The Radiant Paths

About once a month, I lead a community mediation on Tantra Illuminated, a thriving community of spiritual practitioners and the most comprehensive online platform for Classical Tantra learning. around. In this meditation, I am inspired to lead a meditation from Shiva Sutra 3.32. The Shiva Sutras offer a powerful journey toward full realization of the fundamental teachings of Tantric Yoga. They are a meaningful and engaging guide for the spiritual path; centuries-old wisdom, yet just as relevant now as ever.Attributed to the sage Vasugupta, a yogic master of the 9th century C.E., they are a collection of seventy-seven wisdom teachings that form the foundation of the spiritual mysticism tradition known as Kashmir Shaivism.This Shiva Sutras course on Tantra Illuminated, taught by Christopher Hareesh Wallis, is for you if you want a deep dive, something you can contemplate for a lifetime.Its transmissions help you free yourself from mind-created suffering and everyday stress, and open you to a more expansive experience of being.I organize a Shiva Sutras Study Group on the Tantra Illuminated Platform that meets weekly on Tuesdays, 7 pm Portugal time via Zoom. Persons who subscribe to that website and take the course are welcome to join. PM for more information.Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the meditation.Much Love,Melissa Shubha AbbottMelissa 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, was initiated by Indian Guru Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and studied with many great 20th-century teachers. She blends ancient wisdom with modern insights, making her teachings accessible and relevant today. 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 non-fiction books on Yoga, Meditation, and Cooking, and two Historical Novels available on Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, and several other publishing platforms.Collective Awakening BookstoreMelissa Shubha Abbott Author Website Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

Gifts of the New Year Yoga Nidra 2026 Meditation Audio RecordingRecorded Live at Expand Yoga & Wellness, Jan 4, 2026, during the New Year, New You, One Day Mini Yoga & Meditation Retreat, hosted by Jana Olenio and Melissa Shubha Abbott (myself).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.Letting Go and Setting IntentionsThe 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 EssenceThrough 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 SoundAs 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 SelfBy 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.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. Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

In this Podcast, we will explore the potent Dehi Shuddhi Meditation, a powerful technique rooted in Shaiva Tantra that serves as a profound clearing for the subtle body. In our busy lives, we often carry the weight of past experiences, stories, and patterns that no longer serve us. Dehi Shuddhi offers a unique opportunity to release these burdens and embody the essence of the goddess, the Yogini, and the Dakini within. This meditation invites you to set aside the mental clutter and reconnect with your inner divinity.To fully immerse yourself in this experience, find a quiet space where you can listen without distractions. I recommend using headphones to enhance your meditation journey. Allow yourself to be present, open, and ready to embrace the clearing and empowerment that the goddess energy brings.Wishing you a blessed Navaratri filled with joy and spiritual awakening!Voiced by Shubha Melissa Abbott on The Radiant Paths Podcast.Books by Melissa Shubha AbbottLink to buy White Goddess Artwork Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

This Healing Soundbath and Guided Mount Meru Yoga Nidra Meditation in the Tantric Balinese Tradition was recorded at Treetop Yoga Studio in Gloucester, MA, on September 2, 2025, by Melissa Shubha Abbott after a Gentle and Restorative Yoga Class. Listen in a quiet place, preferably with headphones.Mt. Meru (Sanskrit: मेरु), also known as Sineru or Mahameru, is a revered cosmological mountain in Hindu tradition. It is depicted as having five peaks and is regarded as the central axis of all physical, metaphysical, and spiritual realms. This meditation and healing soundbath experience guides you through the subtle realms of Mt. Meru on a mystical and enchanting journey. 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. Author Website: http://melissashubhaabbott.com Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

