anusheh, you have encapsulated all so-called spiritual knowledge in a few lines. simplicity of expression further adds to its beauty. fear and lack of trust will bring us to encounter situations which will eventually help us reach this goal.

Dear Anusheh,

What a lovely, lucid treat of a post! Thank you. As I read it over and over again, it felt like my affirmation, as if you had put into words the emotions that were surging within, just the right expressions to complete what has been a very special day on the path...reflects so much so simply and so succinctly... amazing, thank you.

So true, its only when one overcomes inner poverty, and stands in the light of gratitude and faith that inner being rises, the human animal transforms to a life divine.. so simple really - just takes faith and gratitude..yet how hard how anguished our struggles that lacerate our inner selves so much that gratitude and faith get buried or embedded in the layers of falsehood, forgotten, unreached.. but that instinctive imprint stays, a lost treasure.. and sometimes one finds guides within and without..then embers ignite the spark when we truly want to access the light and love.. then it doesnt matter, neither the devil nor the deep sea..

love and gratitude for pointers on the path

sukanya

ps: i dream of a time some day and aspire to be able to write something like this..that comes from the soul..

Hi guys!

When I typed your url in my comp and the site opened I thought for a minute 'did I come to the wrong blog!' Then I realised that you guys have changed the look of the blog (have been away from the blog for a couple of days). Hey it's cool. The mauve and the pink look really soothing. Nice to have a new look for the blog. I'm lovin it!

Anusheh just this morning I was feeling a bit low and I open the blog first to find the new look and second voila! just the right post :)Man are you guys mind readers too!!!

Life is full of ups and downs. Downs more I guess because they keep making us make all the effort and move us ahead. Otherwise we would be going no where if everything was just perfect and everyone was always happy not having to do any thinking, reflect on anything...

In my experience fear and hoplessness are linked. One feeds into the other and this leads to desperation, where our ability to logically think goes for a six and we fall into the traps of anger, anxiety, depression etc.

What you wrote about the third options is really very very inspiring. Sort of brings in a tremendous amount of confidence to the self and urge to keep moving ahead.

Thanks loved it and thanks yet again for brightening the day.

Love
Annie

Thank you dear Harb. It's good to have you back. We always miss you. You're right fear and lack of trust have to reach their peaks for someone to really begin to take notice and perhaps do something about it. Because we are by nature quite complacent about such things. Most people though just develop all kinds of neurosis and just manage their lives. Waste of a short and beautiful life dont you think. But hey until I began this journey I more or less thought my fears should be held to my bossom as well. So what the heck.....whenever, whoever is ready, the resolution always hangs around the corner, waiting, waiting, waiting.

Hi Sukanya

I have to thank you as well because I was in the middle of writing this piece when I had that brief conversation with you and that just clinched it for me. Guess when one begins to access the fields of synchronicity then one truly realises that nothing is given without receving and vice versa. It's all joyously connected. Just needs some awareness, I guess.

love

Annie

Thanks and especially thank you for noticing the change in design and so glad that you like it. Harb ji, Vedant, VK and Sukanya and whoever else is out there, it would be good to hear what you think about the new look. Write if you hate it and write if you love it. Both will do:-)

Annie you're spot on about the connection between fear and hopelessness....of course both are inextricably linked. Glad to know that the third option was inspiring for you. It's been very inspiring for me too. Having struggled long and hard with the devil and the deep blue sea, I now realise that since they are both dead ends nothing fruitful can come out of engaging with either. However a gold mine of information is accessible within the self about the self at that moment. If you focus on that you can learn far more and move beyond far quicker.

Sometimes awareness is all you need, not action.....and mostly this is when you feel compelled the most to do something:-) Is that confusing?

love

Very nice facelift for the blog, Anusheh!! I really like it, and the yinyang symbol at the top!

Been reading and following many articles for many months; staying silent as I reflect and contemplate at what I read.

Indeed, at times we are swimming in the deep end of the ocean when faced with emotional turmoils.

And, how silent and calming, is that centre we all conceal within; until absolutely necessary, when we invite it open, again and again.

