Wednesday, October 31, 2012

An Autumn Blessed with Many Life Lessons

This month has been one of many many lessons.
Through grief and sorrow, pain, stress, caring, sharing, loving, many a tear, hugs, goodbyes, prayers, loneliness and togetherness; I have made it through.
The sky has been much grey, of late. The sky weeps many tears down to earth.
The trees are naked, all unclothed.
Fall has always been majestic, dreamy, eerie, and even dark.



Looking back:

My grandmother gets progressively ill, and makes no sense on the phone. The sound in her voice says she was crying out for help and mercy. My Father leaves to India, fearing it may be too late. She holds on and he gets there, and she barely recognizes him. He takes care of her and spends much needed time with her, as I balance spending time with my mother who is a little ill due to a cold, and with my boyfriend, who has some health issues himself. After a few days, my dad gets burnt out, and needs back up, as he is at a loss when it comes to geriatric care, however he is managing and is so humbled to be doing so. He emails my sister and I often with notes on how he feels, and the entirety of the experience.

It is the weekend of Durga Puja, the celebration of the Divine Feminine and we celebrate it reluctantly with cousins here. Durga Puja is the main reason my father decided to go to India, to spend it with his mother and celebrate with her.She is unable to celebrate, but he find time to go back to our remote village of Kudra, to observe the festivities there. He tells us in an email, that the people there have so little, but have the biggest hearts, and their warmth is overwhelming. That's the best type of people right?

My mother departs for India and reaches their safely. She is strong and gets on top of things, but the conditions are harsh, and one can get burnt out quickly. I have health issues of my own, which I had been putting off for a long time, and finally I get my appointment after a month of waiting. This doctor is amazing, thorough and personal. She goes over everything with me, my entire history of health to get to the bottom of this problem, this pain, once and for all.

I speak to my uncle, my sister, my grandparents in New York everyday. I don't realize how often I call my mom and dad, until now. Facing these health issues alone, really suck, but it is something we learn to do, or don't. Hurricane Sandy comes and blows through the East Coast... I lose touch for two days from my sis, uncle and grandparents. Anxiety levels rise. I really miss them, and I am in utter pain, it is rather crappy. Who do I reach out to? I have no energy to laugh, love or even pray... I finally was able to cry myself to sleep last night, and what a relief it was to let go. oh what a heavy burden was lifted. I realize that happiness and satisfaction is not through material things or wealth... but the decisions we make in life regarding, loved ones (family and friends), health, awareness and growth in spirituality and truly caring and sharing.

Today I sang some lovely songs to myself and I felt much better, and I was finally able to pray. Praying is something new, I been learning to accept the possibility of a Higher Power, thanks to "The Artist's Way". It is slow but steady progress, and it's so good to be able to love again. There was a drought due to the sadness I feel through empathizing for my my grandmother in India, my dad's feelings as he is present for her, my mother's feelings as she goes to make peace and forgive a demented little old lady, and ask for her forgiveness in return.

A deep reminder that Karma does exist... the decisions you make today weather big or small, will come back to haunt you later in life. Be mindful, be patient, and value the people in your life, more than anything else in the world.




Friday, October 12, 2012

Falling for Fall

It's amazing how our energies change month to month, person to person, season to season... It is always in Autumn that my Chakras seem so activated and open. A sense of calm, understanding, love and acceptance sweeps over me. It's a dream world, these red, orange and yellow leaves; when the wind blows the trees gently shake their blessings of golden hued crispy dust onto me.

The trees themselves, so happy, they get ready for hibernating for the winter. They smile, they look dead to us, but they smile and lay their heads down to slumber through winter.

I remember as a kid I would go sit myself down in a huge pile of red, yellow and brown leaves which my parents would have so meticulously cleaned off the lawn. I would pick that spot to read a book, it just seemed perfect! Why sit anywhere else?! I think I got yelled at for sitting there and ruining the pile.

I remember being mystified by fall, the once green lawn turned red and yellow over night, blanketed in leaves. My parents would make piles and clean them off. The next day there would be yet another blanket of red, orange and yellow... the trees were shedding their next layer. The air wood get chillier and I would see dark shadows rise up in places I never saw them at in summer. The neighborhood dog turned into a wolf, the raccoons turned into vicious burglars, the pumpkin patch was vandalized, the squirrels turned into greedy little hoarders. The deer got braver and appeared majestically between the leafless apple trees. Once my parents brought us down in the middle of the night to show us a badger, badgering about the lawn. It was like catching the thief red handed! He scampered away into the darkness. I don't remember what the hue and cry was for, but it was fun.

Falls in India were much different, depending on where it was at. In Madras it meant Diwali/Deepavali, Kali Puja, Navaratri, Dashera and Durga Puja (Dashera and Navaratri are Durga Puja but in different names. They all celebrate Shakti). So it meant new clothes, sweets, fireworks, music, art and drama! The days do seem to get longer, and darker at least. The food at this time changes to the more satisfying kichudi, which warms you up to the core. This fall weather lasts through till about February and then it begins to heat up (not that it cooled down much). Fall in Madras meant to me a time of community, art and family. Sometimes a trip to Calcutta for Durga puja.

