Pondicherried !

The much celebrated time of the year, New Year eve.

The city of joy looked gorgeous yet my soul craved for something different. And I could feel I need some sea breeze pampering my hair… the smell of sands and yeah… a new place.

I somehow love unplanned trips.  So unplanned that I myself am unsure of the destination.  So I booked my tickets few hours before I started my journey.

Destination, Chennai.

31^st night !!! I was in the flight and surrounded by completely unknown co-passengers.  The clock indicated 0000 hours in flight.  And almost everyone was fast asleep. Anyway.

Just imagine reaching Chennai airport at 1am! A strange city. And stranger the language.  Yes I had some doubt on my mind, would I be able to manage without knowing the local language?

Thankfully I did.

After roaming around in the airport for some time, I realized I need some sleep.  Walked straight to the Fast Track cabs counter at airport. Asked for help, asked them to find me a next by transit hotel.

Meanwhile I looked for rooms online as well.

The Fast Track counter guy helped me with his known hotel.  It was Oyo room. Pretty sad still ok for few hours’ sleep! By that time I decided my destination. Pondicherry.

While sitting in the airport, I didn’t hesitate to ask from the people around about Pondicherry – how to reach, how long it takes and where to take bus from. Well, two friends of mind who were in Tamil Nadu. They helped me with relevant information.

I stayed somewhere in my hotel within 2km from the airport, at GST Road. A small and very basic hotel it was. However, for me, it was just matter for 2/3 hours.

I started my trip around 7am from Chennai. Got my bus for Pondicherry around 7:30am. It was a local green color bus. No prior booking was required. I got into the bus and luckily, got a seat too! The fare from Chennai to Pondicherry was Rs 79!!!  Made me happy.

 There are two ways to reach Pondicherry from Chennai. 1. Via GST road (through NH 45) 2. Though East Coast Road.

While going, I took GST road. It was a shorter route.  It took exactly 3 hours to reach Pondicherry. By the way, the bus didn’t give a loo break in between!

Chennai was hot! However, it was nice to feel the changing weather as I was entering Pondicherry. It became somewhat, soothing!

Now reaching Pondicherry without any booking on 1^st day of the year, it would have been silly to expect any room to be available. At least the good ones.

However, finally I found myself a room. Again a very basic room at heritage Town at connected to MG Road and just 4/5 minutes’ walk from the beach! Pondicherry itself is a small town which can be explored by walk. Its pleasant walking, especially on the first week in January!

After getting fresh, I just started walking. From my hotel to the beach. It was absolutely serene – the mustard colors houses, the clean roads, people cycling and walking – the clear blue sky and the pleasant sun! It was exactly what I wished for.

If you ask me, what all one can do at Pondicherry? If one should just cover one point to the other? My personal views will be, NO.  Just enjoy somewhat bohemian, somewhat spiritual, somewhat calmness of the place.

I didn’t make any itinerary for Pondicherry. I just kept walking and exploring. First thing that took my heart away was the architecture – a beautiful fusion of French and Tamil architecture.

While walking down, I came across various food joints – you can enjoy different kind of food. Indian, French, continental, organic – just name it and you will get it.  And almost all the food joints serve pretty scrumptious food.

How did I try food there? I just randomly got into restaurants and cafes and tried food. Be it Indian, French, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chettinad, Chinese or Continental – name it and you will get it. Just explore each and every lane of the town. Mostly you will get everything within French colony, MG Road, Heritage Town.

The town doesn’t have rush. It was amazing to sit, read books looking at the road or even at the sea and enjoy the meal. I enjoyed doing that. In Pondicherry, the best part is, you can get affordable as well as luxurious food. Whatever, your pocket is comfortable with.

During the day time, while walking around the French colony, I had my food at Le Café facing rock beach. Sitting in a quiet corner (Though it was crowded being 1^st day of the year).

My first half was spent roaming in and around French colony and MG road. While walking around, I found Immaculate Conception Cathedral. A beautiful white church!

 In the evening I headed to Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is near the railway station. I reached exactly at the right time. I witnessed the 1^st January Mass from the beginning till the end; it was beautiful even when I didn’t understand the language. All I can say is, there are certain feelings which cannot be expressed. They are meant just to feel!

