Anne's & Bruce's Story
"I am Anne Godfrey, born in Australia, formerly an art teacher, garment designer and interior decorator, mother of two, who now resides permanently in India, with husband and partner Bruce. We are devoted to spreading the knowledge of the Healing Fires which are needed now to restore the balance to Nature and to heal the widespread pollution on planet Earth.
"The adventure in India began about 10 years ago, when my husband, Bruce, a professional musician with a scientific mind, left behind friends, family and an easy-going life-style to begin an incredible segment of his life’s journey in India. At that time, I continued to teach and practise Agnihotra (the copper pyramid Healing fire done precisely at sunrise and sunset daily) in Australia and continued to run a small business, commuting backwards and forwards to India until I finally settled in Tapovan 6 years ago
"Over the past 10 years, the dry, rocky, barren, depleted soil has been transformed and Tapovan has blossomed into an oasis of fruit, nut and flower trees, Ayurvedic medicinal herbs, eastern and western culinary herbs, vegetables, grains, pulses, etc, all without the use of agro-chemicals or pesticides.
"Life in Tapovan has been both rewarding and challenging as we have bridged the gap between the so-called "civilized" culture of the west and the so-called "backward" culture of the simple village life of rural India in which we found ourselves. Learning to use what was available from bullock carts for transport to simple hand tools for farming, pumping drinking water from wells, having no guaranteed power supply, no newspapers, no TV, life was lived at a grass-roots level with a growing connectedness to Nature. Often-feared "pests" of Nature such as cobras, centipedes, scorpions are now considered companions who in turn extend respect to the human beings who have moved in on their territory. Non-violence is a way of life at Tapovan and one of the side-effects of daily practice of Agnihotra is that the Nature kingdom comes into perfect balance so there is no need to control it.
"The word has spread to the surrounding areas and hundreds of local people from all walks of life visit Tapovan where they can learn Agnihotra and start practising it in their own homes. Many include farmers who have finally realized that using chemicals is totally destructive and see Homa farming as the solution. The sad side is many farmers in these drought stricken areas eventually commit suicide as they cannot see a way out when their land will no longer produce. Vedas, the ancient wisdom of the East, confirm the connection between the Homa healing fires and attracting nutritional rains, which has been borne out by our experience at Tapovan. Here we have regularly observed rain in Tapovan when none falls in other nearby areas.
"Tapovan meaning a retreat in a forested area, is now permanent home to us. Facilities are now available for simple Nature Cure treatments – mud baths, spinal and hip baths, as well as healthy vegetarian diet. Ayurvedic massage and steam baths are also available.
"The 24 hour round-the-clock healing fire, begun in 2001, pervades the atmosphere with healing and peaceful vibrations. Up to 20 visitors at a time can stay at this eco-friendly spiritual health retreat at a very moderate cost. Opportunity is provided to learn the simple techniques of Agnihotra and other healing fires (Homas), as well as Homa Organic Farming techniques, including vermiculture, and the Gloria Biosol biofertilizer system.
"We caretake Tapovan on a volunteer basis and consideration will be given to interested, like-minded volunteers who may wish to stay for an extended period. Opportunities exist for building eco-friendly, mud houses, growing Ayurvedic herbs, landscape gardening, seed saving, and cottage industries.
"In 2004 I joined forces with Nileema Mishra, an inspiring young woman, who single handedly has guided and nurtured a movement to enable the women in the local villages near Tapovan to empower themselves through self-help groups. Prior to this, the women kept to themselves in their own small houses and rarely ventured out. Nileema has formed 100 self-help groups with over 2000 women in 15 villages. An upliftment project with women from the area surrounding Tapovan has evolved naturally since I met her. The skills and training I have given them in the area of cottage industries, has enabled them to make quilts and kurtas. They hold exhibitions and sell direct to the public and also to many shops and now hotels are ordering their special quilts. The income generated helps many people. The women are also trained in computer skills, making pickles and condiments for sale, embroidery work, beading work, jewellery-making, machine stitching and making household products for sale. Many of the women are widows who need to support their children. By giving them the opportunity to work, they have been able to become financially independent and even open bank accounts. Their handiwork has featured in most of my export garments. In this way, I have been able to help 500 women to feed and support their families.
"Initially, I talked to large groups, up to 500 at a time, and shared the information about Agnihotra and Homa Farming. I told them that using chemicals was destroying the soil, and the health of themselves and their children. I invited them to Tapovan to see the results we have achieved. The switch to Homa farming has been slow as there is fear about losing the little money they earn from their crops. There is a high suicide rate now in the area because the chemicals have ruined the soil and many farmers are in a downward spiral of debt. Right now we are in the beginning stages of establishing a large 200 acre Homa Organic Farming project with over 17 women farmers who have adjoining farming lands. It is called Noah's Ark Project. We will establish a Go-Shala (cow shed) there, and a large vermicompost unit and a Gloria Biosol biofertilizer system, invented by a South American woman bio-chemist, Dr. Gloria Guzman. This system produces miraculous results in the soil and plants so that no costly inputs are required to nourish the depleted soil and plants.
"From their village, Bahadarpur, near Tapovan, these projects will spread all over India. The women, involved in this project, banded together, and took out a large loan approx 18 months ago. This was a new thing. They have paid back that loan completely, through their own enterprise. We will keep up regular instalments on this site including photographs of the progress of our Noah's Ark Project.
"With any profits from the sale of the quilts and other products in overseas countries, we can invest in similar projects with other women throughout India, who are living in poverty and who need our help. Any one having management skills, or marketing skills, or leadership skills, or compassion, or no particular skills, who wants to assist us, please contact us.
"The site of Tapovan was indicated a long time ago by the great Master, Parama Sadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj of Akkalkot, who has revived the ancient knowledge of Agnihotra to heal the pollution on the planet at this time when it is most needed."
With love Anne Godfrey.
ABOUT THE HEALING FIRES.
"After 20 years of doing these Healing Fires daily, I am still learning more. They gradually yield their secrets over time. From my personal experience, what I can state categorically, is that they only heal. They heal on such a level that the intellect alone cannot understand. The Healing effect crosses all boundaries and covers even the minutest particle as well as the macrocosm. When Agnihotra is practised perfectly, the whole of Nature is healed and rebalanced. This, of course, includes humankind, along with all other living things. What humankind has destroyed, is mended; the poisons we have carelessly used in the soil and water resources, are neutralized; the air we pollute daily with the exhaust from millions of factories and vehicles, is purified; the animal, plant, and insect kingdoms are perfectly balanced and nourished. We do not need to control insects which may damage crops, because the whole cycle automatically comes into balance and predators do their job without interference.
"Health in humans, animals and plants, soil, is a natural outcome. Agnihotra Ash ingested or applied externally has cured thousands of health problems world wide."
To find out more about this wonderful phenomenon, please click on the links below.
