I remember as a young kid the day when my father took us all to watch a very beautiful movie called’ The day of the Dolphins’. It was the first time I saw these beautiful creatures of the sea. Since then I have always been mesmerized by the effortless grace in their movements. Dolphins truly move gracefully and yet are active and fast in water. Indeed they are capable of astounding feats of great speed and agility. The reason for their ability to propel themselves well is not only because of a streamlined body but also due to their ability to use the positive pressure field generated by a moving body to their benefit. Their tails are strong, muscular and powerful. This explains their ability to swim on their sides turn quickly and also change directions fast.
That dolphins take big leaps off the water is well known. Many reasons can be attributed to this behavior. One of the reasons is that dolphins leap out of water while travelling to conserve energy as moving through air consumes less energy than moving in water. Others reason out that the leaping may be a signal ofcommunication with others of its own species. Or, perhaps the act could possibly even give them a better view of food options available. Believed to be the most intelligent of all animals, dolphins are comparably as intelligent as a two year old human being. Along with their intelligence comes a finely developed sense of touch as their nerve endings are close to their skin. This also could be the reason as to why they are able to bond closely with the human species.
It seems so that dolphins spend the better part of their day indulging in social interactions. In fact the actions distinctly exhibited by them make for interesting observation. Talk of the manner in which they pop their heads out of the water, touching and rubbing pectoral fins, breaching, bows and more. Synchronous movements such as these seem to work so much like signals of communication in bonding between a pair… quite like a beautiful waltz !
In the swing and the sway
And the rise and fall
The flight of these birds
Interweave a cohesive harmony.
A rare sight both elusive and enigmatic
Orchestrated with brilliance
Perhaps simply waltzing with abandon
Perhaps to ward off the predator
With such seemingly chaotic order
Every dancing heart will delight
In acknowledging with awe
This dance of sychrony!
Savvy
Watch “European Birds at Baramati Pune” on YouTube
Here is a bit more on this beautiful phenomenon in the sky.
I am not alone
When I am walking at dawn
For I have the company
Of a waking sun.
I am not alone
When I am walking at dusk
For I witness the dance of heavenly lights.
For Twilights hold a special meaning
In the witnessing
Of transitions in transcendence.
Of day to night
And night to day…
In this world
Remember
You are not alone
In the dark of the night
With twinkling stars to show you the way.
You are only alone
When even in midst of the many
Your heart seeks a little
Respite from company!
A safe space to witness
Your emerging thoughts
A zone to turn into
A tranquil place to been in
To sense a balance
With your thoughtful self
Amidst the scurry hurry
Of life and living.
Savvy
Often ‘ alone’ is equated with loneliness. Alone may also mean simply being a witness to, by and with your self. It may arise from a need to explore to discover the self as much as the world in mindful introspection and contemplation. Every now and then a little time spent quietly with your self can truly help expand and regain the much needed equanimity to handle the worldly issues.
Meditations are a positive wonderful way to recharge our system.
Blazing sun
Scorching sands
Sizzling days
Humid nights
Awaiting relief
Summer to rain
First shower
Fragrant earth
Heavenly delight
Rainy holidays
Feeling cool
Corn on cobs.
Cheap thrills
Small puddles
Splashing water
Rain coats and caps
Unfolding umbrellas
River on streets
Muddy water
Flooding roads
Chaotic confusion
Delayed trains
Traffic stops
People stranded
Rainy days turn dreary
All wet and weary
Hoping for relief
From incessant downpours
Awaiting a change
Of the Season in question
Life is circle
Of seasons in cycles
Each births and gives way
For another, on its way.
Amidst it all
Are those little glimmers of hope
Understated and unsaid
Unseen and unspoken
Little joys of being
That makes you make it…
Through yet another day.
These glimmers of hope
Though seasons may change
Hope is here to stay!
