September 11th.

"We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race." ~Cicero

Today is the 10th anniversary of attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Flight 93. These events took place in the United States but  echoed around the world - shock, horror, grief, prayer, faith. I don't remember where I was at the time... but I do remember my family being stunned... I'd never been to the World Trade Center (my dad has though) but my mom, brother and I had been in NYC the month before. We had family and friends in New York. It was horrifying to think that something may have happened to them. It was horrifying to learn that people would purposefully attack those places knowing that it would cause so much damage.

Today, 10 years later there are a lot of memories... a lot of thoughts about what happened and why... a lot of thoughts about how such a thing should never happen again. 

I join so many people today, my family, my country and persons around the world in saying a prayer for those that passed in that event, those that were affected by it in any way and those that worked to make it better.

peace,

Ren

In celebration of my brother...

"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time." ~ Clara Ortega

There's a full moon in the sky tonight - go check it out if you can. On the full moon in this month Raksha Bandhan is celebrated. It is a day which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters - and literally stands for 'a bond of protection' - the sister prays that her brother would be protected from evil and the brother promises that he would protect his sister from any harm or trouble.

I tied the rakhi for my brother today. It's a physical representation of a bond that's already very strong. He's younger than me though sometimes acts as though he's older than me. I didn't particularly like him in the very early years. That changed when I ran away from home (yes, I've run away from home - I didn't go very far)... when I returned home what hurt the most was the tears from my brother not the vexation/punishment from my parents. I'd never thought that he'd miss me or be worried just as I'd never thought that hearing him cry for me would be so heart-wrenching. It was... and so from that day on I've tried my best to take care of him. The boy, no matter how big of a man he grows to be, is my baby brother forever and always and I love him.

I used to pick him up from primary school and we'd walk home together.

We had our own secret game - which drove our mom crazy cuz she just didn't get it.

He was 8 when mom was diagnosed with cancer and so when she couldn't manage to take care of him/us I did.

He is exceptionally brilliant at anything that he puts his mind to.

He is my partner in dealing with the parents now... we've got a sort of good cop/bad cop vibe.

When I am peckish he makes me goodies - he's a far better baker than I am.  

Two years ago this weekend, he was in New Jersey and I was in Massachusetts - we took the weekend off and spent it in New York. We stayed at a hostel in Chelsea, stumbled across the Rubin Museum which had an awesome exhibit on mandalas, saw Phantom of the Opera, had dessert at Bryant Park, interesting conversation with a bartender at Von, the best French Toast at a diner, got taken for a ride in one of those bike-carts, and had an overall very fun time together. Precious - because I can't think of a time when it will be just the two of us with nothing to do but have fun.   

Giving thanks for my brother tonight... saying a prayer for his continued well-being... sending love his way always.

Peace,

Ren

Mother's Day 2011...

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us when adversity takes the place of prosperity when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~Washington Irving 

Moments in time never turn out quite how you expect them too. My mom and I planned to go to the Ashram this morning for Guru Gita... we didn't.. slept through it and were only awakened by the loud, panicked cries of the Kitten. Early morning - grumpily sleepily awakened- a serious lapse in judgement during an attempted Kitten rescue - and then I fell off a table (nothing broken - am just very achy - can't even say I'm very bruised... where my cousins turn spectacularly blue-purple at the hint of a bump I turn mildly red and then back to normal... yay?). My mom had a meltdown ... it's really not fun (in fact it is somewhat heartbreaking) to have your mom crying on Mother's Day (sad tears... if it's happy tears then that's ok). She's blogged a bit about her take on today so you can read about that here.

The day itself turned out ok... we went out... spent some time together... ole-talk and got some rest. She is my mama and though she sometimes drives me crazy - I love her immeasurably. 