New Moon, New Beginnings: The Joyful Body Soundbath Immersion with Yoga Nidra Meditation** ✨🌙Listen to Melissa Shubha Abbott's transformative podcast experience, recorded live on May 27, 2025, at Treetop Yoga in beautiful Gloucester, MA. Experience the soothing world of a Crystal bowl & Chou Gong sound bath and rejuvenating Yoga Nidra meditation, designed to help you release the old and embrace new beginnings with each lunar cycle. In this episode, you'll learn how to harness the energy of the new moon to set intentions for your body and spirit, creating a joyful and holistic journey towards bliss, connection, inner peace, self-discovery and renewal. Visit www.treetopyoga.com (  in person & streaming )  Mondays & Tuesdays at 11 am for Melissa's classic Gentle Yoga Flow and Restorative Postures with Props ( Iyengar Style)  and awaken your true potential. Sound Bath Immersions are once a month ( check the Treetop Schedule)Embrace the energy of the new moon and nurture your joyful, spacious body of connection! 🌟🧘‍♀️Enjoy, Much Love, Shubha Melissa Abbott Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

In this Valentine’s Yoga Nidra Immersion, we tune into the full moon, central channel, breath, and inner golden Buddha or Valentine to receive the blessings, courage, and love available in this universe. Feel the cooling effect on your body, as you cultivate a sense of balance and harmony. As you engage in this practice, allow yourself to surrender and fully embrace the transformative power of Yoga Nidra. Open your heart to the possibilities of healing, relaxation, and self-discovery await you on this journey. This Valentine's Day, gift yourself the opportunity to experience the profound benefits of Yoga Nidra. Embrace the practice and allow it to guide you toward deep well-being, inner peace, and self-love. Please read the story of St Valentine below to appreciate the essence of his fearless courage and love that exemplifies this day. Find a quiet place to lie down or be comfortable with headphones and a pillow and listen to this 15 minute Yoga Nidra Meditation Immersion for your self care and meditation practice.Story of St ValentineBy some accounts, St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician known for the miracles and suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270. He befriended his jailer, to perform miracles to teach people the experience and to recognize true love. According to legend, St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness. After the physician became a priest, he defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare their husbands from war. According to legend, St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness.The idea of encouraging them to marry within the Christian church was what Valentine was about. And he secretly married them because of the edict.Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned, and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against the command of Emperor Claudius the Second. There are legends surrounding Valentine's actions while in prison. One of the men who was to judge him in line with Roman law at the time was a man named Asterius, whose daughter was blind. He befriended his jailer, Asterious, who became so impressed with Valentine’s wisdom that he asked Valentine to help his daughter, Julia, with her lessons. Julia was blind and needed someone to read the material to learn it. Valentine became friends with Julia through his work with her when she came to visit him in jail. He was supposed to have prayed with and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius became Christian.In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to execution all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The story goes that his last words were in a note to Asterius' daughter. He inspired today's romantic missives by signing it, "from your Valentine." So he is the Valentine has come to be known as the patron saint of lovers, miracles, beekeepers, plague, epilepsy, traveling, and true love.Prayer to St ValentineOh, St. Valentine, patron saint of lovers,Miracle worker and a beacon of hope,We gather here today to honor your grace,And seek your blessings in our lives.You, who have been revered throughout the ages,For your unwavering devotion to love,We invoke your presence and guidance,As we navigate the complexities of our own hearts.Blessed St. Valentine, protector of true love,We beseech you to intercede on our behalf,Grant us the courage to love deeply and fearlessly,To cherish and honor the connections we hold dear.In your wisdom, you understood the power of love,And the miracles it can manifest in our lives,We ask for your assistance in finding and nurturing,The love that is meant for us, pure and true.St. Valentine, guardian of beekeepers and travelers,We seek your protection and guidance,As we journey through life's challenges and uncertainties,May your presence bring us strength and resilience.In times of epidemics and illness, you offered solace,We humbly ask for your intercession,To heal those afflicted and bring comfort to their loved ones,May your divine intervention bring an end to suffering.Oh, St. Valentine, patron saint of lovers,We offer our gratitude for your divine presence,May your blessings shower upon us,And may we embody the essence of true love.In your name, we dedicate ourselves to love,To honor the connections we hold dear,And to spread love's light in the world,For love is the greatest miracle of all.Thank you for listening and reading, Much Love, Melissa Shubha AbbottMy 7 books:AmazonEtsy Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

