Joi was aware of the unseen magic of Presence at a very early age. She remembers being more drawn to this mystery than anything else. This led her to delve into many traditions of spirituality. After a spontaneous awakening at age 28, Joi spent two years on a blissful honeymoon of Spirit before plunging into a deep period of emotional purging and healing. Among her healers were a powerful Lakota medicine man, with whom she traveled for two years, and a group of Yogananda disciples who had developed a powerful way of unlocking unconscious beliefs using kinesiology. She worked with them 3x/week for two years. During this period that the formless aspect of the Divine Mother appeared to Joi and she began a very intense journey. Joi met Amma in 1993, and she realized that Amma was the same Mother that had captured her heart and soul. Joi spent nine years in Amma's Indian Ashram, and then two years in Tiruvannamalai at Ramana's Ashram. When Joi came home from India, she was completely exhausted, and her "seeker drive" fell away. She began sitting with Adyashanti, who helped her understand all that had taken place within her being. Joi began teaching in 2006, with Amma's and Adya's blessings. Joi continues to be inspired and moved toward what Life could be if we let go to our inner potential, which is the ultimate intelligence of all creation. Joi's Website Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview First BatGap interview with Joi Interview recorded Dec. 17, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:43 - The Importance of Devotion and the Nervous System 00:07:11 - The Evolution of Devotion 00:11:15 - The Value and Sweetness of Devotion 00:15:38 - The Importance of Devotion and Inspiration 00:19:47 - The Deeper Intelligence Within Us 00:23:41 - The Validity of Wanting Awakening 00:27:52 - Discovering the Capacity for Devotion 00:32:11 - Radical Transformation through Association with Presence 00:36:10 - Neuroplasticity and the Transformation of the Brain 00:39:48 - Recognizing Presence within Ourselves 00:44:01 - Physiological Transformation Through Being 00:48:05 - The Capacity of Clarity 00:52:58 - Using Clarity to Purify and Heal 00:57:31 - The Subtle Beings Within Us 01:01:42 - The Evolution of My Relationship with Amma 01:06:15 - The Role of Teachers and Dependency 01:09:55 - Finding Clarity and Resonance 01:14:02 - Cultivating Discernment 01:18:06 - Strengthening the Muscle of Discernment 01:22:46 - The Importance of Openness and Personal Experience 01:26:53 - The Freedom of Not Having a Place to Rest Our Head 01:31:11 - The Integration of Form and Consciousness 01:35:33 - Moving towards a collective consciousness 01:39:33 - The Shift to a Many-to-Many Model 01:43:17 - The Satisfaction of Working with People 01:46:33 - The Gifts and Ordinary Life 01:50:55 - Importance of Solitude and Integration 01:54:50 - The Importance of Integration and Engagement 01:58:57 - Finding Intimacy Everywhere 02:02:22 - Farewell and Happy Holidays