SOULspace

    Pic - Fishes in a lake - they stay away from the sides fearing birds, all cramped together. Suddenly one fish flips to it's back and dies! - Oh just an ordinary day in our LIFE!   Greed arrives in many forms, bearing gifts of clothes, jewels and food. I fail to resist and welcome them with eager desire. Ill will is a hazy person occupying my nether worlds, showing up at places and at times, that doesn't justify their presence. Sloth and Torpor are twins who live with me, I feed them everyday with procrastination. Restlessness and Remorse are cousins who visit me at times, inviting me to their games. I join them without thinking and regret in silence. Doubt, Oh Dithering as we may also call them, comes uninvited and occupies my mind. I don't know why I allow them to stay, even when I know that they are not wanted. Struggling with all these Unwanted Guests to my abode, I finally decided to invite Meditation and Mindfulness and they as guides are sending my unwanted gues...

    Why do I post my crochet?  To bring awareness to the process From ideation, to choosing of yarn, needle and design, until the last slip stitch completes and closes the design...we must stay committed and enrolled in the task at hand. We envision how it will turn out (of course this is not original design) but as the needle follows a set pattern, some parts may be changed and altered and so it becomes our own... We then see the end result with satisfaction (or dissatisfaction). The advantage in doing crochet is that one can unravel and redo it anytime (if we have patience for that!) ... and so on... This is truly encapsulating Life as we live it. How beautiful each pattern is...a pattern we make of it! ~~ White is the chosen colour and lends to so many metaphors : White is the colour I see when I close my eyes to meditate - a radiant white. White is the colour of the robes worn by God's Son and the dervishes as they spin in the moment. White is the rose that blooms uno...

  Perfection and Imperfection Here and now in these petals are held. Words we assign to obects Do they care?   Each petal is... Each petal has been... Each petal will be...what it is always meant to be.   Perfect and Imperfect Here and now in these petals are held.   Words we assign to things Do they care?   We make meaning in our heads We make it what it is... We call it reality...that which is always subjective.  Perfection and Imperfection Here and now in these petals are held.   Words we assign to things Do they care?   Just sit with them Just watch them Just experience them...and call them no names. Just witness and know that this is closer to divine.  

It is almost surreal to think that we were there just last week (June 11th to 16th). My much awaited vacation, a proper one, with rooms booked, flights booked, not an ad-hoc drive down-and take-the-first-motel-that-we-can-find. The Himalayas, seductive beauty that she is, beckoned us and we gladly surrendered to her enchantment. We had  a dream stay at Manali Sterling Resorts called White Mist. Picture perfect, and at that time I thought, in perfect weather. The locals were complaining of the heat and on the day we landed it started drizzling, "perfect weather too" I exclaimed. Sweaters out, umbrellas out, what a quintessential Hill station! "I just died in its arms!!"      We did not realise the fury that was to be unleashed in the wake of our return. We escaped at every step, just managing to leave Kullu from Buntar airport on the only flight that flew that week and then again from Delhi, before the floods marooned the s...

It started with an owl, that we spotted at Chitradurga fort. He actually had a friend with him. Such a loving pair. We also spotted some animals that were not alive. This carving dates back to pre-historic times. Prominent outline, but I wonder why it hasn't been preserved better? Spot this guy. A very agile and quick gecko, I could get only one shot, as he suddenly scuttled under the rock and did not emerge from there again. The Red headed parrot; a lovely close up. I realise how quick we need to be in order to capture wildlife...  As this one swiftly walked away from camera focus This patch of green had many egrets While I thought this reclining serpent was a nice addition to our menagerie  This big guy flew from right under my nose and onto a wall A Hoopoe hopped beautifully before us, as we leisurely captured him to our hearts content!  There is so much pl...

There is something about animals and creatures that live on this planet with us... I am no great animal lover, more like...don't disturb me and I wont disturb you....or vice-versa. Yet these absolutely adorable Carps at Wonder La near Bangalore were a delight!! My kids couldn't get enough of them...as the fishes were clamoring and crowding for the food they were holding. My son tells me it felt as if they were kissing his fingers! They were a bit squeamish at the beginning, but once they got over the newness of feeling fishes feeding from their fingers, they were pretty excited and thrilled (nice alliteration huh?!!). Lovely, lovely space to be in....watching fishes swimming is surely mesmerizing!!

I was browsing for some stories about Karthigai, and found a very nice blog. Unfortunately I cant seem to leave comments on blogs which have disabled author verification. Can anyone tell me why and what I must do for that? Here is the link Here is another blog, that shares the story of Karthigai So to my understanding the general consensus is that Shiva took the form of a fire column, in order to show Brahma and Vishnu that God is limitless. Ok... Here is my question... Then Why do Vaishnavaites( followers of the Protector God/ Vishnu) celebrate this event as well? This is purely an academic question and does not reflect my religious or spiritual standing. I want to know the stories that Vaishnavaites are telling. All I know is that Shaivites and Vaishnavites light the lamp on 2 different days, and the first is called Annamalai Deepam and the second is Vishnu Deepam. If any body has a link/ story please do tell. Interestingly this festival is not only unique to Tamilnadu...

  Sunday Morning: Imagine lazing in bed...time just rolls by...breakfast merges into lunch..... Cut... Sunday Morning: Alarm blasts into your ears. You spring up with a smile on your face, brush and bathe. Not to beat your pace, even the kids are all excited. Brushed and bathed, jackets,walking shoes and water bottles ready. Yes, I decided to go on the Bangalore Walk with the family last Sunday. Luckily and Happily, my family too shares the same enthusiasm that I have to soak in flora and fauna early morning! We reached the huge megalithic rock that dominates Lal Bagh, to meet Mr.V. History, dates and facts poured out of him and we lapped it up like kittens. The megalithic stone is estimated to be at least half the age of the earth! Hyder Ali who started the Spruce and Cypress garden here, did so on an arid, barren land. Tipu Sultan was instrumental in importing many new species from all over the world. The diverse species of trees and plants grow here with no special i...