Savvy
Well, this one turned out to be a really long walk through the seasons!🙂 But seriously, as I started thinking of the changing seasons, with winter knocking our welcome door, I realised how much harsh winter could get for someone far away as well. So it goes for the other seasons…
Yet every season is a magical gift, and leaves us with glimmers of hope!
We do need our seasons to come and go like they always do, one after the other for then, all is well with our world. 🙂
Unconference, the word piqued my curiosity for a while now.
I checked it up on the internet only to find that the idea has gained tremendous momentum across the globe.
The idea of un-structuring the ingrained structure seemed interesting to say the least, in creating spaces and possibilities to honour the learning.
Suffice to say recently, when I came across an Unconference event in the local newspaper I decided I must make a visit.
The venue of this Unconference was the well known Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts in Pune. I reached just in time for the proceedings to untold.
A customary registration ensued and I was greeted by a few volunteers with a relaxed warm and welcoming attitude. Clearly, the Unconference had started right there.
The word Conference kind of stiffens people up. There is a formal attitude, a thick air of competition to perform at their very best. There are fees and strict rules to adhere to. There are super busy organisers scurrying through and tension is writ large on their faces and their bodies as well are stressed out with expectations of the outcome of the event. Suited men and women whizz through looking super important. And yes there would be a Chief Guest of honour and a coterie of important people who need VIP handling… Adherence to their whims and fancies and most importantly their speeches which may or may not be of interest to any. But all must endure as to get up and leave is an offence to the speaker.
On the contrary here, there was a prevalent free-spirited feeling in the first place that all were in it together. The sense of community always takes time to build so I stood in that room with a small group of people waiting for the (informal introductory practice,) the opening circle.
The Opening Circle :
Someone from the group had taken an initiative to design a pretty pattern made of flowers in the centre of the space and light a lamp there.
A few introductory rounds later which turned out to be icebreakers with a few games to let loose and get into the flow.
There was a board set up with a mention of few rooms and a time slot to boot. The participants were encouraged to choose to attend or conduct workshops or just wander around and network.
A few people got up to mention their workshops and claim their slot. On a moment’s impulse although I was not exactly in the right attire for a dance workshop I simply decided to go with the flow and offered a Dance connection workshop by me.
Encouraged by a decent number of participants I let the moment take the lead. As I began teaching I witnessed the flow of the energy in the exchange.
I spoke about the dance, hold, frame and positioning and started introducing them to partner dancing and some basic steps. Bit by bit people shed inhibitions as they were getting tuned into the moves.
The moment strangers began to hold hands and face one another… for many, there was harmony to be found in the mirror imaging. For after all the lead and follow were simply an extension of each other dancing as one unit.
The energy in the room turned up a notch with the Achy Breaky Heart country cha sounds of Billy Ray Cyrus for company.
All started sensing the tuning in to the rhthymic expression of music & movement with their partners at that moment.
After the dance workshop I asked what they felt in that moment and here is what they shared immediately…
Deeply grateful!
The Give and Take
Truly to immerse yourself in that which you love all you have to do is to take a step … for your own good as much as for the others.
Essentially the whole experience was to me simply about honouring life energy in all its uniqueness of expression.
Great experience being a part of this interesting initiative!
Hope to see more of such initiatives across the country and our world.
Wisdom speaketh not always in words It sends forth a knowing of its presence At times elusive like the spirit of the being, blowing in the wind. At other like a soul in the living, sensing, emoting in the feeling.
And in such a knowing Understand the bliss In the moments Acknowledge the grace In the blessing.
Sense its presence Allow it to communicate Honour its effects Respond with all your being.
For wisdom is a deliverance That comes from the truth in the being Of life, loved and lived Giving eternal hope to the living.
Words, we all have in our thoughts
But a trigger of senses in life and living
Brings it out in its own unique way
At times it’s a trickle
And other times a shower
As it springs forth a million thoughts and streams it’s way in a flow.
Poetry emerges from life in the living
The writer ought not to hold back
For it is powered by its own purpose
To be born and shared.
