“The Golden Thimble, 1692, & 1986”

Upcoming publishing date: September 15, 2026

Click here: Kindle Preorder Available

Dear Readers and Friends,

I am so excited to announce that Book 2 of The Witches of Gloucester Series is set to publish on September 15, 2026

Details:

A modern Gloucester, Massachusetts psychic sacred studies circle collides with the 1692 past in this atmospheric blend of history, hauntings, and spiritual healing. In the 1980s, a Sacred Studies group investigating local Cape Ann portals, psychometry, and Akashic-record work uncovers the lives — and long-buried traumas — of Gloucester women accused during the witch panic of 1692. Their discovery connects to a bizarre post‑Salem episode: fisherman Ebenezer Babson’s July 1692 reports of spectral figures in white firing muskets, chased into swamps that yielded only abrupt, ghostly footprints. Cotton Mather called it “daemonic” warfare; locals still dub it Specter Leaguer Swamp.

When descendants in the group link to the accused through an heirloom gold thimble, psychometry and Akashic readings unlock secrets, injustice, and patterns of inherited pain. This is both a vividly researched historical narrative and a story of sacred psychic development, spiritual evolution, communal healing, Cape Ann Energy portals, and reclaiming silenced voices.

Perfect for readers of New England witch history, ghost hunting, Akashic and psychic practice, and spiritual memoirs. Click here for more information

Book 1: The Witches of Gloucester - A Historical Novel is available on Amazon Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover, and Audible versions (click to get Book 1)

Details:

In Melissa Shubha Abbott’s captivating historical novel, The Witches of Gloucester, readers are transported to the ptumultuous times of the Revolutionary War in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The narrative centers on five clairvoyant and prophetic women—widows and singles—who find refuge in the mystical woods of Dogtown, seeking safety from marauding pirates and British warships.

These women, endowed with extraordinary abilities, rely on their survival instincts and the companionship of their dogs to navigate the perils surrounding them. They create a sanctuary, establishing boundaries of psychic light that serve as protective barriers against intruders. Interestingly, they employ a unique method to maintain control over the roads leading to their haven: charging tolls to travelers; failure to comply results in curses and bad luck befalling the offenders.

As the story unfolds, the women engage in various mystical practices, reading cards and gathering information, which they use as a form of magical currency. Their lineage connects them to a fae heritage, a bloodline rich in ancient wisdom that endures through the generations, with some descendants still embracing the old ways today.

The Witches of Gloucester is not merely a tale of survival but also a profound exploration of women’s strength, community, and the enduring nature of their mystical heritage. Abbott weaves a narrative that highlights the interplay between history and magic, inviting readers to reflect on the legacies that shape our identities and the hidden powers that lie within us all.

This novel blends adventure, mysticism, and historical intrigue, making it a riveting read for those fascinated by the intertwining of the supernatural and the real during one of America’s most challenging eras. Click here for more information

Thank you for your support and interest as I explore the Witches of Gloucester and the history of Early Colonial America from a different perspective.

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Friends, Neighbors, and Lovers of Dogtown and Cape Ann, Gloucester, MA,

Rebecca at Apothecary Suil Crow so generously invited me to do a reading and book signing for my latest book,

“The Witches of Gloucester,” thius Friday, on June 5th, 6:00 pm, at her amazing new location, 153 Main St., Gloucester, MA. Please join me there to celebrate the release of my latest book.

The Witches of Gloucester

Click to Order on Amazon: Kindle Version - Paperback - Hardcover - Audible Versions

The book is also available at The Bookstore, Main Street, Gloucester, MA and my Etsy Store Melissa Abbott Designs

Looking forward to meeting you in person if you are in the Massachusetts area.

Much Love, Melissa Shubha Abbott

About the Witches of Gloucester

In Melissa Shubha Abbott’s captivating historical novel, The Witches of Gloucester, readers are transported to the tumultuous times of the Revolutionary War in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The narrative centers on five clairvoyant and prophetic women—singles and widows—who find refuge in the mystical woods of Dogtown, seeking safety from marauding pirates and British warships.

These women, endowed with extraordinary abilities, rely on their survival instincts and the companionship of their dogs to navigate the perils surrounding them. They create a sanctuary, establishing boundaries of psychic light that serve as protective barriers against intruders. Interestingly, they employ a unique method to maintain control over the roads leading to their haven: charging tolls to travelers; failure to comply results in curses and bad luck befalling the offenders.

As the story unfolds, the women engage in various mystical practices, reading cards and gathering information, which they use as a form of magical currency. Their lineage connects them to a fae heritage, a bloodline rich in ancient wisdom that endures through the generations, with some descendants still embracing the old ways today.

The Witches of Gloucester is not merely a tale of survival but also a profound exploration of women’s strength, community, and the enduring nature of their mystical heritage. Abbott weaves a narrative that highlights the interplay between history and magic, inviting readers to reflect on the legacies that shape our identities and the hidden powers that lie within us all.

This novel blends adventure, mysticism, and historical intrigue, making it a riveting read for those fascinated by the intertwining of the supernatural and the real during one of America’s most challenging eras.

For More Details on Book Signing Event in Gloucester, MA: Apothocary Suil Crow

Rebecca 979-457-4624

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About: Melissa Shubha Abbott is the author of several non-fiction books on Yoga, Healing, Tibetan Buddhism, and Cooking. The Witches of Gloucester is her first Historical Novel.

Kindle $9.99

Paperback $12.95

Hardcover $19.95

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As I sit down to reflect on the journey that brought “The Witches of Gloucester” to life, I am reminded of Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts, which serves as the backdrop for this tale. It is a place steeped in history, where silence bears the weight of loss and vulnerability. In the wake of the Revolutionary War, the town stands at a precipice, as do its inhabitants, navigating a world reshaped by conflict and uncertainty.

This novel is born of a desire to explore the intersections of intuition and survival, particularly through the eyes of Thomasine Younger, or Tammy. She embodies resilience, confronting the echoes of those who have departed while grappling with the looming shadows of societal upheaval. Her story is a meditation on the power of foresight, inherited from the women who came before me—intuitive, clairvoyant ancestors who still guide me. The threat of war, piracy, and the men gone from home, leaving vulnerable women alone in a harsh and cruel environment. They had to use strategies for survival, and they were called witches, harlots, thieves, and outcasts. How did they manage, and what motivated and taught these women? I grew up hearing about the people, especially the women, of Dogtown in the late 1700s, and it has been my great pleasure and privilege to explore their history, motivations, and lives in a historical novel.

As I wrote this over the course of 15 years, I felt a profound connection to the past, an ancestral whisper that urged me to look deeper into the complexities of womanhood, power, and the often perilous dance with societal norms.

Tammy’s decision to seek refuge and create boundaries in the untamed Dogtown Commons of Cape Ann is not merely an act of survival; it is a rebellion against a world that seeks to define her. It is a testament to the strength found in community, the bonds we forge, and the choices we make in the face of adversity. Women working together to value their safety, freedom, and autonomy was just as relevant 250 years ago, at the dawn of a free country, as it is today.

My family and my husband’s family have been in this area of Massachusetts since the 1600s. We have inherited some of the old ways and feel the power and strength of our ancestors, who have lived through good times and bad for the last few centuries, clinging to this rock called Cape Ann. I believe this gave me special insight into this history, and even though it is fiction, there are very real threads of truth running through the story.

In this narrative, I sought to tie together the threads of history—both tangible and mystical. Gloucester Harbor, Dogtown, the granite of Cape Ann, with its waterfront, interior of rocks and boulders, and the lingering smell of brine. The backdrop and all the elemental energies of this place become a character in its own right, embodying the delicate balance between safety and danger.