In this concrete world, if we get a chance to just get out and see some water, trees, and birds then we have to grab that opportunity. Between Kanpur and Lucknow lies Nawabgunj Bird sanctuary and the best time to visit is between November and March. We were a wee bit late having gone there in April. Yet we got to see around 24 different types of birds. Having Not packed the Bird Book (we have many but I like Salim Ali's for its clear descriptions), we had to rely on my husband who is any way a walking Bird Book. Somehow just spending 3 hours roaming around trying to spot birds and identify them through their calls, fulfills you, with a feeling of a day well spent. It was a hot day, but the green foliage covered our path. The monkeys though, gave my daughter some anxious moments. The highlight was when we spotted the black headed Oriole. In fact we heard their call( my husband pointed it out) and then we tracked them around. Finally to our delight we spotted a pair swoop...

  Just took the children to the Kanpur Zoo. As for them and me, just roaming around is great fun. The maintenance of the Zoo is to write about, but I still felt some of the animals were in good health. The pelicans, and the flamingo for one, the rhinoceros for another. The tiger looked bored, while the other animals, sambar deer and bear were looking unhealthy. It was a hot day, yet the kids could not pull themselves away. A kingfisher on the tree enjoying (and oblivious) to its relative freedom... An annoyed Jackal bared its fangs at us, I dont blame him/her, I too would hate to be in a cage, though with time we get used to that too... The Emus were plenty, wonder how they are proliferating while the others were in pairs. The orangutan was the favourite, so was the chimp...missed it as the batteries were acting up again. (Have seriously petitioned for a better camera) The zebras too were looking great, though we got a glimpse from afar, as they coyly peeped at us...

Here is a montage ( for a change!), of a friends garden. February and March is spring time her in the North and the entire station is blossoming.   I confess my garden too has some Dahlias, some meagre Pansies and Zinnias.  But after seeing this garden I don't want to spoil the visual treat for you all by showing a comparatively arid garden (mine), as against this veritable Mughal Gardens! My friend's husband is a passionate botanist/plant lover/plant grower. He lovingly explained to us how he plans the different colours that go into the garden, the height variations and the manner in which one bed of flowers should offset the next set in terms of contrast and height! So he had beautiful light hued sweet peas followed by a bed of Lady's lace, intermingled with some pink paper (real) flowers. The children were awed by the "poisonous" plant at the entrance, which my daughter had to capture. (It is the solitary pot on the wall with the label!) For once I to...

  We were at the Bada Imambara at Lucknow. Amazing building and amazing people behind the building. Why would some one want to build such a majestic structure? Add to that the Bul Bulaiya, that is the maze which runs through the walls and pillars, and runs through 3 levels. The guide tells us there are 1000 ways within the maze,but only 1 way is the right one to get us out of it! It appears that man will do anything for posterity and this is definitely an example of that. You and I can enjoy the quirks of the moneyed class as they leave behind monuments and minarets for future generations to explore and savor. This building brings to my mind the innumerable photos of SRK's palatial house Mannat floating around the cyber world. Then there is even our own favorite batsman's new pad...with foyer designed like the interior of a conch shell!! It's true, google around and you will find it. And what about Ambani tower? ..what about it...mmm....surely that is one monument waiting ...

Ok, Here is a no frills, no hype Love Letter. Wondering who is sending me this in my old age? Who else but my son!! He has got into this card making phase and made one for his Sister, with so many of the "Love you's" on it.. I did not recover from the shock for almost half an hour!! Subsequently when I pouted that I had no Love you's from him (he He), he landed up making this one for me. Don't ask me what a Vatapi is ..he just made it up, and doesnt know the meaning too...hahah... Children are not appreciated enough..we can find fault so easily (include me as the Primary Culprit of that), but appreciating their efforts and thoughts, we are stingy with that ... mmm...food for thought ...Yes??

Don't berate me on the quality of the pictures, but I just wanted to capture what my daughter and I landed up making after I saw these lovely Yarn Paintings. Yarn Paintings are part of North American Culture or so I am told. These were actually illustrations for a story "The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer" reviewed in Saffron Tree, as a part of their on going Book Review Festival. You can follow this link to see that story review, and many others...click here It is extremely simple and my daughter who is the creative one, really loved the idea. All you need is some yarn, wool in different shades and gum, paper. If you twirl the yarn around into concentric circles, it really looks good. I guess art is all about doing and experiencing. She could not complete it and Sunday morning, she was at it without even brushing her teeth!! The one above is hers, and the one below is mine.

    Here is the Ganges. Serene, and peaceful, she is the narrowest here. I believe she is only 20 metres deep here. This place is called Bithoor, about 30Km from where we live in Kanapur. It has one of 3 temples to Lord Brahma on it's shores. If you expect a beautiful temple, it is disappointment time. There is a small shrine which says, Brahmesvar that's all. It is dirty in parts, more muddy than dirt. I would say it is much cleaner than what I expected. A lot of effort is being put into keeping the Ganges clean especially in these parts. There is one organisation called "ecofriends" here, that is doing a lot of work on the Ganges. There is not much to see, but one can do some boating here. We got into one. It is fairly a medium sized one and we did a peaceful turn of the Ganges. My husband was asking for the Mae vests..(hahah..Traveling abroad does that to you!!) It was quite thrilling for me to see the river, as I imagined the many Kings and Sages who had touche...