and Goodwill. He surrenders himself at Her Lotus Feet and seeks protection there. He gives up the little ego and drinks the sweet nectar of wisdom and love that drips from the lotuses She holds in her hands. Lakshmi alone can root out the evil qualities that lurk in the man’s lower self. Oh Man! Invite Her to occupy the lotus of your heart on this great day, so that She can awaken in you the latent powers of love and joy! "Every household is illuminated on this day. Everywhere you look there is Light. This is intended to remind man that his essential nature is Light: that the Atman, his own real Self, is the Light of all lights, the Light that lends luminosity to countless suns, moons and stars in the infinite universes. It is Avidya (Ignorance) that produces a semblance of darkness!" (From the literary works of Sri Swami Shivananda Saraswati.) I pray that all my sisters and brothers in the ULC Tribe will be blessed on this day with Understanding, Love, Compassion, and Joy. May all of you have a day great happiness. OM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih OM! Hermano Luis Morivií Hermitage