Finished reading 'The White Queen' and 'The Red Queen' this week. They were both a good lead-up to mother's day as they were both about mothers who wanted the best for their children. The 'White Queen' - Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Consort of  King Edward IV of England, was the first commoner (way before Catherine Duchess of Cambridge) to marry an English sovereign. History is unclear of what became of her sons, Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, who became known as the Princes in the Tower... what is clear is that she conspired to save the lives and fortunes of her children. The 'Red Queen' - Lady Margaret Beaufort, was the mother of King Henry VII and grandmother of King Henry VIII. The 'Red Queen' is the alternate tale of the 'White Queen'... where Elizabeth Woodville was a commoner, Lady Margaret was a noble, both had heirs with claims to the throne of England. The books are an incredible weaving of facts and fiction to tell their stories from their perspectives. I love the history of it... and that it's told from the women's perspectives. It helps me to understand more of not only what may have happened but what is happening now ... both in the outer world and in my own inner world. 

Mothering I think is an amazing aspect of womanhood. Something to be celebrated and appreciated. Got this article in my inbox. I enjoyed the vids from StoryCorps... most insightful. Sent out this prayer to my loved ones via Facebook. We may not always remember to be thankful for our mothers... we may not always feel the need to be thankful but I think ultimately the fact that we're here to make those decisions shows that we were in some way thought of. 

Hope all mothers and mothers-to-be had a blessed day. Continue doing what you do - the world is better for it. 

Love,

Ren

Edited to add:

• This fabulous Mother's Day post from Kit at BloggingDangerously
• Paulo Coelho's Character of the Week: The Mother

Dear Universe...

"Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well." ~Marcus Valerius


Now is not a good time for me to have the flu (cold? virus?)...

Also, I need my eyes to drive.

That is all.

Thanks,
Ren

A Call to Prayer...

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." ~Henry David Thoreau

Received the following email from different friends - thought I'd share - I'll be saying a prayer... sending my thoughts - it's our choice to help in whatever way we can. 

--------------------

To All People Around the World

Please send your prayers of love and gratitude to water at the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan!

By the massive earthquakes of Magnitude 9 and surreal massive tsunamis, more than 10,000 people are still missing…even now… It has been 16 days already since the disaster happened. What makes it worse is that water at the reactors of Fukushima Nuclear Plants started to leak, and it’s contaminating the ocean, air and water molecule of surrounding areas.

Human wisdom has not been able to do much to solve the problem, but we are only trying to cool down the anger of radioactive materials in the reactors by discharging water to them.

Is there really nothing else to do?

I think there is. During over twenty year research of hado measuring and water crystal photographic technology, I have been witnessing that water can turn positive when it receives pure vibration of human prayer no matter how far away it is.

Energy formula of Albert Einstein, E=MC2 really means that Energy = number of people and the square of people’s consciousness.

Now is the time to understand the true meaning. Let us all join the prayer ceremony as fellow citizens of the planet earth. I would like to ask all people, not just in Japan, but all around the world to please help us to find a way out the crisis of this planet!!

The prayer procedure is as follows.

Name of ceremony:

“Let’s send our thoughts of love and gratitude to all water in the nuclear plants in Fukushima”

Day and Time:

March 31st, 2011 (Thursday)

12:00 noon in each time zone

Please say the following phrase:

“The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant, we are sorry to make you suffer. Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you.”

Please say it aloud or in your mind. Repeat it three times as you put your hands together in a prayer position.

Please offer your sincere prayer.

Thank you very much from my heart.

With love and gratitude,

Masaru Emoto

Messenger of Water

--------------------



peace,

Ren

Our world has shifted...

"We still do not know one-thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us." ~ Albert Einstein

I haven't blogged since Friday. I have however, spent time with my family, gone to satsang, gone to a tea party (held in honour of my girl cousin's 13th birthday) and gone to Tobago. I've been going about with my own life. In the back of my mind though is the awareness of what is happening in Japan and in the world. The quake which hit Japan on Friday is one of the largest to hit since 1900 (different sites give different stats so I'm not sure whether it's the fourth or fifth largest quake). It has moved the island of Honshu 8 feet to the east and has sped up the earth's rotation by 1.6 microseconds. The tsunamis triggered by this quake has caused damage to Japan, Hawaii and California (am not sure of anywhere else). There is now the threat of a nuclear disaster in Japan. It all boggles the mind. Surreal.

