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 EDITORIAL Aug 2011

Dear Readers,
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or otherwise. There is nothing more foolish than the fact that there is someone far
superior who decides your life. You are your own destiny; you are the master of your
own life and soul. How, when, where, are all the questions you need to ask yourself
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We do not have to be positive or negative. We do not have to be optimist or pessimist.
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Cover page Photo : Valley fog in Spain

Copyrights: All rights reserved SPIRITUAL LOUNGE EMAGAZINE ©
2010-2011

2
CONTENT Aug 2011

Editorial Death bed of an Indian politician

Page 2 By Uma Krishnan
Page 6-8

Leading with Spirituality

Balance and Sustainability
Dr. Amit Nagpal

The Kundalini Awakening Systems Safeties Protocols

By Master Chrism
Page 9-10

Inspiration from Binah

Yvette Soler
MUSIC AND MEDITATION Page 11
- Dheeraj Bhoma
Page 12

SPAIN - España
Compiled by Dhara Kothari
Page 13-19

Patanjali Week Celebration

Page 20-21

Legend of the Nomad

- By Alex Mero
Page 22-33

Edited by Dhara Kothari. Published by Moksa Publishers for Spiritual Lounge.

Designed by Biren Shah. Email: spirituallounge@live.com.
Cell: +91-9619629092 / +91-9757274289
3
Advisory Board Members Aug 2011
Spiritual Lounge Advisory Board