North

Dear North

Good to know you're around. Thank you for noticing and commenting on the face lift. With your aesthetic sense I will take the fact that you like the new look as a big compliment:-) Thanks again.

love

Yup, it's a very big compliment Anusheh; and if I am not mistaken-pink is a strength-colour?

North

As far as I know the colour Pink signifies love.

I thought green was the colour for love?

Hi North!

Oh? I stand corrected, I thought it symbolized strength? Maybe it's peach that does? lol

North

HI Chaitali : )

Just googled: psychology colour chart, and got this great site!!

www dot eaglespiritministry dot com slash works slashcolorch slash htm

very interesting-meanings for every colour

North

Hi North

Chaitali Green is the colour for compassion and Pink the colour of Divine Love and peach the colour of Grace.

Hi North

I'm going to have repost your comment by deleting this one because our software for some reason goes into a spin everytime a link is posted and the side menu goes for a six. So I am going to repost your comment with the link in words. Sorry about that. I guess technology has its own tantrums. :)

Hi Jasjit : )

I"m in the middle of taking the colour-test on that site I posted!

eeek, it says NOTHING good about me(blush)

North

Oos, sorry Anusheh, I didn't know?

anyway, very intriguing site-a nice find!!

I am taking that colour-test; and according to the test; I'm pretty screwed up.(no surprise here)

North

Ha Fixed it without deleting!

Don't focus too much on it. Okay so let me try the test too and I will tell you how accurate I find it. :)

Thanks Anusheh!

North

Here's my results; I'll be BRAVE!

Eerily enough; is gosh, it's all too close for my comfort!

Your Existing Situation
Insecure. Seeks roots, stability, emotional security, and an environment providing greater ease and fewer problems, but is either unwilling or unable to exert the effort

Your Stress Sources
Wants to overcome a feeling of emptiness and to bridge the gap which she feels separates herself from others. Anxious to experience life in all its aspects, to explore all its possibilities, and to live it to the fullest. She therefore resents any restriction or limitation being imposed on her and insists on being free and unhampered.

Your Restrained Characteristics
Believes that she is not receiving her share--that she is neither properly understood or adequately appreciated. Feels that she is being compelled to conform, and close relationships leave her without any sense of emotional involvement.

Your Desired Objective
Takes easily and quickly to anything which provides stimulation. Preoccupied with things of an intensely exciting nature, whether erotically stimulating or otherwise. Wants to be regarded as an exciting and interesting personality with an altogether charming and impressive influence on others. Uses tactics cleverly so as to avoid endangering her chances of success or undermined others' confidence in herself.

Your Actual Problem
Seeks to avoid criticism and to prevent restriction of her freedom to act, and to decide for herself by the exercise of great personal charm in her dealings with others.

Your Actual Problem #2
Has a fear that she might be prevented from achieving the things she wants. This leads her to employ great personal charm in her dealings with others, hoping that this will make it easier for her to reach her objectives.

Ooh, my ocean is deeper than suspected! (gentle smiles)

North

Anusheh; this test may help IFSHA in many ways with clients, in finding their "ocean?"

The more I read my results, the more I see "me."

Unfortunately now though is; everytime i"m charming; i'll be wondering if it's sincere or a sinsister inner plot against myself? sighhhH & a giggle

North

I'll be back later Anusheh; to see what you thought of the test accuracy.

It's 3:39AM here, and off to bed I go. Have a great day, all those in daylight hours...

North

Hi Anusheh, I love the new look.. sorry didnt mention it, though I had noticed it earlier!

Hi North, thanks for that link, I took the test too, and found it quite "me" in almost all aspects. As synchronicity works, for the past 2 days I've been wanting to read up on colours, esp chakra and aura colours, but didnt have the time to go googling/net surfing..so this site seems just the right place to start..

Yup

Great colour test. Fits me perfectly. Love your post Anusheh though I'm sure the middle road needs a lot of hard work and discipline. But I so agree that "I think we can only do it when we have overcome our inner poverty and stand in the light of gratitude and faith." Very inspiring!

Thanx

Oops forgot to mention I like the new look. Very soothing colours in the comment box. BTW what is the little coloured motif at the bottom?

Thanks Shagufta and Sukanya. Glad you guys like the new look. North I am always taken aback by your openness. I think its a great quality really. Thanks for the link. I thought it was great and very much me as well. Enjoyed that. Was also interesting to see what the colours on this blog now signify.