What can one single individual do to help others going through this trauma? I hold you in my thoughts and prayers. I will donate to relief funds. I will talk about what is happening-what has happened-what can still happen in the hopes that persons I talk to can improve on building codes, warning systems, evacuation procedures in my country and elsewhere. I will appreciate what's around me and try to show gratitude and appreiciation just a little bit more.

There is a part of me that wonders if we bring this trauma on ourselves. We have grown so fast, taken up so much space, used up so much resources ... it makes me wonder. Where are we going as a people? What are we meant to do? We cannot expect that everything will remain the same but we can try to ensure that it's somewhat better. This article featured in the Huffington Post speaks about the opportunities that can arise from this devastation. I'm sure there are many persons thinking like the author and hope that they continue to inform and discuss ideas like these. I'm also hopeful that we will try to create these opportunities ourselves - to come up with new ways of doing, creating and living.

peace,

Ren

I'm a driver.

"Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do." ~Jason Love

Although I've had my driver's license since 2005 (yes, I was late getting it), I only really started driving last year. As of November 2009, I am the owner of a car... which explains really why I started driving. When you don't have your own car you tend to drive less simply because it's easier to either travel where you want to go or ask someone with a car to carry you wherever.

I like travelling... via taxi, maxi or bus... when I'm abroad I like travelling by subway and train... It is entertaining and eye-opening - there is so much one can discover about a place by travelling with public transportation. It's also really useful to know, in case you get stuck somewhere, how to get home without much assistance.

Having a car opens up a new means of transportation. It is more solitary. You are part of the hustle but yet separate... cocooned in your own metal bubble. I've discovered that I enjoy singing more - maybe it's cuz I like music... maybe cuz I want voices to fill the space and the only one there is mine (usually... sometimes my girlfriends are in the car and then we all sing along). Then there's the question of manners. How polite are Trini drivers? It's been said that we're the worst in the world... with all the bad drives and road rage around it's hard to be polite at all times. It's a question of staying centered... and balanced... 'yes, I shall let you through but not you... don't push... flash a smile and please, let me through'... It's not about male drivers or female drivers but about people trying to get from one place to the other.

I arrived late to work this morning - two accidents on the northbound lane of the highway... I know the roads in Central pretty well though ... so while a lot of people were stuck in crawling traffic I was making my way through the back roads... I confess - I didn't reach to work late because of traffic but because I found myself with some time to go to the bank and whatnot - I actually arrived before a lot of my work people.

It's still a strange experience having a car... less worry of how to get places... more worry about the cost of gas... mileage... fans and belts and how often do I need to check oil again? It's freeing in a way - more responsibility in a way... I wonder what other people think. Road hogs and responsible drivers... T&T has so many vehicles now.

Saying a prayer for whoever was involved in those accidents this morning... Saying a prayer to protect myself and those I love, care for, like, know... just about everybody really ... to be safe on our roads.

peace,

Rtr

Happy Earth Day 2010!

What do I have to blog today? A prayer ... a selection of quotes ... dedicated to today and all days cuz Earth Day shouldn't just be remembered/celebrated on one day but every day ...

Earth Day Prayer:

O GOD,
we thank you for this earth, our home; for the wide sky and the blessed sun, for the ocean and streams, for the towering hills and the whispering wind, for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat, and taste autumn's fruit, and rejoice in the feel of snow, and smell the breath of spring flowers.

GRANT US a heart opened wide to all this beauty; and save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing when even the common thornbush is aflame with your glory.

~Author Unkown 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead 

"It is the stillness that will save and transform the world." ~Eckhart Tolle  

 

"Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart, and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again."
~Oriah Mountain Dreamer  

 

love,

Rtr