As Tammy navigates this landscape, she reminds us that vulnerability can fuel strength and that those deemed outcasts may hold the keys to survival in a world that often turns its back on them.

Ultimately, “The Witches of Gloucester” celebrates the intuitive legacy that spans generations—an invitation to listen to our ancestors’ whispers and embrace the unknown. As you journey with Tammy and the others through the pages of this book, I hope you find echoes of your own intuition and the strength to face the storms ahead.Blurb from Amazon:

In Melissa Shubha Abbott’s captivating historical novel, The Witches of Gloucester, readers are transported to the tumultuous times of the Revolutionary War in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The narrative centers on five clairvoyant and prophetic women—singles and widows—who find refuge in the mystical woods of Dogtown, seeking safety from marauding pirates and British warships.

These women, endowed with extraordinary abilities, rely on their survival instincts and the companionship of their dogs to navigate the perils surrounding them. They create a sanctuary, establishing boundaries of psychic light that serve as protective barriers against intruders. Interestingly, they employ a unique method to maintain control over the roads leading to their haven: charging tolls to travelers; failure to comply results in curses and bad luck befalling the offenders.

As the story unfolds, the women engage in various mystical practices, reading cards and gathering information, which they use as a form of magical currency. Their lineage connects them to a fae heritage, a bloodline rich in ancient wisdom that endures through the generations, with some descendants still embracing the old ways today.

The Witches of Gloucester is not merely a tale of survival but also a profound exploration of women’s strength, community, and the enduring nature of their mystical heritage. Abbott weaves a narrative that highlights the interplay between history and magic, inviting readers to reflect on the legacies that shape our identities and the hidden powers that lie within us all.

This novel blends adventure, mysticism, and historical intrigue, making it a riveting read for those fascinated by the intertwining of the supernatural and the real during one of America’s most challenging eras.

About: Melissa Shubha Abbott is the author of several non-fiction books on Yoga, Healing, Tibetan Buddhism, and Cooking. This is her first Historical Novel

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Tārā’s seventh emanation, Black Tārā Who Destroys All negativity, is referred to in Tibet as Zhengyi Mithubma, which translates to Unbeatable and Unstoppable. She can not be overcome or conquered. She is known to provide you with an understanding of the malicious motives of both your inner complexes and those of others, helping you guard against taking in or creating negative energy.

Listen to the Black Tārā Song with Mantras:

Black Tārā Who Destroys All Negativity Appearance

She has two legs, the right one extended and the left one in a meditative posture (like all the 21 Tārās, she is ready to jump up and help you at a moment’s notice). Her color is deep and dark gray-blue, like the hue of a heavy rain cloud or dense smoke. She is sitting surrounded by flames of wisdom, on a radiant Sun Disc, and outside of that, she is surrounded by darkness. Her facial expression is one of frowning wrathfulness. She means business, and nothing can stop her. In her left hand, she holds a blue lotus utpala flower, within which stands a single sword, the vajra or thunderbolt handle, which emanates sparks of smoke and flames. Despite the formidable demeanor, Tārā, in truth, embodies nothing other than true love, compassion, and wisdom, expressed with a profound intensity of expression. This powerful concentration of wisdom as symbolized in her wrathful form, incinerates all obstacles and obliterates all snares, whether they are visible or invisible, material or mental. Feel the energy of this fiery energy breaking through every spell, curse, and illusion, preventing any from taking hold.

Black Tārā Who Destroys All negativity Praise

I bow down before You, who triumphs over the magic circles of our foes with the utterances of Trāṭ and Phaṭ. Your right leg bent and left leg outstretched, You crush your enemies in a blaze of fire and a whirlwind of flames

Black Tārā Who Destroys All negativity Praise Meaning

The praise of Black Tārā Who Destroys All negativity contains vivid descriptions of her destructive capabilities. “magic circles” refer to curses or hexes, which were commonly used in the shamanic cultures of India and Tibet where Tantric practices originated. This praise reflects the reality that people and forces in the world intend harm, and you can be the target of such forces. If you are the victim of such forces, this praise can help you to protect yourself. The praise can also refer to your inner toxic misunderstandings, saṁskāras, or negative imprints from deep-seated abusive circumstances in your childhood or even former lifetimes. So, in other words, those things within yourself, that set up a negative dynamic. This could mean triggers that make you angry at yourself or not looking out for your well-being in a positive way. This could range from overeating, being triggered by your family circumstances, negative self-talk, and other behaviors that don’t support your positive evolution as a spiritual being. It’s so important, to be honest with yourself about these things. So if you identify that you can lose your cool with yourself when things don’t go your way and say negative things about yourself like you are not a deserving or good person. This is a type of inner harm and more than just a minor distraction, it can lead to downward spiraling that’s hard to recover from in your life. A lot of this can be very unconscious and go back to how you were treated as a child. If you were told you were no good and a bad person from an early age or even were in a triangulated circumstance with family members or siblings where you were easily blamed for wrongdoing, then in Buddhism, this is a type of demon or what they call a Mara. They are the inner demons. There are both inner maras and outer maras. You may be subject to a lawsuit from a disgruntled customer, an accident, or a neighborhood situation.

Important to note that in this Praise of Black Tārā Who Destroys All negativity or Zhengyi Mithubma’s, the seventh emanation of the 21 Tārā’s, notice the power of sound or speech in the seed syllabus, Tret, and Phet. Through these two syllables, she can demolish all that is negative. The first syllable, Tratta, comes from Sanskrit and means “completely flattened, smashed” When put into Tibetan, it is known as Tret or in sanskrit Trāṭ. Phet (Tibetan pronunciation) or Phaṭ (Sanskrit Pronunciation) which is said in a strong explosive way. It is a Sanskrit term that translates to split, or cut through, thus ceasing all that it touches and destroying its power and overcoming its negativity. What is the cutting through? She is cutting “magical devices” which are known as betan thrul khor in Tibetan. There are two different types of these devices: external thrul khor and internal thrul khor.

There is a deep teaching related to this Praise.

To learn more about her practice sequence, teaching, powers, protection, mantras, and seed syllables.

* Transform and release Toxic Patterns

* Release blocks and Protect Yourself

* Reconnect with purpose

* Set powerful boundaries and intentions

* Feel balanced, aligned, and nurtured

* Create your own healing practice with her red subjugating light

Read the intro to learn more, and then please subscribe.

May it be for the Benefit of All Beings

Collective Awakening

Exploring Awakened Awareness, Meditation, Longevity, Hot, Restorative & Hatha Yoga, Reiki Circles & Training, Non-Dual Tantric Consciousness, Tantric Buddhism, Shaiva Tantra, Shiva Sutras, Culture, Spirituality, Universal Life Force Energy

By Melissa Shubha Abbott

Bio

Melissa Shubha Abbott is an Author, Practitioner, Yoga & Meditation Instructor, E-RYT 500/ in the North of Boston, USA area. She practices several styles of Hatha Yoga, Classical Shaiva Tantra Meditation, and Vajrayana Buddhist Goddess Practices. She has over 40 years of experience in being initiated into Yoga & Meditation by Indian Guru Gurumayi Chidvilasananda and in studying with many great teachers of the 20th Century, including Sakya Lineage Tibetan Master Luding Khen Rinpoche, Ram Butler, Sally Kempton, Hareesh Christopher Wallis, and many more. She combines ancient wisdom with modern insights, making her teachings accessible and relevant to today’s world. Her compassionate and nurturing approach creates a safe space for individuals to explore their inner landscapes and cultivate a deeper connection with themselves.

