We had a wedding (reception) which was blessed by a Tibetan Lama

Hello Friends,

I just had a FULL week. My wife, mother-in-law and I hosted Drupon Thinley Ningpo, a Tibetan Lama in the Drikung Kagyu tradition (and one of my heart teachers of 18 years). I was the main organizer for three days of Buddhist teachings, and then on Sunday, he joined us (and 65 other people) in celebrating our wedding.

In this post, I will describe the wedding (reception) celebration.

It was so beautiful having Drupon attend our celebration. We eloped back in December, so we only had our 3 parents in attendance at the actual wedding. (Apparently it is considered eloping when you have less than 20 people in attendance nowadays. At least according to wedding planners…)

We got to celebrate with more friends and family on Sunday – 65 more in fact!

In Tibetan tradition, auspicious prayers are recited on the wedding day, friends and family wish the couple and their families well, and people drape khatas (silk scarves) around their necks. It was so nice having Drupon offer us khatas and blessings. I feel like a significant part my heart is Tibetan in spirit, being a Dharma practitioner, and having a number of Tibetan friends. So this felt like home.

Jessica and I read / spoke about the ways we love each other and are committed to each other. It was very beautiful and moving.

Then friends and family stood up and shared blessings and precious memories. Many people cried.

Alison Downey was an amazing master of ceremonies for us. She told the story of how Jessica and I have known each other for 21 years now, and how our friendship gradually grew and became affection and now deep love for each other. She directed each phase of the celebration ceremony. We highly recommend working with her if you are looking for a wedding planner in the central Virginia area!

Our 3000 sq. ft. garden set the backdrop for the ceremony, which was a great metaphor. We have been cultivating our relationship, planting seeds, nurturing each other, occasionally composting and digging up issues, but we have produced this gorgeous fruitful partnership as a result. And it is right on time (getting married after knowing each other for 20 years).

I am taking the next few weeks a bit slower. I want to allow the ambrosial nectar of this huge outpouring of support to seep into my heart. I will still see clients and work on astrology videos during this time, but more time to rest, rejuvenate, and allow the new “me” to reveal himself.