Dhara Kothari
Co-Founder

Biren Shah
Co-Founder

Maya Shahani -
Chairperson of Sage Foundation
VP of Global Dialogue Foundation

R. P. Jain
Director of MLBD

Spiritual Lounge E-Magazine Board

Gayatri Pagdi Dr. Amit Nagpal Master Chrism Linzi Martin Hitesh Guruji

Yvette Soler Binoy Sasidharan Alex Mero Dheeraj Bhoma

4
 Leading with Spirituality - Amit Nagpal
Leading with Spirituality-Balance and Sustainability
The increasing popularity of the Triple P concept
(Planet, People and Profit) fills us with hope that the
corporate world is moving in the right direction and is
symbolic of holistic corporate growth in the future..
The corporate world has become symbolic of never
ending greed. Gandhi rightly said that there is enough
in the world for everyone's need but not enough for a
single man's greed.
Two classic examples of leadership with balance, grace
and sustainability at its core are Ratan Tata (Taj Terror
attack case) and Amber Chand (USA). In fact,
personally I was so overwhelmed by the Taj terror
attack case that I decided to teach it as a case study to
my students (and warned them not to cry, at least not
in the classroom). Amber Chand, born to Indian
parents in Uganda, is a superb example of rising from
the ashes like a Phoenix and is well known for her
foundation which supports international artisans in
conflict zones. In a way both the cases are related with
conflict and supporting people post-conflict especially
the weaker sections of society.
Spirituality is essentially holistic in nature though one
may discover the balance by connecting to the soul. In
my opinion anything which is holistic is spiritual, be it
holistic living, holistic education, personal branding
or Triple P philosophy. Let us take a look at some of the
gestures of Ratan Tata in the Taj case.
Relief and assistance was not only given to employees
at the hotel but was extended to all those who died at
the railway station, surroundings including the pan
shop owners. During the time the hotel was closed for
repairs, not only the salaries were sent home but
employee outreach centers were opened where all
help, food, water, sanitation, first aid and counseling
was provided. Ratan Tata personally visited the
families of all the 80 employees who were injured or
killed and asked the families and dependents as to
what support they desired.
What was unique and respectable is that even the
other people, the railway employees, the police staff;
the pedestrians who had nothing to do with Tatas were
covered by the compensation. A four year old
granddaughter of a vendor who got hit by four bullets
was taken to Bombay hospital and several lakhs were
spent by the Tatas on her. New hand carts were
provided to several vendors. Tata also decided to take
responsibility of life education of 46 children of the
victims of the terror. Senior managers including Ratan
Tata were visiting one funeral after another over the
three days after the attack. What a heart-rending story
and what an inspiring leadership?
Amber Chand saw the meteoric rise of her
organization Eziba and a dramatic fall after few years.
She says, “Without the anchor of my spiritual practice,
I could not have weathered this personal Tsunami. For
at some level I knew that Eziba's meteoric rise and fall
were part of a larger archetypal story. That there were
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Aug 2011
to be many lessons learned and that somehow I would
find my way guided by a sense of profound trust in life
and the truth of who I am and what I believe in.” She
adds, “I am grateful to Eziba for teaching me important
lessons and in illuminating for me that one can indeed
create successful businesses that are spiritually
inspired-only when this becomes one's singular
mission and clear intent. I have no doubt that armed
with patience, trust, focused clear effort and humility;
The Amber Chand Collection will grow successfully.”
The company was named Eziba because of the word
Ziba which means beautiful in Persian and being an e-
commerce company the 'e' was added. Amber was the
nurturing mother in the company who constantly
attempted to be reassuring, loving and a nurturing
spirit. She personally spoke to unhappy customers and
gave her direct line number to them in case they had a
complaint or issue in future. The customers would get
delighted and amazed that a co-founder of the company
is concerned enough to give them a call. The company
tried to achieve a delicate balance between creating
global products and at the same time being authentic to
the traditions of artisans.
Amber believes the success could be measured by the
three factors; the degree with which people are
impacted internally and externally, the degree to which
the organization acted as a steward of the planet and the
degree to which the organization was profitable. But the
need to give high returns to the venture capitalists and
desire for stupendous growth overtook the other
objectives of the company and the decision was taken to
liquidate Eziba. But Amber Chand was not the one to
accept defeat and created another foundation for
similar purposes but on non-profit lines this time. In
any case, she did not run away from her responsibility
of being a part of a failed team though she was not the
part of some of the decisions which led to the fall. She
behaved like a mother who wanted to protect her child
till the last moment. She says, “Wee… I to have walked
away, I never would have forgiven myself.” She adds,
“To me in order to be successful I must embrace all
three aspects of mind, body and spirit. My spiritual
theme of God being tapestry of compassion, balance,
grace and friendliness provides me with the inner
guidance for what I do and how I do it.”
What grace, what balance, what divinity!
Dr Amit Nagpal
amitknagpal@gmail.com
 Death bed of an Indian politician Part -3 - By Uma Krishnan
Death bed of an Indian politician
On the eve of the Independence Day celebrations in the
school the politician's sons visited the school. They
asked the politician why he was covering his face and
the politician told them that he was disfigured in an
accident. The politician's sons are unable to identify
their own father and get busy with propagating their
name and false achievements and try to project to the
media that the student's achievement was because of
their valuable contribution to the village. They
promised more aid and grant for the school and start to
leave one by one. The politician in his heart knows about
the hollow promises made by his sons and relates to the
fact that he too was like them once not very long ago.
Thinking about this he enters his small room which he
had set it up for himself in the broken down building.
There is a knock on the door. On opening he finds his old
driver Gunajirao standing at the door. On seeing the
politician he falls at his feet.
Guna: “Oh! Master, I am so glad you are alive. In the
function I recognised you by looking at the big patch on
your feet. When I compared that with your body
structure I knew that you are my master”, saying this he
starts crying with joy.
The politician is shocked by this. He regains his
composure and lifts Guna and pats him.
Politician: “You have been so faithful to me always; I
have no words to express my gratitude towards you.”
Guna: “Since your identity is confirmed, now I can tell
your sons about you being alive. For some reason in the
morning you were hiding your identity. May I know the
reason for it?”
Politician: “Oh! Guna, please don't tell my sons about
me being alive,” and explains the whole incident to him.
Guna is shocked by the activities of his master's sons.
Politician: “Guna, there is one thing which you can do
for me.”
Guna: “Please tell me master.”
Politician: “I have kept few million rupees in the secret
chamber in the house. I will tell the location of the
money, you bring me that money so that I can use it to
develop this school. That way I will be able to pay back a
little for the kindness shown by these villagers. In any
case it is their money only.”
Guna: “But master won't the villagers ask you from
where this money has come from?”
Politician: “Don't worry I will not spend all the money in
one go. I will tell them that school got some grant from
the government. Now listen carefully, in the dressing
table of my bedroom, towards the bottom of the table
there is a secret chamber where the money is kept. No
one knows about this money, not even my wife. So bring
this money to me. I will reward you handsomely for this
work.”
Guna: “Please master do not talk like that. You have
always been so kind to me for all these years; I will
surely do this work for you. By tomorrow you will have
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Aug 2011
this money. Now master I shall take your leave since I
have to cover a long distance to reach the town.”
Politician: “Ok Guna, I will await your return. Take
care.”
Guna leaves for town. On reaching the house, Guna
finds some work in the politician's room and on that
pretext he goes to his master's previous chamber and
takes out the money from the secret place and keeps it
safely with him. Then in the evening he again drives to
the village and gives his master all the money.
The politician is very happy to see the money. He gives a
part of the money to Guna and asks Guna to use the
money only for educating his children. The politician
also makes a resolve that he will not spend even a single
penny on him. He would continue to live the same life
that he was doing till then.
The politician hides the money and draws out a plan on
how this money will be utilised for upgrading the
quality of life in the village. He plans that he will open a
dormitory type of living quarters for the children and
will look after them as his own, taking care of their
education and give them a path for developing a
successful career. Once again the regret strikes him that
when he was having all the powers and the money he did
not serve the people. But alas the personal greed just
pulled him down.
Little by little he puts his plans in to action. He takes
twenty young children under his care and becomes their
guardian in every way. He arranges to give them all
opportunities to become as per their skills. The
politician purchases books, clothing, food,
equipment's, and all accessories for the children. He
gives them clean living environment and provides them
with computers with internet facilities. He also teaches
them political situation existing around the world. He
imparts the children importance of serving the local
community.
He also helps the farmers by providing them knowledge
about achieving high quality seeds, eco friendly
fertilizers, crop rotation, knowledge about cash rich
crops like herbs, flowers, better water storage system,
rain water harvesting and all those knowledge which
will make the life of the farmer more easier. He also
develops the local village crafts like making paper out of
waste, wooden furniture, pottery, chicken craft on
clothes and many others. He opens a co-operative
society to combine all the farmers for better
management of land consolidation; because bigger the
land available for cultivation better the crop planning is
possible. He purchases tractors and other agricultural
equipments for the villagers to be used by all the
farmers of the village. He also organises crèche facilities
for the village children so that the women could also
work without worry.
Education of children especially female children
becomes the prime focus for the politician. He also
Death bed of an Indian politician Part -3 - By Uma Krishnan
trains the villagers to keep the surroundings clean and
tidy all throughout the village. The money for all these
activities is indirectly provided by the politician. There
is overall well being in the village. The village is clean
and self sufficient, power is made available with he help
of solar facilities developed with the help of
international NGO's.
For the first time the politician realises the importance
of internet which has made all the knowledge and help
available to every individual at the click of the button.
One single technology that reduced the gap and
inequalities between the village and the city, between
developed and developing world. The politician figures
out the importance of e-education which has made it
possible for village children to get quality education
without being dependent of the nonexistent teachers in
the village schools. To everyone's surprise the village
slowly starts developing into an ideal village, a role
model for other villages to adopt.
The politician thinks, “Ordinary effort of single person
in the right direction, utilising the government funds in
a right manner can produce such fabulous results. It can
make thousands of lives more comfortable and helps
people to live with dignity. What if the entire
government machinery starts operating in this
manner? Service before self and selfless service with
aim to become true human beings of right values, what
this can do to an individual and to the nation.”
Thinking about this tears starts rolling down the cheeks
of the politician, tears of joy and the satisfaction of a job
well done. For the second time in his life he realises the
meaning of true joy and he remembers the meaning
behind the saying “you can sometimes give without
loving but you can never love without giving.”
The politician also realises that true respect of people
from the bottom of their heart is the real achievement
and not the campaigning done by politicians before
elections to woo the voters. The politician also finds no
desire to promote his name or take the credit for
achieving these magnificent results. He realises that he
actually does not have the right to take credit for himself
because he was just returning to the villagers what he
had snatched from them. Time passes very joyously for
everyone in and around the village. There is all round
happiness and wellbeing.
Twenty three years pass by......
The politician gets a call from Delhi.
Politician: “Who is calling?”
Caller: “I am Ramdayal Guruji.”
The politician goes back in time and pictures a fragile
child brought to him by a poor village woman, wrapped
up in old soiled cloth, thin and malnourished that the
child's bone could be seen just like that. The politician
takes the responsibility of that child and nurtures him.
The child was Ramdayal alias Dayal an IFS officer
posted in France.
Politician: “I am so happy to hear your voice my child.
Just yesterday your mother came enquiring about you.
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Aug 2011
However, busy you are you should take out time for her.
In fact I suggest you to gift a notepad this time when you
come so that you can chat with her on net.”
Dayal: “Yes Guruji, I will do that. In fact I have been
trying to speak to her for the past two days but due to the
tight time schedule of the Indian delegation which has
come here, I could not succeed.”
Politician: “That's a lame excuse Dayal. One is never too
busy for his or her mother. Anyway there's good news
that our Komal has completed her Masters in micro-
biology with flying colours and she has been offered a
research position in Delhi University. Her brother too
has done very well in school exams. Her father is
thrilled. In fact she is coming here next week along with
her friends to spend some time with her father.”
Once again the politician goes back in time and
remembers the young Komal who had come to his
school to work as a child worker to provide additional
source of income to her drunkard father. The politician
had paid her wages to her father and instead of making
her cleaning utensils in the school the politician had
given her education.
