Psyche as Soul~ where Psychology, Spirituality and Mysticism all merge together!

 

I've always been curious and skeptical of answers coming through 'Divination' wherein God would come on or answer through an elevated individual/seer... yet I also knew that there was something that was yet beyond my understanding. A part of me wants to believe and the other is doubtful!

However, having had numerous instances where I've had an inkling of the future either through dreams, visions or a clear thought... I knew there was so much to the 'Psyche' than what's been given its due as it holds the Conscious, Unconscious and all that in between!

Recently, visited Bangarmakki Temple in Malnad and happened to see when the God comes on the priest- 'Ahavahana' in Kannada.  Again, call it 'Synchronicity' that a gentleman paved way for me to see the Aarti and also the Ahvahana as it was my first visit.

      He explained how the Intent was important to be sent to the Priest- in psychological terms a Projection to the Psychic Field... Then it’s up to the individual to go and seek answers, in this case the Priest. Belief playing an important role here. 

Now that I've been integrating 'Jungian work',

 I realize that it was the ability to 'tap into the Psychic Field comprising of  the Unconscious'

which was the key to divination, be it in any culture (an article that had fallen into my hands very recently).  Since,  every individual may not 

be able to decipher or see through the Psychic Field yet or consistently.

  

           Animism- a school of thought I resonate with states how everything in Nature/Life is talking to us. I have learnt so much of Neuroscience through my little niece Ekaa & my pet Hielo!

Carl Jung and Alan Watts are two thinkers (among others) who emphasize on how the Unconscious contains the Light and Shadow; and this held out the answer to my divination question.

    When one connects to the 'Divinity within' is where one is able to see through or accomplish divine tasks (and this doesn't happen overnight).

   The other extreme would be where the ‘Shadow’ is constantly denied and pushed deeper/repressed... leading to the other extreme of the spectrum- Disassociation and Mental Health Conditions.

 This is probably why many old schools especially Shamanism looks at mental challenges as a catalyst to awakening. This doesn't however mean that every one with dissociation (mental health issue) can become a healer!

     It also explains what happens with many of our own Baba's who have fallen from grace after moving upward... Here comes the need to look, work and integrate the shadow along with the light.

As I saw the seer in his trance, I felt reverence for choosing this work, bringing the energy, to take on such harsh treatment to the body. Was it to hear 'One's Calling' and be a beacon to humanity... with their words of solace and wisdom... Or was this my Projection to feel that that way?

     It would have taken years of discipline to build body-mind to be able to connect to the Light/Source/Divinity within consistently & provide much sought answers to the seekers.  I saw nothing but compassion in his eyes as he spoke to one after another seeker... which again is one of the tenets for Life and Psych work!    

                                                                                             

   As we all might have experienced, the occasional forebodings that’s come to us regarding ourselves or a loved one. Yet, unless we constantly work on getting to that state via ritual and discipline- it will be a one-off experience. Like Jung compared his ‘Morning Dream Analysis to Morning Worship’; he made working with the Psyche as part of his ritual and was able to connect to the Psyche Dynamism which has been a light to holistic Psychology. No wonder he is called the Modern Shaman!

Like it’s often said in Depth Psychology, we first have to work on and understand ourselves better- in order to have compassion and empathy for the client/other. I recall, hearing Dalai Lama saying the same at a talk on ‘Courage and Compassion’. As Analysts/Therapists, it is essential to listen and aid the client without being judgmental about what they’re sharing. Anyone who has touched us is because of this Energy that they brought and not just with their wisdom.

   

I feel it's not this or that but 'this and that' approach- the Integration of what ancient practices meant...  and how we can inculcate it because our ancestors fared a lot better than the current generations as they connected to everything, especially Nature.

As advanced we are in our knowledge base, we have not yet conquered or overcome basic problems. The Philosophy of Life and Psychology ought to embody the ‘Mysteries and Rationality’- the right and the left brain- the Conscious and Unconscious experiences. Psyche is an enigma indeed and can open wonderful treasures provided we’re ready to delve into it with due care and caution!

And by no means am I saying blindly following any and every practice... but being open and using our sense of discernment... to inculcate all aspects of Life and Psyche for the betterment of our individual self and all its beings- human and animal.

As I’m searching for an image to capture the essence- Shiva’s third eye comes to mind- isn’t it after all the ‘knowing eye’... perhaps for another time..

In awe of life's unfolding mysteries. Hope my ranting touched some chord!

I AM SHE

 

    
 Who Am I?

Am I just so and so.. with so and so qualification..?

Or Am I...

The little girl who is afraid and needs reassurance at times..

The young teen who needs a lil bit of attention some times...

The maiden who wants to be nurtured occasionally..

The friend who wants a little mischief today..

The wise old woman who wants my counsel heard now..

