I took this photo in Orchha, India many many years ago. I am looking up into the princess’ palace from the courtyard. Legend has it that a princess was held here against her will. She was a gifted musician and her captor, Akbar, asked her to perform a song for him. The song that she sang told of how she missed her home and her prince. Immediately after, Akbar (obviously moved by her performance) sent her home.
Orchha is a wonderful place; a small town built amidst the scattered ruins of ancient temples. It was a place where I felt truly at peace and was the India that I wanted to see.
I mention this because this morning was one of the first times in a long time that I actually meditated when I woke up at 5:30am instead of going back to sleep. After about an hour of meditation I felt refreshed and at peace instead of tired, which is how I have felt for the past two weeks.