To buy "Tārā Illuminated The Mandala of the 21 Tārās on Amazon

Etsy Shop for Books & Cards: MelissaAbbottDesigns

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The sixth emanation of Tārā in the 21 Māndalas is known as Dark Red Victorious Tārā, or her Tibetan name is Jigje Chenmo, a respected name meaning fierce, frightening, and a great one. She is renowned for her protection against any kind of evil energy, whether it comes from visible or hidden entities. Dark Red Victorious Tārā or Jigje Chenmo is a powerful force to be reckoned with because she holds the power of subjugation. Red Tārās are subjugating Tārā’s, and Dark Red Victorious Tārā is capable of shielding and putting down any negativity that may present itself. This includes elemental forces like bad weather, droughts, storms, high winds, lawsuits, triangulated energies between family members or friends, and especially those inner storm dramas and stories you tell yourself that may or may not have any bearing on reality. She comes to your aid when you are experiencing emotions in your body, such as unease, fatigue, irritation, or apprehension. She subjugates those situations and helps as you start to decipher those obscure feelings as anger, sadness, and trepidation. Your understanding allows you to monitor this procedure before you inadvertently transmute those interpretations into assumptions, decisions, or activities. So, in other words, she keeps you from believing the old stories and patterns that run your life like a broken record. You have to keep in mind that she presents herself in a particularly wrathful way as the red Tārās do. This is because the Red color is very powerful, and she has an energy that isn’t messing around. She tells it like it is, and she isn’t going to let you delude yourself for one moment. She has the energy of a good friend who grabs your arm and says, “Let’s go,” when you might have stumbled into a bad situation with inauspicious circumstances. She is the one who leads you into shelter from life’s storms.

Sometimes it’s a big aha moment when you finally realize that you aren’t your mind, and that the stories, mental models, and streams of thought aren’t necessarily true. What? Not true? How can that be? I am thinking of them; they must be true. When you finally realize how much your mind conflates, it is a big step on your spiritual path.

A few years ago, I became fascinated by what my mind came up with, such as feelings of victimization or beliefs with no basis. So now I automatically don’t believe what I am thinking. Granted, some things are true, but many are not. There is just so much we will never know, and it’s pretty common to make up ideas, resolutions, and outlines of what we think is happening. These are assumptions, and assumptions are not always true. I started instituting a little personal policy of holding certain assumptions in the space of love and waiting to see if they might be true by silently observing things without giving them voice. Lo and behold, most things I held in space had nothing to do with what I thought was happening. For instance, in my work as a yoga teacher, if a certain regular student stopped coming to class, I might jump to the conclusion that they were mad at me or didn’t like me anymore, and I would wonder if I had said something or if there was a situation I was not seeing. More often than not, it turned out this student had a work schedule change, a sick family member, or was away on an extended vacation. I learned not to judge or jump to conclusions about the reasons why. It’s an act of patience and support for yourself to do this; otherwise, this kind of thing can turn into a major energy drain in your life. Yes, jumping to conclusions and believing your own stories can drain you of valuable energy and even life force. Dark Red Victorious Tārā practice can help you hold the space you need in your life to not jump to conclusions. She is like a fierce, protective spiritual mother figure who you can depend on for support, especially when you might have inner doubts and a lack of confidence.

TO LEARN THE SEQUENCE AND SADHANA PRACTICE OF RED VICTORIOUS TĀRĀ UPGRADE

WHY WOULD I WANT TO UPGRADE?

This is the 6th in a series of 22 Substack subscriber-only posts (a free introduction, then subscription required to learn the powerful sequence and sadhana practice of Dark Red Victorious Tāra) that detail and teach the Non-Dual Vajrayana Buddhist Mandala of the 21 Tārās. Each Tārā has special attributes and functions on the path of enlivened feminine awakening. These are powerful goddess practices.

Tārā once proclaimed: “I will only become enlightened in the body of a Woman.” She is the wild, unbridled, and radical nature of the energy of this universe. Tune into her iconography, mantra, teachings, and energy.

Learn the Songs, Mantras, History, Seed Syllables, and Sequence of these

Dark Red Victorious Tārā Sādhanā Practice can help you:

* Transform and release Toxic Patterns

* Release blocks and Protect Yourself

* Reconnect with purpose

* Set powerful boundaries and intentions

* Feel balanced, aligned, and nurtured

* Create your own healing practice with her red subjugating light

Read the intro to learn more, and then please subscribe.

May it be for the Benefit of All Beings:

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This Substack Post is the fifth edition of a subscriber-only series with complete instructions for the Mandala of the 21 Tārā practices. Subscribe to get access to all the Mandala of 21 Tārās posts, both past and future. There will be 22 Posts in all.

The fifth manifestation of Tārā in the 21 Tārā Māndala is Red ḥum Sounding Tārā, also known in Tibet as Wangdu Rigje Lhamo, a powerful figure. Her Sanskrit name is Kurukullā, which translates to she who comprehends everything with precision, while her Tibetan names Rigjema and Rigje Lhamo mean Goddess Woman or Goddess Mother. The power of Wangdu represents an ability to attract everything beneficial and use it to serve all beings.

The name was Kurukullā was purportedly a Hindu tribal divinity connected with magnetizing control. She was integrated into the Buddhist tradition as one of the 21 Tārās.

There is an interesting magical story about the origins of Kurukullā. A Queen Consort was disheartened due to the indifference of her husband the King. To capture his devotion, she sent her maid to search for an answer. Her aid happened upon a dark red-featured enchantress in a local marketplace who sold magical sustenance (or medicine) to the queen’s aid and instructed the queen to administer the potion to the king to draw his affection through magical means.

When the Queen consort received the potion from her maid, she deemed that it was improper/damaging, and disposed of it by throwing it into a nearby lake. A Nāga dragon from the lake devoured the sustenance and was under a spell and fell in love with the queen. The magic potion certainly did its work because both the Queen and the Nāga Dragon of the lake fell furiously into love and consummated an affair.

Eventually, the King discovered the conception/witnessed the resulting child, and chose to reprimand the queen. The queen told the king what had occurred. The King invited the spell caster who was in reality Kurukullā into the castle. Upon meeting her, he decided she was Knowledgable and requested teachings from her. The king acquired exceptional abilities siddhis from her the teachings of her rituals and endowments. Later he wrote about what he learned and that is one of the origin stories of Kurukullā. So interesting she had such a potent and magical beginning.

Later Kurukullā was adopted by Tibetan Buddhism and became Red ḥum Tārā, one of the 21 Tārās. She is often referred to as the Tārā of Magnetizing because of her power to summon and bring together any resources to benefit those around her. Furthermore, she is a figure of protection, offering individuals the strength and courage to take control of their lives and create a better future for themselves.

Red ḥum Sounding Tārā is a powerful ally for anyone who needs guidance in setting boundaries and taking control of their lives. She provides strength and courage to make decisions that are right for the individual and that honor their values and beliefs. She encourages creativity and supports finding innovative solutions to difficult challenges. She also brings clarity and understanding, helping individuals to make wiser choices while exerting a positive influence on those around them. Red ḥum Sounding Tārā helps to empower individuals to take charge of their lives and create a better future for themselves.