Am I Also...

The responsible adult who can climb mountains and fight not just for those I care.. but also for a cause...

I'm akin to Mother Nature.. who beholds all stages of life.. the bud, the flower, the fruit and everything in between...

We are all everything.. on different days or perhaps different times.. Giving each it's due and embracing it all makes us whole.

I Am She

Just my thoughts as I ponder on Navratri- Archetype of the Great Mother. 

Soulful Navratri People.

I lovingly dedicate this Blog Post to my little Niece Ekaa who's Teaching me Life just by being herself :)

Integrating Self by Anchoring Dream Image

I woke up hearing the word ‘Integration’ (deep within myself) and let it stay with me. Then, went for a walk and felt my body integrating with my being along with the crisp fresh early morning air of the Universe. As I came into the room and stood in front of the Altar, my conscious mind was picking on an object/aspect to ponder upon for ‘Integration’. Something didn’t feel quite right with the objects I was consciously choosing and then just as I let my vision wander, ‘the dragonfly’ stood out which just clicked.. The Dragonfly, a creature born of water, then flies and is also on earth; meaning a symbol that integrates all the elements (air, water, fire and earth). I then did some breathing and guided visualization connecting to the elements and felt deeply connected to my centre and inner-power in a beautiful way. I finished the visualization with the image of the dragonfly to guide me and was immediately inspired to blog- something that I had been putting off quoting time and other reasons.

Now what am I trying to say? For those of us who are familiar with the Psyche, we know that it’s not just the conscious but the unconscious which influences us to a large extent. While it can seem daunting, one way the Psyche in itself aids us is through Dreams. Carl Jung, my favourite Psych has shown how to use the ‘Dream Messages’ to better ourselves and individuate- which in simpler terms would be akin to self-actualization.

Rather than trying to interpret the dream straight away which is what we are drawn to do, we could allow ourselves to just feel the energy before jumping out of bed. Then ponder upon ‘Is there a thought/phrase/image/feeling’ that conjures up and let this guide us. While my immediate association was ‘integrate all the personalities within me’, thankfully I did not start dissecting and over-analyse. Walking in open air further opened my mind and when I came into the room and played some music, my head space was much clearer. This then allowed the unconscious to guide to the image of the ‘dragonfly- a symbol for self-actualization’. The Dream message of ‘Integration’ proved to be a powerful ‘anchor’ for my creative juices to flow.

What impressed me the most was how letting the ‘Psyche’ free to guide was essential. By clearing the head space via exercise helped in getting the message that made sense to me. It also aided in body-mind synchronization which made writing effortless. We often try to force a solution from the dissecting intellect. However, we could use the cues the body and surrounding is giving us to aid in the process. This might not just help in getting an answer/ solution but also in opening up our creative space. As Einstein had once said, ‘you can’t get a different answer with the same way of doing things’.

The ‘ritual’ with awareness is a trigger to synch all our aspects and tap into the unlimited potential lying dormant in our Psyche which is trying to make itself known through images, symbols etc. It could be a simple act of exercise or prayer which helps the conscious mind stay centered in the activity and simultaneously makes way for the unconscious to guide to the right message. Writing flowed after I followed my ritual of walking and visualizing- i.e., by Integrating mind and body. The more deeply the ritual is followed with awareness, the greater the benefit.

My rambling is a humble attempt to hold a ‘mirror’ to the Psyche (comprising of both conscious and unconscious) containing many ‘Gifts’; instead of running away if we can embrace it- both Light and Shadow, it’ll guide us towards our true Self which aids in our purpose and calling too. Just as the body can aid the mind via exercise and music, the unconscious treasures can aid the conscious if we allow it by learning to decipher its messages via image and symbols.

I’m so glad to have connected to this aspect of Dream Anchoring as Dreams have always been a fascination with me. Synchronously, Jung himself started guiding when I attended Manasa’s Dream Workshop, and gratefully dedicate this blog to ‘Jungian Analyst Manasa.K.S’ for bringing Jung into our lives as he continues to inspire through our Dreams :)

Mahashivratri – the great night or light of Lord Shiva

Hello All, firstly happy Shivratri or should I say wishing you light through Shiva’s Blessings. Being an ardent devotee of Shiva, I was just pondering few days back as to how to celebrate the favourite day of my favourite deity Shiva. First, I thought I’d fast which I have done on Mondays (Lord Shiva’s favourite day in the week). Of course, most devotees stay awake the whole night which I have never been able to do; though I have tried various methods!! I was wondering why I had such poor ‘self-control’ in staying awake and how do I make this Shivratri special. Then, I heard an inner voice which told me to celebrate Shivratri for its 'true meaning'. This is totally my take and really hope I don’t hurt the sentiments of anyone.

