Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: Artworks


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Solitude: A road to stillness?

AN ARTIST’S RELATION TO SOLITUDE
An artist must make time for the long periods of solitude
Solitude is extremely important
Away from home
Away from the studio
Away from family
Away from friends
An artist should stay for long periods of time at waterfalls
An artist should stay for long periods of time at exploding volcanoes
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at fast-running rivers
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the horizon where the ocean and sky meet
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the stars in the night sky

Marina Abramovic

I loved the poem enough to share it, yet felt there is something much deeper to reflect there.

Is solitude the road to stillness … afterall there is often stillness in the movements and movement in the stillness as well.

So I would like to ask an artist…

Do you really want solitude or stillness ?

Sometimes in deep solitude there is no stillness.

And that is perhaps the reason for the need of staying away from it all.

Staying away is not the answer but just a change to alter and arrange thoughts.

For thoughts run amuck sometimes and have a speed all their own

Perhaps the need of the moment is being still

To witness the tides as they rise and recede.

Stillness is amidst it all in your hearts

Not in some far away place.

Then anytime you are free to…

Walk in to your own special place.

Art happens out of nowhere

It has no specific time to arrive

In the busiest of moments

Arises an insight

To write to paint and draw

It tugs on your heart to create itself.

It sees no day or night

No reason to appear or disappear

In fact art is living in every moment

Waiting for us to manifest it.

Savvy


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Dance?

Why learn to dance?

Because it eases you out of yourself.

Sometimes in the throes of life and living

A tough hand is dealt with

And as you fumble through

You realize how constricted you are

Your sense of being is somewhat lost

Your funny bone misplaced

You forget to live life

And your moments start to matter less

Life feels drab

Your body feels dense

Your movements drag

And your thoughts feel dull.

In these moments where life is truly trying …

It’s great to give dance a try.

Consider trying to move from where you are

Step up a little and rock a bit

Feel the swing in your heartbeats

And sense your spirits soar

Dance on and step to the tunes of life

And who knows?

You find you love life all over again.

Savvy


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Transcendence of the Spirit and Soul

We are vulnerable beings
And yet in that vulnerability is strength
That resurrects us while unnerving us.

Beyond conflicts is the emergence
All transitions in time to the transcendence…
In spirit and soul.

Savvy

Contd from

Touching the nerve of truth.


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Touching the nerve of truth

Touching the nerve of truth
It is not an easy task to confront
Cause to confront is to be ready for conflict
Be it any kind…
From mental social or physical and more
Conflicts are always unwanted.

But change is the only constant

And life moves on creating itself.

In any art and creative endeavour
Say even speaking & writing for that matter, there is much scope for influences and perceptions.

It is the nature of truth to transform
But not without chaos and confusion
Such is the nature of human frailty.

There in lies the strength of human spirit. (Contd)

Savvy


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When life imitates Art

The path of art is open to interpretation. Creativity per se is a birthing process. It can be extremely exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

The creator is bearing the brunt of creativity just as much as the beauty of it all.
Creativity is challenging and comforting.
It can box then unbox you as an artist.

When creativity churns out art it opens itself to perspectives and dimensions of reflections.
Art appears in all its magnificence from the
seemingly endearing and enchanting…
It has its influences on the heart and mind of the audience as much as the artist.
Art may then touch upon the purpose of artistry.
Or it may completely stay undermined and undiscovered.

Yet the truth is Art has far-reaching potential and the artist is capable of inspiring or influencing through his creation. And the same art can transform or trick the mind.

Every creation has a time frame that goes along,
Sometimes the creation is self-destructive.
Or at times creation may become redundant in time and fade away
Yet there are cases of creative expression where interpretations leave imprints in the human consciousness forever.

Art has a unique capacity to transform the psyche of understanding.
Art reflects the life and at times life reflects art.

Savvy


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Art of Management

Dancing and Management

What’s dancing got to do with management
Everything!
Oh, she is a dance teacher!
What will she know about managing a business?