It was a pure bliss to be there on 1^st January. Due to Mass, it was filled with disciples.

Post the mass, I started walking through MG Road to my hotel. On the way, you can find many food joints; you can try any of them. Specially if you want to enjoy the local cuisine.  I went to Indian Coffee House at J.N. Street. You can get the best of South Indian food there!

Well, there was a very old Kofi bar, KBS Kofi barr  ( a small shop who sells coffee and tea) near to my hotel – even though I am not a coffee person, the aroma literally fascinated me to have a cup of coffee. Trust me, I found it heaven! I tried the same next day too. Just Rs 20 / cup!

Since I had walked the whole day, I had an amazing sound sleep J The weather was pleasant. Neither hot nor cold!

The second day, I planned for Auroville. Well, one fact that many people do not know is it’s not in Pondicherry. It’s in Tamil Nadu. However, Auroville is very close to Pondichery, half an hour by an auto! On the way, I just wished to have Kothu Parotta. It’s one of the most favourite dishes when I am in Tamil Nadu. And where did I have it? I just asked the auto driver to take me to a local dhaba. Trust me that’s the best way to have local food, sitting amidst the local people without understanding anything that they were talking! I just relished my Kothu Parotta, followed by coffee ( or kofi, as they say).

Well, since I went there for a very short time, I could only walk around Matri Mandir which most of the people do. However, the place is all about experiencing and soaking into the nature. It is quiet, serene and pure. You just can be yourself. May be, you re discover yourself! There are some places on the earth, they are so natural and so pure, and you just transform yourself into a more evolved being.

Yes, if I visit there again, I will stay there for a week at least.

Matri Mandir itself is a wonder. I believe, to enter the mandir, you need prior booking. If you are planning to stay, do contact them before hand and complete your booking, seek guidance on what all you can do there to experience the place in the best possible way. They sell many handicrafts – I bought some incense and candles! Indeed they are overpriced and you will get them all at Pondicherry near Ashram!

Inside auroville, you will find some gem of eateries who serve fresh and organic food.  Few of them are Well Cafe, Naturellement, Frite Corner Farm Fresh, Le Morgan, Solitude Farm, auroville bakery!

After auroville, I went to Chunnambar boat house. You will get boats there to go to Paradise beach. Well, the place was over crowded as it was just the beginning of a year. The beach didn’t impress me much. It was a normal beach with a small shack with overpriced food. The boats take around Rs 100 to drop you at the beach and pick you up from there. If you are an explorer, you may give this a miss! 

If you like having some chilled beer sitting at the beach, go ahead! And then in the evening I visited Eglise de notre Dame des Anges. It’s a beautiful French church. The color of the church is the most distinctive one – it’s pink! A very quiet church with mesmerizing architect. The windows have glass painting and with the sun rays hitting on them create a beautiful reflection. I spent some good time sitting in peace there.  

My last two destinations in Pondicherry were Ashram. Well, if you are into meditation, this is the best place for you. No gadgets. No camera. No words. Just silence is all you can have!

They have a good collection on spiritual and philosophical books. So yes, I ended up buying some!  

Just next to the ashram is  Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple. A beautiful Ganesh temple with so many variations of lord Ganesha! The temple has beautiful painting all over. Heard it’s a very old temple and establish around 1666, much before the French came. When you enter the temple, you can see an elephant giving it’s blessings to everyone who is either giving it some money or food. Just note, the elephant is so well trained that it just gives everything to its master immediately!

About my dinner, I had fish pizza at Intalia! Yes, you heard it right, fish pizza. They have variety of fusion pizza starting from Tuna, fish and lot more! Try them if you visit Pondicherry.

Next day, I had my breakfast with egg dosai and started for Chennai!  Pondicherry was good to me. People were cordial and helpful.

I wish I could have spent more time there. May be next time.

