Village Traveler

Crestone Valley • Sacred Home Base

Integration • Community • Sacred Valley Stewardship

In the heart of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, Crestone Valley serves as our spiritual home base—a unique sanctuary where diverse faith traditions coexist in harmony. Our Seva initiatives here focus on supporting the interfaith community that makes this valley so special, assisting Buddhist monasteries, Hindu ashrams, and Native American sacred sites with maintenance projects and community gatherings that strengthen the bonds between traditions.

The high desert ecosystem of this sacred valley requires careful stewardship. We participate in wildlife habitat restoration projects, maintain trails that wind through ancient landscapes, and support sustainable water management initiatives that honor the delicate balance of life in this arid mountain environment. These conservation efforts ensure that future generations can experience the pristine beauty that draws seekers from around the world.

Through our community marketplace and skill-sharing programs, we support local artisans, organic farmers, and spiritual teachers who form the vibrant fabric of Crestone's conscious community. By purchasing handcrafted goods, attending workshops, and participating in the local economy, we help sustain the livelihoods of those who have chosen to make this sacred valley their home.

Example Partner Organization: Crestone Eagle News — Supporting local community journalism and interfaith dialogue in the sacred valley.

Haridwar • Root Chakra

Grounding • Stability • Earth Connection

At the gateway where the Ganges descends from the Himalayas, Haridwar calls us to ground our spiritual practice in tangible Seva to Mother Earth. We join dedicated eco-volunteers in the sacred work of removing plastic and debris from the ancient ghats, helping to restore the purity of these holy bathing places where millions come to cleanse body and soul. This hands-on environmental service connects us directly to the earth element of the root chakra.

The ashrams and yoga centers that line the riverbanks offer opportunities for karma yoga—selfless service through daily chores, food preparation, and maintenance work. By participating in the rhythms of ashram life, we learn the spiritual practice of finding the divine in simple, grounding tasks that support the community of seekers and residents.

Working alongside local environmental NGOs, we help distribute educational materials about river conservation and participate in tree-planting initiatives that will provide shade and oxygen for generations to come. These efforts plant seeds of environmental awareness in a city where ancient devotion meets modern ecological challenges.

Example Partner Organization: Ganga Action Parivar — Working to clean and protect the sacred Ganges River through community-led conservation efforts.

Kanchipuram • Sacral Chakra

Creativity • Sacred Expression • Flow

In the ancient temple city of Kanchipuram, creativity flows through the hands of master silk weavers who have practiced their sacred craft for generations. We support these artisans by purchasing their exquisite handloom creations and helping to promote their work, ensuring fair wages and sustainable livelihoods for families who keep this traditional art form alive. Each silk sari represents months of skilled labor and carries the creative energy of the sacral chakra.

The temples of Kanchipuram hold countless stories passed down through oral tradition by priests and local elders. We participate in cultural preservation by recording and documenting these narratives, creating an archive of sacred knowledge that might otherwise be lost. This work honors the creative expression of storytelling that has transmitted wisdom across centuries.

Village schools around Kanchipuram welcome us for storytelling sessions and English-learning programs with local children. These joyful exchanges allow creative expression to flow in both directions—we share stories from our cultures while learning about theirs, fostering connections that transcend language and nurturing the next generation's creative potential.

Example Partner Organization: Dastkar — Supporting traditional handloom weavers and artisans across India with fair trade practices and market access.

Ayodhya • Solar Plexus Chakra

Power • Transformation • Service in Action

In Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, we channel the transformative power of the solar plexus chakra through active Seva at sacred sites. Volunteering at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple and other shrines, we assist with daily offerings, cleaning, and maintenance work that keeps these spaces pure and welcoming for the thousands of devotees who visit each day. This selfless service transforms our personal energy into collective spiritual benefit.

The ancient practice of Anna Daan—the giving of food—takes on profound meaning as we contribute to and help serve community meals at local langars and temple kitchens. Preparing and distributing prasad to pilgrims and residents alike, we experience the power of nourishment as a spiritual act, feeding both body and soul while building bridges across social boundaries.

Education empowers communities to transform their futures. We support village schools around Ayodhya by donating essential supplies—books, writing materials, and learning resources that give children the tools they need to pursue their dreams. This investment in young minds honors the solar plexus energy of personal power and self-determination.

Example Partner Organization: Akshaya Patra Foundation — Providing nutritious meals to children across India, supporting education through food security.

Mathura • Heart Chakra

Compassion • Joy • Devotion

The birthplace of Krishna overflows with devotional arts that express the joy and love of the heart chakra. We support local potters and craftsmen by purchasing their traditional creations and helping to showcase their work to wider audiences. These artisans pour their devotion into every clay pot and painted sculpture, and our patronage helps sustain both their livelihoods and the artistic traditions that make Mathura's culture so vibrant.