Dayal: “Yes Guruji, I already know about it. I read her
mail which she sent yesterday. I thought it will be good
opportunity to visit you when she is there. So I too am
coming to India around the same time. But don't tell the
rest of the gang, let it be a surprise.”
Politician: “That's wonderful Dayal. I am so happy to
hear this news. Although we talk on Skype regularly but
seeing face to face is something different. I have been
talking about you to the children all the time and they
are all eager to see you. Bring chocolates for them. Also
don't forget the hearing aid of Chaman.”
Dayal: “No Guruji, I have packed it all long time back so
that there is no rush at the end. Also I will be bringing
some friends of mine and they will be staying in the
guest house.”
Politician: “Don't worry about that Dayal, I will organise
for their comfortable stay. It's the mango season here, I
am sure they will have good time here.”
Dayal: “In fact Guruji, my friends are interested to
adopt children from our school and provide for their
education. I have been telling them the good work being
done in our village.”
Politician: “That's good Dayal. I am happy to see that
you have not forgotten us. In fact after me you people
have to take this movement ahead.”
Dayal: “Don't worry about that Guruji, all our team
mates will never let you down and will ensure that not
one but all the villages of India and also wherever
needed in the world, prosper and flourish in the same
manner.”
Politician: “That's my student. I like your spirit. My
countdown for your visit starts from today. Take care
and bye. Also tell your friends to come prepared with
cotton clothes for the summer.”
Dayal: “Thanks Guruji, I will do that. So see you soon.”
Politician: “My blessings to you Dayal.”
Death bed of an Indian politician Part -3 - By Uma Krishnan
After the long wait the date of arrival comes. The entire
village gathers to welcome the bright starts of the
village. The guests are taken to the guest house. One
couple Mr. And Mrs. Ralph are Americans, Mr Hangshi
is from China, Mr. Schindler from Germany and Jack
Patel, an NRI settled in the US.
All the guest are shown their rooms. Lunch is served in
traditional Indian style. Dayal goes home where his
mother is eagerly waiting to meet her son. In spite of the
tiring flight journey the guests choose to take a look
around the village and are surprised at the cleanliness,
craftsmanship and the warm nature of the people of
village. They are impressed by the fact that every person
in the village looked upon them as their own guest and
they feel they have known this village and villagers for
ages.
The guests are very happy seeing the age old
monuments around the village. It is a beautiful temple,
fully carved and totally artistic. They had never
expected to see such a classic piece of art in such a
remote unknown village. They understand the rich
heritage of India. After all the roaming around, they
return to the guest house. They are invited for the
evening tea in the open garden. After taking the
refreshment they all watch the traditional dance
performance put forward for them by the school
children. The guests are very happy and talk to the
children. The guests to join the dance after some time
and teach a step or two to the children of their own
dance forms. They also enjoy the taste of rabri and
popcorns along with hot tea. They all gather for some
chit chat.
Mr. Ralph: “Oh! I had so much fun. It is just like
Christmas time in US. Isn't it darling?”
Mrs. Ralph: “Oh yes. All these songs and dances remind
me of the last Christmas in States. I think the only
difference is in India, every month they find some or the
other occasion just to get together, where as in US we
have to wait for a year. Isn't it so Dayal.”
Dayal: “No, it is not that we have celebrations every
month, after all children need time for studies too. If
they are involved in celebrations all the time, then when
will they study? But yes, unlike US we have more
opportunities to mingle and more number of festivals.
You have only one god to butter whereas we have more
35 crore deities, in our religion. So a few more festivals I
presume.”
Mrs. Ralph: “Tell us Guruji, why do you have so many
gods and goddesses?”
Politician: “It was the idea of our ancestors that when
the mind is fluctuating all the time and jumping like a
monkey from this tree to that tree of desire. In a second
it can move from US to Japan to China to India and the
list is endless. It has speed greater than light. So seeing
the activities of the mind our ancestors were afraid that
a person should not lose sight of his/her real reason for
coming to this world and that is to understand one self
completely. Hence, in order to tame the mind they
8
Aug 2011
planted a god in all those things on which our mind can
wonder. For instance, when the mind goes towards
money we have goddess Lakshmi, goddess Saraswati
for education, Durgaji for strength and so on. There is
god for sexual pleasure too who is called Kamadev. So
you see whenever a person's mind may wonder it is
never too far away from the god in one form or the other.
So everything is scientifically worked out. One more
reason that I can think off for having so many gods is
that every person's desire is different in this world. So a
person can choose a deity to match his or her desire.
Thus lots of choice is provided.”
Mrs. Ralph: “I am glad we Christians have only one god
for everything so we remain much focused.'
Politician: “Is that so?”
Mrs. Ralph: “Oh! Yes! We follow Christianity. You
should see the Chrisman celebrations in USA; it is
something to die for. The whole city is filled with lights,
Christmas carols, Santa's and gifts.”
Mr Ralph: “Oh yes so true. The whole city shines like a
bride. In fact Guruji it would be wonderful if you join us
this time. You will have an experience of a life time,
unimaginable.”
Politician: “Someday, if I get an opportunity I may love
to visit your country.”
In his mind he imagines number of his visits to America
when he was the chief minister and smiles. He further
adds, “But I want to visit America to see the latest you
are doing in the field of crop protection and high yields,
not for Christmas celebrations.”
Mrs. Ralph: “Why Guruji, just because you are a Hindu
you don't accept other religions, is it?”
Politician: “Not at all dear. What a precarious
conclusion that is. India is the only country in the world
where all religions co-exists. Even those religions that
did not originate in India and which has become non-
existent elsewhere in the world, still exists in India. That
is our achievement.”
Mrs; Ralph: “Then why are you not interested in our
Christmas celebrations.”
Politician: “That's because due to my experience of this
world, and my maturity, I have come to realise the real
meaning behind all these festivals and I feel that
understanding the celebration is more important than
the celebration itself. In fact I want to celebrate festival
everyday and not just once in a year.”
He sees the confused faces of his guests and goes on to
explain…
The Kundalini Awakening Systems - Master Chrism
The Kundalini Awakening Systems Safeties Protocols
This month we will look at the Safeties of Inner Joy, Trust
and Surrender.
The practice of the safeties is what lays the foundation for
the energy to run through the body in a balanced format.
This cannot be ignored or delayed or procrastinated about
and still expect results that are meaningful or beneficial. It
can be quite the other way around. It can be painful. So do
the practice daily. Find a rhythm that works for you and
strive to achieve this state.
Most individuals within the KAS-1 group are young within
the context of this energy. Young meaning that it hasn't
been running through the body very long. This is a good
thing and allows us all a chance to learn from each other.
The people who are getting results are those who are doing
the practice; making it a priority in their lives. The
blessings from Kundalini are enormous and most go
beyond words or what the physical and mental/emotional
bodies can hold or understand.
Telepathy, healing, psychokinesis, levitation,
communication with spirit, ascension, bliss, at oneness
with the creator; are all nice words and concepts, but they
go far beyond what a straight linear definition can offer.
They are all double edged. The pursuit of these experiences
can become obsessive and addictive. So it is the wise one
who treads the path of peace and loving consideration
without the attachment to phenomena. These gifts come
with the Kundalini anyway. Not immediately, but
eventually and sometimes immediately.
What some of us have recently experienced as far as
phenomena is just the tip of the iceberg. For some it is the
realization that there are other forms of consciousness that
can have a direct and immediate impact on our physical
existence. That there is the other existence! Filled with
creatures and intention and experiences far and way
beyond what we will typically experience in our five sense
society and yet is actually part of us as our heritage. The
true landscape of the Kundalini experience is to walk that
landscape and this requires time and practice, intent and
action. This leads back to the practice.
Inner Joy (Safety Protocol)
When you experience a situation in which you find yourself
in a very unfamiliar territory the first impulse is to go into
fear. I want you to begin to cultivate a memory of when you
have been joyous. Exuberantly joyous! I would have you
practice this during the day when you experience
something frightening. Immediately supplant this
reaction with the inner joy, just the memory of it will
change your perception and therefore the energy of the
situation. Put a post it in your car on the dash if that's
where these events happen for you or at work somewhere.
Or on the refrigerator at home where you can remind
yourself of this new reversal that you are incorporating.
You can write 'I.J.' on it just as a reminder. This is to begin a
new form of acceptance of different mind states that will
help you on the Kundalini path.
Extended Article on Inner Joy
When it happens it is beyond anything a person may have
ever experienced in the body. Some astral traveling
experiences may approach this feeling but when it comes
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Aug 2011
there is really nothing that comes close or is even similar to
it.
This joy seems everlasting in its effect upon the person.
Nothing can break it. Not the heat of day or pain from a
wound can abrogate it. It is a love of endless proportions
far outside of the human conscious ability to understand. I
am having trouble even now finding words that can even
approach the immense majesty, full heart exploding loving
silence filled music of feelings, of love, in love, fulfilled and
fulfilling, of unity, of complete harmony, of JOY!
Regardless of what the body is experiencing at the moment
it is having this experience.
Like the emotional palette the human consciousness
draws from on a daily basis, this blending of amplified
multi plat formed love also draws us into separate feelings
of the qualities of compassion and empathy, sympathy and
cheerfulness and intense personal joys that transcend any
mere societal or physical induced fleeting moments of
pleasure. So many different forms of love experienced at
the same time.
This is a taste of the heavenly fields, a home coming
harvest of love for all creation. Good, bad, and the many
layers of what we insert into those qualities do not exist
anymore as the world of life becomes an exquisite tapestry
of creative loving intention. It is a conscious thought that
extends into the deepest areas of our lives and allows us a
look into what we are outside of the little (i) - outside of our
ego.
This is the joy that brings everyone back.
This is the quality of love and completion that will cause
people to search and search and try and try to regain that
special place of love and joy. For the rest of their lives they
will search as so little of it can be had inside of a society
based in a focus of different qualities of expression.
Kundalini brings this joy.
But the price one pays is the development of the body that
it becomes able to hold the intensity of this love for a much
longer period then a brief moment. All of the expressions
of the physical and the spiritual aspects of a soul and
consciousness encased in flesh must change. They must
evolve. This evolution is modulated by the Kundalini.
The ego is used to controlling the expressions of the soul in
the body. Therefore it is this part of the person that must
completely surrender control of the body to the Kundalini.
Not to a Guru or a teacher or a statue or an animal or any
material based form representing divinity. But to that
divinity itself as it resides in you at this moment.
The Kundalini in you. Blessings to all in your surrender
and evolution into these qualities.
Trust (Safety Protocol)
Trust the process that is happening to you. Know and
understand that the one is watching everything. Spirit is
watching everything. You are safe in the arms of the
divinity as long as you practice the love and forgiveness
that are part of what we teach. If you stray into areas of
negativity, willfully, and with malice afore thought, well,
then that is what you will receive. In real time. So trust the
Kundalini. It has your best interests as part of its agenda or
you would not have been allowed to activate or even to
 The Kundalini Awakening Systems - Master Chrism
have known about this.
Extended Article on Trust - This is who we are
Kundalini has an agenda of creation within the body. This
creation is for a substantial change in how the body can
process and hold a much higher dynamic of energy than
what has been used for the limited five sense life of
physicality.
It is a transformation. And from this transformation great
work is begun. Not a finishing but a beginning. Once the
transformation has been approached then new and
stronger currents of intelligent energetic components
begin to 'run' on these new upgrades. They run and they
test these new areas of transformed physical expression. In
these areas a new feeling and a new interpretation of
feeling from a tactile sense of the word is experienced.
These will demonstrate many of the extremes of the
Kundalini energetic expression.
Extreme cold will be experienced. Not for days and days
typically but for periods of time that allow for the energy to
run in these new areas. Extreme Cold is a signature of the
Shakti the divine feminine as she infuses a body bringing
transformation as she pursues the divine agenda in the
body. Extreme heat is also experienced and is the signature
of the Shiva or the divine male.
These dynamics are aspects of the creation that occur
within the body of a person inside of a Kundalini
Awakening. It is natural and not to be feared or resisted.
One merely allows this to occur and for a time it may be
uncomfortable. Not painful unless the person goes into
fear or resistance or both.
Cracking of spinal pathways also occurs. An inside
channeling of the spine can be felt as the conduit of the flow
is increased from the inside out. It cracks and pops and it
doesn't typically hurt. Pain is often put into the equation as
a response to the strangeness of the sensation and the
surprise factor. It usually isn't a hurtful experience and
often is accompanied by tingles as the energy begins to
flow in a more unrestricted manner through that area of
the body.
This is new and different and isn't going to match up to a
person's normal comfort zones. It will be uncomfortable at
times and blissful at times as the full spectrum of