What is the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra?Also Known as the “VBT” Basics of the VBTThe So Ham Meditation Sequence from Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, also known as VBT, is a Shaiva Tantra belonging to the Kaula Trika tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. This treatise serves as a manual for self-realization, offering practitioners a comprehensive guide to unlocking inner peace and spiritual growth. It is believed that the VBT may have been authored by the female Guru Keyūravatī, adding a unique perspective to its teachings. This sacred text consists of 112 meditation and centering techniques, incorporating practices such as breathwork, concentration on various energy centers in the body, non-dual awareness, mantra recitation, visualizations, and sensory contemplations. Despite its ancient origins, the VBT remains relevant today, as it is one of the few tantras with a continuous study tradition that has persisted to the present day on the Indian subcontinent.This meditation practice uses the transformative power of Prana and Shakti that shapes the physical world. Shakti represents the inner realm of our consciousness, embodying a potent force within us. Through this sequence, practitioners are guided to employ a core strategy to quiet the mind and breath, allowing Prana Shakti to emerge and unveil its true essence. By temporarily relinquishing movement, individuals can tap into the profound energy of Prana and Shakti, experiencing their inherent transformative abilities firsthand.In the realm of yogic practice, the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra (VBT) offers a unique perspective that diverges from the classical Yoga tradition, as exemplified in the Yoga-sūtra of Patañjali. While traditional texts advocate for detachment from sensory stimuli and internal focus, the VBT encourages active engagement with the external world while shifting one's awareness and perception. Originating in the vibrant landscape of early Tantra in Northern India, the VBT likely draws from diverse spiritual influences, including early roots in Buddhism. Keyūravatī, a Dhāraṇī Goddess mentioned in the Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa, a 6th-century Buddhist text, may have played a role in shaping the VBT's teachings. The Trika Kaula Lineage of Shaivism, known for embracing Tantric practices, may have integrated these teachings into their spiritual tradition, ultimately passing them down to us in their present form.Very little is known about the mythical Goddess K or Goddess Keyūravatī. One myth is that she was a powerful female Guru in the Trika Kaula Lineage who wore an armband.Keyūravatī is also Dhāraṇī Goddess mentioned in the Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa, a 6th-century text in Tibetan Buddhism that focuses on ritualistic elements and teachings of Mañjuśrī and Buddha Śākyamuni. Whether they are related is up for debate, but it is a strong possibility.Historically, armbands, smeared ash, arm tattoos, or physical cuffs were often made of gold or silver and worn as protective talismans. They were symbols of power and status, with leaders using them for protection and displaying them to show authority. Today, cuffs are viewed as symbols of strength and individuality.The Vijnana Bairavs Tantra (VBT) unfolds as a dialogue between Bhairava and Bhairavi, embodying distinct states of consciousness. Bhairavi symbolizes dynamic energy, whereas Bhairava embodies tranquility and stillness. Notably, the text reflects a significant Buddhist influence, evident in its emphasis on meditations centered on emptiness. These meditative practices explore the void nature of phenomena, including contemplations on the body and heart as empty spaces. Remarkably, the VBT stands out as the sole revealed Tantric scripture with an unbroken study tradition that has endured since around 700 AD, underscoring its enduring relevance and profound teachings.Verse 27 of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra introduces a timeless meditation technique that cultivates serene and expansive awareness. This practice involves directing one's focus to the space within the heart after an inhalation, nurturing this silent expanse with mindful attention using the So Ham Mantra. By allowing this inner space to unfold and expand through the breath, practitioners can enter a state of surrender and heightened consciousness. Key elements of this practice include directing attention to the body's energy centers known as duadashaktas, maintaining a sense of stillness and presence, and harnessing the breath as a powerful tool to access this state of expanded awareness.Enjoy this powerful and state of the art technique.Kind Regards, Melissa Shubha AbbottMelissa Shubha Abbott's Books on AmazonMelissa Abbott Etsy Store for Books & Art Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever wanted to work with the signals and signs you experience daily? Signs that coincide in time and space but aren't causally related? In the early part of the 20th century, psychologist Carl Jung coined the term Synchronicity to describe events that coincide in time and space but aren’t causally related. Unexpected auspicious signs occur when you need them most—a shiny penny on the ground, a feather, a rainbow in the sky. In synchronistic moments, you feel in sync with time, the play of the universe, and the path you are on. You belong to the greater whole, and everything is working and unfolding naturally in your life. You may even feel that the universe is supporting you. In meditation, we can visualize auspicious symbols that are meaningful to you. Ask: What are some of yours? A full moon, a particular star, trees, animals, snowflakes, or stones? What are the things that speak to you? Doing this Yoga Nidra Meditation, you can tap into these synchronous events and unlock a multitude of benefits for your overall well-being and personal growth. Doing this Yoga Nidra can develop a deepening sense of synchronicity and security with your receptivity to the flood of light within and throughout you. An exquisite sense of clarity and well-being is established in opening up to the infinite possibilities of this universe and noticing the auspicious signals and signs in the world around you. It is best listened to with headphones while relaxing in a quiet place. The Radiant Paths is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