Krishna Leela—the divine play of the Lord—comes alive through community dance and theater groups that preserve devotional traditions through performance. We volunteer with these groups, learning the stories and movements that have expressed bhakti for centuries. Whether participating or simply supporting these programs, we help keep alive the joyful, heart-centered devotional arts that are Mathura's spiritual gift to the world.

Women's empowerment initiatives in Mathura create opportunities for economic independence and community leadership. We visit collectives where women make traditional sweets and textiles, offering our patronage and support for their entrepreneurial efforts. These connections honor the feminine creative power and nurture the compassionate community bonds that reflect the heart chakra's energy.

Example Partner Organization: SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association) — Empowering women artisans and entrepreneurs across India with training, resources, and market access.

Dwarka • Throat Chakra

Voice • Truth • Service Through Expression

On the western coast where Krishna established his legendary kingdom, Dwarka calls us to express our devotion through Seva at the magnificent Dwarkadhish Temple. We participate in temple services and contribute to the upkeep of this sacred coastal shrine, adding our voices to the centuries of prayers that have echoed through these halls. This selfless service gives expression to our spiritual truth through tangible action.

The Arabian Sea that surrounds Dwarka teems with marine life that requires protection and stewardship. We join local conservation projects working to preserve coastal ecology, protect sea turtle nesting sites, and maintain healthy fish habitats. By speaking up for the voiceless creatures of the ocean, we embody the throat chakra's principle of using our voice in service of truth and protection.

Thousands of pilgrims journey to Dwarka each year, many traveling long distances in challenging conditions. We help finance and maintain drinking water stations and shaded rest points that provide relief and comfort to these devoted travelers. This infrastructure of care gives physical expression to our compassion and ensures that all who seek Dwarka's blessings can do so safely.

Example Partner Organization: WWF India — Protecting marine ecosystems and coastal biodiversity through conservation and community engagement.

Varanasi • Third Eye Chakra

Wisdom • Vision • Higher Insight

In Varanasi, the eternal city where death and liberation intertwine, we partner with local NGOs to support hospice care organizations that serve the elderly and terminally ill who come to the ghats seeking moksha. Through our collaboration with these grassroots organizations, we visit care centers, offer donations, and learn from their compassionate work. This service opens our third eye to the deeper truths that transcend physical existence, while supporting the vital community infrastructure that makes dignified end-of-life care possible.

As part of our Varanasi experience, we participate in a sacred peace walk along the ghats at sunrise, joining with local peace activists and spiritual seekers in a moving meditation for global harmony. This contemplative procession through the ancient lanes and riverside steps embodies the vision of unity and higher consciousness that Varanasi has inspired for millennia. The peace walk connects us to the city's living tradition of interfaith dialogue and its role as a beacon of spiritual wisdom for all humanity.

The classical music traditions of Varanasi—sitar, tabla, and devotional singing—carry centuries of spiritual wisdom in their melodies and rhythms. We contribute instruments and resources to local music schools that preserve these sacred arts, ensuring that future generations can access the higher consciousness that flows through Indian classical music. These traditions offer pathways to the intuitive wisdom of the third eye chakra.

At the ancient Kashi Vishwanath temple, free food distribution programs feed thousands of pilgrims and homeless individuals each day. We help with these feeding programs, serving meals with the understanding that nourishing the body creates space for spiritual insight. This practical service grounds the lofty wisdom of Varanasi in compassionate action that meets immediate human needs.

Example Partner Organization: Sankat Mochan Foundation — Working to preserve Varanasi's sacred heritage through environmental conservation and cultural programs along the Ganges.

Ujjain • Crown Chakra

Union • Transcendence • Divine Connection

In Ujjain, one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities and home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, we support educational initiatives that lift young minds toward higher consciousness. By sponsoring students with books, uniforms, and scholarships, we help remove barriers to learning and create opportunities for spiritual and intellectual growth. Education becomes a pathway to the transcendent awareness of the crown chakra.

The ancient sciences of Jyotish (Vedic astrology), Sanskrit, and meditation have been studied and practiced in Ujjain for millennia. We contribute to institutes that teach these sacred disciplines, ensuring that the wisdom traditions that connect human consciousness to cosmic consciousness continue to thrive. Supporting these centers of learning honors the crown chakra's principle of divine knowledge and universal connection.

Small shrines, meditation halls, and study centers throughout Ujjain provide spaces for spiritual practice and contemplation. We help restore and maintain these sacred infrastructures, recognizing that physical spaces can support the transcendent experiences of the crown chakra. By caring for these places of worship and study, we create conditions for others to experience the divine union that Ujjain has facilitated for countless seekers throughout history.

Example Partner Organization: Vedic Vidya Foundation — Preserving and teaching Sanskrit, Vedic sciences, and traditional spiritual knowledge to new generations.