Red ḥum Sounding Tārā is an ancient practice of Tibetan Buddhism that dates back to the 11th century. It involves chanting the syllables ḥum (हुं) and Tārā in a deep, reverberant voice. The process is said to bring inner peace and harmony, helping align the body's energy centers and free the mind from attachment and suffering. The mantra is often used for healing, protection, and transformation, as well as for connecting with the knowledge and power of the divine feminine. The vibratory quality of Red ḥum (हुं) Sounding Tārā is said to create a powerful resonance throughout the body, helping to connect with ancient wisdom and promoting a sense of inner peace and well-being. The practice has been used for centuries by monks and nuns in Tibetan Buddhism. In Non-dual Dzogchen teachings, the mantra syllables Tārā, Tuttāre, and ḥum are instructions on the practices of Trekcho and Togal. Through these practices, we can free all yearnings and passions into Rigpa, our innate state of self-awareness. We could say that Rigpa is represented by Tārā, Tuttāre and ḥu, or alternatively that Tuttāre and ḥum हुं manifest as Rigpa.

Practicing meditation from this perspective is what Red ḥum Sounding Tārā does for her devotees and practitioners. In the Buddhist Vājrayāna Tradition once you understand the nature of the mind and discover rigpa, then you have attained the four activities of a buddha, which includes the act of magnetizing. You must understand that different Tārās in the Māndala of the 21 Tārās address these activities.

The Four Activities of a Buddha are:

• Pacifying

• Enriching

• Magnetizing

• Subjugating

These activities promote a sense of balanced well-being by calming obstacles, increasing positive qualities, engaging with others, and eliminating inner and outer disturbances.

So you could say that Red ḥum Sounding Tārā strengthens your magnetizing abilities which means you can draw all the things you need to attain enlightenment towards yourself.

Red ḥum Sounding Tārā Sādhanā Practice is an ancient meditation practice used for self-healing, protection, and transformation. It blends the power of mantras with the sacred sounds of the syllables ‘ḥum हुं‘ and ‘Tārā’, which are chanted in a deep, reverberating voice, with bodhicitta motivation, joy, and closeness. The practice is said to unlock inner wisdom and connect with the divine feminine. It is also known to foster harmony and balance within oneself and with the environment, enabling a sense of inner peace and well-being. The practice has been used for centuries by Buddhist monks to cultivate emotional and spiritual health. The practice of Red ḥum Sounding Tārā Sādhanā opens the heart and helps us recognize our truth.

To learn her complete practice (Visualization Practice, Prayers, Mantras, Insights, Inner Teachings, Video Song, Complete Audio Practice, and Written Sequence) so you can learn and follow along.

Red ḥum Sounding Tārā Sādhanā Practice can help you:

* Transform

* Release blocks

* Reconnect with purpose

* Set powerful intentions

* Feel balanced, aligned, and powerful

* Create your own healing practice with her red magnetic light.

Please subscribe. May it be for the Benefit of All Beings

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Yellow All Victorious Tārā’s name in Tibetan is Tuugtor Namgyalma, also known in Sanskrit as Uṇhniṣhṭavijaya. Her name refers to the topknot on the crown chakra of a Buddha, one of the thirty-two major marks of a fully enlightened being. Tuugtor Namgyalma is a symbol of victory and an embodiment of triumphant wisdom. Namgyal or Vijaya means victorious one. Roughly translated, her names mean victorious one of the top knot.

Right away, when I heard about the 32 major marks of a fully enlightened being, I wondered what they were if the top knot was one of them. On investigation, I found that the 32 marks can be anything from blue eyes and long arms to a cone-shaped head. So I gathered there must be a bit more to the symbol of the top knot. It seems that this Tārā is relied upon to protect sentient beings from rebirth in the lower realms and from premature death, adverse changes in circumstances, inauspicious events, unvirtuous activities, and unfavorable situations. She is renowned for being another Tārā of long life, as her practice strengthens the life force, energy, and vitality. The topknot symbolizes her ultimate attainment of enlightenment and the highest truths.

In many Buddhist lineages and traditions, she is practiced in large-group ceremonies, where it is customary to prepare 1,000 of each type of offering, such as lamps or water bowls. The shrine room will have Tārā’s Māndala at its center, and around it, the thousands of offerings will be arranged. The Monks and Nuns circumambulate while walking in meditation, repeating her long-life mantra. This ritual is performed continuously for many days and is said to be a very powerful, blissful practice when done in a group setting.

This Tārā is said to have attained every single perfection of the bhūmis, the perfection of the five pāramitās, and the five paths. Well, let’s dissect this a bit more to understand the strength and power of what these terms mean. So first of all, what are the five bhūmis of Vājrayāna Buddhism? They are the attainments of joy, accession, seeing the truth, moving towards enlightenment, and perfecting wisdom. Right away, the part of this that stands out for me is seeing the truth. Truth can be so many things, can’t it? One person’s truth is different from another person’s truth in so many situations. In the Tantric Buddhist tradition, the ultimate truth is the truth before you have thought about it or made up a story about it. So there are two truths: the truth before you think about it and the truth after you make up a story or rationalization about it. So we could investigate these further, but you can see how each bhūmi may have deeper meanings.

The Five Pāramitās

The five pāramitās are: Generosity, Morality, Patience, Diligence, and Concentration. It is in the tradition that if you have perfected the five pāramitās, then you are enlightened. Seems pretty simple, yet complex.

The five pāramitās, also known as the five perfections, are essential teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. They are generosity (Dāna), morality (Śīla), patience (Kṣānti), joyous effort (Vīrya), and meditation or wisdom (Prajñā). Each pāramitā is a way of perfecting our practice of the Buddha’s path to Enlightenment.

Generosity is about giving without expecting something in return. So sometimes it is easy to be generous with others but I have come to realize that being generous with yourself by watching how you care for yourself and not be too hard on yourself is a big part of generosity. In essence, it can mean not being too hard or stringent with yourself. Just give yourself a break.

• Morality or Dāna includes following the laws of society and living with integrity. Of course, we can understand that being ethical and law-abiding is very important, but this does not mean trying to get things for free by complaining or making false claims. Taking the high road in situations where you might not want to because you feel wronged.

• Patience or Kṣānti means being able to accept difficult situations and not judge them as good or bad. It does seem to me that this is a lifelong pursuit of not taking anything personally and not reading into situations.

• Diligence or Vīrya is not just about consistent effort over time, but also the cultivation of insights and realizations, fostering a proactive approach to meditation, study, and ethical behavior.

• Joyous Effort Vīrya is having enthusiasm and determination in our spiritual practice. So you don’t give it resentful effort; you give it happy, fun effort.

• Meditation, Wisdom, or Prajñā is cultivating insight into the true nature of life and reality. This brings us to having the spiritual makeup as a ḥum and to engage in real self-examination and study.

Thirdly, we can ask about the 5 paths of Buddhism. The five paths of Vājrayāna Buddhism are the Path of Accumulation, the Path of Preparation, the Path of Seeing, the Path of Cultivation, and the Path of Perfection.

The Path of Accumulation is the first step and involves accumulating positive actions and merits.

The Path of Preparation is the second step which involves developing concentration, mindfulness, and insight into the true nature of reality.

The Path of Seeing is the third step and involves realization and insight into the four noble truths (foundational tenants of Buddhist Teaching: 1. the truth of suffering, 2. the truth of the cause of suffering3. the truth of the end of suffering, and 4. the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.)

The Path of Cultivation is the fourth step and involves practicing the Pāramitās and other practices.

The Path of Perfection is the final step and involves living in line with the perfect manifestation of abiding in an enlightened mind.

The Yellow Victorious Tārās Appearance

Besides her top knot, what are her other attributes, and how would we visualize her in this practice?

Yellow Victorious Tārā is seated on her lotus throne; she is illuminated by a moon behind her that gives her a Moon-glow golden spotlight presence, and one face, two arms, and two legs, the right one being outstretched as if to get up and help you, and the left still in a meditation posture.

