Travel | Savvy Raj

July 10, 2018
by Savvy Raj 13 Comments

5 Tips To Breakthrough The Rut of Routine

Rut of Routine

Are you feeling you are living a routine life

You get up and you do things mechanically without a trace of being alive to it.

Do you feel life is boring and just another day to rise and do your duties as a chore?

Do you sometimes wish for the day to end before it even begins?

Do you feel life is too complicated and desperately want a change of scene…

Perhaps then you are passing through the path of nowhere.

Life often hands you wisdom at the time you are in the path of least resistance because it wants you to listen keenly.

It wants you to understand you are your own path maker and path breaker, you are your own teacher and tutor.

You are your best friend and guide.

It wants you to sense the futility of living so that you can finally bridge over and honour the living you. And perhaps then strive to nourish the moments of life left with you willingly.

Going berserk in helplessness, sensing pain or loss and loneliness are part of phases we may all move through…. at some point in our life. The choice is with us how to find ourselves than lose ourselves. Some find solace and comfort in others along the path when the going gets too tough. Some are givers and some takers in the interbeing of life and living And travellers we all already are.

Here are 5 steps you can take to shake free from the rut of routine.

1: Work on Self-observation:

Observe more of your environment. Develop healthy interests in the world you are living. Care to understand more. Be open to learning.

2 Value & acknowledge one another:

Many times life feels like a standstill and as if its caught in a rut of routine and mundane because it is truly how one is living. When moments are given value over things, when people around start to matter, life starts to change and evolve for the better. Make an effort to greet people extend polite courtesies without expectation and acknowledge another as they are. Life starts to transform vividly as you start showing interest.

3 Love your self & cultivate gratitude:

Balance the relationship with yourself and others. Show self-respect and care to love the person you truly are. Cultivate the habit of being grateful for the blessings of life …. it holds you in good stead.

4 Trust yourself more:

Develop your sense of self-worth and self-esteem as you value your thoughts you will learn to trust yourself more in your deeds.

5 Share more. Reflect the positive:

As you learn and engage with the world you will come across much that inspires and intrigues you. Share the positive messages from the universe and send the world your goodwill in care.

Someday when you truly need, the world returns it back to you manifold…such is the way of this circle of life and living as we are strengthened simply is raising of our positive interconnects as travellers in the interbeing.

Savvy Raj

June 6, 2018
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

Stay peaceful

On Peace

Stay calm and contained
Your purpose is in the larger picture
Flow with thoughts lightly

Dwell not in fear and favour.
Life is beautiful when you see it so!

Savvy

May 22, 2018
by Savvy Raj 7 Comments

Staying at the centre of the circle…

You are a tiny speck in the multitude of multiverses around. Your life circle is what you are bound to create in your lifetime.

As life happens you will be drawn from your roots in various ways. New people and experiences will in time add new thoughts and dimensions of behaviour and you may perhaps feel a little or a lot away from your centre. In fact you may find yourself lost in your way . Rest assured that it can happen to one and all.

The patterns you draw are unique to you. You are your own choicemaker.
And as for the challenges in the paths that open…they are your life’s way of testing your faith in your path and providence. As you move forth to spread your wings to take the flight and experience time, be sure to keep a track of your center of being. Let it be your internal guide to bring yourself into balance.

The so called paths are open to all explore. The truth is out there and within you at the same time in the same moment. All is found is striking the balance.

The circle of life bears the wisdom of balance. The centre is the core and as you strive to balance the self towards your centre, your circle is strengthened by the interconnects of one’s own circle of being. And yet as you strive to reach out to others circle’s of being in the grids of connection, the circle of connections gets stronger in between while new dimensions are interpolated.

A few reflections…

Your life is not your own. Thinking so is an illusion.
You are meant to be all that you can be.
You have a purpose that is larger than your self .
You are meant to live and reach out and expand the self
You are meant to to merge and emerge in the new circles of connection.
The choice of being in true to yourself is yours to make
The patterns you create help expand the universe .
The connections you make in your lifetime leave a pattern in the grid for another to sense and evolve in time .
No two patterns are alike as the patterns are unique to your being.
Your purpose then is to live your life to the best of yourself.

Reach out to make connections and experience the realms while staying true to your centre.
As you learn your way back home, more will to find their way back home in time and space continumn.