transformation is achieved and this is just for the initial
change of the physical instrument. It becomes much more
exciting after that.
So be aware of your levels of surprise and fear and comfort.
These qualities within you will be stretched and stretched
and turned and folded and tumbled and smoothed. All of
the wrinkles will be removed and this process will
demonstrate a willfulness that isn't yours and an agenda
that is far from your understanding. You must trust and
have faith in what is happening. You must surrender and
allow and be willing to experience different feelings and
sensations. Nothing is wrong. It is the dynamic of the
Kundalini Awakening that you are experiencing and it is
natural and part of the plan of your DNA.
This is who we are. Who and what we are capable of
becoming. So let it come and rejoice in its arrival and its
attentions upon you!
Surrender (Safety Protocol)
This is one of the most important teachings of a sustained
10
Aug 2011
activated Kundalini. Surrender will lead you into the
awakened state. This is not the type of surrender one is
accustomed to hearing about or reading. This is not about
succumbing to an enemy or giving up. Surrender is the
release of the conscious mind in its control over and of the
physical body. This can have its challenges. Kundalini is
energy with an agenda. Its job in the primary activated
state is to rewire ALL the subtle electrical networks within
the physical body to receive a higher and stronger form of
bio-spiritual etheric radiation. As the individual works
with their practice this is translated into an Ascendency
Platform; whereby a person is given the options for divine
service to others by use of exalted skills such as Levitation,
Telepathy, Healing, and the many other gifts of Divinity.
Surrender is the first path. This can be very intimate. The
Kundalini will pick your foods; decide for you whether or
not you will pray or meditate at a given time or at all and
control your sex life. It can be merciless and merciful
depending on your level of surrender. Most challenges of
the Kundalini can be met be a deeper and more loving
degree of surrender. The Kundalyn Energies know you
better than your conscious mind knows you so pay
attention and allow this divinity within you to change your
proclivities.
Extended article on Surrender
This is one of the most important teachings of a sustained
activated Kundalini. Surrender will lead you into the
awakened state. This is not the type of surrender one is
accustomed to hearing about or reading. This is not about
succumbing to an enemy or giving up. Surrender is the
release of the conscious mind in its control over and of the
mental and the physical and emotional bodies. This can
have its challenges.
Kundalini is energy with an agenda. Its job in the primary
activated state is to rewire ALL the subtle electrical
networks within the physical body to receive a higher and
stronger form of Divine Bio Plasmic Hyper Electric
Radiation (Kundalini). As the individual works with their
practice this is translated into an Ascendancy Platform;
whereby a person is given the options for divine service to
others by use of exalted skills. Surrender is the first path.
© Chrism 2011
The safeties protocols can be found at this URL:
http://www.kundaliniawakeningsystems1.com/the-
safeties.html
Next month we will discuss the Safety Protocols of Prayers,
Alternate Breathing and Meditation.
Chrism is a native of California. He travels awakening the
Kundalini in groups of people safely. Kundalini as
it expresses through Chrism is the teacher. A
seminar will be held in Minneapolis, MN (U.S.) in
SEPT 2011
www.KundaliniAwakeningSeminars.com.
For a packet contact: ekundalini@gmail.com
 Inspiration from Binah - Yvette Soler
Inspiration from Binah
Alone for so long, how do I make friends?
Charles asks:
All of my life I have not had much luck in making and keeping
friends. I don't know why it is so difficult. I may have ADD or
Asperger's, although professionals who know me say that I
don't have these maladies. I'm 52 and I have no circle of
friends with whom I can go out regularly or call on and not
much family left. I hate being alone so much. It has always
been hard for me to start conversations with people and keep
going. Something isn't quite right but what is it?
Inspirations from Binah replies:
Friends come into our lives for a variety of reasons. You will
have people that enter quite suddenly and exit just as fast,
disappearing once the lesson you needed was learned. Then
there are those that share a lifetime with you. With these types
of friends, you experience continual closeness even through
periods of physical silence. Each relationship is unique and
valuable for your continual growth.
A circle of friends is something that takes time to nurture.
There are people that are able to create these bonds almost
unconsciously, but for some of us it is more difficult. It
requires a fair bit of thought, a little planning and a whole
bunch of love and acceptance.
The secrets to maintaining healthy friendships are the same
as with any other relationship: releasing expectations and
clear communication. But first, you must know what you want
in a friend -- what are the characteristics you are looking to
share. Sit with a piece of paper and pen in front of you, close
your eyes, call in your guides and guardians, and begin to
write about friendship without thought. Let your feelings flow
onto the paper, listing out traits, experiences to share, how
you communicate, etc. Capture every nuance of what
friendship means to you.
When you are done, take out another piece of paper. Read
through your first list, close your eyes and ask your guides
what lessons you need to learn in order to maintain a circle of
friends based on your list. Once again, without thought, write
everything that comes to you. This is the time to be completely
honest and detailed with yourself, identifying areas you
would like to transform or release.
With your first two lists complete, there is one more left to do.
Take out a third sheet of paper. Read through the first two
slowly, once again close your eyes and ask your guides what
tools you can use to meet new friends and learn the lessons
necessary to keep them. You may tap into yet to be discovered
tools or ways to meet people, so shut down the inner censor
and write everything that comes to mind.
These three lists are the foundation for your new friend-filled
life. Use them as points of meditation and inner
contemplation, to research new tools, and for inspiration.
They are there to remind you of what you want, what you need
to overcome and how you can do it. Place them in a safe place
and refer to them often. When you feel that you have learned
the necessary lessons and are on your way to successful friend
building, burn them and release the ashes into nature. If you
feel there is new work to do, you can create a new set of lists,
always moving forward.
11
Aug 2011
With social networks and innovative ways to meet people,
now would be a good time to explore new ways to connect.
While friendships used to start in person, now there is an
entire online world to interact with. Groups and forums give
you a common interest to start from. And if you find it hard to
maintain verbal conversations in the beginning, you may find
typing short paragraphs or chatting easier because it gives
you more time to think about your response. Once you have
built up a rapport, you can create an opportunity for face-to-
face interaction.
Remember, you have all the power within you to become the
person you want to be, you only have to access it. Be gentle
with yourself and let the friendships grow organically.
Embrace every connection and express gratitude for what is
shared, whether it is for a moment, a season or a lifetime.
We all have moments in life when we are dealing with
problems we don't know how to solve. We read books, browse
through forums, take classes and talk to friends, but that just
leads us to endless amounts of spiritual options without a
clear way to use them. In the end, we are more confused than
ever, eventually calling out to the Universe for help!
In these times where previously-hidden spiritual knowledge
is being revealed at a rapid pace, there is a need to learn how to
integrate these teachings into everyday life. My Higher Self
guides me as I identify your issues from your question, cross
reference them against a database of correspondences, and
reveal the perfect match between question and Spiritual Tool.
Yvette Soler, a leading spiritual teacher who will help you find
spiritual solutions to the issues in your life. Please forward
any questions you may have to
binah@eternallightenergy.com. Additional questions,
answers and podcasts can be found on the Inspirations from
Binah website: www.inspirationsfrombinah.com
Yvette Soler is an international healer, teacher of Practical
Spirituality, and founder of Eternal Light Energy. Her
background in the corporate world working for RealNetworks
and Microsoft, music engineering, event production, and the
arts, endows her with experiences common to all who are on a
journey in the material world. What she accomplished in this
realm gives her insight into situations faced by those who
come to her for both material and spiritual guidance.
Yvette's spiritual experience similarly endows her with
knowledge of how to incorporate changes in one's situation
using Energy Work, Hermetic Magick, Sacred Geometry and
Kabbalah. Yvette acquired her practical spirituality expertise
through specific study. She began her formal training with
two mystery schools and then augmented her knowledge with
the Theosophical Society, various Kabbalah teachers, and
extensive self-study. Yvette grows her toolbox daily through
her interactions with physical and spiritual beings in classes,
meditation, astral travel and dream work. She provides tips
and insights through classes, social media, videos, and
newsletters as well as a practical spirituality column called
Inspirations from Binah. You can read more about her
methodology at www.eternallightenergy.com.
MUSIC AND MEDITATION - Dheeraj Bhoma
MUSIC AND MEDITATION
Often we listen to music and feel overwhelmed, why?
Because of the rhythm, words, sound, tune and voice.
People ask me how to use music in meditation.
I remember OSHO, when he talked about meditation and
music that without music meditation feels like something
is missing. Actually, what I feel about music is that
everything in this world is musical. The words which we
speak to everyone during our conversation are also
musical. See when you are deep in love with someone;
you express your feelings with few words. Hence, your
words just appear in a whispering manner. Not too loud
and when you feel angry with someone then you express
your feelings with loud words even though the person is
sitting next to you.
When we express our words through love it makes a
difference because it feels like music to our ears and we
believe on these words just because of their love. Thus,
words create much control in our life so as in our music.
Without words there can be music but without music
there cannot be a word.
I divide music in three parts: 1.Words. 2. Rhythm. 3.
Sound.
Let us talk about words, In India there are so many
mantras chanting with specific sound and rhythm. When
we chant particular words or mantra with different
rhythm and sound, it affects our life in different manner.
Like so many rhythm or SUR we have developed in our
Vedas. We can use different words in every SUR and the
effect will be different every time.
When we use certain holy words there is a huge effect
from these words on our inner soul. Because these words
have specific control power and strength to affects.
Ramcharitmanas written by Shree Tulsidas is also meant
for singing. This is not a written structure of certain
words to read. When these sentences sing by a certain
notes they effects very deeply in our consciousness.
Singing or chanting in specific manner creates a rhythm
in our inner sense. After chanting for a few minutes, our
body gets overwhelmed and our consciousness gets
deeper. After practicing of these for a few times we later
find that every cell of our body is chanting those mantras
or sounds in a musical harmony and the same music is
flowing in our blood. We can see our body harmonized
with these words. At that time we can also see rains
without cloud in our inner sense. A 15th century saint
said these words 'Bin Ghan Parat Phuhar' meaning it's
raining without clouds. I see that when I do meditation.
Music is very soulful when it is made not just for listening
but for the blessings. It is a real experience of the divine. It
is everywhere! Some music have powerful words, some
have beautiful notes and certain beats. Some music
makes us so happy. Some music makes us cry. I am
describing here some soulful singers from whom I am
12
Aug 2011
inspired very much in my life.
Kishan Das:
He is an American but disciple of an Indian guru. His
voice has tremendous effects. He generally sings with his
orchestra, which uses few instruments like violin, tabla,
and harmonium. But even when he sings without these
musical instruments, he generates tremendous effect on
our soul. He sings mantra chants and normally his songs
are for 7 to 10 minutes long. This is a good time to go in
deep meditation. Every music there must be a certain
voice quality which Das possesses.
Chandrika Tondon:
I came to know her singing several months back. She is
working in USA and singing is not her profession. But she
sings for the divinity and not for money. She has been
given a special power and blessings to her voice which can
be seen while listening to her.
I notice people listening to music but not in proper way.
People turn on their speakers and listen to loud music. I
think that's not a proper way because music which you
like may be disturbing others and maybe others prefer
different sort of music to listen to? Its normal psychology
that the music which we like, we want others to know how
beautiful it is. What I have discovered is that we are all
different individuals in this world and we all have
different choices and interests and when we want others
to listen or behave like us, conflicts arises. So when I like
some music or something which I want to show others, I
just tell them, if it helps their life they tell me about it.
Otherwise it's a just our duty to show the path to others,
because their path may be different and that may be more
beautiful than us.
I recommended listening to music all alone. If somebody
likes your choice than they will join you. I prefer using
earphones to listen because when we put earphones we
are not able to hear other's voice and that's all we need to
go into deep meditation. While listening to music it sends
us in deep meditation and deep sleep also. When we
listen to music while lying on the bed then there must be
90% chance of falling asleep. Music is for awaking not for
sleeping. Hence do not lie down and listen to the music.
Prefer using carpet made from woolen to sit down. Sit on
a very thin woolen or cotton carpet to listen music and
meditation.
Before doing meditation practice some Pranayam or
breathing exercises. That will generate blood flow
through your body. That's a warm up exercises for
meditation. Your spinal cord should be straight not bent
down. There is an interesting condition, when you fall
asleep while sitting on the floor then your neck rolls down
but when you develop your meditation your neck goes
upwards like you are watching the sky. As you emerge in
your meditation your neck and spinal cord gets
straighten and upwards focusing.
SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari Aug 2011