So, from my trip, I can share a few important notes, especially to solo travellers:

1.       It’s ok to travel without a plan! Just enjoy every moment – whatever comes!

2.       You need help? Just ask for it. you will get it

3.       Try experimenting with everything

4.       Don’t be too fussy on rooms and food! Just ensure safety and hygiene  

5.       Keep your mobile charged! Google helps! It really does

6.       If you have any local friends, ask them for guidance

7.       Don’t make point to point visiting places. Explore what you wish!

Annual Energy Forecast for 2016

http://reikiallway.com/annual-energy-forecast-2016/

First of all, I would like to thank each of you who are going through this forecast. Thank you for having the faith. It’s a generic forecast. You may ask, will this be applicable for everyone? I would say, if you resonate with the energy, then yes! I would also like to share, every reading is a tentative indication. You will be given all the elements to create a situation. However, it completely depends on you how you use the element. For an example, a card says there is a high chance of you to get a job. You may get a call or a mail which you don’t respond to. Obviously, without responding to the element (which is the email or the call) you cannot create the situation (which is the interview) and thus the chances of getting the job will lessen down.  Tarot / angel cards for me are all about indication and guidance. Follow the guidance, create your own path.

I have used Guardian Angel Tarot cards by DOREEN VIRTUE , RADLEIGH VALENTINE. This deck is adaptation of the original Rider Waite Tarot deck. I preferred using the deck as Tarot always gives a detailed guidance and since its guardian angel tarot deck, the energy is much loving and softer.  It’s not scary. There are no negative cards. Its only loving guidance. Hope the Angels be with you. If you need any clarity on this reading, call upon your Guardian angel and ask for help or clarity.  I am sure, you will be guided.

January:  The theme of the January is all about introspection. Go deep within. Not for anyone else but for yourself. The year stats with spiritual discovery. If you ask me, where from spirituality starts? It all starts from within so it’s very important to know own self first.  This month is not an action oriented month. This month is rather going within, look for what you really are, what you really want. Or say, discovering your true self.

Try spending time with yourself. Meditate. If you find meditation boring then go for a walk alone or even with your pet, if you have one.  Sit in your garden quietly or near the river / lake / sea – whatever is accessible for you.

February:  February is going to be a month where you may learn some new skills which eventually help you to grow as a human being and as a spiritual being as well. This month’s energy is all about focus, dedication and success – it’s a good month if you are working on a project, you will complete it successfully. This month also is about being yourself and shows the world your talent, your skill. If you are good at something, be proud of it and express it.  With focus and determination, you can turn your efforts into successful completion.

March: End of Financial year. You need to be careful about your finance – how you are spending, where you are investing and how much you are spending. Be a little careful. You are in a financially stable position – just be grounded. Don’t be overwhelmed. Don’t splurge, at least this month.  It’s ok and safe to love money however don’t get attached to the materialistic things, in other word, don’t get greedy.

Rather try to invest wisely and also, try donating among the ones who are in need. Doesn’t matter in a smaller way or in a bigger way; share your abundance in whatever way that makes your comfortable. Law of attraction says, the more you share, the more you create.  

April:  April brings the childlike energy – fun, impulsiveness and creativity along with passion. Many of you have been still in learning mode and excited about your new skill. This month will make you feel the urge to express! There will be creative restlessness within. Very productive month however the energy of the month needs to be handled with a bit of maturity. You may have too many ideas and positivity still don’t be very impulsive. Or else you may feel that no one is appreciating your thoughts and ideas!

However, feel free to express yourself. Also, I feel keep yourself grounded; surround yourself with like minded people and best way to express yourself is to maintain a journal.

If you are into angel therapy, you can express yourself to the angels. You can express yourself to your guru or masters.

May: This month may show you certain delay in action or even decision making process.  Suddenly it may feel that everything is at standstill and nothing really is moving! HOLD ON! Don’t rush into anything. This month asks you to calm down.  Ask yourself if there is anything that you need to know?

You may see things in an entire different perspective altogether. If possible, try to change your views. The situation may seem different. If someone is looking for help, go ahead and help.

Sometimes when we go through problems and worries, helping others reveal the answers to our problems.

June: This month will bring you some relief. The worries and the challenging times have come to an end! You will feel much lighter and happier. It’s a time of completion of struggle or competition. And chances are high that you come out with flying colors. However, it also means that with achievement come some responsibilities. So be true to your commitment. If you feel overwhelmed with your work, share your work or delegate your work. Don’t take the entire work load on yourself.  This card also reminds us not to pull us down by taking excess burden. Find a fine balance in work and leisure, or I would say, do what makes you happy and sets you free! Take enough rest. Take timely and healthy food.