Gifts of the New Year 2025 Yoga Nidra ImmersionThis 2025 Gifts of the New Year Yoga Nidra Immersion journey takes participants through a winter forest visualization where they discover five spiritual gifts for the new year. These gifts include starting each day with gratitude, living in the present moment, embracing curiosity and generosity, letting life flow without judgment, and cultivating meaningful connections. The practice emphasizes that true fulfillment comes not from material possessions but from inner growth and relationships.Recorded live at Tree Top Yoga, 2a Pond St., Gloucester, MA USA www.treetopyoga.com by Melissa Shubha Abbott on Dec 30, 2024For more information about classes, podcasts, circles, and Melissa Abbott's Bookshttps://linktr.ee/melissaabbott  Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe

Thanksgiving Gratitude & Abundance Yoga Nidra Meditation 2024What does the Practice of Gratitude enable for you?The benefits of cultivating gratitude are numerous and impactful. Incorporating gratitude into your Yoga Nidra practice or any aspect of your life can have profound effects on your overall well-being. It is a powerful tool that brings about positive shifts in perspective, enhances relationships, reduces stress, and promotes mental and emotional well-being.1. Shifts Perspective: Practicing gratitude helps shift your perspective from focusing on what is lacking to recognizing and appreciating the abundance in your life. It allows you to see the positive aspects and blessings, even in challenging situations.2. Increases Happiness: Gratitude has been linked to increased levels of happiness and overall well-being. By acknowledging and expressing gratitude, you cultivate a sense of contentment and satisfaction with what you have, leading to greater joy and fulfillment.3. Enhances Relationships: Expressing gratitude towards others strengthens your relationships and fosters a sense of connection. It deepens bonds, promotes empathy, and encourages a positive and supportive environment.4. Reduces Stress: Gratitude has been shown to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. By focusing on what you are grateful for, you shift your attention away from worries and anxieties, allowing for a greater sense of calm and peace.5. Improves Mental Health: Regularly practicing gratitude has been associated with improved mental health outcomes, including reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. It promotes a positive mindset and helps cultivate resilience in the face of challenges.6. Increases Self-Reflection: Gratitude encourages self-reflection and self-awareness. It allows you to recognize your own strengths, accomplishments, and personal growth, fostering a sense of self-acceptance and self-love.7. Attracts Abundance: The practice of gratitude opens you up to receive more abundance in your life. By acknowledging and appreciating what you already have, you create a mindset of abundance and attract more positive experiences and opportunities.thank you for listening For more information on Melissa Abbott’s Books, Classes, Sound Bath’s, and Events https://linktr.ee/melissaabbott Get full access to Collective Awakening at melissashubhaabbott.substack.com/subscribe