Blog Marathon Post 16. The Death Card

The Death card has been one of my favorite cards in the Tarot Deck. [For people who don't know, I am a professional Tarot Card Reader and Alternative Healer.]

I know that there are many negative connotations attached to this card, no thanks to the movies and other media, but trust me, this is the most empowering there is the whole deck. It is empowering because it sets you free - it tells you that now there is no choice, but to finish the way you have lived so far, die, and be reborn.

This card directly means "Transformation". When you transform, you cannot be the same ol', same ol'. Your old self, thinking, patterns, will die, and I guess that's okay! Isn;t that the whole point of living? Remember "Breathe in the new, breathe out the old"?

The card looks grim, but it just ends all false hope. It says that things are not going to change, unless you change. And as we all know, change is seldom fun, and never without some pain.

This card detaches us from all that no longer serves us, and shows us the mirror that things are now at an end where everything needs to shift.

The change recommended or foretold by this card can be on any level - work, relationship, health, or as a part of one's inner journey.

The imagery of the traditional Death card as seen in the Raider Waite Tarot Deck means that all things will fall before Death, and a new sunrise will be seen on the sky. For Death, there is no difference between a King or a commoner, and all will fall to His scythe eventually.

I personally love the Death card of the Robin Wood Tarot Deck, displayed right here. It is subtle, and seems to directly speak to the reader. The white rose is chilling, as the flower which denoted mystery and beauty turns colourless, and urges us to see the Beauty contained in Death - the one which is the most basic kind - in red. So it is dark, yet vibrant; subtle, yet direct; scares, but also empowers. After all, once you choose to go with the fear and embrace it, what is left to be scared of?

Though fear is not directly addressed in this card, it is present in the background as a shadow, because it fear that paralyses us and stops us from taking transformative action.

The other thing that stops us to live the Transformation of every moment is attachment. If you will look closely, there is no difference between fear and attachment. One begets the other; so much so that one is the other.

Death urges us to call upon all our inner courage and put it to use by completely shifting our Selves.

If this card comes at the place of advise or warning, it is best to take a good, hard look at the what all you are clinging to and not releasing. Then just let go. See who you will be without this baggage.

The Truth will set you free.

Blog Marathon Post 15. My favorite poems

I love poetry. I am not saying I understand all intricate types of poetry, but I do love the fact that in 2 sentences a poet can convey more than 2 pages of prose. Poetry is direct, indirect, confusing, rewarding, frustrating, and mesmerising all at the same time. 

My favorite poets are Robert Frost and Gulzar. I am not particularly very well read in poetry in and language - English, Hindi or Urdu - but I believe, as and when I have needed them, these gems have floated into my life from somewhere or the other. 

Today I wish to talk about poems or lines that have touched me in some way or the other, and have managed to lingered in my rather fragile memory because of their essence.

As of now, I am in the process of discovering and understanding (if I can), Pablo Neruda. I came across one of his anthologies long ago, but have re-visited him only recently. The moment I red him, this poem became my favorite instantly:

“I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz, 
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep. ”
___________________
Pablo Neruda 

This poem is from his anthology "Cien Sonetos de Amor". I have this pinned to my desktop, so I can move through is whenever I feel like it.

My other favorite is a haiku by Empress Komyo of Japan. This too is pinned to my desktop:

"Should I pluck it,
My handsWould defile the flower;
I offer it, as it stands,
To the Buddhas of the Three Worlds."
___________________
Empress Komyo

Of course, there many other popular haikus, but I love this one the best. I feel there is a flowing, lilting quality to this haiku, even though it doesn't rhyme. It rhymes somewhere else it seems.

Now there is not much that I need to say about Gulzar sa'ab. I love all his stories, poems, songs and movies. Most of my favorites are already quite popular, so I just wish to put here my latest favorite:

From here

"मुझे तुमने ज़मीन दी थी
तुम्हारे रहने के काबिल यहाँ इक घर बना दूं मैं
कभी फुर्सत मिले जबी बाक़ी कामों से तो आ जाना
किसी 'weekend' पे आ जाओ!"

"Mujhe tumne zameen di thi
tumhare rehne ke kaabil yahan ik ghar bana doon main
Kabhi fursat miley jab baaki kaamo'n se to aa jaana
kisi 'weekend' pe aa jao!"
___________________
Gulzar [Neglected Poems]

There are so many more, but today these stand as favorites. 