This is the common perception of people in business setups. They have a dismissive attitude towards anyone who comes from a non-aligned field like arts for example.

Personally speaking, as a dance professional for more than two decades, I can certainly say that the experience trains you into a lot more than dancing. It helps develop & cultivate people skills, culture and mindsets, and the ability to empathetically understand attitudes that can be observed in life and living.

Besides, there are common skills that go beyond business management and enter life skills that one needs to navigate life effectively.
Here are a few skills that come to mind immediately…

  • Time Management
  • Code of conduct
  • Space management
  • Body language awareness
  • Self Expression
  • Discernment
  • Discipline and Focus
  • Alertness
  • Respect
  • Collaboration
  • Teamwork
  • Mindfulness
  • Authenticity
  • Precision
  • Adaptability
  • Planning
  • Creativity

Dancing movements can open channels of flow which translates into greater energy optimization.

And each dancer may have explored the art of dancing in different forms and its application would have the potential to create a greater depth of understandings.

The value of art may be high, yet the possibilities and the potential application of art are yet undervalued and undermined.

There is so much scope in the art of movement that we can realize. It’s high time to accept that dance education and application has much to offer the world beyond just a stage performance. Great to see radical shifts in the way dance is being perceived across certain parts of the world. But it has to percolate to where all it can matter.

Time to think beyond and open up to these yet underutilized but valuable life management skills.

Savvy


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Passion Afire

Such a beautiful share…

Both the words and the vision

So beautifully in tune…

They speak so much with passion

Touching the core of the heart.

Indeed! What a conscious connection!

Savvy


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Seeing beyond

What makes the artist see beyond?

What makes the perspectives alter?

What makes dimensions change?

What makes them emote through art?

Perhaps the gift of art is in keenness to see beyond the normal.

To focus on the minutest details that others miss

To envision the way things can seem

To visualize what is invisible.

Perhaps it is the ability to delve

Into the heart of the matter.

Or is in the ability to appreciate the yet unknown.

Savvy


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First Dance Memories

“Our First Dance– Thank you Savvy…This holds a special place in my heart 🙂 Sharon

This message and photo popped up on my Fb wall. Although it’s back in time. The memory of sharing my dancing skills with these two wonderful people is still very fresh.

Teaching dance is a beautiful profession and the rewards and blessings go way beyond…

I heartfully cherish all these dancing moments!

Thank you Sharon & Fennex for sharing this beautiful moment!

Savvy


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Splash of Colours



 


 


Today I am sharing  a small part of an abstract painting I created earlier.
It gives me a splash of colours whenever I want a bright pop of colors to jumpstart my day.


Art speaks volumes without words.
Art is healing  & therapeutic  at the same time.
Correct choice of colours  make all the difference  They can enhance moods
In moments  of melancholy
In times of  restlessness..
In times of stress they can soothe the frayed nerves.

Yet what works for one may not work for another….
As every  person  has a unique  sense of colour.

Creating is the art of making art, work towards  a purpose.
Creating is also the art of allowing the flow as much as channeling the flow.

Savvy


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Art of Patience & Calm

Commune with the very depth of your being
Connect with your own breath
Combine with your inate sense of calm
Coexist with nature as it truly is
Cohabit with the element of balance.
Counter the imbalance with patience.

Time settles it all
The key is in waiting
For the perfect moment
Allowing the winds to blow
Chaos plays precursor to stillness
It is the nature of the circle of life.
Sounds reign before silence
Movements arise before stillness

Remember all is in flow
Equilibrium is in the equanimity
Maintaining is the art of sustenance
Let go the expectations
Things fall into place
As they are meant to .

The art of stacking or stone piling is a gift of patience and a grace of thankfulness. Every stone stacked can signify a greater intention, giving into a larger purpose. Although I personally feel we must be careful about this art by not leaving any trail marks in nature, forests as these imprints may confuse or can alter signals for many animals living there. But having said that this art is peaceful and the practice of it can be healing as well.