July:  The energy of this month is holding your ground, despite ongoing challenges to your position and authority. You need to take a stand and defend your position at all costs. This will take courage and persistence but you have the strength and determination to do it. You see yourself as a battler and no matter what the challenge, you still have it in you to stand up for yourself and fight to the end. So, although you are experiencing a number of setbacks at the moment, you need to continue fighting for what you believe in and confronting others who may oppose or threaten you.

 You carry some of the energy from the previous month and the success continues. So this month also you need to be responsible and be ready to define your action or words.

August: You continue with your good work, intellect, presence of mind. I see a victory, a success. It’s not sudden. It is a cumulative result from previous few months, as you can see!

This month you will make very clear and unbiased communication. You will be alert and review your decision very carefully. You are capable to face challenges and successfully work at challenging situation. I feel, many of you will make some practical decisions in this month. You will be determined and geared with correct facts and figures, if you are on some project.  Over all a good month.

September: This month shows a very harmonious relation with wealth. I can see abundance in this month and we all are blessed with so much abundance that we the inflow and outflow of cash / money are in complete harmony. There is no sense of lack. You are blessed with everything that you need. Accept this abundance with gratitude. At the same time, share your abundance. This month, you may get a new job or may get a promotion.

Remember to count your blessings.

October: Amazing month! This month asks you to claim your power back! This month is all about reminding you about your power! That the divine power is within you.  You just need to claim it back. You may see difficulties or challenges. You may find people who have hurt you or have been unfair to you. This power is not external, it’s all within you. By claiming your power, you will be able to forgive.

Yes forgiveness needs more courage than we can think of. You will be powerful enough to see and decide what is right or wrong for you and you will move out of the situation which you feel can’t respect you.  If you feel wrong, say it. If you see wrong, speak it out.

November:  This month is a very fertile month. You know that you are blessed for sure. You have worked on your dreams, you have shown faith and you have been fair! So it’s time to step into a field to cherish your hard work and prayer. This is a good month for the couples who are planning to extend their family. You may be blessed with good news soon. This month is also a great month if you are trying for a job or exam! Go ahead with complete confidence. This month is all about fulfilling your dreams and getting the fruits of your hard work.

If you are an artist or in field of creativity, it is going to be a great month.

December:  The energy of this month somehow is very different than the other months. It’s strange but true. For some of you, this month may come up with some challenges, be it personal or financial or professional. There might be some sudden loss. However, the guidance is, don’t isolate yourself. Seek your for help. It’s ok to ask for help from the universe and from the people around you. You may feel lonely or abandoned.

However, I will see this month in a different way. This month will come to you to strengthen your faith. Even in difficult situation, how you can keep up your faith and move ahead positively. No difficult situation may change your faith.

Be very balanced in this month. Don’t get attached to the result. Keep doing your work with dedication and integrity. It’s a temporary phase of challenges and no phase lasts long, be it a happy one or the challenging one.

Thank you. Have a great year ahead. 

Happy Meal

What does a happy meal mean to you?

The thought of some fast food outlet and some cute little toys come up on mind? May be.

Have you ever thought of school days? Did the meals make you happy? We all used to wait for that lunch break! No matter what the food was.   Those colourful Tiffin boxes, those impatient wait for lunch break bell and sometimes peeping into the box to find out what’s inside it. And then all friends sitting together and sharing the food. Most of the time, “Your mom makes such good food everyday” – yes the grass used to be greener the other side.

Sharing has always been fun.

I fail to understand why it changes over the period of time?

How does the working professional eat? Their executive lunch?

Alone? Sitting quietly? In some corner. May be eyes on laptop or phone. We behave we have doing some favour to someone by eating the lunch. Grabbing it quickly. Quicker and quieter the lunch is, the more efficient the executive is, indeed!

Different offices has different culture. I quite love the culture where people take their time out for lunch. May be half hour or so. They sit together. No matter what they bring, they share.

Food is the best way to bring people together, bring their inner most corners out! Doesn't matter department or hierarchy, it’s always fun to eat together and share.

Why I think eating together is fun (at work place):

·         We get a break from work!

