Spiritual Fire, Divine Flicker

 Tonight we talked about the fire and how staring and focusing on the flame make you think of nothing else - problems, desires, and so on - nothing. The fire entices you to put your gaze on a still moment. Then a sense of cleansing occurs in your mind and spirit and you throw all your cares away to the fire. The fire then purges you and purifies you. When the flame dies down you emerge as a cleaner slate. 


In Hindu tradition, Mataji said, fire is the purest and cleanest of elements. Water can be contaminated. The earth can be contaminated. The air can be contaminated. The fire cannot.  You can neither charge it nor destroy it. There is only the presence and absence of fire. No wonder God uses fire to make His presence felt. He appeared to Moses on the bush in the form of fire. God led the Israelites out from Egypt in the form of pillars of fire. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven to Mary and the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The fire is a connection to the divine. A channel to prayers. Which is why we light a candle when we pray. Amidst darkness and in the direst straights, that littlest flicker  serves as our connection to our faith and to the Divine that keeps our inner flames burning. 

#fire #bonfire #thoughtoftheday #divinethoughts #spiritual #spiritualfire #divineguidance #spiritualthoughts #spiritualawakening #fierythoughts 

Mataji's gift of art and light

I have been collecting artworks lately, and perhaps, my guru Mataji just knew how to excite my spirit. Earlier today  she messaged me about gifting me a painting of a pink rose. When i came to pick it up tonight, this huge canvas featuring forest was lying on her sofa. And i immediately thought, this is it! Within a moment, she gave it to me to without second thought.  I felt  bliss. 

I have known Mataji and her family since 2017. Over meditations, Indian meals, and feeding programs, we have shared stories, laughter, and life lessons that have enlightened me. She has influenced me a lot, in many ways, from the gifting me the power of prayer and compassion, to instilling in me the miracle of kindness and love for others. How these virtues transform us to become better people. Since the turn of 2022, we have become closer than ever, our Seva work have become more frequent and I couldnt thank him and Rahul enough for the gift of wisdom that has given me clearer perspectives about our life and existence... That while prayer works we should learn to surrender everything to God. And I am learning it, learning to surrender the things I could no longer control....Surrender my desires and let the hands of God takes it course in my life. 

#painting #paint #artlover #arttherapy #artishealing

Moonlight over the sea

 Some contemplations...

I know many people are envious because I get to live in a place where the beach is just 15 minutes away from my house. But there just comes a time when I also envy others because they get to indulge on the four seasons, explore old castles, climb alpine peaks, or enjoy the bustle of big city life. True enough it is always green on the other side of the fence.

Summer  is here. It is this time of the year when sunsets mean a burst of orange and gold on the late afternoon skyline. When dusk settles and as the moon awakens, the orange and gold slowly turns to reddish vibrance until heavens beam lavender and dark and darker blue, until the stars appear from afar. What a sight! Then you wonder, who would want to leave a beautiful place like this? 

Bite-Size Book Review: The Newspaper Widow by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

 Here's a bite-size book review of The Newspaper Widow, a novel by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard. 


I fell for the works of California-based Cebuano author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard after reading her first novel, The Rainbow Goddess Wept. In that book, the author stitches Philippine folklore with World War II history as told by a young girl from Ubec (Cebu spelled backward), whose genteel life was broken and shattered by the horrors of war.

Now, in The Newspaper Widow, Manguerra takes us to the turn-of-20th century Ubec. The American colonial authorities, by now, have already established rule over the Philippine islands. The novel centers on the mysterious death of a Spanish priest and how the protagonist, Ines de Castro -  a steely, businessminded mother - took it upon herself to seek the truth and justice for her wronged son. I appreciate how Ms. Brainard integrated history and social narratives in this novel, reflecting the reality of the period which this book attempts to impress. The thick, layered plot is also an interesting point. Every character has a story to tell, I think each one merits getting featured in a novel. How she ended it with a new beginning for the love story of Melisande (Ines's French friend) and Samir (Ines's lover) is just perfect against the mind-boggling dective-story-like start. 

Interested? The Newspaper Widow is available at @lazadaph and @shopee_ph .

About Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (from the author's official website)

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard was born after World War II in Cebu, Philippines, the fourth surviving child of Mariano Flores Manguerra and Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra. Her father, a civil engineer, came from Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Her mother belonged to a political family of Cebu and was a successful business woman and realtor.

Cecilia grew up in the port city of Cebu in Central Philippines, a place that retains its Spanish-Colonial influences, inspiring Cecilia to create her mythical setting called “Ubec” which echoes the Santo NiƱo Church, triangular Spanish fort, and old buildings and streets of the real Cebu. Her three novels — When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, Magdalena, and The Newspaper Widow are set (even partially) in Ubec. Ubec also appears in her three short story collections — Woman in Horns and Other Stories, Acapulco at Sunset and Other Stories, and Vigan and Other Stories.

She attended St. Theresa’s College in Cebu and in Manila and she earned her BA in Communications Arts from Maryknoll College. She migrated to the United States to do graduate work in Film Making at UCLA. She later turned to writing which suits her individualistic personality better.

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