Positive Energy

little things like these make my day, I was searching high and low for some wisdom on garnering positive energy and expelling negative energy and in a moment of synchronicity - I came across this passage:

This is the “Light Prayer" of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing upon him). Apparently, if we recite this everyday, we will see some significant changes in our state:

Light Prayer of Muhammad

O God, grant me Light in my heart, Light in my grave,
Light in front of me, Light behind me,
Light to my right, Light to my left,
Light above me, Light below me,
Light in my ears, Light in my eyes,
Light on my skin, Light in my hair,
Light within my flesh, Light in my blood, Light in my bones.
O God, Increase my Light everywhere.
O God, Grant me Light in my heart,
Light on my tongue, Light in my eyes, Light in my ears,
Light to my right, Light to my left,
Light above me, Light below me,
Light in front of me, Light behind me,
And Light within my self; increase my Light.

credits: The Threshold Society

flamboyant aspirations

Just for some self-amusement I am attempting to record these 3 arias.
My "studio" is going to be my toilet, it has just the perfect "theatre" echo I need. make do with watchu got is what i always say!

1) Ave Maria (Gounod's version is my favorite)
2) Dido's Lament
3) O del mio dolce ardor (Gluck).*

*Believe it or not, My mom (who is a music major) sang no.3 on national television in B'desh.

Now I know why I love to go off on my morning squalls while I'm showering - It's all in the genes. Maybe I'll post it up if I'm not too embarrassed by them.

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark

I have been reading this book called "The Fragrance of Faith", authored by Jamal Rahman (who is also Bangalee). It is a gift from a very dear friend of mine whom I love and respect immensely.

Everytime I feel uneasy about something, I read a few pages of this book and it instantly uplifts me.

an interesting insight, on self-reflection (which we often forget):

Make it a habit in everything you say or do to ask yourself, "Does my speech or action derive from a place of divine attributes within me: truth, love, compassion, beauty? or do they spring from a place of the little self in me: fear, pettiness, jealousy?" Be mindful of the question and make conscious efforts to originate from your soul. No matter how inconvenient, choose to honor your "soul need". The light takes care of the obstacles. Have faith.

However, if you lapse or succumb to a petty or selfish impulse in you, remember to be merciful with yourself and be utterly hopeful. The Universe lovingly provides a stream of opportunities to help you connect with your soul.

Dido's Lament

I couldn't be more thrilled! Today I found this on youtube, Renee Fleming singing Dido's Lament.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3Ag_aWZn74

Closing scene ....very poignant.Dido sings this as she's dying, full of disappointment and hurt, an emotional song which Renee Fleming renders beautifully. I love the raw emotion in her voice.

rabbit in rabat

So I am moving to Rabat for a year in March. My role will be to empower uneducated women in rural areas, train them in specific projects through which they will generate income for their families. Also I will have to pilot a project to culture and promote medicinal and aromatic plants. I'm told I'll also be raising rabbits & goats.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of raising rabbits because I love rabbits, I had 4 as pets when I was 5 and knowing that I have to raise them to be sold to restaurants unsettles me. For some reason, goats I'm okay with. (heh)

The idea is that rabbits are a great source of protein and cheap to raise (low cost).

I try to put things in perspective.........afterall, they are feeding very very poor families, who could die, otherwise.

grey area. I hope I don't have to deal with the rabbits, and I hope I get tagged to another project. ack.

heartvoice

Attempting hard to save every penny (without being too much of a scrooge) has been an important part of this entire process and interestingly enough it has forced me to be more innovative in terms of how i do things (more efficiently).

The only downside of this is that I look rather scruffy.

I have been brainstorming on a music project, will update more on this later. My plan is to document the music of Africa which is very different in each country with its own unique story. I will gain inspiration from all the exotic instruments and music traditions.

I think this is a way to reassure myself and sort of fulfil my dream of always being connected to music somehow. I did consider at one point - to quit everything and study music, to become an opera singer to be exact, learn music composition, but I don't quite know what it was that stopped me. I was once asked this by a dear friend of mine and I realised.....perhaps, I did not want to milk it for money or make a career out of it, I'd lose interest if there was that element of pressure.

I just want to enjoy it, do it as a hobby and suffer less criticisms when people don't take to it.


till then
love,
t

nyr

I spent a good amount of this year and a bit of last, planning, saving money, and gaining the courage to quit everything and move to Morocco. At first I was a bit apprehensive, that I will be living off my savings for a year and a half almost, but I guess for a large part, I wasn't unhappy, but I was not fulfilled. And for someone who's passionate by nature, it creeps up on you.

So I started with, planning 3 different trips, first I'd explore South Asia, then Africa then South America. Me being me, I want to do everything all at once, I thought I could explore women's issues in all the different continents and then end off my 1 year trip swimming with the turtles in galapagos islands. but I decided to stop being idealistic, because I'll burn out and probably run out of money and I speak no spanish! so off to Morocco it is - to explore Africa & a bit of the Middle East .... less fatigued and better able to gain inspiration and immerse myself into the understanding of poverty and social enterprises.

Chris Mccandless was inspired by this quote and I can imagine why:

"...the sea's only gifts are harsh blows and, occasionally, the chance to feel strong. Now, I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions, facing blind, deaf stone alone, with nothing to help you but your own hands and your own head..."
— Bear Meat by Primo Levi

So I am throwing myself into the deep end of the ocean to see how I survive, so please wish me luck and I hope to have your prayers with me.

love,
T.