My name is Jade or Ganga. I was born in a small agricultural town in the United States surrounded by blue mountains and clean rivers. I am also a mentor in Newari Tantra and follower of the Bhairava and Kaula traditions.
When I was six years old I discovered my eternal connection to fire. At 14 I started chanting to Krishna, and 15 when I visited my first buddhist Gumba in Crestone, Colorado. There the wind spoke to me and inspired and filled me with love by its short conversation. With the coals in my soul and the wind to propel that fire in all directions I left my home at 17 and started to travel for the next 5 years. After living in Argentina for two years I was brought back to the water along the banks of a flowing river that supported a moving herd of traveling hippies, bums and backpackers. A few months later I went back to my hometown in Virginia and took some magic mushrooms. That night before entering my parents house I turned slowly in a circle outside the door before entering the house. I didn’t know why at the time all I felt was that I needed to turn in a circle so I did. From there a whirlpool of quick changes transplanted me to India and I sat beside the river Ganga with the sun coming up and a ukulele in my hand. I began to sing and give offerings to the holy river. As I was leaving the river that morning I met a familiar face who gave me the name Ganga and ended up teaching me for the next two weeks. When I felt like it was time to leave Rishikesh I came to Nepal for an event called the Rainbow Gathering. It was there in western Nepal that I was given a book of tantra written on the goddess Kubjika. Kubjika is also known as Srimata for her teachings, tradition and school of shaivism. She is the Newari priest’s secret goddess and an important deity to the Malla kings of Nepal’s ancient kingdom. Kubjika’s tantra led me to visit the nine devis in Bhaktapur. From there I began to grow spiritually more than ever before because I could feel the love of the deities who have been calling me since birth.
Throughout my entire spiritual journey I have always appreciated and lovingly valued the many teachers in my life. This life has given me the incredible opportunity to learn from just about every major philosophy and practice. From shamanism, Bon, western hermeticism, christianity, mormonism, Brahma Yamala Vaishnavi sects, and Vamamarga. Vamachara or vama marga meaning the left hand path attributed to the respect and worship of vama (women) as the adi shakti. I was initiated by my teacher with my left hand and I followed the river to Kubjika. I’m also left-handed so I think it is safe to say I follow a vamachara path.
A very simple phrase my grandmother from New Jersey would always say, “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.” It’s a great thing to tell a kid who wants chocolate from the store, but I use it everyday. Your path is your path, mine is mine. Sometimes you don’t know what’s happening spiritually, physically, mentally, economically etc. The point is that I didn’t choose where I was born nor the opportunities that arose or the energies i’ve experienced but i do feel as though I am actively participating in Shiva’s dance and through this dance of life i’ve learned how not to throw a fit about things that simply weren’t going to help further along your journey and I began to throw out everything thought that impeded my flow in the river that connects us all. That said…let’s be friends.
Peace,
Jade Ganga
