Namkeen: Book Launch
Recently, I wrote about an atrociously racist experience while I was away on a writing retreat. Racism isn’t new to me at all, as I’ve shared before. During my retreat, I was channeling poetry for 2 days, and I knew the poems would culminate in a book called Namkeen, which is also the title of one of the poems. Namkeen, in Hindi, means salty, like the ocean I was admiring, and the tears I was crying while there.
When I got home, I worked on the layout for my Dad’s forthcoming autobiography for two days. Then, I typed up the poems from my retreat, and within 24 hours, Namkeen was complete, a draft was sent to my intrepid editor for proofing, and then uploaded to Amazon for a format check. As with many of my previous publications, this book knew what it wanted to be.
I am still marveling at the beauty of Nature. She values diversity, and uses it to build resilience. She brings you immediately into mindful presence and reflection. We pesky humans, on the other hand, tend to be fearful and seek to destroy each other with the ugliness of racism. There is so much room for healing and change, and Nature has so much wisdom to offer. My love of Nature, and the scientific basis for racism (zero), helped me steady myself. I rest in the knowledge that there is a better way, and examples are all around us, especially in a place as beautiful as Fiji. we would be wise to emulate Nature: her mentorship provides wisdom and healing.
Some of my musings relate to being mindful of who we are…here’s an excerpt from one of the poems:
be what you are
and you’ll know
what to do
stay where you are
and you’ll know
where to move
love who you are
and you’ll know
the way of peace…
From the poem “a naked day” in my latest book, Namkeen: Ocean of Bliss and Tears
During my retreat, and while facing racial microaggressions, the ocean was my sanctuary and healer. I am grateful to have emerged from this retreat stronger, despite the pain of how I was treated. I hope you enjoy the poems and photographs in this book – they carry messages directly from one of the most captivating natural environments on this Earth.