·         We get to interact with people with whom we probably don’t interact for work

·         We get to eat variety and who doesn't love that?

·         We open up – we end up talking about out likes, dislikes, hobbies etc.

·         Eating together, sharing food and laughing together indeed bring people close erasing the line between hierarchy or departmental difference

There might be, I am sure there are many more reason why we should sharing our lunch break rather than eating alone, quietly in one corner, concentrating on the screen. The organization won’t really collapse for this 30 minutes happy meal break. 

A Chicken Recipe with lemon and chilli

Lebu Lonka Chicken 

Recipe: Lebu Lonka Chicken

There are times when our taste buds behave in a strange way! Specially when we are unwell. We crave for something spicy or tangy or chatpata! This recipe will bring that taste – tangy and hot! Quite a simple recipe, I too have learnt it from someone. Since I love food - I love experimenting with cooking too! 

You can customize it a little, e.g I like more garlic so I put more! If don’t like lemon, you can add a little less juice!

For the recipe you need:

•          Chicken 250gm
•          Onion juice (2 medium size onion)
•          Garlic paste ( take 4 table spoon full)
•          Ginger paste (take 2 table spoon full)
•          Lemon juice (preferably use Gondhoraj Lebu / Royal Aroma Lemon 1 full)
•          Pinch of sugar
•          Salt according to your taste
•          Curd (  2/3 table spoon)
•          Green chilli paste  (as per your taste)
•          Choti elaichi
•          Lemon leaves
•          Coriander powder (one and half spoon)

Procedure:

•          Marinate the chicken with ginger paste, garlic paste, chilly paste and onion paste/ juice. Add salt and coriander power, curd and edible oil.
•          Keep it in the fridge for half an hour
•          Take a frying pan. Give ghee / mustard oil / white oil( I prefer mustard oil)
•          Once the oil is warm give choti elaichi and then pour the marinated chicken
•       You can add some more onion juice and lemon juice in it. If you want you can add red chilli power ( ½ tea spoon Kashmiri mirch for color or keep it as it is) – add sugar
•          Cook it for 4/5 minutes and then give the lemon leaves. cook in a low flame
•          If you feel its dry enough, you can pour half a cup of water
•          Cover it with lid and let it cook for 4/5 minutes more
•          Once cooked, serve with rice

P.S. there is no turmeric in this recipe!

Hope you enjoy the recipe! 

The tale of Khejur Gur / Date Palm Jaggery

Winter for many Bengalis and foodies mean some authentic Khejur gur. The aroma itself creates the hunger pangs! Every year in West Bengal the people, who specialized in making Khejur gur, come and settle at Asansol from end of November till January (say winter). They tie a pot at the date tree and early in the morning they collect the juice from plam tree,. .The pot is hanged on the Khajur tree after the sunset and brought down before the sunrise (4a.m-5a.m).The sap is collected in a big container. Then the sap is put in an iron container and put it on heat so that it thickens! they are poured into mud container / pot and then kept till they are semi solid. Its a beautiful process. One needs to get up early to experience it, aound 4:30am or so. Well I am not an early riser so caught them a little late. Visited at the end of November 2014.

The gur / jaggery is sold here at Rs. 80 - 90 / kg. Available form November till end of January every year. Can be kept / stored for 5/6 for best aroma and taste.

P.S. DO not copy the images without permission. 

My journey into Reiki and Healing!

This topic has been on my mind from past few months and I have been feeling strongly to write about it. For much reason – first and foremost reason for my gratitude to Reiki and different healing energies for giving me a different perspective of life.

I keep receiving quite a few queries on Reiki – most frequently asked being “How should I prepare myself for Reiki” or say “How do I know I am ready for it?” and “Does being attuned help us not having any problem in life?”  Well that’s the reason for me writing this. It’s my journey! And how it happened is important.

I would start with the belief “through crack enters light (say wisdom)”

Ok, let me share my journey.  It started in a manner which was a little strange, probably all good things start with some kind of trauma or say some kind of bad experience (reminds me of the Death card from Tarot deck) – I was going through a break up and I was wondering what to do! Am sure most of us have gone through some or other separation, some of us keep them under the wrap and some of us express it openly with courage. I do the later. And there is no shame! Each and every event is here to teach us something. Learn the lesson, move on. Life is as simple as this! However it took some time for me to learn that.

