GRATITUDE
Meet My teachers
Shambhavi
SarasvatI
I met Shambhavi Sarasvati in 2013 after traveling to Portland, Oregon for her Trika Foundations retreat. During the retreat, I was fascinated by the view of Trika Shaivism, and impressed by Shambhavi’s warmth, wisdom, candor, and facility with language. I decided to study more intensively with her shortly after, and I have been a member of the Jaya Kula community ever since.
Through her teachings and personal example, Shambhavi has shown me a way of engaging with life that is as majestic as it is practical. Her introduction to jyotish started me down this path, and I am so grateful for her integrity, devoted discipline, and genuine openheartedness. I would not be the person I am today without her guidance and her capacity to host students just as they are. I aim to bring her example into my work as much as I possibly can.
Steven
highburger
I began studying with Steven Highburger in 2016 shortly after my introduction to jyotish. I was immediately impressed by his devotion to his own teachers, Hart DeFouw and K.L. Mantri, and I felt confident that he could give me a solid foundation for my studies. Over time, it became apparent that these teachings were incredibly vast and subtle, and that I could spend many lifetimes working with them.
Steven has spent decades studying, memorizing, applying, and honing these multifaceted instruments of understanding. Through his work with his own teachers, he has converted these immense topics into something wonderfully accessible. His kindness, patience, and encouragement have made one of my lifelong dreams possible. I am grateful for the light by which these teachings have illuminated my world.
Mavis
Gewant
I met Mavis Gewant in 2015 while attending her yantra painting retreat in upstate New York. I had been fascinated by yantras for many years, and had even tried drawing and painting them, but I suspected there was much more to their construction. Mavis apprenticed with her teacher Harish Johari for twenty years before receiving his blessing to teach, and her love of sacred art is fully evident in her work — both in how she creates, and how she teaches.
Mavis is a very encouraging teacher, calmly guiding students at all levels of artistic ability through the detailed process of yantra construction. She often shares student work from her classes, and it is so sweet to see the pride on her students’ faces as they enjoy their beautiful creations. I am grateful for all of her support, her example of service, and her deeply caring nature.