‘Shivratri’ means the great night of Shiva, where in one chants, meditates and tunes up to Shiva energy; thereby, dispelling darkness through enlightenment via Shiva. So, then doesn’t it mean that we don’t just worship Shiva but try to understand the true significance of the rituals, and emulate Shiva Himself? Therefore, keeping awake is symbolic of the kind of awareness, mental purity and oneness of purpose needed to reach the goal- ‘Shiva’. For the spiritual aspirant, Lord Shiva is the Supreme Consciousness that illuminates the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep. The dawning of the fourth state, ‘turiya’ is consonant with the awakening of the individual.

Now, we all know Lord Shiva is the God who destroys among the Holy Trinity. So what exactly would we want Shiva to ‘destroy’ in our life? Obviously darkness and that would be anger, greed, hatred, attachments and the infinite negatives! We have to ‘let-go’ of the old in order to allow the new and divine energy. Many fear Lord Shiva’s destructive capacity, and yet it is destruction for the purpose of regeneration. Without death, life cannot begin anew. So, praying to Shiva or chanting his name is beseeching him to enlighten us. The 5 lettered Shiv mantra ‘Om Namah Shivay’ means ‘I bow to Shiva’. Chanting this mantra is supposedly beneficial for many ailments and bestows sense of peace too. Shiva principle descends 25 times more today, and hence it is even more auspicious to chant on Shivratri. Also, happened to read that, “the ‘m’ added to ‘namashivaya-m’ activates the right brain, the part of the brain that stores memories in images only and the connection to the Divine immediately happens. The Right inspiration will happen as per the words”- Naran, healing by meditation blog.

  

I remember, when in school i used to think that those who have managed to stay awake the whole night on Shivratri – even if it was watching movies, playing cards and similar means had successfully brought in divine blessings. Thankfully (after ages!) I’ve realized that ‘night’ is a metaphor for darkness’, not necessarily day-night circle.  Now, I seek divine blessings not just by chanting the Shiv mantra; but also by making the conscious decision to work from ‘soul-consciousness’ and not ‘ego consciousness’, which is going to be a colossal task! Yet, why worry when my Shiva is with me to guide me lovingly and at times joltingly; to ensure I’m progressing on the path. What more can a spiritual seeker ask for?!

Coming back to my decision of celebrating Mahashivratri for its true meaning. No sooner had the day begun and like a divine sign I was experiencing immense peace, centeredness and bliss (despite the usual annoyances one encounters); almost like being told that ‘I’m on track’. This wonderful energy inspired me to write this piece and share it with those interested. And then, as those on my FB list saw, the true meaning of my name ‘Chaitanya’ was shown to me today on a Shiva site; the meaning being ‘Divine Consciousness’. The day has come with such divine blessings that it has me in a space of gratitude and loving energy. And I’m yet to go to the temple, or Shiva might come to me in some way. Like the time, when my sister and me returned without getting a glimpse of Lord Shiva on Shivratri due to the long queue! We came back disappointed and I went to bed with the last thought of ‘didn’t get to see Shiva on Shivratri’, and I dreamt of Lord Shiva (the same as the first picture). Of course, it was interpreted in million ways- subconscious conjecturing the image (which by the way I haven’t seen at all- not this Shiva deity/temple). Some even said ‘Shiva was angry as I didn’t go inside’. Well, I liked this last version ‘your sincere wish was what mattered and Shiva gave you darshan’. I woke up feeling great and that is what finally matters! The intention is far more important than the ritual or how you perform it!! And, our ‘Bholenath’ wants only our love and surrender, which is why it is so easy to appease or worship Him.

There are many myths associated to this festival too, but the one where in Lord Shiva drinks poison for the well-being of the world speaks volumes about this journey of ‘light-darkness’. Just as Shiva drinks poison to ensure nectar emerges, we will on many occasions have to drink poison (tough situations, people etc), and trust that surely after the churning, nectar will emerge for our good. Yes, it’s difficult and much easier to run away but that will not help in the long run! Faith that ‘nectar’ will be rewarded after the ‘poison or test’ is paramount. Else we will tend to get bitter or keep running and face the same tests till we conquer it. So why not surrender to ‘Shiva’ and allow the guidance to flow through. And soon guidance comes from within us, as that is where Shiva dwells; we only have to recognise and listen to it!

