Blessings for Now, Abundance, Health and a whole lotta LOVE!
This amaryllis was received as a gift from my neighbour. I nurtured it from bulb to bloom. Seeing it evolve closely was a joy to behold as I crafted these images for the entire month. I then published the series in my blog two years ago. Rumi’s quote fills me with awe and inspiration. I felt it was important to extend the vibrations of love I had received via the amaryllis. So here I am, Rumi and the flower in union while I continue to share my blessings and LOVE!!
A very happy new year to you all. Live every moment of 2018 with blessings, Love and More Love.
1001 UnMasked ~ hyper-real portraits of gender brings together individual perspectives on gender and sexualities aurally and visually. What does it mean to be a man or a woman in the 21st century? What are the spaces in between these binaries? What is masculinity or femininity other than a culturally specific performance?
Till early last year I was calling this body of work Mas(k)culinities for reasons that seemed right at the time. Masculinity is stigmatized and problematized and I sought different sexualities to explore the breadth of being male. During this period voices and images of women were included to elaborate masculinity from their perspective. Soon I realized that fissures and scars caused by these simplistic binaries run very deep within all of us. Obliged to play out the ‘normative’ roles assigned from the time of our births onwards, is a patriarchal hegemony that has to be challenged. Individual point of views that encompass realities beyond dictates of the mainstream is the only way to disrupt this control. We have to create safe spaces for celebrating the ‘human’ in all its manifestations rather than be threatened by difference. Continue reading 1001 UnMasked ~ hyper-real portraits of gender
An invitation for you to experience healing bodywork with a tantra touch.
Healing Hands-London offers bodywork to stimulate the human body, mind, the emotional centre and spirit together. Most importantly, a safe space of non-judgemental intimacy is created which allows a person to feel their most authentic. Authenticity is an essential state for acceptance and healing to take place.Continue reading Healing Hands-London… Tantra Touch
Nowruz, the Persian New Year is worldwide celebrated on March 20, 2017 and means “The New Day”. It takes place annually at the equinox in spring and so the exact date is varying. Nowruz is mostly celebrated in Iranian cultural regions, where pupils get a two week holiday to take part in this traditional family feast. People visit their friends and neighbours, exchanging small gifts and best wishes.
The most important Nowruz customs is the collection and consumption of the Haft-Seen, which means “seven seen’s” in English, according to the seven pieces of decoration for the Persian tabletop called Sofreh. Each of them symbolizes a Zoroastrian virtue. Rebirth, affluence, love, health, beauty, sunrise and patience are the seven wishes for the New Year that starts on Nowruz Day.
A mirror for the metaphoric reflexion of the old year, a living fish in water as a symbol for the new life, colored eggs for fertility and a bouquet of hyacinths representing spring are also parts of the festive tabletop. Islamic families add their Koran, Christians their Bible and Zoroastrian people a picture of Zarathustra.
On Wednesday before Nowruz another custom called Chaharshanbe Suri takes place. People jump over small bonfires in the streets, leaving all paleness behind and receiving the flaming Red of the fire. It is common belief that all bad things are left with the fire, which likewise gives off its brilliance and vitality.
The exact moment of the breaking of the New Year is not fixed with a certain time, but celebrated at the equinox. Before that moment could be ascertained easily via internet, the Haji Firooz, an elderly man, painted black and wearing red, danced through the streets on Nowruz, announcing that moment loudly.
The colour this year is white… may it bring peace and joy to the world!!
Ann my neighbour gifted me a potted bulb of Amaryllis belladonna. It was a farewell 2015 intimate food based Casa Ali gathering in my front room. Ann, Vojko my ex-flatmate, Franz my couch surfing guest et moi. Amidst hugs and laughter and anecdotes and reminisces, Ann brought out this decorative pot boxed with no nonsense instructions. A beautiful thoughtful gift marking the end of an year and welcoming the new. Continue reading Amaryllis… a token of neighbourly love!
