Hair Sacrifice
In India, there is a temple called Tirupati Balaji. The temple is dedicated to Lord Balaji who had a bald spot on his head where he was hit. A woman offered her flowing locks to cover his bald spot.
Every day, 75,000 devotees visit this temple. 1,320 barbers work in shifts around the clock all year round— to shave their heads.
Shaving the head is considered purification and good luck. They believe that by giving up beauty, they will become more beautiful. Because what you give, you get. What you’re willing to share will return to you many fold. What you’re willing to release, will be your reward. What you are not attached to, will help you not hinder you. By giving up your worldly power, you will gain spiritual power.
And that is true across all religions. To be part of the world, but not of it. To give up the kingdoms of the world, to gain the kingdom of God within.
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
—1 John 2:15-17
Hair Blessing
The day Sofia cut her hair was Diwali. It is the biggest holiday of the year in India. Derived from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means “row of lights,” Diwali is known as the festival of lights. People in India light clay lamps outside of their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
In Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira.
In Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment.
Today we are going to pray that whatever holds Sofia back from freedom, whatever keeps her inner light from shining— be removed along with her hair. And we are going to pray the same for you— that whatever in your body needs to release darkness, it will be done today.
In the spirit of Diwali, this hair of Sofia’s carries all her past energies that she no longer needs to help bring her forth into her bright future.
