My relationship with the word ‘god’ has changed drastically over the past few years. Growing up in the Catholic church, I had a strong aversion to being told ‘who god was’ or to ‘pray to god’ since I was a child. In more recent years, a ‘spiritual atheist’ now ‘spiritual kinda buddhist’ my perception of ‘god’ has shifted greatly. Everyone’s relationship with ‘god’ is personal. For me, god is all that has been created: nature, Kali, SH, The universe, you, the rose blooming, and the child begging me for money on the streets of Bodhgaya. India showed me that ‘honoring god’ in the form of various deities is a powerful way to allow one to focus attention on the concept of god / the divine/ the ultimate creatrix and to intentionally honor / express gratitude / and/or connect with a higher source. Essentially the temples bring you closer to her ‘to god’ as they are a vortex for prayer, chanting, mantra, meditation, puja, etc. even though she’s everywhere all the time. The way he explains it here resonates deeply. Though this recent journey was equal parts beauty and pain (for me), it was the first time I prayed in my life *like I meant it* (with a priest’s encouragement). It felt profound and inspired many questions. India, what a powerful place! Much more reflection and self-inquiry ahead.