SPAIN - España
Kingdom of Spain is the official name of the country. The ago. Modern humans first arrived in Iberia, from the north
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the on foot, about 32,000 years ago. The best known artifacts
Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean of these prehistoric human settlements are the famous
off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North paintings in the Altamira cave of Cantabria in northern
Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. Iberia, which were created about 15,000 BCE by Cro-
Furthermore, the town of Llívia is a Spanish exclave Magnons. Archaeological and genetic evidence strongly
situated inside French territory. Because of its location, the suggests that the Iberian Peninsula acted as one of several
territory of Spain was subject to many external influences major refugees from which northern Europe was
since prehistoric times and through to its dawn as a repopulated following the end of the last ice age.
country. Spain is a
d e m o c r a c y Mainland Spain is a
organized in the mountainous
f o r m o f a country, dominated
parliamentary by high plateaus and
government under mountain chains. The
a constitutional Meseta Central is a
monarchy. vast plateau in the
heart of peninsular
The first known Spain. There are
peoples of present- several major rivers
day Spain were the in Spain such as the
Celts and the Tagus, the Ebro, the
Iberians. After an Duero, the Guadiana
arduous conquest, and the Guadalquivir.
the Iberian Alluvial plains are
Peninsula became found along the coast,
a region of the the largest of which is
Roman Empire t h a t o f t h e
known as Hispania. Guadalquivir in
During the early Andalusia. Three
Middle Ages it main climatic zones
came under can be separated,
Germanic rule but according to
l a t e r w a s geographical
conquered by situation and
Muslim invaders. o r o g r a p h i c
Through a very long and fitful process, the Christian conditions: 1. The Mediterranean climate, characterized by
kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, dry and warm summers. 2. The semiarid climate, located in
finally extinguishing its last remnant in Granada in 1492, the southeastern quarter of the country, especially in the
the same year Columbus reached the Americas. A global region of Murcia and in the Ebro valley. In contrast with
empire began which saw Spain become the strongest the Mediterranean climate, the dry season extends beyond
kingdom in Europe and the leading world power in the 16th the summer. 3. The oceanic climate, located in north
century and first half of the 17th century. Continued wars quarter of the country, especially in the region of Basque
and other problems eventually led to a diminished status. Country, Asturias, Cantabria and partly Galicia. In
The French invasion of Spain in the early 19th century led contrary to the Mediterranean climate, winter and
to chaos, triggering independence movements that tore summer temperatures are influenced by the ocean, and
apart most of the empire and left the country politically have no seasonal drought. 4. Apart from these main types,
unstable. In the 20th century it suffered a devastating civil other sub-types can be found, like the alpine climate in the
war and came under the rule of an authoritarian Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, and a typical subtropical
government, leading to years of stagnation, but finishing in climate in the Canary Islands.
an impressive economic surge. Democracy was restored in
1978 in the form of a parliamentary constitutional Spain is composed of 17 autonomous communities and two
monarchy. In 1986, Spain joined the European Union, autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy
experiencing a cultural renaissance and steady economic thanks to its Constitution, which nevertheless explicitly
growth. states the indivisible unity of the Spanish nation as well as
that Spain has today no official religion but all are free to
Archaeological research at Atapuerca indicates the Iberian practice and believe as they wish. The Spanish nation is
Peninsula was populated by hominids 1.2 million years organizationally composed in the form of called Estado de

