There are signs everywhere!

Each time I publish a blog, I reach out to my near and dear ones to get their feedback. Engage with them; know if they enjoyed reading it, which part they particularly liked, try to get to know if something they felt I could have expressed better, if they’ve had similar experiences etc.

Initially, it was not easy for me to put myself out there, get on social media, approach some friends, inform them about this new found passion, request them to read my blogs and share feedback. There was a sense of reluctance, but then, this morning, while sipping my cuppa tea, I recalled how fiercely and unabashedly, I would check with others to gather their feedback on how the professional commitments were executed, then why is there a hesitation for my own personal development, when I have just started off? Through these blogs, I’ve gotten to know a side of them that I would have not known in case I had not approached them, found so many commonalities. There are a few, who have shown interest to share their experiences too, but like me, they too have some inhibitions.

When I started writing my blogs; I would be reminded of a particular scene from a movie that I had watched during my college days, a great quote would constantly resonate from the movie Fools Rush In, “There are signs everywhere”, this holds true in what I have been experiencing since I started writing. And all that I need to do, is stay awake! Each time, I am about to release a blog, I’m anxious and extremely nervous, but there have been these uncanny signs compelling and at the same time reassuring me to continue treading on this path.   

Throughout my professional career, I have been a planner, taking charge of things, so that there are controlled outcomes, but while writing it doesn’t seem to work. The blogs that I wrote thinking were brilliant; I’ve not been able to publish them yet and some that I have published have been rewritten couple of times, changing its initial context completely.

I wish I could take the complete credit for the blogs; honestly, I cannot, I have simply followed the signs that there were around me and pursued them persistently.

And in return, the universe has been rewarding me; I have been able to re-connect with so many of my old friends, colleagues and extended family members, who have been very gracious in sharing their lovely words of encouragement; pushing me to continue writing, all this has nudged me to learn and improve in this craft. Thank you so much everyone.

During one such conversations; with my parents and friends, we recalled so many more incidents that were linked to our Shiamak Davar days; those conversations made me transcend back in time and relive those magical moments. I felt it was a sign, which has now further compelled me to write another blog on those experiences.

This was the time of our first stage performance; ‘Summer Funk’, which was across three days, our parents had come to attend the 3 hours long program; where there were very young kids to senior citizens performing beautifully on foot-tapping numbers. The aura, energy and vibrations were so strong that it moved my dad to tears. He came back home and wrote an email to Shiamak, narrating his entire experience. To his surprise, Shiamak responded to his mail immediately acknowledging his emotions and sharing how dance has played a vital role in his spiritual journey; shared some of his very personal rituals that he diligently follows before each performance. This conversation was a sign for our parents, who extended their unconditional support for us to continue dancing.

At the time of our second stage performance, Mumbai was completely flooded due to continuous torrential downpour; it would take us a miracle to reach the auditorium. Our car did not start; autos refused, finally we took a BST bus, reached our friend’s place, went half way by car and walked up the rest to ensure we reached on time for our performance; we were completely drenched, our bags had soaked costumes with washed away make up kits. In case you are wondering we were crazy, well, we weren’t the only ones; all the other dancers in each of those dance groups shared the same passion and made it in spite of all hurdles. That day when we all assembled in the auditorium before our performance, we all felt we had cleared a real big test and were connected at some level; tied together, with a common thread of love for dance.

We continued dancing non-stop for three years; I may not be able to recall the steps of the innumerable dance numbers, but, clearly remember relishing each moment, class and performance.

On one of the days, when my sister and I were practicing our steps before our class; our God mother came to visit us and sat quietly with Maa watching us rehearse. We were oblivious of their presence and continued as though no one was watching. My God Mother did not say a word, but, felt a strong deep emotion; it struck a divine chord. She spoke to Maa about it and could have mentioned it to us too, but, we were too naive to understand what was happening, until I experienced it myself.

This was much later though, I guess a couple of years later. my sister and I had gone to attend an outstation spiritual congregation. After all the prayers, rituals and dinner, some of the ladies sat and started singing bhajans. The melodious voices and the rhythmic beats of the dholki made some of the elderly ladies get up and dance. They danced and swayed completely immersed in the love of lord, each movement and expression was so beautiful that I, who thought of herself to be a technically sound and well trained dancer, could not move a muscle, when I was pushed to join in. I simply stood still, watched them and cried, their love was so pure, and their urge to meet the almighty was strong that each pore of my body was moved.  When one of them came and embraced me, it felt as though an electric current had passed through my body and for a few seconds I experienced a moment, I felt a state of nothingness; It was joy in the purest form, cannot be described in words, but has to be experienced. I’m sure my sister would have had a similar experience, but somehow we never spoke of it.  

Some years ago, Puchki, when she was less than two years, held a portable Bluetooth speaker in one hand and started to dance for her Nani Maa on a slow Punjabi song that was playing. Her each move and expression were so beautiful and rhythmic that I was amazed. I thought to myself, who has taught her to dance like that; I cannot take the credit for it. It has to be something higher and superior that made her sway and hum the song. I remember exchanging a smile with Maa (not with a sense of pride), but with immense sense gratitude because of what we had witnessed.  

These innumerable experiences, makes me completely agree with poet Rumi’s quote “Who lives the dance, lives in God”, each time I surrendered to the music, danced as if no one was watching, without any inhibitions, I felt closest to a force or feeling that is inside me and felt complete joy.

And, I’m earnestly going to try to continue to dance and experience the various dimensions of this spiritual expression. So come on, take this blog as a sign, and let’s get up and Naacho Naacho, we already have half the Hollywood celebrities grooving to this number:-).

It’s strange that before writing these blogs, I never spoke or discussed any of these experiences with anyone and hid them deep inside somewhere in my sub-conscious levels. I’d love to hear from you too. It would be great, if you could write a line or two on your experiences with any signs that you may have received from the universe, or on dance, or any deep spiritual experience.