Yellow Victorious Tārā has a rich golden color to her skin, and her gesture and ornamentation follow the same pattern as every other Tārā. The difference is that in the middle of the open lotus or utpala flower, which she holds at the level of her shoulder, near her ear, there is a vase of immortality that is filled with long-life nectar. This nectar, known as amṛta (Amṛta), is the essence of all the pure elements and wisdom. It is believed that imbibing this nectar or elixir grants eternal life.

Her Song & Mantra:

Yellow Victorious Tārā embodies the potential to protect you from danger, purifies disturbances of life energy and transforms the fear of death. She is known to safeguard you from harm, cleanses turmoil and inauspicious circumstances and unforseen events. She ignites and activates the vital energy of life and known to activate longevity by those who do her practice.

To learn the complete instructions in this practice with the Downloadable Audio Sequence, including Mantras and Seed Syllables. We discuss her history, praise, the translation of Mantras, and the deeper meanings and layers of her feminine-empowered support for those who practice.

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Golden Tārā is known as the third emanation of Tārā, of the 21 Tārās. Her Tibetan name, in the Padmasambhava Lineage, is Tārā Sonam Tobche, which means Tārā as the Liberator and Guiding Star; Sonam means Merit, Good Fortune, and Prosperity; and Tobche means Increasing Power and Ability.

In the Atiśa (Atisha) Lineage, she is slightly different but very similar; she is known as Kāṇakavarṇa (Kanakavarna) Tārā. Kāṇaka means gold, and Varna means colored moon. Tārā is, as always, the Liberator, the guiding star.

Golden Tārā supports you to fulfill the purposes of your life. Because she is yellow or golden in color, she is one of what is called the Increasing Tārās. All the yellow Tārās are known as increasing Tārā’s, because they give you life energy and increase your ability to manifest your karmic destiny. Many people might think that means increasing monetary wealth, but it also means spiritual wealth and increased spiritual development to the ultimate goal of enlightenment. So in essence, the Golden Tārā develops not just material wealth but spiritual wealth. In Sanskrit, it might be called bhukti (worldly enjoyment) or mūkti (spiritual attainment). Golden Tārā represents the light of life itself and its increase, which translates into healing, wholeness, and untarnished radiance.

Well, you may ask, what are the purposes of your life? After all, that is a big question that men and women throughout the ages have contemplated deeply and often. Even as small children, we guess and wish for what we may be when we grow up. Perhaps we want to be a teacher, a fireman, a sanitation worker, or a crane operator. Our aspirations grow and change over time. When we are in high school and college, we may dream of marrying our dream partner, opening a business, or having children. The list grows and expands. Many people have no idea what they want to do in their lives. It is a quandary and a constant source of change and evolution for almost every individual. Some are interested not just in worldly success but also in enlightenment. If you remember, Tārā made the vow to become enlightened in the body of a woman. How does evolution, sādhanā (spiritual journey and path), happen in a woman’s body? Male Spiritual teachers are abundant, and sadly, in this day and age, many of them have become all too full of themselves and have suffered tremendous failures or falls. The list is very long, and it’s hard to find a male teacher of yoga or meditation who doesn’t have a tarnished past, whether they became over-controlling of their students, created cult circumstances, sexually abused women, stole money from their organizations, or told others who they could marry. So, as a woman, in a woman’s body, I started to see my path as a bit different from what a man would describe as his path.
There are different milestones, such as marriage, childbirth, raising children, being a member of a community, being a wife, and all the things women do, which are marginalized by even spiritual people who do not recognize the intense sādhanā it takes to raise children and go through childbirth. Those experiences are masterclasses in letting go, bringing in new energies, and being transformed from the inside out. Once, on Mother’s Day, at the meditation ashram I was living in, South Fallsburg, NY, with Gurumayi, she took only the mothers in the ashram into the temple in front of a statue of a powerful Siddha (enlightened master), Bhagwan Nityānanda. We chanted for about 45 minutes a chant to the Goddess Kālī Durgā, and then she gave us mothers a little talk, which was partly advice and partly a master class on feminine sādhanā. She told us that we were very lucky to be doing our sādhanā as mothers. Being a mother was extremely difficult on so many levels. You are always on call, protecting, nourishing, educating, playing, being creative, and giving powerful amounts of energy to the children in your life. She said that a mother’s ego is constantly and naturally being broken down. It’s a nature sādhanā of constantly releasing. A mother practically doesn’t need any other practice except being a mother to evolve and grow spiritually. It was then that I felt her compassion for mothers and, in turn, felt that deep compassion for myself and other mothers. I also gained a clearer understanding of things. So many times, I had deeply resented being a mother because I felt it kept me from meditation and practices. There had been a big meditation program in a tent for several summers, and as a mother, I could not attend because of the hours. Instead, I made mālās in the mālā room, which was near the children’s house, so I could pick up my children for meals and spend time together. I was kind of resentful and mad about this at the time, which in hindsight seems pretty silly.
The people in the tent all wore special white meditation clothing and had mālās to recite their mantras thousands of times a day, and I wanted to do all of that. Later, when the energy in the tent became overwhelming, overseeing the meditation program would send people to the mālā room, where I made mālās to calm them, and we set them to sorting beads and admonished them to breathe and say their mantra in a relaxed way. I didn’t see it at the time, but my sādhanā was perfect, just as great as people wearing special clothing and meditating and chanting in a tent with everyone else. So learning to see your evolution as a woman on the spiritual path as perfectly perfect, no matter what the circumstances, and using life’s circumstances to grow on the path, just as Tārā attained her enlightenment in the body of a woman, so can you attain enlightenment too. In fact, in her sādhanā, which the 21 Tārās represent, there is something for every part of your journey and eventually culminates in the 21st Tārā, which has all the energies of the other Tārās. So this is what this practice is about, imbibing all the various energies of the 21 Tārās and taking them into yourself on deeper and deeper levels. Wherever you are, there is something for you in this practice.

My Guru, Gurumayi Chidvilāsānanda once told her students in a New Year’s Day Talk, a version of this, she said; “Golden Mind, Golden Life” Even after many years of contemplating this, it has always stayed with me and I have often imagined my thoughts and awareness as being golden but not till I studied Golden Tārā did I get some techniques of Visualization, Mantra Repetition, and insight into the ways to connect on a deeper level to Golden Mind.

To Learn and Practice #3 Golden Tārā’s practice with deep insights into the layers of spiritual teachings in the Praise, Mantras, and Seed Syllables, become a paid subscriber. This is the third in a series of 22 posts detailing the entire Mandala of the 21 Tārās practices, songs, mantras, and teachings.

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Great White Soothing Tārā is one of the 21 Tārās and is known as the second emanation of Tārā, or female emanations of enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism. Her Tibetan name is Loter Yangchenma and she is a manifestation of Tārā that symbolizes the transmission of Wisdom or non-dual enlightened consciousness from the Buddhas to all sentient beings. The first part of her name, Loter means “knowledge-giver.” The Tibetan term Yangchenma can be translated as “melodious, one who possesses melodies” or “source of melodies.” Her name is Drolma Loter Yangchenma representing her innate capacity for giving knowledge through song, melody, or words. In Sanskrit, she is known as Sarasvatī and Vajrasarasvatī. In addition, the white color of Great White Soothing Tārā has the power to calm profound disturbances such as illnesses and negative imprints. These are long-standing or deeply ingrained patterns that can be difficult to overcome and she employs her pacifying and soothing effects on these circumstances. Tārā’s peaceful expression reflects her ability to dissipate negativity and penetrate the innermost parts of the heart. Through her loving presence, she can help us to trust the connections we make within ourselves and with others in peaceful states of consciousness. Tārā’s teachings remind us of the importance of cultivating peace, understanding, and kindness to achieve true and lasting inner peace. When this calming of disturbances occurs, the result is an opening in the body's channels, allowing amazing knowledge, poetry, art, insight, and music to emerge.