Creativity is challenged by patience in waiting, giving way to balance in the flow.

Have a look at these amazing artworks by this very famous stone stacking genius.

Stone Stacking Genius

One thing is very certain, it surely can teach us much about creating calm.

Savvy


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Realms of the heart

Beyond words… are the realms of the heart!

Our cellular awareness is trained to transmit messages through feelings that convey where words fail. It is embedded within our conscious awareness to guide us from inside out. Many of our beliefs in trust, faith and hope are powered in and from this core of our consciousness. 


In this understanding is the reason for the purpose of why we do what we do, why we feel the way we feel, have an instinctual sensation of the direction of where a path leads to. In the confluence of creativity in connection & compassion, there is confidence emanating through our deeds.


When we lead from here, many of our so-called equations held through by analysis often fail to make much sense.

When we follow in faith we move in synchrony with ourselves as we are not just in a flow, we are the flow.

Savvy


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On Hiring

The Entrepreneurs,

Learn to sift through the chaff.
All your endeavours are nothing without a proactively engaged people
Invest in integrity. It goes a long way.

If you can’t find a hire you want, look around,
Give a chance to those at the office
Maybe there is someone there who has the required talent. And all they need is a bit of training.
Recognize genuine interest to do work.
Whoever it may be.
And value sincerity even if age or experiences are not on their side.
Allow people to grow, value & respect good intentions.

Treat them well without favour and
not only if they are useful for a reason and for a while.
Who knows who comes in handy.

Yes, you may be a startup but that is no excuse for not pulling up your socks.
Every bit of professionalism matters.
And make sure you practice what you preach.
Don’t lose your temper in stressful times. It leaves a mark of imbalance.

Every person on your side is a valuable addition to your enterprise.

A company is only as good as the company of people working in it.
One manship or one-man shop is never the answer
Hire positive people at all levels, not dictators and procrastinators.

And if you by chance happen to see someone, coming in daily without fail,
on their own without any excuses, and trying to do something for the better, notice them and give them training and the resources to flourish.
You will gain from not wasting their talent and time .
Respect another’s time as much as you respect yours.

Savvy


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Vibrancy

Be aware that your hands are like antennae, able to pick up currents of energy from space as well as send them out. But for your hands to be able some day to attract and send out only beneficial currents, you must first pay great attention to the gestures you make in everyday life, for every gesture, however insignificant, produces a vibration. Whatever task you are performing, try to make measured, harmonious gestures, in the knowledge that you are activating forces and elements that will allow you to transpose what you are doing onto the spiritual level and therefore attain the higher levels of life. True spirituality consists in using any kind of work as a means to bring your thoughts, feelings and movements into tune with cosmic harmony. Each movement you imbue with a divine idea is recorded in the archives of your higher consciousness, from where all beneficial energies, such as love, hope and joy, will spring. – Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

You are a dance of energy

Every move you make

Every step you take

Every thought you think

Every word you speak

Creates vibrations in space

Make sure to tune in.

Align your mind and body

Make way for harmony

Flow in synchrony

Sense the peace love and joy

Emanate with joy

In and all around you.

Dance on in awareness

Savvy


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Surreal Expressions


Expressions of a beautiful mind  indeed!


This very impressive piece  of work  by Polish artist  Jacek Yerka called the Bible Dam caught my attention…


A few musings on similar lines.
If all the knowledge  of the world
Could be collected and channeled
To flow into a ocean of knowing
Ready to pour out the learning
Crystallized  into books for the reading
Ever ready in the giving
To ease the receiving.
What a wise world it would be!
But is knowing  simply enough?

Knowledge is willing to be shared
But is the learning  enough?
To make the world wise
Without the experiences to practice
No knowledge can be worthy
And no knowing  really useful.

Life is in the knowing, sharing  learning  processing, experiencing & most of all in the living.

Savvy