This morning at Conference Room in Town Hall we had a chance to listen to some interesting short talks with its common thread on ecology awareness. The opening session was with Cesare who shared with us some points of Open Source Hardware in relation to the local community or DIY ( Do It Yourself). Followe by Snehal talking on Kitchen Gardens or why we should grow food everywhere. Deoyani Sarkhot emphasized versatile usage of charcoal and which benefits it can bring to the soil. First part was concluded with Kathy on health and environment. Read more

Tyler Carson, a volunteer at Village Action Group, has came to Auroville in the group of twelve as their part of intership of the study on integrative energy healing. Their study in Seattle is a three years program design to incorporate teachings from India(Vedic system), China(meridian system) and North American Native tradition in order for students to know how to use the universal energy in order to promote healing in the body. Tyler is working on sound healing by allowing his heart to be open to the Divine while making the music. Read more

ONE BILLION RISING - is an invitation to a dance, invitation of new way of being, of an unique contribution of women, of sustainable life ... to both women and men, says Irena while inviting all of us to join the billion of those who would be celebrating that day with a dance to raise the awareness on violence toward women. Statistics proves that one billion of women on our planet do not receive any love but abuse in different ways. V -Day movement started about 20 years ago by Eve Ensler as work on reconciliation between women and men

In today's news we feature interview with Aryamani and Aloka on 12.12.12 events at Unity Pavilion from the last two days. With this exploration of 12 qualities they will conclude tonight at 7.30pm with Divine music for Pachamama songs from around the world with Anna and Tiago. The Soul Flower - Eastern Slavic songs tomorrow at 7.30pm at Pitanga. On Saturday opening of "Geometry of the Heart" by Jurgen P. Palymraart at Savitri Bhavan. On Sunday at 7pm at Adishakti Laboratory for Theater Research presents actors ensemble "Hidden in Plain Sight" Read more

In today's news we feature interview with Andi, ethnobotanist and global No-mad, who is involved in many projects and voluntarily works while visiting Auroville. The Festival Event Team invites us tomorrow, Tuesday, at 5.15pm at Unity Pavilion in International Zone where they would like to meet for a sharing and evaluation of the recent Auroville Festival event in Delhi. On Sunday 14th of October at 7.30pm at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas , Arpanaa Presents -Sitar Recital- By Basab Sen with Manosh Bardhan on tabla. Read more

The Auroville triathlon, held last Sunday Sept. 16th, was a resounding success for all involved. The athletes had a great run (and swim and ride!), and the volunteers and supporters all came out to have a good time. This year's organizer Ing-Marie even participated herself! Listen in for sporadic coverage of the 5-hour event condensed into 14 minutes! Highlights include athletes sharing their experience, supporters cheering them on, and to close the broadcast, some wisdom from the Olympic round champion, Dominic. Start training for next year! Read more

Have you ever noticed the one, undeniable action, that involuntarily, all humans share? Yes, our breath. Rabia Hayek of Do As One, breathed with Auroville on his world tour. This recording is a two-part presentation, the first half an informative talk about the concept of breath and how it was serve as a bridge between humans, and the second half an experiential workshop guided breathing session in which we reached toward our oneness through breath. More information can be found on the project's website at www.DoAsOne.org Read more

L'Avenir nomination is open, and at Solar kitchen, Town Hall and at Pour Tous -Aspiration, or online, we can pick up nomination forms; and follow the procedure. On Sunday 15 July at the Mohanam Cultural Centre in Sanjeevinagar. Mohanam will celebrate its 11th birthday . They invites us all warmly to come and celebrate with them from 10am to 11am at the Mohanam Centre. They will feature a short cultural program by the chiildren and youth of the centre. On Saturday at SAWCHU Jeff will facilitate Improvisational Theater Games from 2 to 6pm . Read more

I just went to Transition School to make a short interview of Joan. He is the ATB class teacher ( Awareness Through the Body ). He talks about his time in this school as a teacher. and also a bit about his life unrelated to school work. He began working in Transition School in 1992 in the month of July, which means it has been exactly twenty years now! He is considered the an important teacher in Transition by the students and it would be terrible if he was to leave Transition School.