Hence, the festival of Shivratri encourages us to deal with 'wars within ourselves'- between ego and soul, poison and nectar, fear and love. Let us connect to our ‘Shiva’ to seek mental purity, clarity and divine consciousness (yes, now im in love with this term!). Sounding narcisstic nah but little self-love is permitted. It is also ‘letting go’ of the past and forgiving ourselves as much as others. One cannot grow by being hard and punishing self for past grievances. It’s essential to accept, work on mistakes, let it go and love oneself, just as Lord Shiva forgives our mistakes and lovingly blesses us. Recently came across this lovely exercise titled ‘homework for the soul’- coincidence that one finds what one is seeking- I choose to call it Divine Timing, and readiness of the person to listen to one’s soul and watch out for the signs. “Go into the bathroom. Look at yourself in the mirror. Apologize for hurting this person all these years. Be specific. Forgive yourself for hurting this person all these years. Don't lie. Tell the person looking at you that you love them. Mean it. If you didn't cry, you did it wrong.”- Unknown Author!

As this person aptly sums, “Mahashivaratri is thus not only a ritual but also a cosmic definition of the Hindu universe. It dispels ignorance, emanates the light of knowledge, makes one aware of the universe, ushers in the spring after the cold and dry winter, and invokes the supreme power to take cognizance of the beings that were created by Him” – unknown author!

Our ultimate aim ought to be to move from ‘Om Namah Shivay’ to ‘Shivohum – I’m Shiva Consciousness, and that would happen when the ego is fully removed and there is only Shiva Energy! Not sure where all my thoughts have transgressed but think it relates to Shiva and related aspects. Hoping the article has thrown some light about this wondrous day. I know its a hard journey conquering the ego but it has to start & what better day than on Shiva’s favourite Day!

Wishing us all a ‘happy transition journey’ on this auspicious day of Mahashivratri- ‘Namah Shivayam’ :)

Chasing Happiness or Maya..??

 Met a very dear friend yesterday and after the usual pleasantries, we got discussing about our day to day activities and how mundane our lives were..!! Of course, we are a lot more privileged and blessed with lot of things. Yet, why do we feel discontented with the world around us and many a times with ourselves as well..!!

Guess, it all boils down to what is ‘happiness’? The answer can immensely vary even for each individual at different moments. For eg., a student who has not done well, may feel passing in the exam would bring happiness and the very next second feel sad that he/she may get belted for scoring low. For some it could be very material- a good house, job, fancy items etc. To others it could be good relationships.  And for those on a spiritual quest, it might be peace with self, others and life on the whole.

However, on the other hand, what used to once provide us happiness does not have the same effect after awhile. Hence, can we say happiness is transitory? Is happiness really something outside us? Are we all chasing happiness or is it Maya? Maya is usually described as illusion; certain schools associate Maya to the Goddess of Illusion.  Ahamkara (ego-consciousness) & karma are said to be the wings of Maya.  For liberation (moksha), it is believed one has to get over the veil of Maya!! Literally, it means the whole world is Maya- as the world exists in our thoughts..!!

Consequently, are we chasing happiness or Maya? Well, I still can’t differentiate what is Maya and what is not..!! I shall let the reader take a call on it.

Getting back to happiness- can outside factors such as money, job, partner, children or anything else, really provide us happiness? If we connect the tenets & findings of positive psychology, Seligman & associates found that the happiest people are those who have a purpose in life which serves a higher good. Come to think of it, we’ve all had fleeting experiences of lending a helping hand to those in need and genuine satisfaction associated without any expectation in return, especially to strangers. Subsequently, for those of us who still have a long way to go in reaching our higher self wouldn’t this (higher purpose) be a starting point?

Spirituality talks of ‘ananda’(sat chit ananda) or the all encompassing ‘bliss’ that encompasses when we’re totally connected to everything around us and we’re at peace with ourselves and the world. The high we experience when we’re in our ‘zone’ wherein the doer and action becomes one, such as when you dance, sing or play a game- literally any activity performed with total oblivion to everything else or when everything becomes one..!! Isn’t happiness then something within us??

How do we apply this to our daily lives and remain in a blissful state? As much as we wish, we are not in a utopian society. Whether, we like it or not, we are bound to encounter challenging situations and people, in all areas of our life. The attitude of ‘detachedly attached’ would probably help to keep us in our state of ananda. How do we stay happy when things don’t go our way? Firstly, remembering that we are all playing roles in the drama of life. Secondly, as the Gita advocates, our duty is to complete the task to the best of our ability & not worry over the result. Also, ask yourself what’s more your important – maintaining your blissful state or chasing happiness in outside factors? We have to overlook the trivialities, and focus on what’s going good; only, then we can attract more of the same. Lastly but very importantly, staying in the present where all the action is happening!

Hope my rambling mind has helped in ringing some bells..!! Good luck in going beyond Maya magic and maintaining our blissful state.

Lord Shiva- the Destroyer of Office Malice

 Those who know me, have been hinting that  I’ve gone a little crazy because of my obsession with spirituality & more so with Lord Shiva.  Not only have I been fascinated with books & stories, but off late realise how brilliantly myths & mythology influence our beliefs & thereby our race. Hence, attempting to link passion with profession- Mythology with Psychology! Fingers crossed.