Savvy

To be Continued.

May 15, 2018
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Journey towards a better world!

April 14, 2018
by Savvy Raj 17 Comments

Flow with life!

Change is inevitable , but you are the one in charge of how the change impacts you.

Breath and Movement:

We are the sum of our individual parts

There is no heart without our mind and no action without our sensing.

No two moments of our life are alike. Our body is made of cells that are renewed in time. Emotions and behaviour that we manifest are deeply integral to how we feel about ourselves and the situation at hand … so our movements are as unique as we are.

Cultivating an awareness of our own breath can give us much needed support and inner healing through the vagaries of life and living

Just make sure to sense your inner calm and be one with your breath no matter the situation you are in. That is the way you can gradually connect with yourself on a deeper level.

The more connected you are with your breath you gradually begin to relax in the moment.

Attuning your Breath and Movement

Let your breath guide and lead your movement. Value the subtle energies of your own self that encompasses your own breath.

Sense the integration of your breath and your movements. Breath gives your movement a shape and direction. So not only can you link your breath and your movement but also practise initiating your movements with your breath.

Your awareness will gradually increase of how your own inbreath (inhale)and out breath (exhale) are being used in your movements. What powers and energizes your actions and what calms and assists relaxation. And how it can flow enveloping and encompassing, connecting and complementing each other like an elegant dance!

Soon in practice you will learn to

‘Dance with it ‘

That’s how you learn to flow and dance with life!

Savvy Raj

April 2, 2018
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

So much to understand…

In every learning is a realisation of how little we know

In every realisation is a knowing there is so much beyond

In every reach beyond knowing is a little more understanding

Of the dimensions beyond

This universe amidst the multiverse

So much to explore and discover

To understand and know…

Savvy

March 24, 2018
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

Dances of India: Roots in Culture

In a land of diversities in all spheres from culture to climate, from religion to celebrations.

Every region expresses its culture distinctly according to the ethos of the people of that particular region.And as dances are a coherent expression of human nature thoughts and feelings, each form of dance that originates, encapsulates it distinctly.

Indian dances can be broadly divided into Classical Dance Forms Semi Classical and the Folk forms.

The most well known Classical Dance styles of India are the Kathak, Odissi & Manipuri of Northern and Eastern parts of India.And

Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam Kathakali from Southern parts of India.

Classical Dance and Arts is given a revered status as according to the legends, the Gods invented the dance. It incorporates music melody beats drama form and line along with gestures through hand fingers and eye movements.

The elaborate costumes and heavy makeup somehow helps convey many depictions of the overall performances.

There are a number of Folk dance forms that are performed as well.

Traditionally all these forms have been structured around the nine emotions or rasas namely:

Hasya: happiness
Shoka: sorrow
Krodha: anger
Karuna: compassion
Bhibatsa: disgust
Adbuta: wonder
Bhaya: fear
Viram: courage
And Shanta: serenity.

The earliest Indian religious texts have described creation in terms of a dance. And the dances of India are said to have their origins in the Vedic Age of 1000BC

Even today the practice of the Indian dances have an element of religious rituals although much may have changed with time.

Musings on Dancing

A dance is an expression of who we are, our mindset our bodies our culture all intermingled inextricably. It is a statement of our roots and our connection to others.

We can express ourselves by learning and staying rooted in the structure or choose to vary and fuse and develop our understanding by adding to the repertoire other dance forms and evolve in the sharing. The choice is ours to choose. We don’t need to discard old learning as we learn something new but align ourselves to understand the larger picture. This way we experience diversity for ourselves as we learn to see the significance of every form its contribution its essence and relevance of its roots in culture through the movements and expression. Learning dance from different lands helps us understand and evolve. We can learn to respect others traditions and cultures while valuing our own.

Savvy

February 24, 2018
by Savvy Raj 6 Comments

On Learning Spaces

My reflections after a chance visit to Swadhaa A Waldorf School in Pune.

In my spare time as a hobby, I enjoy visiting offbeat places and interacting with people from all walks of life to broaden my perspectives. To envision the world through the eyes of another is always an insightful experience.

When I visited Auroville in Pondicherry last year amongst the many inspirational insights I came across a bit about how Waldorf Schools started by Rudolf Steiner who was inspired by Sir Aurobindo, stands for holistic education that speaks to the soul and strives for human goodwill and integrity and instilling a sense of creativity and wonder through its unconventional schooling methods.