Blog Marathon Post 14. Dreams

The weird things about dreams is that they are always there with us. Nobody knows where they come from. But we all know what they do to us. They make us cry, try, and jump around in joy. But most of all, they help us find ourselves. 

They guide us towards our journey - yes, journey, not destination, for there is no destination except the journey.

So dare to dream. No other way will we find our journey and our journey mates. Game on.

Blog Marathon Post 13. A habit that has helped me grow

Today i would like to share one of the habits that has helped me not only figure out myself better, but also to heal and deal with a lot stuff. I read about it Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way". She puts forth the concept of "The Morning Pages". In her own words: 

"Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*– they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow."

I have worked with this technique for a long time, and still go back to it from time to time. In fact, I have found it so effective that I recommend to almost everyone who come to me for a Tarot Reading. I tell them this:

1. Sleep with a pen and notebook ready beside your bed. 
2. When you get up, try not to orient yourself, simply pick up the notebook and start writing. Anything. Whatever comes to your mind.
3. Write 3 pages front and back. Don't think, and try not to stop in between. 
4. Commit to writing for at least 21 days. You can of course continue doing so for as long as you want, but any significant revelation or change usually needs 21 days to take place. 
5. Do not pay attention to what comes up in the first week. That is just the first layer. Only from the second week onwards will anything noteworthy arise. The time varies for everyone though, as everyone is unique.
6. At the end of the third week, go back and read the pages; themes and facts will surface for you to understand where you are right now.

You can of course choose to go to a desk and write there, may after your morning ablutions, just try to be not too much 'present'. Just let it flow. 

After you have been writing for long enough for it have become a habit with you, you can even choose seek answers a particular issue in writing. Hold a question in your mind for a few moments, then let it go and start writing. Within 3-5 days you must get some insight into the resolution of the matter at hand.

The morning pages can:

1. Help you figure out hidden issues
2. Unveil for you your deepest concerns and fears
3. Show you your own mind's design
4. Help you find out the next best course of action
5. Offer you insight into your passions and dreams

Try it.

It has worked wonders for a lot of people. It may do so for you too. 

Blog Marathon Post 12. Cats I live with

How can this marathon be complete without the mention of my beloved cats? I have had the honour of living with two of them and have met quite a few of these awesome creatures.

I was blessed when the first one entered my life more than eight years ago. She was the tiniest, awesomest thing me and my brother had ever seen!

Two and a half months back, we got one more in our lives, and though it gets a little crazy with all the hissing and growling as they are not friends yet, we would not have it any other way. 

They have made our lives so much richer and joyous. We cannot thank our stars enough everyday. 

I cannot imagine a life without them. This is the elder one, Penny:

And the younger one, Zeus:

They look similar but are strikingly different in temperament. Penny is quite short tempered and does not like to be unnecessarily disturbed. Zeus, on the other, loves to play with us.

But though Penny likes her daily petting, Zeus doesn't like it much; he would rather sink his tiny, sharp teeth into our hands. He is small, but spirited, and very loving.

Penny is quite fluffy, very dignified, and has either a stoic expression on her face or an astonished one, especially when too much activity is happening around her. Of course, the completely uninterested and disdainful expression that all cats master sooner or later is also in her repertoire. Zeus is yet to master this one, but I am sure he will catch up.

It's pure joy just to share space with them, everything else that they bring with them is bonus.

Here are some cat facts, which I whole heartedly agree with:

Blog Marathon Post 11. Chakra Healing Workshop

So I have come back from a workshop which was on understanding and healing the Chakras or Energy Centres of the body. I will post about it in detail later, but today I just want to share the top 3 learnings that got reinforced for me:

1. This too shall pass. It will all change - sooner or later. This is the unchangeable law. Understand it or suffer. 

2. Without trust, there can be no freedom. If you do not trust that the earth will take care of you when you put your feet on her, you cannot walk. If you do not trust the air you breathe to not kill you but instead give you life, how can you live? So if trust is missing, every moment is a war, a struggle for survival. 

Honour it or get stuck. 

3. If you will stand up for you, no one else will. You owe to yourself to figure out your agenda of being here, or else other people will do it for you. Then you cannot complain that everyone takes you for granted. That's what you are telling them, that I am available, for I have nothing better to do. So useless or useful, right or wrong, have some agenda or priority. You owe to yourself. 

Internalize this or be screwed. 

Blog Marathon Post 10. My experience of today

This is all that I can say today, for I have felt this from inside.