Rituals, rituals

Rituals, in all communities,  are important for the collective spiritual wellbeing. These bind the members together, reaffirming and reinforcing group identity.

The harvest festival, ongoing in many parts of India celebrates the creative powers of Nature in different forms. In Bengal, Ghot Puja (translation: worship of the pot) initiates the ritualistic process. 

The pot filled with water, with a vermilion figurine drawn on it, symbolizes the pregnant womb. The daab (green coconut), the amrapatra (5 mango leaves) placed at the mouth of the pot, flowers, represent Her organic proliferation. This worship of Goddess Durga, Mother Earth, has its roots in ancient Fertility practices. 

People also remember their ancestors during this period, in gratitude for their present existence, reiterating the continuity of familial generations, being and becoming. 

Rituals are meant to give meaning to life and living processes. But, not everybody in the community that follows a ritual believes in it. So, are rituals still important today? 

Does friendship mean to you what it means to me?

Happy Friendship Day!

So... what does #friendship mean?

I would say, 

A #relationship:

That affirms and confirms who I really am...

That sticks around to help me up when I am down, yet doesn't hesitate to call a spade a spade...

That mirrors my unspoken right back at me without malice or indulgence...

That knows without being told that were roles reversed, I would do the same...

Friendship is the state of #equality in #sharedpurpose. 

Your take?

RE-purpose purpose

My blog purpose, 14 years ago, was to reach people. I was, like, in the academic telling mode. I could reach only about a handful of folks...Heck, who likes to be told? 

I always found it awkward to speak about myself. In sharing, my feet were leaden, my spirit unwilling. I was the penguin teetering on the edge of the cliff, pushing others to share but unable to take the plunge myself. 

I realized that I needed a new reality. I took my own advice and embarked on a journey to transform. 

For things to change, 

You need to change.  

- Jim Rohn

This is my individual success story. I have laboured to be fitter, faster, stronger.  Now, I can repurpose as the real me replacing the disembodied persona. At worst, I get a bruised ego in interactions. And, at best, develop the emotional intelligence worthy of an empathetic Health & Fitness Coach.