What exactly is so fascinating about this Mahapurush who is smeared with ash, adorns himself with flesh, a snake & of course the beautiful crescent moon.  Lord Shiva is known as the destroyer, wondered for ages why a God would destroy!  Only now do I realise that He aids is destroying evil at a micro & macro level; thereby restoring order in the world.  At the individual or micro level, in dispelling our negativities- such as fear,  evil, anger & the never-ending list. At the macro level, in helping us deal with insecurity, conniving colleagues, exploiting seniors etc etc.

‘Nataraj’: The destroyer- transformer of cosmic dance in the Hindu tradition.
Shiva means "The Good" God. His third eye, the eye of fire, represents his 
capacity of higher perception. It looks both inward and outward and burns illusions.

This is my first attempt in connecting the role of mythology to our corrupt world.  So, just like a Bollywood movie, this fictitious plot weaved its way in my excited mind! I’m sure we’ve all been through or heard of close one’s go through office politics. The story might seem a little familiar but watch out for the ‘good’ prevailing & also the myth-psych link!

As we most often see in movies, a sweet, smiling, youngster enters the office one gloomy day. She is obviously ever polite to colleagues & seniors (or at least pretends).  Let’s name her ‘Laila’- the sweetypie. As time passes, she becomes the Woman Friday of the Office, doing everything she can or can’t; even doing things which are not really her work. Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that she becomes the darling of one and all, as she is ever obliging.  Of course, what the Office doesn’t realise is she is plotting her scheme so brilliantly by cleverly plotting one against the other, yet remaining in the good books of all!

However, her plot is hatched by a smart and no-nonsense officer Meena who senses something foul with her visiting the top Management at the drop of a hat..!! Though, it took Meena awhile to actually believe that folks do go to the cheapest extent for reasons best known to them. Also, pride takes over our dear Laila darling as she tries to oust all the experienced candidates to bring in her own battalion of newbees hailing from Timbaktu. Fortunately, the clients have a great rapport & trust with Meena's Team & insist on working with none other than them.

Meena being a staunch devotee of Shiva believed in doing her work & not getting involved in dirty politics. But, then realising the mess she was being dragged into’ without being aware of the sidyness of people..!! She questioned, fought & finally sought solace in her bestest friend & guardian ‘Lord Shiva’. Like always, He gave her the knowledge to discern what was going beyond the veil & to see through the games and drama. In the mean time, our super smart Laila seems to have lost her buddhi to aham & greed (wonder why..!!). Well, well.. Our good old  Laila dug her own grave due to her  cheekiness & also foolishly left traces of her white collar crime (or should it be crimes). To her shock, the clients & Management showed immense faith & support in Meena, which can only happen by divine grace. Sadly, Laila underestimated the power of hard work, honesty & loyalty. But then, it’s not fair of us to expect such nobility from a person who is self-centred, selfish & narcissistic right?!!

 Meena went untouched but not the ‘clever’ Laila who surely got noticed for all the wrong reasons by all those who matter. As a Senior Manager told Meena, ‘Laila is like a leaf, which sways to the wind’.  I have a feeling that people like Laila would be better off in politics. Not even few years into work & Laila got the distinct reputation of ‘playing games’. We all get what we have sowed. Meena showed more dignity by Silence, which tortured Laila. They both continue to work in the same office but let’s hope both have learnt their respective lessons &  Laila learns better plotting..!!

This is the story of most of our lives right? Whether, we like it or not we have to be prepared to encounter negativity. It’s annoying but such people and situations are tests for growth & aid in moving towards light. If we end up trying to teach the other person a lesson, we might end up like the other & become a pawn in the’ Corporate rat race’. If we only remember there is higher power, the Lord who destroys evil & fear, punishes the wrong-doer & provides justice to those on the right track. He does things in ways we cannot even fathom (for lack of a better word- miracle). If only we’re willing to overcome our fear & trust Him. I have finally learnt to surrender having learnt it the hard way that outcomes are never in our hands & I can’t change the world..!! It offers solace & invokes fearlessness knowing someone much above humans is watching out for me..!! Hopefully, we can transform our lives from darkness to light via Lord Shiva. God Bless You.

Would like to dedicate this post to all the Lailas in my life.. you'll taught me to trust in Him & destroy the evil in me slowly but surely..!!!

Pause and Go Within

 “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor Frankl.

Hello All, happened to hear a profound statement recently which got me pondering & led to this piece. So, what exactly did i hear?? This- ‘No one can make you angry’.