Calcutta falls, yes it gets chilly and we have to begin to wear our blazers toward the end of October. Fall means Durga Puja! 10 days of holiday in West Bengal. Crowds, road blockages, art, festival, large tents and "pandals" erected in every neighborhood. Shakti is dancing in everyone's hearts. The Mahalaya can be heard on loudspeakers everywhere, then children performing, grownups reciting poems... so much cultural activity. It all ends with drums, dance, and these lovely idols depicting the goddesses being submerged into the Ganges River. The idol is gone, but her spirit stays back with all the people. The arts is washed away, only to re-inspire another year of artistry and hard-work.

Fall in the above the tropics in the northern hemisphere, means bonfires, 'smores, camping, holidays are around the corner, the festivities of hallows' eve, horror movies, hiking weather, blessings of nature... utter beauty and acceptance of change which only nature can give us so freely with love.
Falling for fall: The last of the beautiful bright blue skies, and the last rays of the  warm golden sun, for a few months, until spring. Seems like such a long time from Fall to Spring. Fall colors, smells, the crisp air, warm clothes and the yearning to gather around bonfires and tell stories of Summer!

Greenbrier County, WV 2007
Greenbrier WV 2007
Greenbrier WV 2007
Greenbrier WV 2007
Greenbrier WV 2007
Greenbrier, WV 2007
WV - New River 2010
WV- NRG 2010
The Upper Gauley, WV 2011
My favorite Lothlorien tree at The Point, NRG, WV 2010



Thursday, October 11, 2012

Try Love Instead

What do you gain from hate and war?
Nothing, Nothing at all.
Why do you hate, what is it for?
Question deeply before you fall.

Hate leads you to a dark deep pit,
Where your heart will sink and sit.
You lose your light, you lose your friends,
You lose every hope of making amends.

Why do you hate and cause unrest?
You lose all peace of mind to stress.
If anything this is a test
To free your soul, your heart from this mess.

You bear a grudge, and close off your mind,
Do you know that is very unkind?
Unkind, not to others, but to yourself
Because in the end, you're the one that needs help.

Open your eyes and see
The beauty in the world through diversity.
Open you heart and feel
That circle of love will grow and heal.

You miss this chance when you hate and fight,
To love everyone with all your might.
The more you give the more you get,
Just change your heart and your mindset.

Try love instead,
Get negativity out of your head.
Let the toxic out of your heart,
Make room for a fresh and positive start.

Its really not difficult to do,
All you have to let go of what's bothering you.
Look deep inside and see,
The person and things I hated, were in me.
Learn to grow and be strong,
And then with other's you will find no more wrong.



I know all this is real and so true,
What I know even more, is that I love you!





Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Amends

First we start with forgiveness.

Forgive ourselves so we can love ourselves more
In turn, through loving ourselves, we love others more and can forgive them easily.

It sounds silly even whimsical, it sounds simple...
Be warned it is difficult. To say I love you, to yourself, using your name.
(Unless perhaps you were a narcissist to begin with)
This is not a narcissistic kind of love, but a bigger love.
What is tough at first, becomes more fluid, when practiced often.


Try it.

When you have mastered this, write it. When you can write it, feel it, and be it, try it on the person you are upset with.

Small steps. First imagine it.

Think clearly of where you have wronged them and what you could have done better.
Think of where they have hurt you, and how they could show up for you better.
Learn to let it go. Don't take it personal. Always, keep your side of the road clean.

Write it all out.
Remember to never blame, and remember that you have always had part in the making the relationship/friendship murky.
When you are good with this, and feel a peace when you think of them, you will feel ready to make amends.

Now try telling the person you are mad at that you love and forgive them.

To love you, Oh it hurts...like a cut on my heart, bleeding it dry.

I forgive you my friend, and love you so deeply.
I understand if you don't feel the same. Maybe one day, maybe never... I do hope you find peace however.

Find peace within yourself.

Breathe.

I picked this picture because it made me remember after all we do to the earth and our fellow creatures we must always remember to be grateful for them, their lives and support. We must ask them for forgiveness. They will grant it to us time and time again, no matter how much we hurt them.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Durga Devi Mahashakti - A Poem


Our Reflection in Mahashakti “Dasavuja”

All mankind
is born, aspiring for perfection
and each shall attain it
will he but follow
his nature’s duty,
listen mindfully, like ‘manifest’ glory.

Now that he holds it
he knows this treasure
above all others.-

Faith so certain
shall never be shaken.
Heaviest sorrow-
vanity, violence-
Pride, lust, anger so bemused-
all possessions though not tainted.
The sense is ego, that matters-
endowed ‘shakti’, let man acquire,
embrace, “Mahashakti” so epitomized.
Endearing and blissfully
ESPIRIT DE CORPS- SO UNIVERSAL,
wonders visibly.

Seer provider omnipotent
our Ma Durga.

Being so obsequious
each of us inspired-
ordained by the nature.
Born out of your showering
noble gifts “Mahagunas” as every.

Empowered to unearth
materials transformed, tranquilled
in our mind & spirit, forever,
surely help us reinvent, bare.

“Mahatman” unfolds austere-
forbearing strength and wisdom
infusing firm faith
to prevailing the truth in us!

Thus our enamoring deity
so ordained by the nature-
mighty and bold
unflinching and fearless
becoming the subtlety of skill
making us a resolute mentor
to work for all humanity
the endeavor, honour
inner strength of mighty deity
help us win the battle of life.

To work for all men-
with humility- “As more we learn,
the little we know”
deserving benediction
-such is the duty of ours
ordained for the serves of
“Mahashakti Durga Devi.


By
Dino Nath Ghosal

This is a poem my grandfather Mr. Dino Nath Ghosal wrote but a few days ago. I hope you enjoyed it.