January 19, 2024
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

Speaking Pictures

Some pictures can speak a thousand words …

this one definitely fits that frame.

My friend Laura Bailey shared a very intriguing photo of trumpet player Joe and his wife May taken by Henri Cartier- Brenson

Henri Cartier-Bresson photographed throughout his life well-known personalities from the world of arts and science but, also many strangers.

I was captivated by it for a while as it arrested me in the moment. I went on to experience many fleeting thoughts most significant to that era of the Jazz and Blues music.

There were a number of comments below … One that got me interested immediately was

From Pam Diller ” What a picture! Pride, strength, defiance…this shows their souls, not just their faces. The way his hand rests so lightly on her shoulder–is it love or possession?”

Another was by, Shahrizan Amir Hamzah .

” With Bresson manning the lens and such gorgeous, confident subjects, you just can’t go wrong. This is a marvellous picture.”

Personally speaking …

I saw authenticity in that frame so well composed, the reality bites of the anguish of life lived in the throes of a certain creative fervour. I do not know much about Joe and his wife …other than what is perhaps evident in here to me. A photo that captures the spirit & soul of the subject.

In the face of May …

Her eyes..distant and dreamy

It speaks of pain and anguish

Of hard-hitting times

Her demeanour projects pride

Of a spirit braving against all odds.

Of inner demons as well as the outer.

Yet her face is a picture of composure in the chaos.

Of pride amidst the prejudice.

Joe speaks a different truth

There is focus and there is dare

There is a surging stillness.

That comes when rivers are a flow within

moving in the turbulence of a vortex called life.

Captured in all is the essence of brilliance

of a keen eye for that perfect moment

Stilled and canned for posterity

that speaks poignantly in the silence.

Portraying duels raging in the hearts.

Of trials and tribulations

Of hopes and aspirations

Of desires through unspoken dialogues.

No touch ups no tricks

Just a decisive moment captured with uncanny precision.

©Savvy Raj

PS: I created the Black & White artwork’ Speaking Pictures’for this posts featured image ‘Speaking Pictures’ back in 2017 without any AI help. I simply wanted an older movies screen effect reflecting the era of the photo.

Looking at it now, I am still happy with the results. What do you think?

https://about.me/savvyraj

July 13, 2018
by Savvy Raj 9 Comments

My article in Spanish.

A dear reader has sent me a link I want to share … It is his translation of my recent article Flow with Life.

Happy to share this here for my Spanish speaking readers.Thank you Ignacio-orna-nacho

for your kind effort and share.

For all language aficionados in any new language, there is a draw of nuances of the culture and its interpretations in the flow in both the way it is spoken and written.And that is often beautiful to note.

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

FLUYE CON LA VIDA- (FLOW WITH LIFE- SAVVY RAJ)

Foto. Cascada-Nacho Orna

Texto original en Inglés “Flow with life” de Savvy Raj

El que cambiemos es inevitable, es Ley de Vida pero tú eres quien está a cargo de cómo el cambio te impacta.

Aliento y movimiento:

Somos la suma de nuestras partes individuales. No hay corazón sin nuestra mente y ninguna acción sin nuestra percepción.

No hay dos momentos de nuestra vida que sean iguales. Nuestro cuerpo está hecho de células que se renuevan a tiempo. Las emociones y el comportamiento que manifestamos son profundamente integrales a cómo nos sentimos acerca de nosotros mismos y la situación en cuestión … por lo que nuestros movimientos son tan únicos como lo somos nosotros.

Cultivar la conciencia de nuestra propia respiración puede brindarnos el apoyo necesario y la sanación interna a través de los caprichos de la vida y nuestro modo de vivir.

Solo asegúrate de sentir tu calma interior y ser uno con tu aliento, sin importar la situación en la que te encuentres. Esa es la forma en que te puedes conectar gradualmente contigo mismo en un nivel más profundo.

Mientras más conectado estés con tu aliento, gradualmente comenzarás a relajarte en el momento.

Ajustando tu aliento y movimiento

Deja que tu aliento guíe y lidere tu movimiento. Valore las energías sutiles de su propio ser que abarque su propia respiración.

Siente la integración de tu aliento y tus movimientos. La respiración le da a tu movimiento una forma y dirección. Por lo tanto, no solo puede vincular su respiración y su movimiento, sino también practicar la iniciación de tus movimientos con la respiración.

Tu conciencia aumentará gradualmente de cómo tu propia inspiración y espiración se utilizan en tus movimientos. Lo que potencia y da energía a tus acciones y lo que calma y ayuda a la relajación. ¡Y cómo puede fluir envolvente y abarcante, conectándose y complementándose como un baile elegante!

Tan pronto como empieces a practicar, aprenderás a bailar con ello.