Yeah yeah, being a psych you’re expected to know all this in & out but we also happen to be human..!! Looking at it from a pure SR approach, there is a stimulus S (someone's being nasty to us) and then our response R (retorting back). I’m not judging here. However, remember between Stimulus and Response there is also a Space (you could call the ‘black box’) which beckons us to pause for a brief second, thereby making us think about our probable response, and also the consequence/s (Covey, Frankl).

Pavlov's famous dog..!!

You’re wondering, what all with this thinking fetch? The answer will vary according to each individual and what he/she wants at that particular point of time.

So, in the above example, where in someone is being nasty and we probably retort. Let’s pause a little at this point. Instead of choosing to immediately react (as against responding), if we just ask ‘what do I want from this encounter/situation’; this question forces us out of our short-sightedness..!! The answer could be manifold- give it back to the other person (but then what)? On the other hand, we could aim to be unaffected & go on with whatever we were doing.  Beware as one’s ego might come in here (all hurt) convincing us it’s best to teach the other person a lesson. But think about it with a cool head- isn’t it better to not get into an immediate ‘action-reaction mode’ & lose our peace of mind. Agree it might be instantly gratifying but what happens after that? How do we feel after the so-called victory? We end up wasting so much of valuable energy pondering over the why’s and what’s. Then we wonder why we’re drained out or negative. Remember, we only have choice over our reactions & responses, not over that of others!


Anger stems when the other person does not behave the way we want them too. However, on hind sight they could be right from their perspective or limited understanding. Why try controlling another, thereby inviting anger and its sisters...!! Instead better to ‘CONTROL OURSELVES & WHAT’S NEGATIVE IN US’.  Causes of anger will need to be delved into separately, hopefully soonly..!!



According to spirituality, only a person in pain (emotional, physical or spiritual) will be annoyingly hurtful to another. We would probably be breaking the karmic chain as well when we choose not to follow the obvious pattern of ‘tit for tat’..!! No, I’m no saint and obviously retort many a times, yet I’m at least aware of the other option available. We may not be successful all the time but it’s worth experimenting and tying to stay calm, than breaking our head over another person or situation.

The phrase ‘no can make you angry’ also answered my long-standing question of how some people are poised and calm even when they are attacked by irrational acts. Guess, I now understand that such people chose to break the pattern, and instead opt for peace and freedom. Their silence speaks a zillion things, and is surely worth emulating.

We can’t avoid negative people or situations but the aim is to become aware of oneself & the choices we are making which will constantly shape our future. And let’s face it, we all have our moods and annoying traits as well. Hence, knowingly and unknowingly we might have irked people around us. So, it’s all part of communication in the Wheel of Life..!! Let’s make it easier for ourself & people around us by just pausing a little & going within. Choice is in our hands- pain or freedom..?!

Traveling beyond the Known!

I know it’s been a while, since I sat down to write. Lack of time is not an excuse, but guess my motivation was. So, then what prompted me to do it today and that too on a Sunday afternoon. Guess it’s the happiness and oneness I am feeling with everything and everyone around. For the rational and skeptics, this piece may not be to your liking but if you go on with an open mind you may find the Universe is trying to communicate something to you. If you’re ready, you will receive it.

            So, what exactly happened? I will have to delve a little into what’s been going on with me over the past few weeks. It seemed like every area and problem seemed to engulf me and that too one after another. Of course, I swung between belief and non-belief, faith and despair. Somehow, it just seemed hard to cope with and people think being a psychologist you are not supposed to have any problems! At this point, I must admit I’m not a person who likes to make my life known, even my close one’s rarely know what is going through my mind and life. But for some reason I am prompted to write this, may be as a hope or support to those who go might be going through a similar phase. Okay, don’t worry- won’t make it my sad saga! That was just the beginning, and then came the miracle.

            Life or Universe suddenly started to bring amazing people and teachers who taught me that I was taken care off. Going through that fireful testing times was essential for the transformation to happen. Events I least expected started occurring since this year began. It all seemed like one of Dr. Brian Weiss’s case-studies where things were unfolding magically and leading from one to another. One event leading to another event or person who helped me to get in touch with something within me (unaware repressed, suppressed memories). This in turn, led to questioning and resolving (or at least on the path) some patterns (age old) which was absolutely essential. Of course, I went through phases of being over-whelmed and it took me awhile to accept the lessons and learnings’ of my life (past if you believe and understand past-life). At one point, I even wondered if ignorance was bliss but guess that was just a defense to deal with or face the obvious or unknown. Life had different plans however, and now I realize what happened was essential. How can we make space for the ‘new’ if we are cluttered with the old and non-useful stuff in us!

Also, the unknown is fearful because we don’t know what it might hold but how boring our lives would be if there were no twists and turns. Yet, we wish to remain in control. At times, we just have to surrender and go with the flow, and what we may experience might be way beyond our rational minds can fathom! The wonder a small child or pet shows is the attitude we need to develop. The journey then is far more beautiful and mystical!