Goodnight and sweet dreams

Dear Anusheh,

From the time I’ve read the post, two insistent images have come to fore; am tempted to recount the stories here, for they seem relevant and helpful tools. Both these images, with their deep essence and lessons have fascinated me for a while, from the time I’ve encountered them and found my pointers therein. I found the imagery powerful; they enable insight into true faith as well as practice of awareness. (I take the risk of recounting them here, for they may be long posts. The sources are texts on mythic tarot.)

Prometheus, (the Hanged Man in tarot) defied the law of Zeus, stole fire from the Gods and gifted it to mankind; thereafter, as an outcome of the wrath of Zeus, bound by indestructible chains, he had to hang upside down from a cliff for thirty years. An eagle flew down each day to devour his liver; each night the liver was renewed and the torture continued. Thirty years later, Zeus permitted Heracles to slay the eagle and to break the prisoner’s chains.

On an inner level, the hanged man implies an acceptance of waiting in darkness. In suspension, tortured by anxiety, pain and fear that the sacrifice might come to nothing, yet he wears a peaceful expression. And his suspension ends at last, altering both him and the humans’ relationship with divine. In Greek mythology, Prometheus had created man out of earth and his own tears, and Athene breathed life into his creation. Thus he was also the visionary spirit which sees greater possibilities and is willing to abandon all that is previously held sacred so that greater consciousness might be achieved. Prometheus is at first made terribly vulnerable. If we are prepared to make such a sacrifice on trust then we open ourselves to life and life can hurt us. But this price of giving up our defenses and making the journey into loneliness and self doubt seems necessary for any real sense of what truly supports us and what sees us through every twister – faith and gratitude. Thus, responding to the turning wheels of Time, a willingness to put unconditional trust in the unseen workings of the unconscious and waiting – often with fear and anxiety, struggling to put them aside in the hope of a new and better life.

And no less, Penelope (Queen of Wands) mythic queen of Ithaca, wife of the wandering hero Odysseus, an image of strength, creativity, ingenuity and tireless energy. When her husband embarks for the Trojan war with all the other Greek princes, she is left alone to run the island kingdom with her young son beside her. Presuming Odysseus’s death, no less than 112 suitors begin to court Penelope, hoping to marry her and take the kingdom, and conspiring to murder her son. Penelope holds her faith, going by her intuition that her husband is alive and must return. Hard pressed, she promises her decision as she completes the shroud she must weave against the death of her father–in-law, old Laertes. She takes her time over the task, weaving by day and unravelling the work by night. While the suitors were disporting themselves in Odysseus’s palace consuming his food and wine.

Odysseus arrives home after 10 years of wandering and is said to be reunited happily with his wife after he destroys the insolent suitors. Penelope is the image of the strength of creative imagination, her faith and loyalty not necessarily literal. Some versions question this technical sexual loyalty. However, her faithfulness springs from a much deeper level, knowing intuitively that Odysseus will return. It is a quality of faith and loyalty which springs not from enforced morality but from a deep inner conviction that in the end, everything will turn out right. The Queen holds her strength and energy within, and devotes them to those few things to which she has given her heart. She rules her own world in her own right and does not need to lean on any shoulder or socially acceptable labels to make her a worthwhile, self confident individual.

Makes sense in the context of your post?

Hmmm. Sukanya I dont know if these are relevant to the post, because I dont see the middle path as belonging to the hanged man...tortured, in darkness etc...on the contrary I perceive the middle path to be one of absolute light. but considering they kept coming to you perhaps they must point to some perception of yourself.

Well yes Anusheh, these were cards from readings I did a few weeks ago, when the practice was getting internalized and intense. And I agree with you, the middle path is one of absolute light...to me the interpretation came as that it is the light within, that intrinsic, intuitive faith, during the most trying times - sees one through.. that is why the image of prometheus is peaceful, warm and dynamic - he survives to fulfill his destiny, through the strength of inner light.

Hi Anusheh, so very interesting to read that most whom took the colour test; thought it fairly accurate. WEll, my openness may be deemed a great quality; but, it also has a certain level of curse(gentle smiles.)

