Symbolic Themes - from Malayna Dawn

My Freelance Adventure

Screenshot from Grey's Anatomy Season 5, Episode 18 "Stand By Me"

As a freelance writer, I bring in the majority of my income by writing for others and taking money instead of taking credit.  When I grow up, maybe I'll accept both, but most of the articles I’ve written for the past few years have not had my name on them, and since they’re written about topics that are not my main focus of interest, that’s fine with me.

But every now and then, I find myself feeling pretty excited about what I’ve written. I usually pat myself on the back and move on, promptly losing these examples among all the other files. But today, I thought I’d take a moment to share.

I’ve written lots of blogs on topics that I didn’t know much about...at first.  Here’s a list: Cremation, Drug rehab, Costumes, Heart health, Internet technology, Divorce, Restaurant trends, and Sensory research. One of the blogs I write is about orchids. I keep myself entertained by making sure that I incorporate topics that are interesting to me. 

This week I got to write one that packs in several: My love of Metaphors and Symbolism, Grey’s Anatomy and their awesome writers, Nature and Science, Psychology and Culture, and playing with those who are clearly in the grip of obsession. 

Symbols of Spirituality: Stars

The universe and everything in it – planets, stars, buildings, trees and us—are all made of the same stuff. Energy.

"We are all made of stars"

               ~ Moby

Dancing With the Universe! Celebrate life!

You thought "Dancing with the Stars" was fun--this video has simultaneoulsy made me laugh, cry and restored my faith in humanity! 

If you haven't already gotten my e-mail, or responded to my Facebook posts, here's my review:

"Inspiring, Joyous Silliness!  A MUST SEE!

How could a guy doing a silly dance bring me to tears? When he invited others, all around the world to join him, and put it to music with words from a Tagore poem. It is beautiful in its simplicity and light-heartedness...."

The images alone are heartwarming, but then this post from Minnesota fills in any blanks. 

The song playing in the background is sung in another language, but somehow the meaning comes through:

Stream of Life
by Rabindranath Tagore

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth
and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

This response to the same Minnesota Post article helped explain why it made me cry (and some of my friends!)

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There is a book by historian Barbara Ehrenreich called "Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy" that may explain, at least in part, why we are so moved by this video.

We're hardwired, deep in our reptilian brain, so respond positively to collective dancing. It helps us understand why grown men ( and women) weep when they see Matt's work.

For more info on Matt and his escapades, or to see the video if YouTube or the Minnesota Post are acting up, go to www.wherethehellismatt.com.  

Many thanks to my friend Jayantha (in Melbourne, Australia) for sending me this link!

More Photos From Sri Lanka

This is the beautiful Amanwella Resort in Tangalle. We visited in April as we explored the South East of the island.

Click on the photo to enlarge it and then just stare at it to relax. Ahhhhh.

A bright full moon is still visible behind the clouds, and can still create silhouettes of palm trees.

 

The rocky coast at Dikwella.

Bouganvilla resting on the windshield - taken from inside the car.

By some odd coincidence, all the guests at this boutique hotel had Nissan X-Trails (ours is the silver one) except one..."One of these things is not like the other."

A small bay near Unawatuna...we thought about renting a boat, but it looked a little stormy.

One of these things is not like the other!

I don't think they know the one at the right is a man, man.

He's got pretty hair though!

Plus they spelled "Bridals" as if they cater to horses...

This is where people in the know go! ;)  C'mon! It's a palace!

 

Look at us go!  Capt. KP is in the red, I'm in brown.

On Bolgoda Lake in Moratuwa.

Another shot of us sailing...(takes me awayyyyy....and gets a Christopher Cross song stuck in my head....)

I liked the different shades of blue on this building under construction. The guy imitating the Beatles is behaving unusually. Most people just wander into traffic wherever they want to.

Hey that's me!  I got my hair done and had to capture it before the humidity got to it, or I put it up in a ponytail or bun, ruining it.

Our houseman/gardener brings me flowers. God bless him!

 

This is the King Coconut tree in our garden. If we don't cut them down, they will bomb us!

This struck me as such a very Sri Lankan scene -- the orange King Coconuts in front of the antique chest. 

Puppy!  Aney....

Visiting a cousin, I heard his dogs barking. This was why -- just a really long snake. Apparently the dogs had wrestled with it before.

Clever, huh? He found a way to take the stairs without arms and legs!

I was safely on the balcony above, by the way. And am quite glad that this is not my neighborhood! But it is in the middle of the city.

How's that for a big ending?