            Now, as I write to you, something in me is surely and steadily shifting. I feel I am in the amazing space, where I feel an absolute oneness and gratitude for everything around me. I have had this fleeting experience amidst nature a few times before but now I feel it for everything and everyone. Only hope this sense of wonder and connectness starts saying longer (wishing to place the responsibility outside me!). One thing I have noticed is that the more I learn about Life, the more I am humbled about how much more there is to the mystically unknown Universe. Opportunities are provided to experience but we shrug it off due to our rational upbringing. The Indian Psychology concept of moving from conditioning to de-conditioning makes absolute sense now. Solutions aren’t always available from our rational mind but it may come to you from something deep within you, if are quiet enough to hear it. Hence, it is really good to sleep over a problem. The answers we seek outside us be it with experts or other sources can be accessed deep within ourselves. Yes, I also question, argue and get in to the loops of the chattering monkey mind. Finally, since the exercise seems futile, it is wiser to quieten the monkey with love and let your inner, higher self emerge. This clear voice can not only advice you but also be your good friend and constant companion. The quieter we are, the more access we have to our higher self.

We ought to aim to connect to our inner self, by consciously shutting out our rational mind, and tuning into the stillness within each of us, which is the source of infinite wisdom, call it your intuition or higher self. A simple exercise I learnt over the past few days is to close your eyes, breathing in through your nostril and exhaling via your mouth, with the intention to connect to your self helps you get in touch with your sacred space.

            As I have heard and read from numerous sources, every problem in your life is here to tell you something and help you get in touch with your higher self. I know it’s difficult to remember this when we’re in trouble but slowly and gradually we learn to flow with life and its challenges rather than against it. I still have all the little worries that we humans have but I choose to go with it. Once I have probably learnt the lesson or faced the challenge, it will dissipate. However, for now I’m in my inner quiet, unconditionally happy and loving zone and wish many more of us can connect to the sacred space (on a daily basis) which takes us on a much required inward, wonderful journey. I end with one of my favorite quotes of J. Krishnamurthy, ‘If you trust the River of Life, the river of life has an amazing way of taking care of you’. Happy inner traveling J

           

The Alchemy of Energy

For awhile I’ve been thinking about writing on how energy levels influence our behaviour. If used effectively it can also contribute to our well-being and happiness quotient. This concept may not be appealing to the rational amongst us. All I ask is to have an open mind. Any new discovery is first met with skepticism, and so is the case with metaphysical concepts. At the outset I am not an expert in this matter, just have a keen interest in the subject and choose to share my little understanding. 

Guess most of us have had an experience, where a person we have forgiven (could be after ages) or someone we have thought about, amazingly gets in touch. Yeah, we could choose to call this a random occurrence or coincidence. However, an understanding of energy levels opens a different kind of door and knowledge.

Just as we have a physical body, we also have an ‘auric’ or energy body. This energy body changes with the way we think, feel and act. Observe how you feel empowered when your positive or helping another, and depleted when angry or negative. Also, thought is a form of energy. Hence, every time we think about a person or event, we are connecting at an energy level. It explains how a person can be really nice to you at a conscious level but you still don’t feel comfortable (they may not have the same thoughts at the sub-conscious level). If we are constantly annoyed with our family, colleagues and situations, we are feeding them with negative energy. And then we will say, ‘no matter how nice I am or how much I do (overtly of course!), the person is the same or doesn't change. Instead, what we should be attempting is to accept the person for what they are and on a daily basis send positive energy to the person. Then, one can witness an amazing change in the other person’s attitude and behavior. You will also start feeling a lot more positive as you are not dwelling on negativity!

Recall how a toddler learns to walk or talk. If our parents got discouraged with how long it took for us to walk or talk, we would all be immobile dumb creatures! Instead, every attempt, fall or syllable is usually encouraged. This is precisely how we ought to be while dealing with people and situations. The famous saying on motivation comes to mind, ‘treat the person of what he/she is capable of becoming than constantly thinking or criticizing their short-comings’.

In addition, the more negative we feel about a person; we are feeding the person with more of that particular negative energy. Where is the sense in expecting the opposite miraculous result?

In this regard, the ancient Mexican ‘Ho-o-pono-pono’ technique can be a useful tool. The story traces its root to Shamanism and has recently become famous when Therapist Dr. Hew Len miraculously cured Psychiatric Patients who were tied or kept in closed wards due to their aggressive nature. In Dr. Len’s words, “I was simply healing the part of me that created them”.