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Welcome to Our Gifts of the New Year: Yoga Nidra Meditation and Sound Bath. Settled yourself in a quiet space, perhaps with headphones, for a deep experience and blissful journey to awaken, renew, recharge, and reset your intentions for the New Year 2026.

As we step into a new year, many of us feel the call to let go of the past and embrace fresh beginnings. This period is not just about resolutions; it’s an opportunity to tune into our authentic essence, creating space for transformation and renewal.

In this audio recording, we invite you on a journey through the soothing practices of Yoga Nidra and a Sound Bath. Let’s explore how these experiences can help us transcend the limitations of our minds, guiding us to recognize our true selves.

In this longer 45-minute yoga nidra session, we recognize and receive 5 Gifts of the New Year during a journey into a winter forest. These are not ordinary gifts, but gifts to guide your intentions in the coming year.

Letting Go and Setting Intentions

The start of a new year often brings reflections on what we want to release. Yoga Nidra, often referred to as “yogic sleep,” provides a profound space for deep relaxation and introspection. As you listen, allow yourself to let go of any burdens or limiting beliefs that no longer serve you.

Tuning Into Our Authentic Essence

Through guided meditation, you will connect with your inner self and discover the boundless energy that resides within. This practice encourages you to set intentions rooted in authenticity, aligning with your true desires and values.

The Power of Sound

As we transition into the Sound Bath, immerse yourself in the healing vibrations of the instruments. The sounds will wash over you, facilitating a deeper release and allowing your mind to quiet. This sonic experience enhances your journey inward, making space for clarity and insight.

Recognizing the True Self

By the end of our session, you will have cultivated a sense of peace and awareness that transcends everyday distractions. Embracing your true self is a powerful act of self-love, and we hope this experience will inspire you to carry this energy into the year ahead.

Join us as we embark on this transformative journey together. May this new year be filled with growth, joy, and a deeper connection to your authentic self.

Expand Yoga & Wellness Website

Melissa Abbott’s Published Books including “Yoga Nidra Illuminated”

Thank you for listening.

Released today on 23 Streaming Platforms, including Spotify. Those who know me know that in 2023, I was guided to write a book about the Tārā Mandala, Green Tārā, and her Mandala of 21 Emanations.

White Tārā is also known as Sita Tārā, the cool one who brings in healing light, energy, and longevity. In Sanskrit, Sita means “white” or “pure,” and it is also the name of the planet Venus. She is the foremost female bodhisattva of compassionate activity, the supreme representation of mother goddess energy, and the collective manifestation of all enlightenment, eternal life, and healing love. White Tārā brings in the long life activating energies of life, fire, strength, vitality, and evolution of wisdom, awakened awareness.

White Tārā differs from Green Tārā and her Mandala Tārās. Besides the color difference, she has seven eyes. Three are on the face, two on her palms, two on the soles of her feet, and she sits in the vajra posture. The symbolism of these particularities is as follows.

• White color: absence of the two veils (conflicting emotions and dualistic knowledge) • Seven eyes: She sees reality through the three doors of liberation (emptiness, absence of characteristics, absence of wishes) and generates compassion by means of the four unlimited qualities of the bodhisattvas (love, compassion, joy, and equanimity). White Tārā.

On the thangkas, White Tara is immediately recognizable by her color. When we face a statue or a drawing, it is easy to distinguish White Tārā from Green Tārā or Green Tārās mandala. Green Tārā’s legs are in the Bodhisattva Posture (right leg in front), and she has only two eyes; White Tārā sits in the lotus posture and has seven eyes, including one on her forehead.

Practicing White Tārā Sadhana offers many benefits, including aiding in healing physical illness, improving mental clarity and inner peace, cultivating unconditional compassion and self-love, and ultimately helping one achieve liberation. As White Tara embodies the divine energy of unconditional love, practicing her Sadhana can help one to open their hearts, manifesting love and compassion within oneself and outwardly towards others. Additionally, White Tārā’s energy is deeply connected to healing, so it can help to bring healing energy into one’s body and mind.

Ultimately, by engaging with White Tārā’s energy, one can open oneself to her compassionate, healing, and liberating power.

White Tārā is extremely powerful. Tārā is very close to sentient beings, like a mother to her children. She is very quick to fulfill our wishes, grant us happiness and a long life, and help us develop wisdom. By taking refuge in Tārā, practicing meditation and visualization, and having faith, you have the power to remove obstacles from your life and prolong it.

“Tārā Illuminated The Mandala of the 21 Tārās”

Author Website:

http://melissashubhaabbott.com

This new album is an offshoot of my Tārā studies, as Vajrayana White Tara differs from Green Tārā and her mandala. Below is a link to Spotify:

Links to iTunes and Apple Music with Sample HERE

I was guided by working with this White Tārā for the last several years. Originally I became familiar with her when I received her empowerment in the 1990’s from His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche 1931-2022. His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche was the 75th abbot of the Ngor Ewam Choden Monastery and was head of the Ngor lineage of the Sakya tradition from 1954 to March 2000. His Eminence was born in 1931 and was aged 91 at the time of his passing. Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism.

I was lucky enough or should I say guided to meet him by an amazing set of circumstances and equally blessed to have recieved not only Buddhist Initiation from him as well as the Tārā empowerments including empowerment for this White Tārā.

After he passed away just before New Years in 2022, I got an influx unexpected of Tārā energy in my meditation practice and Green Tārā and her mandala of 21 became very present and potent for me. I later learned that my teacher had passed away 2 days before I recieved this energy late one night while getting up to practice meditation which is my habit.

After writing the Tārā book or should I say, getting the download of the book which flew out from underneath my fingers within six months. I went back to studying Vajrayana White Tārā for the long life and healing abilities she has because someone close to me was very ill. Her practice has a beautiful mantra, visualization, and healing energy. It is more importantly very protective as there is a six protection lights sequence in the practice which I bring alive on the album.

Along the way, I have studied many goddesses of the Tibetan Buddhist and Northern India Saiva Tantra paths. I love them all, but I must say in terms of a “go-to” practice, this White Tārā has powerful and special energies to bring into your life for health, longevity, protection, and peacefulness. I highly recommend her.

At the beginning of this year 2026, I was guided to put out into the world musical albums highlighting the practices of both Green and White Tārā. I released a Green Tārā Album in January 2026 and now the White Tārā Album has been made manifest.

The intention is to do this for not only the benefit of myself but the benefit of all beings. I hope this album brings White Tārā’s essence alive and manifest for you. Please enjoy her!

In 2024 I had a Tārā Mandala Goddess Circle that met once a week on zoom and at a local Yoga Studio (Treetop Yoga in Gloucester, MA). We practiced the various Tārās sequences, mantras, practices etc on a weekly basis. I would like to do the same in the future on substack to my paid subscribers. I would start with:

If you have interest in this please at least free subscribe so I can let you know when this will be starting (which will be soon)!

Melissa Shubha Abbott Bio:

Melissa Shubha Abbott is an Author, Practitioner, yoga and meditation instructor, and E-RYT 500 in the North Boston, USA area. She has over 40 years of experience in yoga and meditation, initiated by an Indian Guru, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and studied with many great teachers of the 20th Century. She combines ancient wisdom with modern insights, making her teachings accessible and relevant to today’s world. Her compassionate and nurturing approach creates a safe space for individuals to explore their inner landscapes and cultivate a deeper connection with themselves. She has written several books available on Amazon, Etsy, and several other publishing platforms. She has also released several Meditation and Background Music for Yoga Albums under her label “Collective Awakening”

Links to Collective Awakening Albums on Spotify:

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link to Melissa Shubha Abbott’s White Tara Sadhana Podcast to get the long version of the Practice Sequence of Vajrayana White Tārā.

