I’m likely to introduce myself like this #reverb10

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#reverb10, banana bread, Compassionate Instincts, courageous, cup of tea, Don't Know, fleshly borders, gypsy warrior queen, Hilarious Giggles, introductions, king tide, lotus, measure of this Self, mediation, memories, mirror, name, ocean, reflections, shadows, sky, sunrise, wind, winding mountain path

New Name. Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?
~ December 23 prompt

My name, you say? Not quite sure any more.

Used to think I was just the Me I see

In my reflection.

Later, I learned mediation and began to understand.

Fleshly borders don’t define Who I Am.

Activities, likes and dislikes, clothes, a job

Don’t make the measure of this Self.

There was a night and a day

Where I swore I was Shiva!

It’s not that I’m wrong,

But here in this place

I’m both less and more than I seem.

::

So look in my eyes, tell me what you see.

Coz these days if you ask

I’m likely to introduce myself like this:

I am a lotus: feet buried in the earth and skyward blooming!

I am the sky: multi-hued and changeable!

I am the wind: gentle caresses and wildness combined!

I am the ocean: sometimes darkly brooding, others shining like diamonds!

I am a bird! An ant! A winding mountain path!

I’m an ancient tome of wisdom! A lollipop! A mouse!

I am shadows, I am darkness, I’m in your nightmares too.

But I’m also a gypsy warrior queen, with hugs and love for all.

I’m the heart of the world and words in your heart.

I’m the spark in your eye when you’re looking fine (and you know it).

I am everything you never wanted to be.

I’m ugly, I’m bold and madly courageous.

I am lessons, I am memories, I’m your cup of tea.

Yes, I’m all that and so very much more.

::

But mostly

Who I Am

Is Don’t Know

Not Knowing

Open-Hearted Service

Cavernous Space

Compassionate Instincts

Beloved

Loving

Home baked banana bread

And Hilarious Giggles.

::

So tell me again what you see,

And label me that which mirrors your vision,

Because that I am too.

And so my dearest, are you.

~Svasti

 

“Vincent” the question mark butterfly from http://www.projectinsect.com/gallery/Vincent.htm

Happy Diwali

Tags

Community, Diwali, Essence Nature, Festival, illumination, inner battles, kirtan, lights, mediation, Rama, Ramayana, rangoli, Ravana, Sita, Swami Satyananda

Image from Free Greeting Cards: http://is.gd/gLDVe

Heading out in a little while to a Diwali celebration at a friend’s place – someone I met through the various kirtan groups I’ve been hanging out with.

Diwali translates as “row of lights” and it’s a beautiful tradition. Basically, it’s about bringing people together and sharing food, activities and fun. Many lamps are lit to create a beautiful illumination over the five days of Diwali.

Diwali also ties into the Ramayana, as a celebration of Rama and Sita returning from Sri Lanka after Rama (and Hanuman) defeated the demon Ravana. So your basic triumph of “good” over “evil” or light over dark. I always like to consider these sorts of stories as inner work: we all have our demons, our inner hero and that part of us that needs to be protected. And when we accomplish a triumph or two over the “darkness”, or those things that would pull us down and away from our essence nature, there is a sense of illumination – hence all the lamps.

He who Himself sees all but whom no one beholds, who illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon and the stars and the whole universe but whom they cannot illumine, He indeed is Brahman, He is the inner Self. Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul.

The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightnings shine and much less fire. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali.
~Swami Satyananda

And hey – this year has been full to overflowing with my own inner battles. In fact, life’s kind of been like that for the last five years! So I’m very much looking forward to this evening of honouring the light in myself and other people.

So what does a private Diwali celebration look like in Australia? Well, first of all, our hostess is originally from India, so it will be a hybrid Indian/Australian festival. We will make rangoli, get our kirtan and mediation on and later, eat together. I’m contributing some Indian desserts and organic wine, and a whole mass of tea lights.

And I hope that you take a moment to reflect and appreciate all that you’ve achieved this year. All the demons you’ve battled and defeated, and remember that all of us are none other than Essence Nature.

Even the “demons” we encounter – they are too, are just working through their own perceptions of this life.

Om Shanti!!

~Svasti