Featured today are announcements: an Awareness Through the Body workshop for adults and a Wellbeing Pranayama workshop, on offer to Aurovilians and guests plus an opportunity to hear in person Prahlad Singh Tipanya sing in an intimate setting on his last evening in Auroville. Auroville supports and honours the expansion of one's physical wellbeing and the touching of the heart through music and poetry. Read more

‘Coming Alive to Music,’ a video from the Music Library reveals the power of music. Auroville's Music Library shares its music; find the link on the main page of the Music Library Group of Auronet. ATB: Awareness through the Body commencing on May 20; weekly classes throughout the summer. To reserve a place/for more information contact Amir by mail (tamaramir@auroville.org.in) or call 975 125 7709. Read more

Kalki a transgender rights activist with the Sahodari Foundation, was in Auroville to present a talk about the transgender community in India. Kalki spoke about the various difficulties that they face with the government, the law and the society. Kalki who has lived in Auroville for two years questioned their acceptance by the Auroville community. Kalki presented a documentary Sowndarya about lives and acceptance of transgenders in India. Lot of concerns and questions were asked by Aurovillians which Kalki answered in depth. Read more

Many of us might not be aware that we got another school in Auroville for over a year already. In interesting interview with Anne, who hails from Mexico, and was educated since her early age trough Montessori schools until she became a teacher herself, and with Sangeetha we discover which are the benefits of Montessori education, and how it can be apply within the integral education. At the moment they run pre creche and kindergarden for over 60 children, mostly form the nearby villages, with eleven teachers and some volunteers. Read more

Chiildren of Dolphins and Rainbow Horses from Deepanam School had been practising singing with Joy and Jivatman for the whole school year... and they wanted to share with their friends, parents, members of community how joyful singing can be. Last night, despite that the Kabir Festival is going on in the city , audience was quite numerous, listening attentively to a range of songs from all over. Graceful children voices, accompanied by Jivatman on guitar cheered up our hearts. Read more

Body Consciousness in Movement, the two days Contact Improvisation Workshop by Irene Sposetti & Johan Nilsson will start on Saturday 31 of March in the morning 9.00-12.00 and it will continue at the same time on 1 of April at the Dance Studio in New Creation. They will awake openness, receptivity, softness and fluidity in the body movement. They will concentrate on presence and spontaneity, on the capacity to find new ways of moving as they explain in the interview. Open at all level, with live music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED8hNoulZv4 Read more

Last Saturday in SAWCHU in Bharat Nivas, the international children's theatre workshop on Tagore literature took place. Mainly given in Tamil, its purpose was to let the children from the villages around Auroville share knowledge, work together and feel as one. And not just the children, but the teachers and some experts in theatre and education as well. The day, facilitated by Dr. Velu Saravanan, consisted of reciting poems and songs, theatre classes and as finale, a small play performed by the children. Read more

In today's news we feature excerpt of yesterday's welcoming of new Auroville Foundation Secretary Mr. N. Balabaskar at La Terrace at Solar Kithcen, and the full recording is already uploaded on our web page. Couple announcement on future workshops in Auroville; one on biodynamic agriculture at Windarra Farm on 27th of March with Johan Nisson, who has been involved in organic movement for last 15 years at, and one with Irene on contact improvisation at New Creation Dance Studio on 31st of March and 1st of April. Read more

For over last four years we have heard and participated in the Russian Bells meditation at Unity Pavilion in International Zone. Vera shares with us her thoughts and aspirations on them. As she says "During these four years a few thousand people have enjoyed these deeply resonating sounds in Auroville, and several hundred people from all the continents experienced the wonder of playing the instrument together in – this magical way and communicating through harmonious sounds, without words, without knowing each other's’ languages, in a single aspiration." Read more

Bruna Gusberti at the Tandtidhatri festival presented at Sri Aurobindo Audittorium, Bharat Nivas in Pavilion of Indian Culture in International Zone act of a woman who reflects on whether to remain closed within her feelings, dreams and sorrows, or not, so as to feel alive. Again minimalistic approach as in props as in the act itself, which tends to tell much more in the silence of "in" than maybe on the "out" tries, finally crosses "in" with heart beat and flowery umbilical cord broken off the stage into the light of love.

