The story behind his name
In the previous column I talked about the topic of spirituality, which has less to do with fixed beliefs and more to do with the experience of inner connection. Spirituality invites you to look inward, to know yourself, to listen to your emotions, your thoughts, your intuition… and even the rhythm of your breathing, to connect with the absolute presence of your being, that was my definition when 17 years ago I experienced my Reiki initiation, and my work of introspection in which I continue and will continue in the exploration of my being.
And speaking of connection, I experienced that feeling when I met Durga Stef through the networks, in times of pandemic, her story is very similar to the life experience that I have had in these years of personal work, so I had the opportunity to interview her and that is what I share with you on this occasion
Durga shares the following with us: Part of the passion that moves me is to be able to discover and share how our lives, traumas, experiences and processes are a digital footprint for our awakening, the greatest impulse comes from the mission of being able to share with an open heart the tools that have helped me and have been guided by my teachers, so that more people can experience and remember the light and love that we already are.
The need to seek help and tools arose after experiencing depression and panic attacks where I realized that I had no choice, I was desperate. My business with my ex-partner was failing, and I realized that my shadow was repeating itself, the same one that I had experienced with my husband. I understood that it was not the marriage, nor the partner, nor the others: it was me. That what terrified me was not the divorce, but knowing that that shadow would haunt me all my life if I didn’t heal it.
Then I had that moment of clarity: “I no longer want to see myself as successful or a good teacher, I want to see all my darkness, because if I don’t see it, I will continue projecting it into my relationships.” It was the point of surrender. I said “it’s over, I have to take responsibility, I need help.” And that plea led me to meet Ram Dass.
The call to Maui
What fascinated me about Ram Dass was that, despite his physical limitations —he couldn’t walk, speak well, or clap—, and yet… he looked completely free. We place so much value on the body, on the profession, on the roles, and we believe that that represents us. But he had none of that, and yet he was free and I wanted that kind of freedom.
I knew that everything changes: the body, the relationships, the conditions and I wanted to learn to be free without depending on any of those things. So I took my savings, all my will, and wrote a request to attend a personal retreat with Ram Dass.
One night before flying to Maui, all my fears came out. The ego resisted: “What about your daughters? What about the money? What if something goes wrong?” All this plus the judgment pointing me out as a bad mother, from my own mother. I remember how it hurt me to be so singled out and almost sabotaged by my own thoughts, but still with tears in my eyes, I got on the plane, the decision was made.
I arrived in Maui, and since I got off the plane I felt calm, the wind moved slower, the air smelled of flowers and the sea, that night I felt like I had arrived at my safe place without having yet begun my process.
Being there made me let go of my roles, I forgot that I was a mother, not because I didn’t love my daughters, but because for the first time in a long time I stopped carrying all my titles labeled by a society that does not stop at rubbing the should be, so I let go and focused on practicing presence: walking, feeling the wind, listening to the sea.
When I finally met Ram Dass, I told him all about my drama in Mexico, my feeling of not wanting to follow those roles that I mentioned to you, my desire to be free and not feel trapped. He listened to me attentively, looked at me and said: “It’s all in your head.”
And there I understood that my suffering came from my mind. It was my own history that imprisoned me.
During my days of personal retreat with Ram Dass I experienced mantra celebrations, days of great presence and connection where in a one-on-one talk, he gave me my name “Durga” it reminds me that I am a soul, it reminds me of Ram Dass and the real experience of unconditional love.
Durga is not just a name, it is the living memory that the divine exists in us, that love does not depend on the body, circumstances or achievements. That’s why I like to be called Durga. Because every time someone says it, it reminds me of who I am.
I will soon have a retreat where we will work for 4 days in nature, delving into various activities, group sessions, special guests, etc. If you want to reserve your place for May 2026, this is the league where you can register linktr.ee/durgastefI invite you to be part of my community @durgastef
(End of interview).
This is the beautiful story of how if it is in ussearch for our authenticity, find the answers, reveal our secrets, feel our essence, have the humility to recognize our mistakes and recognize ourselves as evolving beings who will obtain our truth until the day we close our eyes forever, at least that is what I would like… To continue working on myself because I have realized that life is simpler when humility and recognition begins with ourselves, even if I have to start over again and again.
With love: Marcela.
Room: marceladelosriosv@gmail.com
X: @DeLos53271
FB: Marcela de los Ríos
The post “Durga Stef” appeared first on Veritas News.