So, like many other broken-heart people I was kind of puzzled and somehow lost! Kind of desperate to patch up. In despair as well.  Don’t remember how but I found someone who is a Reiki Master and Holistic healer – almost 8 years back! That time I was not aware of Reiki or any kind of healing. However, I reached there. He was the first person introducing me to Reiki. No, i was not attuned to Reiki however he had always given me his valuable time and his earns to listen to my problems, be it anything. I got Reiki healing as well.  It has been a beautiful relationship since then. I sometimes used to attend his meditation classes where I started getting to know about Reiki, Chakras, Aura and various other things. However due to some or other reason I could not get attuned to Reiki. I was member of some Reiki group online as well; members there also helped me with distance healing and guided me. I was still though not very clear on what Reiki is and how it’s going to help me! However, i continued my journey with faith.

Time passed by! I had to shift to another city. Well, that I consider being quite a turning point in my life. I was in between jobs. I was travelling. I was a little worried financially as well. However I have always been blessed with some very supportive friends who stood by me under all circumstances. So I was less burdened.

My shifting to the new city was quite smooth. Everything was taken-care by the company who recruited me. However, my journey started after shifting. A completely new city it was for me, Bangalore. The language became a problem till some extent. I knew absolutely no one in the city, and the people I thought I had known became absolute strangers. Have started to dislike many things, was absolutely under stress and thought to leave the city and move back to my old city as I thought everything was going against me in the new city. My friends from Delhi had been my biggest strength then also. Being away, they were with me each and every moment. We have always been in touch, not even a single moment I faced when they were not with me. So in the new city I was not really alone, virtually together.

And gradually I started enjoying my own company; it was another big learning for me. I kept asking myself, why I am here in the new city? Almost alone without friends, family! No I didn't really get the answer immediately why I was there! I got it gradually.

When we become comfortable in our own company, we start to introspect and rediscovering ourselves – who we really are. Being in the new city gave me enough time to spend to myself, reading, writing and knowing what I want. I started to travel solo, more frequently, started preparing new cuisine and stated reading again. As I child also I used to love reading. I was back with my hobbies.

As I was not going through a very happy and smooth time, and all I wanted was to heal the situation I started looking for a way out! That was the time I ended up ( or say stared my new journey) with Reiki. I found my Reiki teacher and another holistic healer. Both happened with me simultaneously. I went my healer for Theta healing and I went to my Reiki master for my level 1 attunement. The change started there.

So here am going to answer one of the questions that many people asked me, does Reiki help eliminating the problem or tough situation? My answer, NO. Reiki and any other healing practises guide us to see the entire situation in a new perspective.  We see the tough situation as an opportunity to learn. I started having much more patience, much more compassion, unconditional love and much more faith, less judgement and less doubt. My relationship improved gradually with many. I gradually have developed many healthy habits. I started having more vegetarian food, less unhealthy food and beverages. My going out and partying out became less frequent. Suddenly fair weather friends stopped showing off. I was surrounding by less people then – however the people I was surrounded by were people who loved me unconditionally and were my true well wishers. I started getting in touch with people from the healing field – somehow I have started having my own comfort zone with like-minded people. Not everyone does Reiki – some practises Buddhism, some Angel Therapy or something else. However the common factor was love and compassion.

So here comes my second answer, so how did I prepare myself for Reiki? My answer, I didn’t really prepare anything I reached there when I was supposed to be there. My Reiki level 1 happened and then happened Reiki level 2 and finally I have done Reiki Master Level.

My Reiki Teacher was also asked “how would I know if am ready for Reiki certain level?” she answered “if you have reached my place today, you are ready for Reiki certain level”

For me it was one point connecting to another. Simultaneously I started getting drawn to various inspiring books! And all of a sudden, books on Angels. Being a Hindu, no family member or friend discussed on angels with me before. Surfing through net, unknowingly I found Doreen’s books and I started reading one by one. It didn’t just stop there. I was drawn to Angel Oracle cards as well, I started reading for myself or close friends on my intuition. Started having some of my favourite Decks! When I was looking for a angel therapy course, one fine day I heard in Radio one Angel therapy workshop in Bangalore! That’s what I was waiting for so quite obviously I jumped at it and enrolled myself. I have done quite a few similar workshops which helped me having a better understanding! Probably that’s what I call synchronicity – meeting like-minded people, drawn to books and workshops which help me developing my interest and knowledge in this field.

