Things keep getting better…

Posted on July 8, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

The Fab 5 brought joy to many people lately with their Netflix show Queer Eye. They are lovely, authentic, not afraid to be vulnerable and are here to make us love ourselves. Plus the show theme by Betty Who is amazing. Be you! Things keep getting better 😉

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Ram Dass – How to Love Yourself

Posted on June 23, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

I read my first book by Ram Dass called The Only Dance There Is and it’s amazing. One of those books that makes you wiser, that shortcuts you to insight. I might now have to read every book of his! I wanted to share this 10-minute talk by Ram Dass on how to love yourself, a key theme on this blog in the last year. Very useful advice.

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Universe is the jewel that is my heart

Posted on June 16, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

So I am reading my first book by Ram Dass. And I loved this quote where he explains the meaning of the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra:

Continue reading →
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How to love yourself more – 7-day self-love programme

Posted on June 9, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

Last year I focused on self-love. I realised my love addiction stemmed from the lack of it and I wanted to embark on a self-love programme but discovered there was no ready made package. So I read about it and also found Tiny Buddha’s Guide to Loving Yourself: 40 Ways to Transform Your Inner Critic and Your Life by Lori Deschene. It is a collection of essays by bloggers and I must say initially I was sceptical about its contents. However it turned out to be an eye opener. Erin Lanahan’s Rejection Can Reveal How We Are Rejecting Ourselves (press Next twice) in particular struck the cord – Erin showed me why I continued to be stuck in the unhealthy pattern of love addiction:

When I experience the pain of rejection in the external world, it is only because there are still places within myself where I am rejecting myself. As long as I reject myself, I will regularly attract people and situations that reject me…

There are more gems in the book – Julie Hoyle shares a life changing perspective on dealing with negative people in How to Come Home to Yourself – when having an anger outburst triggered by someone have you ever paused and instead of reacting and blaming the subject of your anger, turn your gaze inside? If you did, you would have realised that the subject is just a mirror, reflection of issues bubbling inside of you. What an amazing, reframing, reprogramming technique!

My own quest, bloggers in Lori’s book and a request from a friend inspired me to put together a 7-day self-love mini programme. Continue reading →

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Morning mantra – I am worthy

Posted on June 2, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

Self-love has been a big theme for me this year. I leave you with this quote by Aletheia Luna, the founder of the shamanic healing web site Loner Wolf. I use it as a mantra each morning.

I am worthy.
I honour my inner child.
I am safe and loved.
I have freedom and happiness.

— Aletheia Luna

On honouring your inner child, see this Loner Wolf article with some great tips.

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You gotta be hungry… Don’t stop running towards your dream — Les Brown

Posted on May 26, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

I love this speech. It’s full of gems of advice:

You gotta be hungry… Practice every day (reminder to self)… Someone’s opinion of you does not need to become your reality… You have greatness within you and responsibility to manifest that greatness… Don’t stop running towards your dream.

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The dust dance

Posted on May 20, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

The dust dance

We are all shit
That will turn into dust.
We come from stardust
And return we must.

In sunlit bathroom
Do not go aghast
When you find yourself
In a cloud of dust.

Skin flakes and dust mites,
Faeces and dead stuff,
Bacteria, pollen
Floating past.

Don’t hold your breath
You can’t outsmart
This life-death dance
Of which you are part.

One day we’ll draw
Breath that’s our last
One day we’ll all be
Dancing dust.

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Ram Dass, Going Home

Posted on May 12, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

This short documentary is a meditation on life, death, what is important and what next from one of the most famous spiritual teachers of our time. Fascinating. I loved the Seeta Ram mantra being chanted mid film.

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Writer’s pilgrimage – Jane Austen’s house in Chawton

Posted on May 6, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

This weekend I have fulfilled my dream and visited Chawton to see a house where Jane Austen created most of her works. I am a big fan and it was such a great experience learning more about this super talented writer and amazing woman. The highlight was seeing the table that she used to write at and the gardens where she might have sought her inspiration. I felt like I could feel her energy. Continue reading →

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Art therapy – Could you? by Mayakovsky

Posted on April 28, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

Vladimir Mayakovsky is a Russian poet who lived and created at the dawn of the 20th century. Since my introduction to his art at school, I’ve loved it dearly — there is music to his unusual rhyme and composition, there is rebellion in what he says and how, and there is incredible intensity in all of his works. He loved madly and he lived on the edge. Mayakovsky has always been my most favourite poet for his edginess, extreme openness, vulnerability and lack of fear of innovating in art, while remaining true to himself, which translated so beautifully into his poems. I translated one of my favourite poems from Russian below. A better translation exists, I just wanted it to sound how I thought was closest to the original.

