Being a Capricorn is not easy. In college, my roommate Sonja, her black cat (our unofficial roommate, who thankfully ran away on its own and saved us the bad karma of having to let her go) and I, had a big poster outside our room that read, Capricorns are ambitious... but not till noon! Having had first-hand experience in being a mountain goat, I am well aware of how the over-ambition, the desire to do big things and a strong mind can drive us (and others) crazy. Then comes the paradox... the laziness, the procrastination, the sensitivity... and the list goes on.

So to ensure my own sanity and that of others, after a few years of trial and error, I decided to tone down the ambition, let go of the endless desires and become more relaxed. This went on for a while and turned the ambition into calmness (laziness would be more apt). I heard mostly from philanthropists to "just be" (it must have been the God channel at 4 AM after getting home from partying). That seemed like a great tag-line for Calvin Kline, but for humans what does it mean to "Just Be"? Does it mean, that we do nothing and just be? Or just be while we do what we gotta do?

I was on a yoga trail interpreting (rather mis-interpreting) philosophies and they seemed quite twisted. The more I practiced yoga and travelled in the quest of spirituality, the more I wanted to do in life. The more breaks I took to get away, the more I wanted to get back. Then one morning (no, I did not have an epiphany. Though it would have sound more interesting and mysterious to have an Aha moment, but that didn't happen) I felt very strongly about doing all those things that I dreamt of. I did not care about the outcome, all I cared about was whether or not I was taking appropriate action. I did not want to know what the point is, or if there is any. At yoga school, we were asked, whether we want to be part-time or full-time human beings?!! Sidelining desires or suppressing them, isn't the answer. Being over-ambitious and running after things isn't the answer either. So what is the answer? It is for each one of us to find out for ourselves. And while we do that, its important to express, to love and to live fully.

Familiar lessons in unfamiliar ways

A retreat in the mountains sounds exotic to most people. I too was enchanted by the idea and was awaiting a get away from life in the city. A forest amidst the Vellangiri Mountains ahead of Coimbatore had this short break in store for me. I didn’t expect to get much in a forest and was mentally prepared to simplify my lifestyle for the weekend.

Like a health conscious city-girl, I packed some dark chocolate goodies, just in case the famous sugar craving decided to pay me a visit in the middle of nowhere. When I reached the retreat center, I was surprised to be greeted with a strange looking red beverage (that I mistook as wine) and the best cinnamon rolls. In the middle of a forest, to get cinnamon rolls and cookies is truly law of attraction working at its best!!

Once everyone was settled into the retreat center, we were curious to know the schedule for the weekend. However, no one wanted to give us any agenda (we weren’t exactly at Harvard Business School, we realized). We would simply have to go with the flow and let things naturally unfold. What an uncomfortable idea, especially for those who plan everything big and small. This was the first important lesson I learnt, perhaps - to just go with the flow.

The next lesson came in the form of drums waking us up at 5 in the morning. I secretly hoped for a miracle manifested as Startbucks coffee at my doorstep. Instead of a caffeine kick, the urban grumpiness kicked in. As I strolled into the big yoga studio, I found tranquility. The sound of silence became music, and the aroma of dry leaves intertwined with fresh morning breeze relaxed the senses. Learning to be mentally flexible has its benefits, I soon realized.

When we headed for a trek in the forest, we had to be silent, so that wildlife wouldn’t get all worked up. Though hopping from rock to rock around a steep stream in the hot sun was not my idea of a perfect day, yet there was immense pride in being able to make it. This was a lesson in focus and endurance.

During this intensive weekend, there were several little lessons I learnt – whether it was patience, endurance, love or acceptance of oneself and others, all the learning was packaged differently. Experiential learning has a different charm. Playing, running around, sharing joy and connecting with people from all over the world was fantastic.

I did not have an epiphany while I was there nor did I feel any big transformation. What I did learn though was to look at things differently. Intelligent living is about being well balanced, happy and peacefully alert.

The weekend surely tested my “city-girl” way of life and challenged me to think beyond. It truly added value to my perspective and made me look at love, expression and acceptance differently. And the fun part was discovering a surprise gift in my room before I left the center. And there’s more… while flying back I got upgraded to first class. Life’s special gifts are well placed in our journey; we just need to show some more faith while travelling.

Law of Attarction

With eyes closed and their bodies relaxed, Linda, Nick and Suzie, intently listen to a voice that says, “Now you can attract anything you desire. Let go of doubt, have unwavering faith and allow it to manifest.” This voice is of Mike Dooley, author of the internationally acclaimed audio program, Infinite Possibilities: The Art of Living Your Dreams.