13
SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari
las Autonomías (State of Autonomies); it is one of the most
decentralized countries in Europe, along with Switzerland,
Germany and Belgium. For example, all Autonomous
Communities have their own elected parliaments,
governments, public administrations, budgets, and
resources; therefore, health and education systems among
others are managed regionally, besides, the Basque Country
and Navarre also manage their own public finances based
on fuero provisions. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, a
full- fledged autonomous police corps replaces some of the
State police functions.
Spain is considered an exotic country in Europe due to its
friendly inhabitants, relaxed lifestyle, its cuisine, vibrant
nightlife, beaches, and world-famous folklore and
festivities. Despite all this Spain is also a good place to relax,
detox and experience peace and tranquility. It is a perfect
place for spiritual travelers who besides enjoying the
country can also spend time looking at the ancient lands,
experiencing the geography, learning something new,
eating healthy food, the climate and visiting the islands.
Places to visit
Madrid
Spain's vibrant capital! Center of power of a monarchy that
for centuries ruled half the world, it is now one of the major
tourist spots of Europe. Once ground zero of the Spanish
Inquisition it is now best known for its zestful nightclubs,
outstanding shopping centers and life-celebrating art. But
there's much more to see and do than stroll around art
museums. For a lovely walk in Madrid's warm sunshine,
you'll want to visit the Parque del Buen Retiro. Besides the
lovely grounds there are lakes, sculpture and the Crystal
Palace to see and enjoy. Don't miss seeing the Palacio Real,
the Royal Palace, either. Long the home of Spain's
monarchs, it still contains the throne room, the Royal
Armory and the Royal Pharmacy. You can stand in some of
its 2,800 rooms and imagine what it must have been like to
rule half the world from there. That's easy to do when you
see El Cid's sword or the hundreds of jewels, porcelain vases
and other objects on display. But leave some time for
14
Aug 2011
shopping. It may
not take you 400
years (the time it
has been Spain's
capital) to see all
that Madrid has to
offer, but be
prepared to spend
some time here.
Barcelona
Barcelona is an
ancient city, born of
the Roman Empire.
But like many great
cities around the
world, it flowered in
the late Middle
Ages and blossomed in the mid-19th century. Yet there
are many exciting elements of the modern period there,
as well. These periods are all evident in this
northeastern Spanish city on the Mediterranean Sea
coast. The late 19th-early 20th century is alive and well
in this artistic city, too, thanks to Antonio Gaudi and his
patrons. Park Guell and the Sagrada Familia are two
notable examples, but there are many others. The Arc
de Triomf, built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition, is an
outstanding example. Barcelona's most famous
thoroughfare is a tourist attraction in itself. The street
performers are there all day, every day and for a few
cents will do their little party trick for you. One of two
mountains in Barcelona (the other being Tibidabo),
Montjuic has a wealth of sights for those who don't
mind a bit of a climb.
Seville
Seville is one of the jewels of Spain, with architecture,
museums, food and shopping that make it a must-see
holiday destination. Seville is in the Spanish region of
Andalucia, which also includes the coastal resorts of
Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria. Seville, or Sevilla in
Spanish, is one of the most popular destinations in
Spain. Seville is the spiritual home of both flamenco and
bullfighting and it has some of the most beautiful
gardens and buildings in all of Spain. Seville itself is set
inland, although the coastal areas are within easy reach.
It has its own airport, which is a 45 minute drive from
the city. Make sure you see the Casa de Pilatos, built by
the first Marquis de Tarifa in the early sixteenth
century. It is one of the finest palaces in Seville and now
also houses a courtyard and park, at the end of which
are mansions that have been turned into museums. For
a real taste of Seville, spend some time in the Barrio
Santa Cruz, one of the most picturesque parts of the city,
full of narrow lanes and surprising squares;
whitewashed houses and excellent tapas bars. Tapas
are thought to have been invented in Seville, and it's
certainly the way that most locals choose to eat. Seville
SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari
is a busy city with lots of narrow roads, and it is a brave
person who attempts to drive or park in the main areas.
Note that it gets very hot in the summer avoid Seville in
July and August unless you can stand temperatures of
50ºC.
Granada
Granada is home to two of Spain's most famous Unesco
World Heritage Sites: the gardens of the Generalife and
the exquisite Moorish architecture of the Alhambra
Palace. In Granada, you will take a guided walking tour of
Spain's most stunning monument of Moorish culture,
the breathtakingly beautiful Alhambra Palace and
Generalife Gardens, framed by the stunning backdrop of
t he Sie rra N e vad a
Mountains. Sharing
their wealth of
knowledge about the
h i s t o r y a n d
architecture of the site,
your guide will help you
delve beneath the
beautiful architecture
and design to learn the
history behind two of
the most visited
attractions in the
world.
Córdoba
Very few places in the
world can boast of
having been the capital
of a Roman province (Hispania Ulterior), the capital of
an Arab State (Al-Andalus, a highly civilized state in
Southern Europe) and a Caliphate. Such splendor is
palpable in the intellectual wealth of this center of
wisdom and knowledge. The historic quarter of Cordoba
is a beautiful network of small streets, alleys, squares and
whitewashed courtyards. Cordoba is also synonymous
with art, culture and leisure, thanks to a myriad of
cultural events that are organized here throughout the
year: Flamenco festivals, concerts, ballet and other
activities. Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, a fortress built
by and for the conquerors. Today, that war is an item in
history books that won't intrude on the peaceful
atmosphere created by the numerous gardens and
fountains in the interior. Watermills on the nearby
Guadalquivir River supply the water that irrigates the
plants.
Bilbao
The city is situated on the banks of the Nervión, a tidal
river. The climate in Bilbao is milder than in most other
parts of the peninsula, rarely falling below freezing in
winter, or rising above 35ºC in summer. There is also
more rain, which is a mixed blessing. The green hills of
Bilbao are a welcome relief after an extended stay in the
15
Aug 2011
dry plains in the south. What can you do here? Lots! Visit
the numerous museums, monuments, tourist spots; Walk
through the seven streets of the Casco Viejo; walk along the
river and walk through Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park,
admiring the ponds and gardens, next to the Fine Arts
Museum. You can also visit resort cities like Santander and
San Sebastian.
Cadiz
A historian's delight, Cadiz is perhaps, the oldest city in
Spain as well as in southwestern Europe. It was founded by
Phoenician sailors about 3.000 years ago, as a commercial
stronghold. Few know that the Romans occupied this city
prior to defeat at the hands of the Visigoths. Archeological
remains can be found
all around the old town.
This city was also an
important trading
center for the
Carthaginians. Apart
from history lovers,
visitors also visit this
city for its beautiful
coastline. Home to the
University of Cadiz, it is
also the main port of
the Spanish navy. It is
also famous for its
historical landmarks.
Do not miss Carnival in
Cadiz, one of the oldest
and best in Spain, often
cited as the third
biggest Carnival
celebration in the world; usually held in February. In
ancient days, Cadiz had approximately 160 watchtowers
that local merchants used for looking out at sea for arriving
merchant ships. Only a few of them have survived the
ravages of time including the Tavira Tower. Tourists
visiting this place should check out the cámara oscura. This
room uses the pinhole camera's principles merged together
with a convex lens to project panoramic glimpses of the old
city.
Valencia
Valencian is a charming old city and the capital of the Old
Kingdom of Valencia province of Spain that is well worth a
visit. It is the third Spanish city in terms of importance and
population. It is famous all over the world for its Las Fallas
festival that takes place in March every year and for the
massive architectural project by Santiago Calatrava called
The City of Arts and Sciences. Las Fallas festival, in which
local areas build big papier maché models. They are mostly
of a satirical nature and can be as tall as a few stories. Fallas
are constructed of smaller figures called ninots, Valencian
for dolls. The fallas take a whole year of planning and
construction to complete. Each neighborhood has a falla.
Another feature of Fallas is the fireworks. It's like the city's a
war zone for a week! They wake you up early in the morning
 SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari
and go on through the day. Every day, there are three
fireworks events, la despertà, la mascletà, and el Castillo.
If you can't be in Valencia at the time of the festival, you
can at least get an idea of what it's all about by visiting one
or both the following museums: Museo Fallero or Museo
de Artistas Falleros. You can also see Museo Nacional de
Ceramica Gonzalez Marti: Housed in a palace built in the
15th century, and refurbished in the 1740, the National
Ceramics Museum Gonzalez Marti boasts of an exquisite
alabaster entrance. Check out its awesome collection of
ceramic tiles and its 19th century rooms.
Valencia has mild winters and dry and warm summers
make it a favorite amongst tourists, especially during
winter. The hot spring is located 90km north of Valencia
in a region known for its mountains, deep gorges and
scenic nature. The crystalline waters of the lagoon bubble
up from the earth at a temperature of 25ºc all year round.
This place well known by the locals is still undiscovered by
most travellers. There are several city beaches, and three
major beaches outside of Valencia.
Zaragoza
Zaragoza is a warm and inviting city strategically located
between Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia and
Toulouse. In peoples' haste to see the big cities, this gem is
often passed without as much as a second look. The city
welcomes visitors with its rich culture, shopping, eating
and sightseeing. Its more than 2000 years of history
makes the city one of the greatest historical and
artistically legacies in Spain. It is situated in Aragon, one
of the previous kingdoms of Spain. Zaragoza has a
Continental Mediterranean climate, very dry, with cold
winters and hot summers. The best time to visit Zaragoza
is during spring (April to mid-June) and autumn (Sept-
Oct). The major city festival is El Pilar that takes place
every year the week of the 12th of October, with lots of
concerts, performances and street animations.
Alicante
Alicante, and it's wonderful boulevard with palm trees
16
Aug 2011
and shopping streets, is one of the most well-known towns
along the Costa Blanca. Known for its miles of sandy
beaches, Alicante is a starting point for thousands of
tourists every year. Famous for its excellent weather, the
city invites you to take a trip along the coast or to the
wonderful island of Tabarca. Along the Alicante harbor you
find beautiful long alleys for nice relaxing walks, enjoying
the palm trees and the mild climate. With many historical
buildings around the entire city, Alicante offers countless
sightseeing attractions, from cathedrals to churches and of
course a wonderful harbor area. Additional to sightseeing,
direct from the harbor area, a long wide sandy beach leads
its way up to San Juan. Just drop your towel on the sand
and enjoy a wonderful day in the sun.
Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca, with its wonderful beaches attracts
millions of tourists every year. In the north the Costa
Blanca starts with Denia and Javea two wonderful towns at
the bottom of a mountain. In the south the Costa Blanca
goes down to Guardamar and Torrevieja. With such
wonderful cities like the Elche, the palm tree capital of the
world. There are many attractions alongside the Costa
Blanca, some of them specially for tourists like the
entertainment park Terra Mitica at Benidorm or the bays
of Altea and Calpe. Others are smaller towns and villages
like Villa joyosa just south of Benidorm, famous for its old
town and its chocolate. The biggest beauty of the Costa
Blanca comes from the seaside villages and towns. Its
beaches along with its tiny villages give the Costa Blanca its
unique attraction.
Toledo
Famous for its 1,000-year-old Alcázar fort and for its huge
collection of fine arts, Toledo, a small city that was once the
Spanish capital, lies 70 kilometers southwest of Madrid.
Do not forget to include this city in your itinerary if you are
interested in ancient architecture or if you have a penchant
for the fine arts. Little wonder that, this city, bestowed with
the title of a national monument. The twisted streets and
architecture are the first things that will catch the attention
 SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari
of visitors to Toledo. The Alcazar: Founded in 1085, this
fort that has been demolished and restored a couple of
times and is now a military museum was previously the
royal residence of Carlos I. In the past, this fort served as a
prison as well as an army school. With more than 100
monuments, the historic center of this city is regarded as
one of the biggest in Spain.
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa (the official name) is one of the Balearic
Islands. Amazing beaches, unyielding sunshine, untamed
nightlife, and superb foods, Ibiza Spain is certainly not
like a number of other holiday resorts. Ibiza is in fact an
existing, living city with an appealing old district, raided
each summer by a cosmopolitan vigor of pleasure-seeking
sun seekers. Locally, the setting is callous, parched, and
rocky, however, the beachside, bars, discos, and clubs,
makes sure that the city in no way stops its vivacity. Ibiza
also known as the 'white island' because of its
predominant white house's belongs to the Balearic
Islands. This international island, its setting, the type of
weather, the leisure offered, and its eye-catching natural
surrounding draws numerous travelers year round. Its
great popularity began with hippies during the sixties
making the city famous globally, although today there are
just a few hippie community left on the island, the impact
they made has remained. Formentera - neighboring town
is a tranquil and un-spoilt island set in some of the
cleanest, most turquoise waters of the Mediterranean,
and uses a beautiful boat ride to get there.
Mallorca
One of the ever-popular Balearic Islands, Mallorca is the
perfect location for a quiet romantic holiday or full-on
family fun. Mallorca is the middle, and largest, of a set of
islands set in the Mediterranean off the east cost of Spain.
It has a varied terrain, which means that although the
majority of visitors come for the coast and beaches, there
is a growing interest in the island's fertile plains and
mountainous regions. Visit Palma for a really
17
Aug 2011
cosmopolitan view of Mallorca. Half of the island's
population lives here so it comes as no surprise that
sophisticated bars and classy shops sit easily alongside
ancient streets and the astounding Gothic Cathedral. It
pays to spend some time exploring the city whether it's
taking in the amazing view from the waterfront, wandering
in and out of the tiny shops in the old Arab Quarter, or
taking in the sights from a traditional pony and trap.
Further afield, Mallorca boasts a range of interesting
towns, secluded bays, and mountain walks that reward
with perfect views. Majorca holidays are as popular as ever
because of the many great resorts offering unforgettable
summers.
There are number of other cities and towns that you can
visit like: 1. San Sebastian - sits pretty on the southern coast
of the Bay of Biscay and to the north of the Basque Country.
Its picturesque sun-kissed beaches allure tourists from all
parts of the world, with its lively, friendly people, and its
pretty scenery. The city is also famous worldwide for
hosting major music and film festivals, along with its
universally acclaimed cuisine. Check out its heart-
throbbing ski races. 2. Malaga - Founded by the
Phoenicians, Malaga, situated 370 kilometers to the south
of Alicante, is the second largest city of Andalusia. Apart for
its architecture, it is also famous for its gastronomical
delights and for its nightlife. It is the best bet for those who
love fiestas and have an attraction for folklore. Lovers of
sports, especially golf. Costa de sol is a beach where tourists
from all over the world visit Malaga, just to see this beach.
This city is also the birthplace of the famous artist, Pablo
Picasso. 3. The Costa Brava (Rugged Coast) is in Catalonia,
in the northeast of Spain. It has rocky cliffs and a mix of
pebble beaches and sandy beaches. 4. The Costa del Sol
(literally sun coast) is a long stretch of Mediterranean
coastline in the Andalucia region of southern Spain. 5.
Gran Canaria is the third largest island in the Canary
Islands. It's often described as a continent in miniature
because it has so much variety to offer. 6. La Rioja is a wine-
making region of Spain. 7. The Sierra Nevada is a mountain
range in Andalucia in the south east of Spain. They are the
country's tallest mountains, rising to over 10,000 ft. 8.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and is a great
place to travel. Tenerife is probably one of the last
 SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari
European paradise isles. It offers lush forests, exotic fauna
and flora, deserts, mountains, volcanoes, incredibly
beautiful coastlines and spectacular beaches. 9. Buñol is a
city in a mountainous area of Valencia province. The La
Tomatina festival is held every year on the last Wednesday
of August. Upwards of 40,000 people descend on the
town for a massive tomato fight that literally stains the
entire town red. Buñol is also famous for its two music
wind ensembles; they are the most important wind
ensembles in the province of València. 10. Ronda-
Famous pueblo blanco, built atop a deep ravine. Said to be
where bullfighting was invented.
Visas
Spain is a member of the European Union and the
Schengen Agreement, which governs its visa policies.
However, do check
with the Spanish
consulate in your
country before landing
in Spain.
Things to know
1. Spain isn't a good
c o u n t r y f o r
h i t c h h i k i n g .
Sometimes you can
wait many hours. Try
to speak with people at
gas stations, parking
lots etc. They are
scared and suspicious,
but when you show
them that they
shouldn't be afraid,
they gladly accept you
and mostly also show
their generosity. In the
South of Spain, in and around the Alpujarras, hitchhiking
is very common and it is also very easy to get a ride. As long
as you can speak a bit of Spanish and don't look too dirty or
frightening, you should be able to get a ride moderately
easily.
2. If you plan to move around large cities or explore
further afield you will find many companies that offer car
hire at affordable prices because of the high competition
between car rental agencies, consider renting a car with
GPS navigation, it will be even easier to drive than having
an automobile map. Consider having full-coverage
insurance instead of franchise: other drivers are not
always careful parking near other cars, especially when
parking space on a street is limited. If you break down
while on holiday you will want a car hire company that
gives you the free roadside assistance of trained
mechanics. Cars often overheat in Spain while the tires are
vulnerable on the hot roads.
18
Aug 2011
3. Air conditioning is a must in the hot Spanish summer
months. Nevertheless you should make sure to take water
with you at all times.
4. Most taxi drivers do not speak English or any other
foreign languages, so it would be necessary to have the
names and/or addresses of your destinations written in
Spanish to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's
business card to show your taxi driver in case you get lost.
5. In addition to the native languages, English and French
are commonly studied in school. While younger Spaniards
have studied English in school, due to a lack of practice and
exposure, proficiency is generally poor, and most people
will not know more than a few basic words. If you are lost,
your best bet would generally be young urban people. To
improve your chances of being understood, stick to simple
words and avoid
long sentences. That
being said, major
hotels and popular
tourist destinations
usually have staff
members who speak
an acceptable level
of English, and
particularly in
popular beach
resorts.
6. Spain has Euro as
its currency and do
not expect anybody
to accept other types
of currency, or to be
willing to exchange
c u r r e n c y .
Exceptions are
s h o p s a n d
restaurants at
airports. These will generally accept at least US Dollars at a
slightly worse exchange rate. If you wish to exchange
money, you can do so at any bank, where you can also cash
in your traveller's cheques. Credit cards are well accepted.
Most ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your
credit card, but you'll need to know your card's PIN for that.
Most Spanish stores will ask for ID before accepting your
credit card. Some stores may not accept a foreign driving
license or ID card and you will need to show your passport.
7. Most businesses (including most shops, but not
restaurants) close in the afternoons around 13:30/14:00
and reopen for the evening around 16:30/17:00.
Exceptions are large malls or major chain stores. For most
Spaniards, lunch is the main meal of the day and you will
find bars and restaurants open during this time. On
Saturdays, businesses often do not reopen in the evening
and almost everywhere is closed on Sundays. The
exception is the month of December, where most shops in
Madrid and Barcelona will be open as per on weekdays on
 SPAIN - España - Compiled by Dhara Kothari Aug 2011