Other Collective Awakening Albums include

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Meditation Practice Sequence Albums:

Coming Soon Vajrayana White Tara Practice Album:

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Dear Friends & Folks,

The Green Tārā Album of Practices, Songs, and Mantras draws inspiration from Melissa Shubha Abbott’s (that’s me) bestselling book, *Tara Illuminated: The Mandala of the 21 Taras. This album encapsulates the essence of Green Tārā, focusing on her teachings and the transformative power of her mantras.

Drawing on soothing melodies and sacred chants, the album aims to foster a spiritual atmosphere that encourages meditation and reflection. Each track is designed to resonate with the listener, enhancing their connection to Green Tārā and her compassionate energy, mantra, history, legends, and transformative powers.

The practices included in the album are structured to guide users in their spiritual journeys, promoting healing, protection, fearlessness, and inner peace. With the wisdom drawn from my work, the album serves as a companion for those seeking solace and empowerment through Tārā’s teachings.

Available on all major streaming services, this album is not only a musical experience but also a tool for spiritual growth, making it accessible for anyone interested in deepening their practice and understanding of the original feminist and spiritual revolutionary, Green Tārā.

Whether you are familiar with her teachings or new to them, this album offers a rich tapestry of sounds and practices to inspire and uplift your spirit.

Listening to this album will incorporate her energy into your daily life. As the leader of the 21 Taras, Green Tara is known for accomplishing all tasks and alleviating fear. She is a swift and supportive force when you need to get things done.

bio: Melissa Shubha Abbott is a multifaceted artist and author renowned for her bestselling book, Tārā Illuminated: The Mandala of the 21 Tārās. Her deep-rooted passion for Tantric Meditation and Hatha Yoga has shaped her life’s work, guiding countless individuals on their spiritual journeys. She studied and lived in Europe, California, New York, and Boston. Along the way, she studied with some of the top Yoga, Meditation, and Hatha Yoga Trainers of the 20th century receiving spiritual teachings, initiations, and empowerments from Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Luding Khenchen Rinpoche from the Tibetan Sakya Lineage, Phyllis Furumoto, Christopher Hareesh Wallis, Sally Kempton, Ram Butler, Jim Mallinson, Seth Powell, Ian Baker, and many more. She has studied Hatha Yoga with many top trainers, including Jimmy Barkan, Craig Villani, and Baron Baptiste and many more.

Melissa Abbott is a multi-talented individual with a lifelong passion for Meditation and Hatha Yoga. As an artist, sound healer, yoga and meditation podcaster, Shaiva Tantra practitioner, Vajrayana practitioner, Dakini practitioner, Tara practitioner, yogini, and writer, Melissa has dedicated her life to the practice and teachings of yoga. She currently works as a Hatha Yoga and Meditation Instructor in Gloucester, MA, and surrounding communities north of Boston, Massachusetts. Currently, she is a Community Meditation Leader and Shiva Sutras Study Group organizer for Tantrailluminated.org, the website for Classical Shaiva Tantra Studies with Christopher Hareesh Wallis.

Melissa Shubha Abbott Books Website

Collective Awakening on Spotify ( featuring 2 other albums)

First Light Shiva Sutra Album & Luminous Stillness - Radiant Yoga Soundscapes for Yoga & Meditation

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Luminous Stillness Ambient Yoga Soundscapes

Collective Awakening

Luminous Stillness is a transcendent journey through sound and sacred geometry, designed to deepen your yoga practice and meditation. Each track weaves ethereal soundscapes with subtle harmonics, creating an immersive background.

About Melissa Shubha Abbott:

Melissa Shubha Abbott is an Author, Practitioner, yoga and meditation instructor, and E-RYT 500 in the North Boston, USA area. She has over 40 years of experience in yoga and meditation, initiated by an Indian Guru, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and studied with many great teachers of the 20th Century. She combines ancient wisdom with modern insights, making her teachings accessible and relevant to today’s world. Her compassionate and nurturing approach creates a safe space for individuals to explore their inner landscapes and cultivate a deeper connection with themselves. She has written several books available on Amazon, Etsy, and several other publishing platforms, and recently started creating meditation and yoga music on all the major streaming platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and others as Collective Awakening.

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Melissa Shubha Abbott Books Website

In Person and Streaming Yoga Classes North of Boston led by Melissa Shubha Abbott

Expand Yoga & Wellness (in person only)

Treetop Yoga Studio (Monday Class available on Streaming)

Empower Yoga Studio

Welcome to Our Gifts of the New Year: Yoga Nidra Meditation and Sound Bath. Settled yourself in a quiet space, perhaps with headphones, for a deep experience and blissful journey to awaken, renew, recharge, and reset your intentions for the New Year 2026.

As we step into a new year, many of us feel the call to let go of the past and embrace fresh beginnings. This period is not just about resolutions; it’s an opportunity to tune into our authentic essence, creating space for transformation and renewal.

In this audio recording, we invite you on a journey through the soothing practices of Yoga Nidra and a Sound Bath. Let’s explore how these experiences can help us transcend the limitations of our minds, guiding us to recognize our true selves.

In this longer 45-minute yoga nidra session, we recognize and receive 5 Gifts of the New Year during a journey into a winter forest. These are not ordinary gifts, but gifts to guide your intentions in the coming year.

Letting Go and Setting Intentions

The start of a new year often brings reflections on what we want to release. Yoga Nidra, often referred to as “yogic sleep,” provides a profound space for deep relaxation and introspection. As you listen, allow yourself to let go of any burdens or limiting beliefs that no longer serve you.

Tuning Into Our Authentic Essence

Through guided meditation, you will connect with your inner self and discover the boundless energy that resides within. This practice encourages you to set intentions rooted in authenticity, aligning with your true desires and values.

The Power of Sound

As we transition into the Sound Bath, immerse yourself in the healing vibrations of the instruments. The sounds will wash over you, facilitating a deeper release and allowing your mind to quiet. This sonic experience enhances your journey inward, making space for clarity and insight.

Recognizing the True Self

By the end of our session, you will have cultivated a sense of peace and awareness that transcends everyday distractions. Embracing your true self is a powerful act of self-love, and we hope this experience will inspire you to carry this energy into the year ahead.

Join us as we embark on this transformative journey together. May this new year be filled with growth, joy, and a deeper connection to your authentic self.

Expand Yoga & Wellness Website

Melissa Abbott’s Published Books including “Yoga Nidra Illuminated”

Thank you for listening.

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New Year, New YOU! with Jana Olenio new owner of Expand Yoga & Wellness (formerly Bikram Yoga DANVERS) and Yoga Teacher and Sound Healer Melissa Abbott have teamed up to create a great day to start your year off at 110 Newbury St., Rt 1, Danvers, MA. Invest in organizing yourself for 2026 with this Self Care Sunday - $95 per person
Members get 20% off = $76

Centrally located near Boston, North Shore, and Southern NH.

Self Care Sun Date: January 4, 2026

From: 10:30 am - 4:00 pm

Begin the new year, intentionally.

Join us for this Self Care Sunday for a day of Reflections and Conscious Intention Setting.

January 4, 10:30AM - 4:00 PM @ EXPAND Yoga & Wellness

Are you ready to begin this year with INTENTION rather than making new year resolutions? What is the difference? And why does it matter?

A resolution is made with the goal to “fix,” change, or improve ourselves, to become better and happier.