The technique has some basic premises- firstly, ‘total responsibility’ which doesn’t mean only for our actions but also for that of the entire universe since we belong to it. The reason being since we are all connected to each other, we need to take responsibility for what goes wrong even if  we feel we did not make the mistake. Hence, in order to heal the other, we first begin to heal ourselves. Therefore, we can help another, by thinking of the other person and repeating ‘Ho-o-pono-pono’ meaning “I am Sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you and I Love You”. It is believed that Dr. Len cured the entire Criminal Ward using this method without having any face-to-face contact, and the inmates who were chained were released and transformed. It does not matter how much of this story one is ready to digest. An open mind to experiment how energy affects us would be a good starting point to begin.

Self-identity through ‘Ho-o-pono-pono’ is supposed to have helped and healed many people as the second tenet of this technique is that ‘peace begins within’. Repeating ‘Ho-o-pono-pono’ like a Mantra is supposed to help in clearing up negative memories and processes embedded deep within our sub-conscious mind!

I have always wondered how we take an instant liking (and dislike) to some people and places. One such person who has had such an amazing impact on the young budding Psychs at Bangalore University has been Prof. M. S. Thimmappa. Being in his presence was a treat in itself. Of course, all his talks and lectures left everyone inspired. I humbly dedicate this blog article to Thimmappa Sir for being such a wonderful human being and showing us how an individual’s persona can impact an entire University and much beyond.

Hope this article helps readers in empowering their lives and relationships, which in turn will help those around us. Happy Alchemy via ‘Ho-o-pono-pono’ or the Energy Principle People!

             

Focus On What You Want

One of the most important tenets of life and psychology is to learn to ‘focus on what we want’. Yet, how many of us do this on a consistent basis. Agree, we all know what we want from Life but we focus most of our energy on what we don’t want or what could possibly go wrong. Whether, we want to call it the Law of Attraction, Manifestation Process or any other terminology, the basic funda is the same- ‘whatever we focus our energy on, grows’. So, if we end up thinking of all the things that can possibly go wrong, it most often will. And then we fall into a vicious cycle of ‘nothing is right in my life or I am hopeless’. The Key to Successful Living and Happiness is to start becoming aware of our self-talk and then re-programme our mind to Focus on Happiness, Success, Peace etc.

Most often, our underlying 'Belief' stems from our parents and significant others during childhood and it is believed to have a bearing on our Adult Life. This explains why Regression Therapy is sometimes an essential part of Therapy. Moreover, it is essential to identify, accept our beliefs and then make a progression towards positive change. Just saying ‘I can do it’ at a conscious level will not produce the desired result when the belief deep down is self-doubt or low self-esteem. I strongly believe a change at the conscious and sub-conscious level is important for a successful outcome.

The more I get to know and practice Psychology, the link between Psychology and Philosophy becomes clearer. No wonder, Psychology sprung out of Philosophy. To relate an incident related to the theme of this article, I would like to share my Ajji’s (grand mother) philosophy. My granny would always say there is too much of a product when in fact there was a dearth of it and had to be bought. For eg, “rice is hechide (in abundance)” if she wanted to say ‘rice is over’. I remember asking, ‘why do you want more rice, if there already is sufficient quantity’. That is when my granny narrated the story of ‘Asthu Devathas’(Gods who Bless). She said, “You never know when the Gods will say ‘Tatasthu’ (as you wish), hence it is essential to always wish and proclaim what you want or wish for. Else, if you keep focusing on lack, that will keep getting blessed and you end up creating negativity when what you really want is the opposite”. While it may seem like a fairy-tale, I realize that she was ingraining the ‘seed of positivity’. The movie ‘Inception’ deals with the concept beautifully. No wonder our grand parents seemed happier, content and more positive than the current generations.

One of the reasons for this negativity in our society could be due to the rat race mentality we are currently obsessive about and focusing on how to out-beat our opponents. Life would be a lot less stressful and meaningful if we focused and harnessed our energies on what we want or wish for. The only person we have total control is on ‘ourselves’. Why not focus on empowering the ‘self’ by thinking, believing and acting in an uplifting manner?

I’m sure all of us would have had an experience wherein what we were looking for has come through some source, be it a book, song or friend. That is exactly how things work. There is tremendous power in our ‘thoughts’; all we need to do is to channel it to our benefit and those around us.

            Being a Sports Psychologist, I most often deal with Players' performance issues. One area I most definitely work on is to enquire about a player’s goals. While the goals are clear (in most cases), the player most often focuses on, ‘what if I fail, I get beaten, I lose to him/her etc’. In this scenario, the outcome as the player expects will be of loss. Instead, focus needs to be on best performance or success. Our Intentions need to clearly define what we want and then it needs to be re-enforced with techniques such as Visualization and Affirmations (which I shall deal with in the future).

When there is no dichotomy between what we think and feel, the results will be to our liking! Of course, it does not happen over-night. The Magic Genie is in your hands. So, let’s ‘Intend’ to focus on all that we want to come into Life!