10. Pharmaceuticals are not sold at supermarkets, they're

sold at 'farmacias' (pharmacies), identified with a green
cross or a Hygeia's cup. Nearly every city and town has at
least one 24 hour pharmacy.

11. Spaniards are keen to maintain physical contact while

talking, such as putting a hand on your shoulder, patting
your back, etc. These should be taken as signs of friendship
done among relatives, close friends and colleagues.

12. While Spaniards may not always be the most punctual

people in the world, you should never arrive late to
appointments; this will seem very bad to most people.

13. If you are staying at a Spaniard's home, bring shoes to

wear inside such as slippers. Walking around barefoot in
Sundays to cash in on the festive season. Also, many
the house is viewed as unsanitary and also an easy way to
public offices and banks do not reopen in the evenings
catch a cold.
even on weekdays, so if you have any important business
to take care of, be sure to check hours of operation.
14. During lunch or dinner, Spaniards do not begin eating
until everyone is seated and ready to eat. Likewise, they do
8. No service charges are included in the bill. A little extra
not leave the table until everyone is finished eating. Table
tip is common and you are free to increase that if you are
manners are otherwise standard and informal, although
very pleased. Obviously you don't have to tip a lousy
this also depends on the place you are eating. When the bill
waiter. You would typically leave the small change after
comes, it is common to pay equally, regardless of the
paying with a note. VAT is-not-included is a common trick
amount or price each has consumed, with the exception of
for mid-range and splurge restaurants: always check in
Catalonia, where everyone takes care of their own order.
menu whether VAT (8%, IVA in Spanish) is included in
menu prices. There are many types of tourist
15. When Spaniards receive a gift or are offered a drink or a
accommodation, ranging from hotels, pensions and
meal, they usually refuse for a bit, so as not to seem greedy.
rented villas, to camping and even monasteries. '7% VAT
Remember to offer more than once (on the third try it must
is not included is a common trick for mid-range
be fairly clear if they will accept it or not). On the other
guesthouses and hotels: always check the small print
hand, if you are interested in the offer, politely smile and
when you choose your place to stay. VAT is IVA in Spanish.
decline it, saying that you don't want to be a nuisance, etc.
but relent and accept when they insist.
9. Before paying the bill in bars and restaurants, always
check the bill and carefully scrutinize it. Some staff will
16. To call home cheap you may opt to buy prepaid calling
often attempt to squeeze a few extra euros out of
cards which are widely available in newspapers or grocery
unsuspecting tourists by charging for things they didn´t
stores around the city. Simply ask for a "tarjeta telefonica".
eat (bread for example - if you didn´t eat it, you can´t be
charged for it) or drink, or simply overcharging. This is
true in both touristy and non-touristy areas. If you feel
you´ve been overcharged, bring it their attention and/or
ask to see a menu. It is also sometimes written (in English
only) at the bottom of a bill that a tip is not included -
remember that tipping is optional in Spain.