North

Hi Anusheh, so very interesting to read that most whom took the colour test; thought it fairly accurate. WEll, my openness may be deemed a great quality; but, it also has a certain level of curse(gentle smiles.)

North

North maybe the feeling of curse simply exists because there is an attachment to a certain kind of outcome viz a vis the openness. Just thinking out loud:-)

love

Sukanya

If you're into tarot then maybe you want to try the Osho Zen Tarot. Personally I haven't been able to access any other tarot, simply because I find that a lot of Tarots are not necessarily grounded in the principle of light i.e. ever expanding, focused on the spiritual as opposed to predictions about the future and hence ever malleable and expansive. You may find it to be just what you need right now. On the other hand you may not:-) You can try an online reading at www dot osho dot com. There is another one of his tarots on the same site called the transformation tarot, its another lovely deck.

Thanks Anush. I love Osho's Buddha Discovery deck, something that found me just 2 months ago, when I started work, it is beautiful and centers me like nothing else does.. I have seen Osho's Zen tarot, but haven't had the opportunity of working with it yet. And I did have one interaction with Jasjit's deck - that connection was awesome. Waiting for it eagerly.

You are dot on, agree with you that lot of tarots are not grounded in the principle of light and expansion of the inner spiritual. I've seen that. Personally to me, tarot is not about prediction; it is a tool that helps me understand facets of human psychology and development, and therefore behaviour - through the use of stories, personalities, characters, situations. I like referring to the Rider Waite deck for reflection. I got interested in divination tools a few years ago, and therefore to assist my understanding, to find my steps I started exploring tarot, iching, celtic oracle. In the beginning I'd no one and nothing as guidance, so these seemed to point towards what I was seeking; at that point I didnt know how or where to start. I do go back now and then to rider waite deck. I have this uncanny. almost whacky connection with this set which i've owned for a bit now. The set had also come to me as a surprise gift. The magic of the stories in all their subtleties, layers, nuances entrances me.

Thanks for the link; am off to do a bit of online reading..

love

infinite thanks, anusheh. Its AWESOME. Just the right thing, right dose at the right time! and what i needed :-)

... feel like jumping up & down in joy, shouting Eureka, this it is!!

A warm big thank you hug..

Anusheh; how do I identify an attachment outcome of my self? Just trying to pinpoint my "AM" more clearly.

North

Sorry North for being unclear. What I meant was that if we attach a value to being open then we necessarily expect it to yield us a certain kind of result i.e. in interactions, intimate spaces etc. When those results dont come to us we begin to look upon even our strengths as a curse. Does that make sense?

Good Morning everyone!

Yesterday the CBSE results were declared. Many students all over the country are celebrating. Some are a litle sad because they did not get as much as they expected but hey there is always a NEXT time to do better and then more NEXT TIMESto do even more better and best.

I was going through the morning paper and on the front page there is a small column on a student named Rashmi Taneja who scored 88.2%. What is so special about that? Well Rashmi is blind since birth. But what was so encouraging to read is that this young girl did not allow her physical disability to stop her. She did not use a writer for the exams but instead wrote her paper using a normal typewriter. She was entitled for xtra hour but she did not use it for any paper except her account paper. When asked why Rashmi replied " It should be a level-playing field."

Thats the spirit...Keep it up!

Thanks for sharing that Chaitali

What a wonderful spirit Rashmi displays, may she always rise higher and be a guiding light to many others.

anusheh, i liked the new getup of the site.

and you know i apply almost on daily basis what we discuss here. the other day i said the fear is the presence of the other in us. for the last few months i was not in good terms with my sons and i was even noticing fear in me. the day i wrote the above lines, i brought them (my sons)also into my 'mein, "I" and began to wonder what that and that part of me wants etc. and the situation dramatically changed.

then i pass the day by dabbling in commodity/ stock market. i thought it was fun for me but now i see that it is actually a very learning experience for me. when i will buy a stock and then encounter fear from within the stock would go down. the other day i bought a huge quantity of gold futures and then immediately experienced fear. and true to this the gold futures began to slide downwards. i at once realised that i am putting myself into this situation to overcome this fear. if it is my world, if it and i are one then why should i encounter fear in doing anything in it? i sat watching the fear, i told myself that i will not allow myself to fear come what may. it took about an hour to put myself at ease. now i had no fear and i told myself if worst comes to worst this is what i will lose and even then i will be better than many. this and this money came my way from here and it will go away from me here so what? and almost miraculouly the gold futures/rates began to move the other way. eventually this exercise ended up giving me enough to buy a qualis lol...

