"It's hard, the way of love, it may not be right for you. But, if you chose to follow it, you must do so with all your heart. You'll fail more than once, but don't give up hope. In the end, it will redeem the world." Eli Emotionally and physically tested, Xena & Gabrielle return from India stronger and wiser.

When has Xena, prior to the India Arc, turned to any type of spiritual guide? In "Return Of Callisto", Xena prays to an unseen, unidentified "anyone listening" to: "Please don't let that light that shines out of Gabrielle's face go out. I couldn't stand the darkness that would follow".

This she did when she was desperate to keep Gabrielle from copying the pages of her own past by killing Callisto to avenge Perdicas' death. This was the only time Xena has ever actually engaged in prayer.

With all of the negative relationships with the gods/goddesses and spirituality in general, why would she want to pay homage or pray to any god? Yet, she encourages Gabrielle on her spiritual journey in India. Why? Perhaps it is because Xena instinctively knows that there is a greater being somewhere, though she has yet to meet that person. Perhaps Xena also knows that Gabrielle is the "front man" for Xena as Xena herself searches for truth or "The Way".

In India, they met up with Hanuman, Indrajit, and Krishna, among others. Indrajit kidnaped Gabrielle and planned to kill her unless Xena intervened to save her. Hanuman guided Xena to Krishna to ask for help. Since all of Xena's interactions with gods have been so negative, it is natural that she was skeptical about yet another god.

Hanuman told her, quite correctly, that she respects no gods, and she was astounded when she realized he wanted her to pray to a god. Hanuman told her that Krishna was different from other gods, that "to find him, you only have to look within".

Hunaman convinces her that Krishna is her only hope, so even though she is skeptical, her love for Gabrielle compels her to trust Hunaman and pray to Krishna. Since Krishna appears, it seems that Xena's gigantic leap of faith is fruitful. The miracle of Krishna's appearance as an answer to prayer (since she has seen Greek gods many times before) is secondary to the one about to take place during their conversation:

Xena: I'm just an angry, ass-kicking... Krishna: Warrior. Xena: Yes, a warrior. Krishna: You say that with disgust. Xena: Well, it doesn't rank right up there with the saints. Krishna: You have to embrace The Way. Xena: The Way is not for people like me. Krishna: You're wrong. You're very close to the Way now. (Xena denies that she is close.) Krishna: Xena, you have seen what you're destined to be. You will walk the way of a saint. You will never achieve that life if you don't follow The Way you're on now. Xena: The Way of the warrior? Krishna:You must not be hesitant to fight in a just cause. It is better to die following your own Way than to live somebody else's. When you ride into combat, act without attachment, and carry with you the confidence that you are fulfilling your calling in this life. Then you will know the Way. Xena: I understand.

In just a few sentences, Krishna validated Xena's entire life, something she never felt worthy enough to do for herself. She was always burdened by the knowledge of her evil past and knew that she could never actually make amends in this lifetime. Her spiritual development grew exponentially.

She knew that Gabrielle's Way was not her way. She has her own calling, unique from anyone else's. Before she proves that she believes in and trusts Krishna, she first falls back into her old habits of depending only on herself. As she fights Indrajit, she uses all of her own powers, but they are not enough. As she lays dying, having failed to save Gabrielle and realizing that she has doomed Gabrielle, she calls on Krishna for help. As he promised her, he is there to help. Perhaps because Krishna accepted in Xena what she could not accept in herself, she trusts Him.

Lessons Learned

What have Xena & Gabrielle learned from their time in India? Xena has learned that she does have a spiritual side and was able to reach down inside herself to access it. We too can find our spirituality by looking within. Gabrielle has learned that her path is the Greater Good. And, by following Eli's way of Love, she may have found a path that she can live with that will help her heal from within. They both have further affirmation that Love is the greatest power on earth. It is demonstrated here by each woman's willingness, even eagerness, to lay down her life for her friend.

That is truly the greatest of all gifts.