By Ignacio
https://www.bebee.com/producer/@ignacio-orna-nacho/fluye-con-la-vida

Here is my original post.

women s white top and orange floral skirt

Photo by Samuel Silitonga on Pexels.com

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 lives 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 breath (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

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

December 3, 2017
by Savvy Raj 3 Comments

The Call of the Dunes.

Desert Trails :

desert-1270345__340

The call of the dunes.

The desert has a way with you.

Just sun and sand across and around you.

As much as your eyes can see in the yonder

The red tinged sands bears the patterns of movement.

Of many who walked in there in sheer amazement.

Of the eerie silence of nothingness around

Except the tunes, that the howling winds may sound.

desert-2897107__340

The charm of the desert springs on at night

At the camp with carpets spread out

Surrounded by the bedouins tents

And a sheesha to indulge if you wish

Traditional Arabic hospitality peeks

And the swaying hips of the belly dancer speaks

Flowing and swivelling like the swirls on the dunes

Mesmerizing you in the alluring moves to the mystical tunes.

Bring it on you may yourself say…

You must at least for once pass this way!

Savvy

November 15, 2017
by Savvy Raj 12 Comments

Travel Trails

Musings on the Middle East: Part 2

The Meet and Greets:

While this trip to the Middle east, was a great getaway of sorts, between the work and pleasure, it undoubtedly became a fodder for thought and much reflections in those moments of chanced and planned connects with some amazing people living there. And some of them I met for the first time and bonded so instantly as if I knew them forever and a few who I knew for decades but didnt get to meet and connect earlier.

There were many more on my list of people who I wanted to meet but have left that for my next trip sooner than later.

Connects of empathy:

Meeting another human being for the first time is an enigmatic phenomenon. In todays age of technology although you may try to connect in so many ways online. Real time meet and greets hold their own a bag of surprises and treats in tow.
One such meet was planned … by me and my dear warm hearted friend from online. Fatima.An eloquent writer with a heart of gold and a keenly developed insight of people and their resources who draws much strength in positive reflections and most importantly a kind and brave heart following her dreams.

The heartfelt connects established in moments of our first meeting was clearly visible. She treated me to an amazing authentic Arabic dinner that evening and while catching up on our lives, in between us was a complete ease of being which we both mutually sensed in the lovely ease of conversation and strength of connection in the little time we had that day. Her warm hospitality and generosity touched me and I truly look forward to meeting her again sooner than later and wish her the best always from my heart.

Then there was this local Arab woman dressed in the traditional Abhaya worn with the hijab and those alluring kohl rimmed eyes with whom I shared a lengthy conversation of their culture and learned much but who moved me in the simplicity of her words and in sharing her heart’s deepest desires for freedom of movement and her eagerness in learning to dance…
Another wonderful woman with whom my daughter and I shared a great rapport albeit in just a few minutes of conversation was a travel guide who invited us to her home in Abu Dhabi. We got talking about so many things in such a short span of time. We bonded without reservations.
There are many more truly endearing people I met and connected some who I managed to catch up with on phone …but simply put perhaps it is just my way of seeing but I found many friendly people from across the world living there making a living thriving in the tolerance and interconnects that makes up much of Dubai’s culture in recent times.

And yes of course my visit to the traditional city of Sharjah had its own share of charm . As the people I met there were my very dear friends connecting after so long … yet the heartconnects were entrenched so deep that it felt home to me .

A short driving across the city will lead you through the Corniche where you can stay on to watch the beautiful Arabian Sunset and may be drive further on to Al Ain as well.

Will not forget the trips to the Gold and Spice Souks and most of all the Creek and the dhow cruise on the creek one pleasant evening….

Foodwise :

Being a vegetarian I thought my choices would be limited to pizzas and pastas and of course my saviour’ Subway’ besides the Indian food . But I was pleasantly surprised to find my flavour in Arabic food. Suffice to say the sumptous starters of the Arab cusine and their spiced tea was perfectly suited to my vegetarian and satvic senibilities. And I must thank my dear friends, relatives and hosts who took so much care and put so much consideration while ordering that I will hold very fond memories of dining out in this delightful trip.

Thanks to my amazing hosts I tried many dishes some which were known like the falafel and some new to me…tabbouleh and the zatar and lentil soup

were just divine. Midly aromatic and

full of flavour and bursting with greens

and a dash of lime . Awesome indeed!.

A city may be made of concrete

But homes are built with hearts

And life thrives in these homes.

Savvy

Precious time spent there…

About me:

Wellness Mentor, Dance Educator & Writer, Motivational Speaker, Freelance Designer

‘Creativity stems from the acceptance of your authentic self. It is a never-ending journey of endless possibilities that is much beyond the pursuit of a hobby or craft and can be a habit of a lifetime. So besides being a Dance educator being a writer and a designer, creating art and writing poetry gives me immense satisfaction with the infinite ways of expressing myself as I believe in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.’

Travel Trails : From At the Top