I had a magical experience in discovering Meditation Mount in Ojai, California in the mid 1990s. At the time I was living in Santa Barbara and had some vacation days from my job at UCSB. I felt inspired to get in my van and start driving out into the country, not having a destination in mind.
I drove south on Rt. 101 and just before reaching Ventura took the exit for Ojai - Highway 33, and drove inland about 15 miles, then turned right on Rt. 150 into and almost through Ojai.
It was here that my intuition took over
Just in front of Bocalli's Restaurant I turned left onto Reeves Road. If I had stayed on the main road I would have started ascending a mountain leading to Santa Paula.
(Turning onto Reeves Road gives no indication of the treasure at the very end, the dead end, in fact at 10340 Reeves Rd. Ojai, California 93023.)
I kept driving and did something I had not really done before. I stayed on the road even though it was gravel and appeared to be a thin piece of private drive. And when it really was a dead end there was a sign Meditation Mount - open 10am to sunset, and a well-maintained asphalt driveway that wound its way with switchbacks up the side of a foothill, ending at a parking lot.
I found myself surrounded by Tibetan-style structures. Upon getting out and walking around I found that several homes were nestled into the sides of the mount at the top, plus right on the top was a circular chapel to meditate, a large glass-walled meeting room and an adjoining office area and public restrooms.
A large patio on the far side of the meeting room led out to a path of gardens with desert style plantings interspersed with benches for sitting, meditating and feeling the impact of this place.
Wow, what an experience I was drawn to, and that first time all without knowing where I was headed when I left Santa Barbara and drove 60 miles.
Yes, Meditation Mount has really been a special place to visit and spend time feeling its uplifting vibration. Every time I've visited since I've sat on one of those outdoor benches and imbibed the qualities of warm winds, bird calls, and expanse of sky that only can be seen from a high perch, as the mount is.
The smell of large sage bushes permeates the air and reminds me that there are certain places on our planet that uplift and give a boost to making meditation a daily living experience, and Meditation Mount is one of these points.
Article by Susan Helene Kramer; photo of author at Meditation Mount by Stan Schaap
For offline reading
Gentle Yoga and Meditation – for All AdultsGentle yoga poses and meditations for adults of all ages, plus a dose of yoga philosophy and virtues. All poses illustrated. 107 pages . Table of contents at this link. Available in PDF and EPUB formats; Barnes and Noble Nook Bookstore; and the iBookstore.
Meditation for all KidsSitting, walking, dance and group circle meditations, along with positive affirmations, verses and benefits of meditation for kids of all ages and abilities in a 100 page book with illustrations.
**************************************
I invite you to join me in a world-wide cyber meditation every day of the year. Click on this link to read about it.
**************************************