Dear Harb

Glad you liked the new look:-) and thanks so much for sharing the above story. I completely relate to your story. Fear, like you say, distorts the entire energy field and magnetises it to pull towards it mirroring energies/experiences. Why should I just say fear actually. Whatever emotion you put into your energy field attracts similar expereinces etc. Almost as if to validate that thought (no matter what kind) will always produce a result.

These posts of Jasjit's therefore (I SPY) are just so fantastic because truly then nothing...no experience...exists without it having some relevance for you. Even which bird comes to sit on your tree in the morning is a message. For example (as bizarre as this may sound to most)I find that when crows come to sit on the tree in front of my balcony I know that it is a warning that my mind will try and move into restlessness. The crows have so far never been wrong:-)

Thanks Chaitali that was a really lovely, inspiring story. I hear that the new politically correct term that has replaced disabled is differently abled. I would say that Rashmi is specially abled, because people who have all the faculties often dont show a fraction of the courage and nobility that she has. She will fly high.

Anusheh thanks for the correction. My mistake. Yes Rashmi is abled in a very special way.

Thanks Anusheh, it made lots of sense!

North

Anusheh,

But wouldn't this thing about the crow that you have mentioned be also called by some as superstition? I mean like seeing a black cat is considered to be a bad thing. Or is there a limit to thinking of such syncronicity beyond which it becomes superstition?

Yesterday when I was driving down to office I had to stop at a red light for a while. When I looked sideways at the pavement a few feet away from my car I saw a man (his back was towards me) sitting on the pavement, bending down towards his leg and by his shoulder movements I could make out that he was rubbing his legs with his hands. At first i din't pay attention but then again my curiosity made me look his way. This time he had changed his position and he was sitting sideways. He had wounds all over his leg, his face, hands and feet were disformed due to a disease and there was nothing left of his fingers or his foot. And yet he was gently and with great patience pouring a liquid on to a cotton and applying it over his wounds with his almost non-exixtent hand.

I was so disturbed by the cite as I realised how easily we who are physically abled give up so easily and go into despair and hoplessness. It is as if the beggar was placed there in those few minutes of stoppage at the signal to tell me through his actions never to give up and give in to despair no matter what.

Hi Annie

Sorry its taken me a while to get back to you. Superstitions by definition Annie are based on fear. For example if you dont wash your hands three times you think you'll have bad luck for the rest of the day.

I'm not talking about that at all. I would be if I were to say that you know when I see a crow I know my entire day is going to go badly. Instead I just see it as a sign that I need to be especially alert because my mind is going moving towards being noisy. It's a subtle difference but a crucial one.

Hope this makes sense:-)

Anusheh,

That is true. It's a very thin line that distinguishes the two and only an open mind that is aware can keep itself from being drawn into superstition.

These serials which they show on TV also create superstition. Like if the sindoor falls from the woman's hand instantly she fears that her husband is going to die. I mean come on give us a break! It just means be more careful while handling things (or stop using that sindoor for it might be adultrated and lead to hair fall, heh heh heh)

Dear Anusheh,

amazing insight! :)

when I read the title I thought you would discuss the direction one needs to take when encountered by two evils.

but the way you have opened the channel of the 'between' was so....

i think the word is obvious to the mind but absent to the eye.

lovely perception and thought.

I think we can compare the two evils to the past and future. people who live in the present are truly balanced. :)

Dearest Aachi pal

Thank you:-) You've hit the nail on the head. When neither past nor future exist there is an inordinate amount of balance which comes into play because nothing weighs us down anymore. Good to have you back!
lots of love

Aachi by the way whats happening with the doctors strike at your end?

Dear Anusheh,

here there is no steam. Quota is part of a doctor's life here since many years as Andhra has a seperate entrance into medical school apart from other states in India.