Imagine Aladdin’s lamp and a genie saying, “Your wish is my command?” You could ask for an ideal relationship, a beautiful home, a luxurious vacation, a high flying career, fame or wealth. Sounds like a fantasy or a television commercial? No. It’s the law of attraction!

Michael Losier, in his book, the law of Attraction, describes this concept as, attracting to your life whatever you give your attention, energy and focus to whether positive or negative. Serendipity, coincidence, luck; all refer to one phenomenon – the law of attraction.

Bob Proctor, author of You Were Born Rich, asserts “thought become things.” Whatever you focus on, manifests in your life. Hence, focus only on things, people and situations that you desire. If you wish for prosperity and abundance then focus on them. Whether aware or not, the law of attraction is always working. You think of an old friend and they call you; you wish for a DVD and you receive it as a gift; you visualize a promotion and within weeks you get it. Those aware of the power of deliberate thought attract their desires all the time. Author Rhonda Byrne’s best-seller, The Secret, outlines three steps to put this law into practice...

Ask - Be clear about what you want. Identify your desire, watch your inner conversation and shift the focus from what you don’t want to what you do want.

Believe - Believe that you can have it and raise the positive vibration. Tell yourself that you are in the process of attracting all that you desire. Have faith and let go of doubt.

Receive - Once your desire manifests, show gratitude and celebrate. You must begin by thanking the universe for all you have, affirms Lisa Nichols, co-author of Chicken Soup for the African American Soul. Being grateful makes you feel good and the universe responds to how you feel. So feel good now. When you follow your bliss you live in a constant state of joy. Unwavering faith shifts your energy and the universe brings what you desire.

“Imagine the universe as a catalogue and place your order,” says Dooley. Most worry about how it will happen but “the how” is the universe’s domain. Make sure your actions don’t contradict your desires. If you desire to attract something and your actions do not support your desire, then you send mixed messages to the universe. Dooley tells a story of a woman who did just that.

Linda wished for her ideal partner and became clear of what she desired. She made a list of qualities she wanted in her partner and visualized him. Months passed yet she didn’t attract anyone. One evening, she pulled into her garage and realized that her actions were contradicting what she wanted. Her car was parked in the middle of the garage; there was no room for her perfect partner to park his car. Her home was filled with things leaving no empty space for another person. She soon cleared the clutter, parker her car on one side of the garage and made space for her perfect partner. Soon she met a guy at a dinner party and a year later they were married. By making space in her life Linda sent the right message to the universe and it responded.

While the law works for believers, skeptics argue, “Did I attract the accident, the divorce, the sickness or the debt?” Experts counter-argue that sub-consciously you may be focused on negative things. If you worry about debt all the time you will attract more of it because the universe responds to your pre-dominant thoughts. Hence you need to stop observing what you lack. Replace negative programming with positive belief.

When you are feeling down, you can change that in an instant, says Proctor. Put on a beautiful piece of music, or start singing – that will change your emotion. Feel good because this feeling good goes out to the Universe as a signal and starts to attract more of itself to you.

Monitor your thoughts. Be clear of what you wish for. Attend to your joy because that you give attention to magnifies. The universe is your genie. Rub your secret lamp, place your order and let the magic begin.

How about... Letting Go?

"Let go!" says a little voice quite strongly this time.
It's not in the mood to re-open closed memoirs or complete the unfinished rhyme.

It's through generously offering the benefit of doubt.
Because it now deserves to hear itself out loud.

Its refusal to contemplate any further feels right.
There is no point chasing illusions which forever remain out of sight.


Justifying has always been an easy task.
How long though can the dance go on wearing a pretty mask?

Walking down memory lane is no longer a favorite pastime.
In due course the glittery facade anyway wears off its shine.

Being nonchalant has its own power, we all know.
So why not just shake it off and simply let go?

See through the Fog...

The morning fog was a sign of changing seasons. I couldn't see anything clearly. Apparantly there were no specific reasons.

I wondered if leaves had changed colour and if the birds still played in the sky... I couldn't tell even though I was a regular passerby.

Jogging on the bridge overlooking the pond, I wondered whether the ducks swam as effortlessly as they usually do? However, because of the fog, I couldn't see through.

I wondered and wondered yet didn't get clues... So I decided to stop playing the blues.

Eventually the fog lost its own battle and vanished... Since I paid no heed to it, the thought too got banished.

Now if the day gets foggy at times without any reason... I just smile and think of life's changing season.

I no longer fret or ask why... Because unwavering faith gets me by.

For I know the fog will eventually clear... So I just pop open a can of chilled beer.

Well, in reality, I drink only wine... But for rhyming purpose beer is just fine!