All it needs is a trigger
Of emotions in the sensing
Of feeling and witnessing
Of pain and of pleasure
Of being and doings
In life and living.
The poet is born in the expressions in eloquence.
As much as a painter waltzes with his brush on canvas
And like Photographers tango through the light and dark
Poets dance through the heart with words…
Art births itself in breathing in life
A little deeper every time…
And leaves imprints in exhaling from the heart
For Art is a matter of connecting hearts.
Wouldn’t you agree?
An Expression is full of intent
Full of focus and determination
Seems far removed from submission
Let alone the letting go.
And yet in the juxtaposition…
To flow with the eloquence of grace
Exists the enigma of the elusive
The surrealism of subtlety
Of approach & demeanour
Of action and intention.
For in the wisdom of every movement
Is the potential of the now…
To capture or to connect
To be bound or to blend
All is a choice within us.
Communion: A boundless bond An artwork by Savvy Raj
When one reaches a realm where every thought trangresses the personal self and senses are transmuted to infinity.
Where there are no boundaries of feeling bound, where every connection is a give and the sharing extends much beyond the taking with unconditional love and grace in every action.
Where being in touch with one’s most conscious self, there are no disappointments,failures, stress or pressure of approvals or disapproval.
Where the body mind and spirit feels alive to every moment that life has to offer…in a nonjudgmental space that is acknowledging of one another as they are…
There is an acknowledgement ofSubtlety and Grace of Transpersonal Love.
Universally this stream of unconditional love is flowing in all beings and its just a matter of time and energy to bring this to conscious awareness.
And I reshare this post thanks to the lovely quote share by my dear friend Ashok Subarao who thoughfully sends inspiring quotes and pictures for me to write and paint on .
This quote share by William Blake resonated deeply with what I had written on Transpersonal Love . So I simply had to incorporate it here and what was interesting to me to note was how the image colours of the quote you sent and matched so beautifully with my painting drawn back in time .
As a Ballroom & Latin dance educator, many students have asked me what my favourite dance style is…
It is said that each style is like a language. Personally, I also think of different dance styles as having a “mood” that goes with them. I guess it’s not surprising that I do like lots of “happy” or “joyous” styles of dance. But I really do like the variety of dances for the variety of moods and it’s amazing ability in bringing a sense of balance. If I was stuck to dancing in one style, I would probably get bored after a while (I know that sounds strange). But it’s one of the reasons I really like dancing a variety of dances.
The Tango (for its intensity and passion at play as much as its fancy footwork)
And dancing the Waltz (for the heady glide, the rise and fall and its romantic sway).
Love the Rumba for it certainly is the dance of love… the song Everyday I love you, immediately comes to mind. But this performance by Slavik and Karina is quite riveting.
Happen to like the Cha cha for its stylish moves as much as its teasing spirit …that kind of speaks, this is my move … now, what’s yours?
I love the Jive for its lively spirit. You can truly never be sad after a little Jive/ Swing and Rock and roll. What say? At least it has always been a happy dance for me.
Really fond of it as much as the Samba for its lively bounce, so full of joyfulness.
Then of course comes the Foxtrot that feels like a wonderful conversation a dialogue between the steps
I also like the Merengue with its simple marching steps and executing many inter-looping turns almost feeling like a pretzel.
And how can I leave the Bachata for its engaging sensuality as those dancing hips don’t lie, they say it all and much much more…
Dances are so many and styling makes it even more unique.
In fact, I enjoy all these dances and more for their unique expressions – just one style would get boring.
The trick is to flow with the music and your partner whatever the dance and partake in the pleasure of dancing together in the now.
To actually be able to enjoy dancing to the varied music styles that would be a real treat. All the more reasons to learn and train in more than just one dance style :))
Do share your thoughts on dance and if you love to dance, what your favourite style of dance is…
Is the dance of wonder and awe
Savvy Raj 
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