Besides that, I also had come across words of praise for her schooling and education received from the well-known actress Jennifer Anniston an alumnus of a Waldorf School herself.

Jennifer Aniston, Actress, former Waldorf student:

“I was always fascinated by acting, but my experience at Rudolf Steiner [school] encouraged me to pursue it as a career.” “Steiner was a free-spirited school that encouraged creativity and individualism.”

As a dance educator myself I have always felt schooling at conventional schools can be rather stifling for it focuses more on procedure and protocol than allowing freedom to explore. The root of our individuality and personal expression is often stubbed in the process of conforming to the norms and practices unless it is balanced out when there is a gateway to open communication and positive support on the homefront.

Recently having shifted my residence in Pune City and in my foray into understanding what my area had on offer as a creative educator myself, I came across. SWADHA Learning Centre. My interest was piqued that it was based on the principles of a Waldorf school.

I decided to experience the place on my own. Luckily for me the day I visited the school it turned out to be their Annual Day and there were elaborate festivities planned out for the entire day by the school for one and all.

There were workshops galore… I attended a few out of curiosity and came away heartened by the immense enthusiasm and support from the parents and children alike for this schools annual activity. I took my time to interact with some of the parents.

What I was immediately drawn to was the amount of openness that was there reflected in so many ways from children who were learning life skills experientially to how parents were so beautifully integrated into the educational activities of the children.

The pictures speak for themselves I must say!

In an era of grades and marks that decides destinies of children as future adults,

the learning concepts observed here come as a breath of fresh air. Like the lack of grading systems and adding only an individual assessment by the educator annually to ensure that each child is addressed and understood for their unique potential. And the breakdown of hierarchy which makes everyone an involved collaborator working towards positive transformations. And I believe they also help and guide a child gradually, who wants to integrate into conventional schooling system if they wish or need to for whatever reasons. The question is would we want to?

Perhaps the varied schools under the Waldorf umbrella are as unique as the people collectively managing them, but the fact remains that there is a happier learning space we can co-create for our future children if we have the willingness to come together and contribute our time and resources.

” A space that’s open yet bounded with a focus can be conducive to learning as when the process of exploration begins it is helped by a structured approach. But while boundaries may be reminding of a journey having a destination, it is the openness that reflects the never-ending source of creative possibilities.”

Savvy

An excerpt from my reflections on Learning spaces…. (read more )

https://savvyraj.com/2016/10/03/learning-spaces-2/

February 7, 2018
by Savvy Raj Leave a comment

Circle of thoughts 14

58766_mirror17

With care and consideration

Sometimes like coaxing a unwilling mule

Thoughts can be harnessed

For each has great potential…

Savvy

This above digital artwork Titled ‘Circles of thoughts,14 is a creative interpretation of encircling thoughts, The verses that follow is the 14thpart of my series of micropoems on interconnecting thoughts.

Savvy

To be contd …

Related links to read more…

/https://savvyraj.com/circles-of-thoughts/1

/https://savvyraj.com/circle-of-thoughts-2/

https://savvyraj.com/2017/06/03/circle-of-thoughts-3

/https://savvyraj.com/2017/06/06/circle-of-thoughts-4/

/https://savvyraj.com/2017/06/08/circle-of-thoughts-6/

https://savvyraj.com/2017/06/08/circle-of-thoughts-7/

http://wp.me/p6a0yZ-1hZ

https://savvyraj.com/2017/06/17/circle-of-thoughts-8

https://savvyraj.com/2017/06/18/circle-of-thoughts-9

https://savvyraj.com/2017/07/01/circle-of-thoughts-10

#Micropoetry #PhotoFusion #Metaphysics

Artwork by Savvy Raj

January 25, 2018
by Savvy Raj 2 Comments

Power of Possibilities

Explore the Immense Power of Possibilities!

At times we find our road has got rough

Many times we give up when the going gets tough

At such times if we muster the strength to persevere

The very perseverance leads us to new paths

Paths we may have never accessed in the fear of trying.

To try to forge ahead in spite of hopelessness

To try to discover the power of possibilities

To try to seek the connecting dots that may have faded in time

To try to find new pathways in the making

Such is the power of life in the living.

