This past Tuesday my family and I visited La Vega Estate, a peaceful space in Central Trinidad. I am very fond of it as it has been around for all of my life. I've attended family events and corporate gatherings, and visited by myself and with those close to me. It is a space I can go to find ease, and I love to take a moment at the Divine Mercy Shrine and the more recent shrine for Our Lady, Undoer of Knots.

Once upon a time I attended an all-girls Catholic school... this is the sort of thing that happens in countries that have been colonised. All faiths attended, there were Religious Instruction and Religious Ethics classes, and we all had to attend mass. While there is a lot that I don't agree with or believe when it comes to Christianity, I did leave school with a love for Mary, in all her forms. Perhaps coming from a somewhat Hindu background lends an openness to other aspects of God. Perhaps because I am a woman, I am drawn to the Goddess in whatever way she appears.

I am drawn to the image of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots because she resonates with me. According to Wikipedia, the concept of Mary untying knots originates from the work of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons where in Book 111, Chapter 22 of the Adversus Haereses, he presents a parallel between Eve and Mary, that what was bound by Eve's disobedience was unbound by Mary's faith.

I am not a theologian, nor do I want to be, but I do connect with the transformation that can come from the contemplation of faith, devotion, and the grace that comes from a Guru or teacher.

Through my yoga practice I am working on undoing the knots within myself. Through yoga we learn of the granthis, the knots in the subtle body that restrict the flow of energy, that hold us in ignorance. Through faith and sincerity, through grace and discipline, we can work on piercing those knots, on undoing them.

The visual of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots and the peacefulness of her shrine at La Vega Estate helps me to ground in my own being, and to encourage me to continue working on myself.

I hope that you can visit and experience this as well.

peace,