Coming back to where I started my relationship. So did I get him back? No. I didn't. Then how did Reiki and other healing energies help me? Eventually I could forgive him. Healing starts when you accept the situation and forgive. Forgiving is quite a big thing and it indeed need courage! Rather than forgiving him, I choose to forgive myself first. I let go the guilt, I let go the need of chasing him and chasing love, I let go the need of having a guy. Rather I fell in love with things I love say reading, music, movies, travelling and photography. And one day when I looked back, I realized he (my ex) was just a medium for pushing me where I am today and indeed am a much evolved person today. He was the way for me to reach Reiki and other healing methods. Imagine being in a happy relationship, being settled with him, I would probably not been able to be where I am today. I finally thanked him for bringing a better me! Or say finding another side of me.

And one day, we spoke. All bitterness, rudeness disappeared. He spoke with much love, compassion and good intention. He apologized and we realized both of us eventually had forgiven each other. We closed the chapter wishing each other a happy life! Say sweet ending!  

So in a nutshell, I can say Reiki has been my journey. Not the destination. Since am still on my journey, I am not sure what the destination is. Probably to find out my higher self towards more healing and helping them who are in need. Yes, most of us need healing – more and deeper understanding of life rather than cribbing and complaining over every difficult situation. So, I can wrap up how it helped me:

•  I have become much calmer person than I was before. Situation, people or anything doesn’t really worry me. I still have difficult situation and I know I will be taken care of!
• In every difficult situation or when I come across difficult people, I just ask myself what lesson am I supposed to learn here? Keep the intention right, the answer will eventually come!
• I don’t rush into things. I know, things will eventually happen. However, it will happen when the time is right. Like I was attuned to Reiki much after I got to know about Reiki.
•  I have realized no one is really a bad person. Everyone is here having their own journey and teaching us something. So i don’t curse any one anymore. I send love, I thank everyone and I move on.
•  I have quite detached. It doesn’t mean being indifferent. It only means being compassionate without encouraging drama. I don’t encourage drama!
•   I have learnt to love and accept own self first. Most of us or say all of us wait for other’s approval. We try really hard to be approved by family, friends, teachers, partners or society! What about the authentic self? The way we are supposed to be? Probably sometime soon I will write another article on my journey on self love!
• I have created a protection wall for myself. I no more let others to insult me! I don’t need their approval! Be it anyone. I am perfectly fine the way I am!
•  I have become less tolerant to non sense.
•   I have more faith.
•   Now I know I attract only those people who will help me enhancing my journey into a richer one!
•  I have truly started appreciating and have started attitude of gratitude meaning being thankful not because someone has asked me to do so but because I am blessed enough to be thankful.
• I can enjoy just being! I mean can enjoy in the very present moment. I don’t rush to the past or worry about future! I have seen most of us are so busy either in past or in future we forget that we belong to the past!
• I have learnt to be patience.
•    I have learnt to let go (most of us find it very difficult, we hold on to things too tight without the need of holding it too tight)

These are very basic things which we either take for granted or ignore. And these are the things which really help us growing.

I thank everyone whom I have come across in my journey and whom I will come across. To mention a few names whom I can’t really afford to miss, I thank my parents and brother for their support, I thank Dr Jarrel who introduced me to Reiki and who has been there for me always with unconditional love and support, I thank my soul friends Kalpana, Marisha, Richa, Barnali, Munmun, Sridhar for their unconditional love – they completely stood by me no matter what! I thank Shweita, my soul sister for her guidance almost anytime I needed. I thank Ashwita for being my Reiki Master and guiding me whenever I needed, I thank Sushmita for my Theta Healer and I thank Ananya for being my Reiki teacher for Reiki Master Level. And many other people who taught me something or other through various situations!

P.S. It’s my journey that I have shared. You might have a different view point, which is completely Ok!

The Making...