There is always a way

To make it happen

Often enshrouded in

All we need is to see beyond the looking

Envision the potential that rests within

Trust the options we have at hand,

And lo and behold!

There is so much more than what we thought was possible.

Come let us dare to explore the power of the possibilities!

Savvy

January 15, 2018
by Savvy Raj 10 Comments

Strings of love

Sharing this beautiful story that touched a chord in me.

Mother is flying a kite.

Her son is watching her carefully.
After some time son says “mom.

Because of the string the kite is not able to go any further higher.
“Hearing this, the mother smiles and breaks the string.

The kite goes higher and then shortly after that, it comes and falls on the ground. The child is very dejected and sad.

The mother sits next to him and calmly explains:

“Son, in life we reach a certain level and then we feel that there are certain things that are not letting us grow any further like Home, Family, Friends, Culture etc.
We feel we want to be free from those strings which we believe are stopping us from going higher.
But, remember son.”That our home , family, friends and culture are the things that will help us stay stable at the high heights .
If we try to break away from those strings our condition will be similar to the kite.”we’ll fall down soon..
*Moral:*

*”Never try to cut away from Home Culture, Family, Friends and Relationships as they help keep us stable while we are flying high…”*
*Life is Beautiful*

*Stay connected*

So much truth in these lines

The bonds of love are there for a reason

To be nurtured and cherished by its sheer presence .

As to be lovingly supported is a blessing of grace!

Savvy

January 5, 2018
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

Life and Living

The Circle of life

Plays on its game of being

Yin and yang hides and seeks

In perfect harmony

In perfect synchrony

In perfect balance.

Flowing with life and living

Yet as every being is endowed

A nature all its own

In a bid to discover the self

Man explores spaces and beyond

At times creates sometimes destroys

The very meaning of life itself

Yet manages to mark his time

Leaving soulprints in the sands of time.

Crossing many lunar and solar cycles

Having felt the extremes of nature

Of people and places.

Comes a call from within,to choose balance

And acknowledge the need to arrive

At an equilibrium of sorts

In life and living.

Having taken the world for granted

Both internal and external

Then wisened by experiences

With self and beyond

Man desire for balance is awakened

And resurrected in the passage

Of the night and day

Of life and living.

To live and learn

To sense and share

To dream and dare

To act and respond

To transform and transcend

Such is the nature of life and living …

Savvy

December 29, 2017
by Savvy Raj 4 Comments

Travel Trails

The Mystique of the Middle East

The mystique and majesty of Abu Dhabi is well enshrined in the beautiful exquisite and holy mosque Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque in Al Mushrif, a district in Abu Dhabi the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, and is considered to be the key site for worship in the country. The design of the mosque was done by a Syrian architect named Yousef Abdelky.

Breathtaking architechture combined with amazing royal blue lighting from the ornate chandliers in the evening hours gives out the feeling of heady opulence and extravagance throughout the beautiful structure as much as the keen sense of subtlety of approach in maintaining uniformity of designs and colour.

It is amazing to see the well maintained courtyard with exquiste inlay work and the beautiful waterbody along the pathway.

The magnificent splendour of intricate carvings the majestic coloumns resplendent with matching motifs continues in the gigantic green carpet splayed across the entire inner sanctum.

A visual treat no doubt but the sense of symmetry is almost meditative.. Walking along through the gilded coloumns corridors is a beautiful and zen like experience in itself.

The magnanimity of the silence space is almost alluring as much as the effects of the beautiful lighting throughout the interiors as much as the exteriors of the mosque .

What distinguishes these motifs of Islamic architecture are the use of coloumns, piers and arches organized and interwoven with alternating sequences and use of fractal patterns and repetitive radiating structures.
Standing there at dusk witnessing the beautiful moonlit sky and our dancing reflections in the azure blue waters of the pool of water in this magnanimous shrine one could feel totally inspired in even simply visiting it once for this mosque is certainly a masterpiece of Islamic architechture.

Much gratitude to my dear brother in law and family in Dubai who offered to drive us from Dubai to visit to this grand mosque. Certainly a trip to Abu Dhabi would be incomplete without visiting this beautiful Shrine!

Every shrine is filled with a vibration that is unique to the place be it a mosque synagogue a church or a temple … for the convergence of countless positive intentions energizes the space filling us with a deep sense of peace and serenity.

Savvy Raj