An intention is more focused on creating abundance in your life and motivates and inspires you to live more deliberately and intentionally.

We have created a very special day for you during the first week of the New Year to help inspire you to step into this new year with intention. This day retreat will be about reflecting on the last year and setting conscious intentions for the year ahead.

We will do this through physical movement and mindful practices and ultimately create a roadmap for our year ahead including what we wish to cultivate, how we wish to show up, and who we wish to surround ourselves with and so much more.

We will begin the day with a welcome circle followed by a gentle yoga flow, a meditation & journaling exercise followed by creating a Vision Board to take home with you. After lunch, discover the art of relaxation and meditation with Crystal Bowls, Tibetan Bowls & Chou Gong Sound-Bath - a soothing & healing sound journey that guides you through a Gifyts of the New Year Yoga Nidra for embracing the New Year with new energy, intentions, clarity, and presence. Just lie back and allow the healing sounds and immersive practices elevate your spirit. Setting intentions in a Yoga Nidra Session can transform your consciousness from the inside out.

We’ll close our day together with a celebratory toast - CHEERS to the New Year and the New YOU!

Retreat Package Includes:
-Welcome Circle & Introductions
- Somatic Yoga Flow suitable for all levels
-Guided Meditation & Journaling
-Vision Board Workshop - Creation Power
-Gifts of the New Year Yoga Nidra - Transform Your Upcoming Year
-Sound Healing Bath accompanies the Yoga Nidra Meditation created by Melissa Abbott, author of the best selling book “Yoga Nidra Illuminated”
-Closing Circle - Seal Your Intentions
-NYE Toast

Not Included:
Yoga Mat, Lunch/Snacks, Drinks ( restaurants in the same plaza for drinks and food)

What to Bring with you:
Yoga Mat, Water Bottle, Lunch, Journal, Blanket optional for Nidra / Sound Healing. One of your favorite magazines:)

Invest in organizing yourself for 2026 with this Self Care Sunday - $95 per person
Members get 20% off = $76

Do something for yourself 2026 Sign up HERE

ABOUT EXPAND Yoga & Wellness:

More Than a Studio. A Space to Return to Yourself

EXPAND was born from the belief that growth doesn’t come from doing more, but from coming back to what’s already inside you.

Here, there’s no pressure to perform—only space to feel, breathe, move, rest, sweat, and reconnect with what matters. This is a place to land when life feels heavy, and to rise into who you’re becoming.

We open our doors each day with one goal: to hold space. For every body, every story, and every season of life. We meet you where you are and invite you to grow at your own pace.

Learn More and SIGN UP HERE

Jana Olenio Grgurovic

Owner of EXPAND, Heated Flow, Restorative, Yin, SUP Yoga, Retreat Leader

Melissa Abbott is passionate about promoting well-being through various yoga practices including Sound Healing and Yoga Nidra Meditation

E-RYT 500 & YACPT 300 Yoga Alliance Accredited

Melissa Abbott's Books Website

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Click the album cover to go to the Collective Awakening First Light Sutras on Spotify

I first learned about the Shiva Sutras at the Siddha Yoga Ashram in the 1980s, and I bought and was reading Lakshman Joo’s book on the Sutras at that time (he was still alive). Funny story, at that time, I was reading this book, and it fell into a crack in a rock at Lighthouse Beach in Gloucester, MA, and disappeared. I never found it, but years later, these teachings re-emerged for me while studying with Hareesh (Been with him since 2017), during which I have taken most of his courses and completed several of his highly recommended 6-month Immersions, Recognition Sutras, Tantrasara/Abinavagupta, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, etc.

In contrast, Western Yoga Centers teach a Patanjali Yoga Sutra overview in Yoga Teacher Trainings and in classes, mostly because those were the teachings Krishnamacharya and Iyengar brought to the West for their students. The Northern India Shaiva Tantra traditions have yogic meditation techniques like the Shiva Sutras, the Recognition Sutras, the Spanda Karikas, and the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra. This last year, I was involved and still involved in a Shiva Sutra Study Group on Hareesh Christopher Wallis’s: Tantra Illuminated teaching platform,

which studies Classical Shaiva Tantra. His teaching and his community have really helped to enliven and translate some of these incredible yogic meditation sequences and teachings. In the Shiva Sutras, there are three chapters called First Light, Second Light, and Third Light. I am doing an album of the First Light (22) Sutras Meditation and teachings, and releasing it on all the major streaming platforms last month ( Nov) and this month ( Dec). These are meditation sequences I have gleaned from Hareesh Christophers Wallis’s videos, study guides, and Shiva Sutra Study Group. Being a yoga teacher, I have recently integrated some of these sutras, meditation sequences, and teachings into my Restorative and Sound Healing Yoga Classes locally north of Boston, USA, where I live. My students locally have loved the offerings as they are highly relevant and have a quality and transmission that is quite relatable to modern life.

The name of this Album is “Collective Awakening,” and it’s a way to share what, to me, are really important parts of early yoga traditions that aren’t well known in the Western Yoga Community. Making short songs, like teaching sequences of the sutras, is experimental, but it uses modern world technology that has an interesting energy and conveys the teachings in a succinct way. These sutras were always short and to the point anyway. I hope you enjoy them.

Please listen, review, and comment on this offering, as it’s still in its infancy, but there is something very special about these teachings, and if enough people imbibe them, we honestly could have a collective awakening!

May it be of benefit to all!

Link to Spotify Playlist. I will be adding the next sutras. Also available on all the streaming services listed below.

If you are a Yogi, Yogini. Practitioner, or contemplative person interested in awakened consciousness and awareness, you may be interested in this, and I am interested in your insights and journey with the Shiva Sutras.

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About the Shiva Sutras:

The Shiva Sutras were compiled by a great master named Vasugupta. Tradition says he had a pure heart because he received spiritual teachings from many Yoginīs and Siddhas. These enlightened beings taught him about the principle of Pulsation (spanda-tattva), which refers to the dynamic nature of consciousness that creates the divine experiences we have. It is said that the essence of all deep teachings, like the nectar of this principle, was passed to Vasugupta from the Yoginīs and Siddhas. It is very important to note that Non-Dual Shaiva Tantra has a tradition of enlightened female masters.

Later, a master named Kṣemarāja, who wrote The Recognition Sutras, shared a legend about their origin. He said that Paramaśiva wanted to ensure that the nondual teachings wouldn’t disappear in a world filled with dualistic beliefs. So, he appeared to Vasugupta in a dream and told him about a secret teaching written on a big rock on Mt. Mahādeva in the Kashmīr Valley. After waking up, Vasugupta searched for the rock and, when he touched it, found it matched his dream. From this rock, he learned the Shiva Sutras, which contain important hidden teachings.

This knowledge has been carefully preserved for centuries and was hand-copied for 1100 years because its teachings are so valuable. Each of the 77 sentences in this scripture can be meditated on for weeks or months, as they continue to reveal deeper wisdom.

About me:

Melissa Shubha Abbott is an Author, Practitioner, Yoga & Meditation Instructor, E-RYT 500/ in the North of Boston, USA area. She has over 40 years of experience in being initiated into Yoga & Meditation by Indian Guru Gurumayi Chidvilasananda and in studying with many great teachers of the 20th Century, including Sakya Tibetan Master Luding Khen Rinpoche, Ram Butler, Sally Kempton, Hareesh Christopher Wallis, and many more. She combines ancient wisdom with modern insights, making her teachings accessible and relevant to today’s world. Her compassionate and nurturing approach creates a safe space for individuals to explore their inner landscapes and cultivate a deeper connection with themselves.

Link to Melissa Shubha Abbott's Books

Link to Tantra Illuminated

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