Could you?

I’ve smudged the map of everyday

At once by splashing glass of paint;

Revealing on a jelly dish

Slanted ocean cheekbones.

Upon the scales of a tin fish

I read allure of new lips.

And do you

Think you could

Play nocturne

On a drainpipe flute?

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How to start meditating today if you don’t know where to start

Posted on April 21, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

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Reclining Buddha. Yuliya Glavnaya 

I promised a post on what I learned in the introduction to meditation course at the London Buddhist Centre. I wanted to try out the techniques before sharing them, long story short – I forgot about it. Universe reminded me in an interesting way. This week a friend asked how to start meditating. While I was sharing the steps and tips that worked for me, I realised that sharing is caring, so below is a quick guide on how to start meditating today if you don’t know where to start. Continue reading →

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To speak or to die? Call Me By Your Name

Posted on April 7, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

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Warning. This review contains spoilers. 

It is one of those stories – it blows your mind. You watch and rewatch it trying to grasp that fleeting feeling that they managed to express so well through casting (Armie Hammer’s later controversy aside), directing/ editing, soundtrack and beautiful scenery. Sufjan’s softly voiced ballad is cast over the intense love story unfolding in front of us. Mystery of love indeed. 

Continue reading →

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How shamanic experience changed my life? Let me see…

Posted on March 31, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

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Source: Tatler magazine, Jo Bowlby with a shaman in Peru. 

It’s almost been a year since I went through a shamanic ritual (I wrote about it here). I still have a one pager where I hungrily have scribbled down key insights and advice immediately after I left Jo’s house. Recently a friend asked me to have a go at ‘spiritually mentoring’ her in order to help her overcome a lack of joy she is feeling, the same reason why I sought a shaman in the first place. She asked me how my experience with the shaman changed my life and upon reflection I realised that the change has been significant in the last 8 months. I’ll narrow it down to 3 areas:

  1. I write more.
  2. I love myself more.
  3. I share more.

Continue reading →

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Fuck willpower. Let go instead.

Posted on March 17, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

Sometimes on Quora I find gems of insight and Daniel’s response below (to ‘What was your red pill realisation?’) is one of those. I’ve been beating myself up forever about not having enough willpower to achieve my goals (which I also was confused about). If only I had enough willpower! Well, as I have discovered, the secret all along has been to let go, shed and start from scratch, start by taking a step back, by understanding, finding and accepting yourself. Goals and their fulfilment will follow, no willpower required.

IMG_2624 Continue reading →

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Spring!

Posted on March 10, 2018 by nomadoftheuniverse

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There is that first weekend when it’s not yet spring but already bright and warm for the first time since November. And the scarf is suddenly too much and the shoes are ok. I spot first snow drops, stubborn daffodil stalks are piercing dry (dry!) soil, birds are singing and sunsets are basking in warm glow colouring everything in soft pink hues.

This is it! Spring is coming. Fresh abundant smells tantalise the nostrils. Everything, everything promises hope! Colours are brighter, nights are longer, nip in the air is gone for good. And that week of snowmageddon when everything was at standstill, plans were abandoned and everyone had bad fever or cabin fever is gladly over. Goodbye grey dull days and dark freezing nights and purple stiff toes and dry skin! Goodbye fireplace fires and radiator hugs and gloves and rich winter soups and heavy boots! Goodbye extra weight and hibernation. I am full of energy and overwhelmed with excitement.

Like nature I wake up in spring. Energy is surging and I feel like jumping to the sky and screaming Bring It On! I am not good with winters. I die a little bit. But I survived. Again. And I am back. And I am looking forward to long nights, warm breeze, garden chairs, cold drinks, light dresses, big dreams, friend hugs and smiles, smiles everywhere.

I am now unstoppable. I love you, spring!!!

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