Brave

Brave is a wonderful animated movie, I would recommend it to everyone to watch. The movie hit a note in my heart: my mother and I. The movie is about Merida and her mother. Merida is a tom-boy, who doesn't want to get married to some guy her parents picked out for her. Another theme I am so familiar with in my own life. This movie resonated with me. As I watched it I shivered, even more, cause apart from the story, there'something about the Gaelic, the Celtic music style, and the Scottish accents, that speaks to my soul. I felt at home, in a different sense. I've always fantasized about the green forests of Ireland, and hills of Scotland, the country side, the dancing, the culture, the people... something about the bagpipes, something about the music, something that sings straight to my heart. What is that something?

(now i'm sitting and listening to as much as Celtic music, or songs sung in Gaelic as possible.)

Thoughts: So often we get so caught up in our identity today, now, me- me - me, I- I- I... ie. I'm a proud Indian, with rich cultural heritage, and I like strawberries, and I like only reading classics, and I like to be well mannered, and I like to wear black boots, etc. etc. Then some one is like, I am American, and USA is a great nation to be from; Or I am Chinese, and Chinese culture and older than India's... and so on and so forth. When I was young I was so enthralled by diversity, culture, languages, religions, practices in the world, that I wanted to be a citizen of the WORLD. As I grew up though I encountered organized religion which told me that one religion was less than another, and that one country was superior to the other. However all these people, and countries had citizens or members who were kind and giving... so confusing! Pride - giving? Ego - kindness? Total opposites? It might be a totally different thought process to meditate upon.

I wondered what if in my last life I was a Scotsman? Or an Irish lass? What if I was once a native american princes? or a Japanese Samurai? What if in another lifetime I was an Mesopotamian trader? DO we lose the big picture when we identify with what we are in this life time? I could have been anyone, thus the saying in Isshinryu Karate - the way of the one heart - We are all one. I could have been you, and you me... 

Then again your religion is better and superior than mine and doesn't believe in reincarnation... so go ahead and be mean to be. But aha all religions preach teach and maybe practice - forgiveness, kindness, giving, and love!

Going back to the big picture... I'm an Indian now and know my culture, but what if I had been an Irishman in my past, and Italian, can I embrace those as ME? or must I be only what my birth certificate says? I know the law is in place to help us, but why not be a global citizen at heart? Why don't we realize that our fates are intertwined with the earth as a whole, with each other, and its not separate? Why do we limit ourselves so? Why aren't we brave enough to embrace all?

Breathe

Any good Gaelic/ Celtic music recommendations? I can't wait to go over there one day!