"Umbral" or Threshold was offered to the audience by Cristina Castrillo at the stage of Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, at Pavilion of Indian Culture in International Zone. Minimalistic approach of mono play simply tells the story of actress's life, or better glimpses of it, the way she perceived it, sensed it rather than that really was. Without doubt her trace in theater is huge as she dedicated all her efforts to the research of elements which are basic for an actor, who is always at the heart of the inventive process. Read more

'Tango is not just two people dancing, it is meditation in movement' The Holi Tango Festival started on the 8th of March 2012 in Auroville and will end on the 11th. Almost 100 people, coming from Auroville and outside, registered for the festival and its different workshops. Three of the very experienced teachers are giving us an interview about the dance itself and the schedule of the festival. Listen to Aurevan (Auroville), Caterina (Italy, Interview in French) and Jorge (Ecuador) as well as to the participants from different countries. Read more

Building and maintaining a healthy voice, creating consciousness for the spoken word, strengthen the body and voice, enhancing communication skills - this is what Vocal Yoga is all about. In Acceptance, one of the Auroville Communities, international Vocal Yoga experts exchange their knowledge, do vocal research and share their knowledge by giving classes. Listen to the experts Clare (US), Caroline (F), Simone (IT) and Helene (RU) and to the different exercises recorded in French, Russian, Italian and English. Read more

Healing Touch is a therapy focused on the energy field of the body that assists in balancing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the self. By tapping into the array of energy centers in the body, Healing Touch encourages the being's natural ability to heal. I spoke with a group of Healing Touch certified practitioners who have come to offer Healing Touch classes as a gift to Auroville. Read more

The program 'Matter Precipitates... It is in a hurry to transform itself' by Sri Aurobindo Centre for Studies... India and the World, concluded with the 'Auroville Round'. It was a session open to all to come together and share their perceptions of how to take the next steps towards creating a new collective space. Aurovillians, scientists, philosophers, researchers, followers of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and curious tourists, who had attended all or some parts of the program got together to share their learnings and experiences.

February 11th 2012: Ted MacDonald, the athlete experimenting with running on bare feet gave an inspiring speech for the marathon runners. There was that much interest in his talk that the speech had to be given in the open air, on the Visitors Centre's square. Ted spoke of his view on running with or without shoes and his journey to find the ultimate running experience, and encouraged people to keep running and keep searching for their own perfect way of doing so. Undoubtedly, Barefoot Ted gave every runner the power they need for the marathon! Read more

Dr. Chris Macann, a philosopher, first explains that it's crucial to know 'whose' vision we subscribe to in our understanding of the world. He goes on to draw comparisons between the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and that of the French philosopher Henri-Louis Bergson on the 'visionary element in human thinking', and the 'Ladder of Being' (i.e. matter / life / consciousness / self consciousness). He then proposes an alteration in the ladder, that of replacing 'matter' with 'nature', and explains what can be made possible with this change.

Dr. Rekha Tandon, an Indian Classical dancer, presented an often forgotten similarity between yoga and dance, especially classical Indian, where both are exploratory forms in which we work through matter to find the spirit. As in yoga, the Indian classical dance poses are much about balancing the body, the spinal chord, and so the chakras. And as in the yogic chakra system, by practicing the Indian classical dance forms, a person can truly begin to experience the transition from matter to spirit.

Dr. Prema Nandkumar talked about the growing need for humanity to break the seal of the last chapter of the play she calls the 'evolutionary destiny of man'. With stories and poems ranging from Norwegian folklore to western legends, from Indian mythology to Greek mythology, Dr Prema spoke about the meaning of the cycle of life and death, and if a total transition of the matter is possible. Finally she draws our attention to relying on the power of the soul, not science, to explore matter.

Devdip Ganguli reflects on dilemma around 'right action' - how to evaluate an action as right or wrong? In the context of solutions provided over the ages, such as codes, testaments and religious principles, Devdip uses some very interesting anecdotes and letters written by the Mother to present her view on this issue and her strong belief in a person's inner sense to take decisions. Devdip concludes that 'right action' is what is inspired from the highest light available to us at that time. Read more

Uma Haimavati, founder of a design unit at Auroville, shares her experiences of being in Auroville and of the inspirations that the Mother provides her. After experiencing 'extreme vulnerability' during the recent cyclone Thane, Uma's past experience was reinforced that 'creativity' must apply itself to human unity in order to counter the feeling of nullness that arises after a disaster. She strongly believes 'knowledge would be delivered at the doorstep of action,' and looks forward to humanity arriving at its best composite for the future.