19
Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
Legend of the Nomad
Chapter 5 Natural Harmony
Accordance - Union - Memory - Alertness
Accordance
Nathan flew to the other end of the African
continent. The next morning, he arrived in Cape
Town, where Sophie was waiting for him at the
airport. He had been looking forward to seeing her
again, and once he saw her standing in the arrival
hall, he remembered just how beautiful she was.
They rushed to hug each other. Nathan told her she
looked radiant. They were both very emotional
during their encounter. They walked to the rental
car and drove to the flat where Sophie was staying.
The flat was located in the mountains and had a
large terrace with comfortable sofas and a low
bamboo table. Nathan sat down and admired the
wonderful view of the ocean. Behind him was the
famous Tafelberg with its top shrouded in the
clouds in a clear blue sky. Sophie brought cool
drinks and touched her head to Nathan.
“Nathan, I am very grateful to you for making me
see that I could only be happy if I developed my
inherent abilities.”
“Yes, this applies to each of us.”
“That not only encouraged me to completely
devote myself to my artwork, but it also enabled me
to better understand your departure.”
“And it's because of your artwork that we meet each
other again today…”
“And at the other end of the world! It's
unbelievable!”
“Do you have photos of your previous works?”
Sophie got up and went to get her catalogue.
Nathan went through its pages and immediately
recognized the black and white symbolic forms
that characterized Sophie's style.
“Do you still make them as big?” He asked.
“Even bigger than in the past. Seven works will be
displayed and the smallest of them is two meters
high.”
“I am curious to see your works in person.”
“The exhibition starts tomorrow evening. I have
been asked to give a speech and I am already
nervous.”
“You don't like to do that, huh?”
“No, but it's all part of it.”
“Have you already prepared your text?”
Sophie brought a couple of pages of English text.
Nathan read rapidly through them.
22
Aug 2011
“Do you think the text is good?” Sophie asked.
“It is a beautifully prepared text, but it doesn't
reflect who you are or your works of art.”
“Nathan, you know me like no other, would you
edit the text for me?”
“Are you sure?”
Sophie nodded.
Nathan took a pen and crossed out the full text.
Then he wrote down one single sentence and gave
the page back to Sophie, who looked completely
baffled.
“What are you doing?” She asked.
“Why don't you read it out loud?” Nathan said.
“All that should be understood in my artwork
cannot be confined to words.”
“You only have to add the usual acknowledgments
to it.”
“Nothing more than that?”
“Do you like giving speeches?”
“No, not at all!”
“There's a reason! You always have to restrict the
unpleasant to the bare minimum. Your works
radiate your magic; the guests want to be
enchanted. That's the reason they are here and
with this sentence you will demand their utmost
attention.”
Sophie read the sentence again and felt all the
stress drain from her.
“The only thing you have to do tomorrow,” Nathan
said, “before starting, is to look briefly at all the
people present and to speak every word slowly and
clearly.”
She looked at Nathan, smiled and hugged him
strongly. The rest of the day Nathan and Sophie
explored a couple of beautiful coastal areas to the
south of Cape Town. They stopped when they
arrived at a small beach and spent most of the time
in the water. Sophie was the first to get out and sat
down exhausted on the beach. Nathan followed her
later. He went to a small beach bar to get
sandwiches. While they were enjoying their snack,
Sophie told him about the last couple of months.
She had really become successful; it seemed as if all
doors were being opened to her. Nathan listened
attentively. Naturally, Sophie was very curious
about his experiences.
“What happened to you over the past few months?”
Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
Nathan thought of the best way to express his
experiences in Spain and Morocco. What was most
relevant to Sophie and how could he explain this
simply.
“I met interesting and exciting people who have
taught me to gather knowledge from the world of
higher awareness.”
“What did you discover in the world of higher
awareness?”
“I have seen how feelings flow through us and
partially determine our intentions, our choices and
our actions.”
“Don't we determine our actions ourselves?”
“We shouldn't underestimate the role of our
feelings.”
“When I am working on my sculptures, I am
completely vulnerable. For me, my feelings are a
source of energy.”
“Everything in us is made up of energy, including
our feelings.”
“Really, our feelings are energy?”
“You can see feelings as energy waves that influence
our own inner energy. They influence our
intentions and our actions.”
Sophie let the meaning of Nathan's words move
through her.
“The most remarkable thing I have seen is that all
energy forms, ourselves included, come from one
whole. We are all connected to the universal
energy.”
“Connected to the universal energy? I have heard
artist friends talk about the same experience. What
is that exactly?”
“It is an intimate feeling that really every living
thing is created from one and the same source.”
Nathan took his time in retrieving his experiences.
“It was only later that I started thinking about this
experience, but at that time it was as if I was no
longer experiencing a psychic activity. Everything
happened naturally, I did not ask myself any
questions, and needed no explanation… deep
within I just knew!”
“Did this experience change you?”
“Now I am more aware of the fact that everyone is
connected with the greater whole.”
“If each one of us forms part of one whole, what is
our individual role?”
“Within this connectivity all have the free will to
move nearer or to distance themselves from the
source.”
“How do we know when we are getting closer to the
source?”
23
Aug 2011
“When negative feelings, such as loneliness, fear or
anger are no longer flowing easily through us. We
are then mainly inspired by positive feelings.”
“Negative feelings don't seem to have much
influence on you.”
Nathan knew what Sophie meant. He had always
been aware of his "inner power" and trusted it
above everything. Since the start of his journey he
had become more aware of how special this power
was.
Nathan and Sophie left the next day for the
exhibition's opening ceremony. The sculptures
were set up in a large hall. They were covered with
large gray cloths and would only be displayed after
Sophie's speech. The press was also present and
Sophie was asked several questions.
Nathan left her on her own and started a
conversation with the gallery manager. When he
returned he saw how nervous Sophie was.
“Look at all these people who have come here for
your artwork. Just be yourself and your fear will be
replaced by a feeling of satisfaction.”
Nathan saw Sophie looking around fearfully and
understood that his words had not helped. So he
took her in his arms and whispered in her ear.
“Sophie, just let a feeling of pride stand by your side
and your words will ensure that the attention of all
the people present will be fully focused on your
works. The enchantment of the sculptures will do
the rest!”
Sophie's facial expression changed as she heard
Nathan's words that gave her confidence. She
understood that people's attention would not be
focused on her, not even on her words, but mainly
on her works. Just at that moment Sophie was
called to the stage. Nathan gave her one last word of
advice.
“After you have welcomed everyone, look at the
guests in the back, see all the sculptures one by one
in your mind and then speak.”
While Sophie stepped forward confidently Nathan
asked a few people present to stand by the cloth-
covered sculptures. Now, at every sculpture was
one person ready to unveil one of the works of art
when given a sign. As Sophie finished the speech,
the gallery manager turned off the lights and
switched on the floodlights. All the cloths were
pulled down simultaneously. The works of art were
beautifully lit and made a great impression. It
seemed as if they radiated magic. All the guests,
 Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
with no exception, looked at them as if enchanted.
Meanwhile Sophie had reached Nathan.
“You are a magician.”
“No, Sophie, your artwork is magical.”
Several people came towards Sophie wanting to
know more about the deeper meaning of her
artwork. Nathan left her on her own and went to
admire the sculptures. They were amazing symbolic
manifestations of universal themes. When Nathan
arrived at the last sculpture someone tapped him on
his shoulder. He turned and saw an older man with
a dark skin. The man was tall and slender and had
gray hair and a gray beard. He wore a colorful tailor-
made suit and spoke to Nathan in English.
“I am Doctor Songo, pleased to meet you.”
“My name is Nathan and I am also pleased to meet
you.”
“You have done beautiful work!”
“It's my girlfriend who deserves your
compliments.”
Songo glanced at the works of art.
“Her competence is brilliantly expressed here, but
your talent is of another category.”
“What talent are you referring to?”
At that moment Sophie joined them. She was happy
to escape the bustle, even for a short while. Songo
introduced himself.
“I am Doctor Songo, pleased to meet you. Your work
shows that you have great creativity.”
“Thank you,” Sophie said.
Songo addressed Nathan again.
“The talent I was talking about is your capacity to
inspire.”
“My capacity to inspire?”
“It was very special to see how you managed to fill
the silence and knew how to go towards the climax
at the right moment, isn't that right, Miss?”
“You are right about his involvement,” Sophie
laughed.
“That's because noticing is my talent!”
Songo expressed himself in a very special way but,
notwithstanding his remarkable choice of words,
Nathan understood perfectly what he was talking
about.
“I have to go now, Songo said, it was a real pleasure
for me and I wish you much success.”
While Songo wandered away, Sophie remarked in a
lightly amused way.
“It seems tonight it's not only my talent that is being
contemplated!”
“Doctor Songo is actually a very unusual person.”
When the exhibition opening was about to close,
24
Aug 2011
Sophie and Nathan stood by the exit to say goodbye
to the departing guests. Sophie's works of art had
made a huge impression. Now Sophie could fully
enjoy all the congratulations. It was late by the time
Sophie and Nathan drove back to their flat. Sophie
was relieved that her commitments had been
fulfilled. Now she would be able to enjoy Nathan's
company for two weeks in a country that
increasingly impressed her.
The next day Nathan and Sophie left for a ten-day
trip. They visited the beautiful white beaches of Port
Elizabeth. Then they stayed in the port city of
Durban, where they saw an intertwined mix of
cultures. Afterwards they drove through the
backwoods to Pretoria and Johannesburg. On the
road they visited a natural park with a wealth of
fauna and flora they had never seen before. In
Johannesburg they strolled through its modern
center. They followed this with a trip to the
townships, where they saw for themselves the
poignant poverty. In this city the great differences
between poor and rich were the most visible.
Nathan and Sophie discussed all the highlights of
their tour on their return trip to Cape Town. They
had seen many sights and were impressed by their
adventure in a country full of diversity with its
amazing natural beauty. When they arrived in Cape
Town, Sophie was feeling nauseous and had an
intense stomach ache. Nathan decided to go to a
pharmacy, but there they were advised to go to a
doctor. They were given a list of available doctors.
When they were reviewing the list their eye fell on
Doctor Songo's name. This could not be a
coincidence. When Nathan called up Doctor Songo,
he was asked to describe the symptoms. After
listening to these, Doctor Songo told them he would
make time to visit them in their flat that evening.
Union
Songo rang the doorbell after dinner. He examined
Sophie, took her temperature and asked her what
she had eaten over the past few days. Sophie
summed up what she could still remember.
“Do you think it's serious?” She asked.
“Don't worry; these symptoms are caused by a small
imbalance.”
Nathan and Sophie recognized Songo´s
remarkable use of language.
“It comes at a bad moment, because tomorrow I am
 Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
returning to France.”
Songo paused in his examination of Sophie for a
moment.
“Are there any good moments to get sick?” He asked
Sophie.
With this remark, he got Sophie to smile. Songo
asked Nathan to warm some water and opened his
bag. It was a large bag; one compartment was filled
with different kinds of herbs. Songo took out two
long leaves and gave them to Nathan. Nathan
remembered that the Rom healer had also had
these kinds of herbs with her, when she had cured
the shepherd's wife.
“When the water is boiling,” Songo said, “You can
put the leaves in the pot.”
“They look like a weed.” Sophie said.
“Weed is a name given by people to plants when
they do not fully know their usefulness,” Songo
answered.
Sophie still had her doubts.
“Don't you have any other medicines?” She asked.
“Nothing that is more effective in returning your
equilibrium.”
The boiling water had now turned into an herbal
tea. Nathan brought the pan and put it on a small
table.
“What are these leaves for?” He asked Songo.
“Herbs are curative plants, they remove the
poison.”
“Poison?” Sophie reacted.
“We eat food that's actually foreign to our bodies,”
Songo said. “Therefore food has to be completely
transformed by digestion; otherwise it would
remain poison to us.”
“Is that why every food is experienced as a burden?”
Sophie asked.
“Indeed, some more than others, until they are
conquered by the digestive force.”
Songo made Sophie drink the hot herbal tea
carefully and gave her enough herbs for the next few
days. Nathan became increasingly fascinated by the
old man. He seemed to have extensive knowledge.
“How did you find out about all this?”
“Partially old traditions,” Songo said, “And partially
experience. I believe in nature's power and always
try to ensure its harmony.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Nathan asked.
“You will find out by observing me,” Songo said.
“You only have to see how I treat others in order to
understand how consciously I experience nature!”
“What do you mean by consciously experiencing
nature?” Nathan insisted.
25
Aug 2011
Songo understood that Nathan was sincerely
interested. He sat down, imitating Nathan's
posture, and when he spoke his hands also copied
Nathan's movements.
“I accept a level of power, infinitely much greater
than seems possible to many. Because that power is
so great, sometimes it is even called supernatural,
but I consider it to be a natural harmony available to
any individual.”
“People with a modern outlook on life are skeptical
of natural harmony,” Nathan said. “They see the
world as a chaotic muddle.”
“People with a modern outlook on life usually
experience nature far less consciously and distance
themselves from perfect harmony. They develop a
blind faith in technology and tend to think that this
gives them a better grip on the future.”
This conversation made it clear to Nathan that
Songo could teach him a lot. Not only had Nathan
noticed his wise tone, but Nathan found this man's
character increasingly compelling.
“Tomorrow Sophie will leave for France. I will
remain here for a while longer, because I want to
find out more about this fascinating country. And I
would also like to continue our conversation.”
“Here is my address, just drop by when it's
convenient for you.”
Songo took his leave.
Later that night Nathan and Sophie discussed their
plans.
“I am co-manager of a large-scale art project with
children,” Sophie said. “It's in collaboration with
the city of Marseille.”
“That seems a beautiful initiative for you to be
involved in,” Nathan said, “that's really something
that is suited to you.”
“Do you have any idea when we'll see each other
again?”
“No, I only know that I am already looking forward
to that day.” Sophie remained silent.
“We have had an amazing time here.”
“And we have more memories.”
Sophie was feeling better the next day. Songo's
herbal tea appeared to be a curative. While she was
preparing her luggage, Nathan went to extend the
rental lease on the flat and the car. In the afternoon
Nathan took Sophie to the airport where, once
again, it was an emotional farewell. One day later,
Nathan was on his way to the beautiful coast north
of Cape Town. He needed time both above and
under water to consider his journey. More than
 Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
before he was now convinced that he was in the
right place to continue his learning process and
decided to see if he could spend some time with
Songo. The next morning he called Songo and they
made an appointment. Songo lived in a mansion on
a beautiful property. The people who worked there
lived in smaller houses on that same property. A
sumptuous lunch had been prepared; especially the
bredies, a typical stew, that met with Nathan's
approval.
During the meal he explained his intentions.
“If I could stay with you and help you with your daily
activities… would my presence be useful to you?”
“I would have to inquire about your motive?” Songo
said.
“I have two. First, I could use this time to thank you
for Sophie's recovery. She called and said she is in
top form.”
“I'm glad to hear that she's feeling better.”
“And second, I would like to accompany you to
learn as much as I can from your fountain of
knowledge.”
“Either of these motives alone would already have
been enough!”
In the following weeks Nathan became familiar
with Songo's daily life. Together they visited many
people who needed Songo's services. Nathan saw
how Songo had acquired a reputation and was
known all over the country. One free afternoon
Nathan and Songo drove to Chapman's Peak,
outside Cape Town where there was an amazing
coastline. Songo and Nathan sat down on a rock and
enjoyed the view. Nathan had something to discuss
that had made him curious. Together they had
visited people from different origins and beliefs.
Still, they all had something in common, which was
an immense trust in Songo. Apparently Songo
managed to be accepted by everyone.
“Why is there such a lack of understanding between
people of different origins?”
“Because people focus more on the differences and
less on what they have in common.”
These words reminded Nathan of one of Adnan's
expressions.
“Then, how come you are understood everywhere?”
He asked.
“To achieve this, you have to keep patience at your
side and learn how to offer trust.”
Nathan began to adopt Songo's style of speaking.
“How are you accepted by people who live
differently and how can you offer trust?”
26
Aug 2011
“Look Nathan, the discernible consciousness is very
limited. The largest part of our knowledge is located
in our subconscious. So you can actually learn to tap
into your subconscious.”
“How can you do this?”
“You must break through the nets of distrust. As
you did by taking over my unusual style of talking.”
Nathan had indeed just done that. Meanwhile
Nathan had become familiar with Songo's use of
language, but also with his unusual metaphors. He
knew that by doing this Songo wanted to focus
attention on the message. For this he had to listen
attentively, ask the right questions, but mainly use
his imagination.
“What is the role of the nets of distrust?”
“They prevent information from getting through to
the subconscious.”
“Can you always break through the nets of
distrust?”
“I start by analyzing the body language of the people
I am conversing with. I observe small things and
imitate them when I am in their presence.”
“You imitate them?”
“Usually, what people see has more impact than the
messages they are told.”
For Nathan this was a confirmation of the power of
images.
“People then sense me as if I belong with them,”
Songo continued. “Many people think that if you
exhibit the same behavior this means you also had
the same education and the same problems.”
These lessons were very valuable to Nathan. This
helped him to better understand the influence of
images in communication. Nathan felt comfortable
in Songo's presence and he was also beginning to
feel more at home in South Africa. He was
particularly impressed by the overpowering
environment and natural fauna and flora.
Sometime later, Songo and Nathan traveled to the
townships of Johannesburg. Songo had been
visiting certain districts for years and knew many
people there. For Nathan this would be his second
visit. Just as he had on his first visit with Sophie, he
was strongly affected by the poverty and living
conditions he saw there.
“How many South African children live in poverty?”
He asked Songo.
“You won't get any wiser from a number,” Songo
answered.
Songo said nothing more and Nathan did not insist.
They kept walking until Songo approached a boy
 Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
wearing shorts and a torn T-shirt. He was skin and
bone and apparently had not been able to wash for a
long time. He smiled shyly when he saw that Songo
wanted to talk to him. Songo spoke in the local
Xhosa language.
“What's your name?”
“My name is Moyo,” the boy said.
“This is the first time I've seen you here.”
“We arrived here last week and we sleep there.”
Moyo pointed towards some large concrete pipes,
where young children were hanging about in
groups. Songo translated the conversation. Nathan
reacted astonished.
“Do you live there?” He asked Moyo, while he
pointed at the concrete pipes.
“Yes, with my little brother,” Moyo answered.
“With whom did you come here?” Songo asked.
“Only me and my little brother,” Moyo said.
Songo translated and again Nathan was astonished.
“Where are your parents?” He asked.
“We've been living alone for a year now,” Moyo
replied.
“How old are you?” Songo asked.
“Nine years,” Moyo said.
Nathan felt a sincere pity and squatted so he was at
the same level as the child.
“And your brother, how old is he?” Nathan
inquired.
“My little brother is six-years old,” Moyo said.
Nathan spoke to Songo.
“Shouldn't we help them?”
Songo looked at Nathan, but did not answer. After a
short pause Songo continued to speak with the boy.
“Do you need something now?”
At first Moyo hesitated, but then he asked for a
favor.
“Do you know the other children living in the
concrete pipes?”
“I know a couple of them, why?”
“Some of them are bothering us.”
“I will talk to them, so that they know that you and
your brother are Songo's friends.”
Songo kissed Moyo on his forehead, after which
Nathan did the same and wished him luck. They
continued walking.
“You see Nathan,” Songo said, “that boy not only
takes care of himself but also takes care of his little
brother. This means that he, being only nine years
old, is taking on the role of a mother and father all
by himself.”
Songo let Nathan think about this and then
continued.
27
Aug 2011
“This is one story of just two children, but it
enlightens you more than knowing the number of
children living in poverty.”
Nathan understood the wise lesson he had just
received and sank back into his thoughts.
“Humans lack humanity!”
Songo realized how deeply Nathan had been
affected.
“Apparently, we humans are not yet able to live how
we want to live, in peace, harmony and love. We are
the only creatures on earth that extinguish
themselves.”
“So much is needed to help them all,” Nathan
reacted.
Songo stopped and looked at Nathan.
“A little love can work miracles.”
The next day, Nathan and Songo took a trip to a
spectacular canyon. Once there, they found a
viewing point, named God's window. From there
they had an amazing view of the giant crater.
Nathan was still in turmoil about what he had seen
the previous day. Songo was aware of this, and used
this day to let him relax and have the opportunity to
process everything. Precisely for this reason Songo
had chosen this wonderful location.
“It is important,” he said to Nathan, “that after the
many moving images you have seen yesterday, that
you can replenish your feelings today with beautiful
images.”
“Many people do not realize how lucky they are that
they do not have to live like those children. I have
always asked myself the same question: so much
misery, so much pain, so much sadness, why?”
Songo put his hand on Nathan's shoulder.
“For each one of us, who is touched by the misery of
another, and lets their behavior be influenced by it,
this misery becomes meaningful.”
Nathan remembered these words were similar to
those Simon had spoken during the floods in
Bangladesh.
“How can I give any meaning to this misery?”
“The pain of another person makes it possible for us
to develop humility, courage, generosity and love.
These are necessary characteristics to change
ourselves and to change life around us.”
“To change life around us!” These last words kept
ringing in Nathan's thoughts.
“Are pain, misery and even death really necessary
for this?”
“Life is not only an alliance between the livings, but
between living, the deceased and those who are yet
 Legend of the Nomad - By Alex Mero
to be born. Death helps us to become aware of our
existence. Were we to live forever, then we would
not be able to experience our existence.”
This was a new perspective on death for Nathan.
“We will now let death rest a while and get back to it
later. For the time being, remember that you should
only try to change what you can change and that you
have to learn to accept the rest, but you must learn
to distinguish between both!”
Again Nathan recognized that wise tone of voice
and gained confidence in Songo´s words. Both men
then took a long stroll through the canyon.
Memory
“We have already met different foreign doctors,”
Nathan said. “I ask myself every time what is the
force that impels them to leave their prosperous life
and to come to work in such woeful conditions?”
“Usually they want to make better use of their
knowledge and in exchange they gain a greater
capacity for empathy,” Songo answered.
“Don't modern doctors have enough sympathy?”
“Many doctors, educated in modern medicine,
know how to think very well, but usually not how to
feel!”
“What are they missing?”
“The awareness that healing someone also helps to
expand his or her consciousness.”
“How?”
Songo kept silent for a moment to give more
strength to his words.
“Healing helps someone to get closer to their core.
In some instances we can even help someone to
remember who they really are.”
“Do you mean that in this way they are helped to
find their true life destination?”
Songo looked admiringly at Nathan and kept quiet.
Songo was impressed by Nathan's capacity to make
the right connections.
“You couldn't have said it better.”
A couple of weeks later Songo was approached by a
known doctor from the city Bloemfontein. An
epidemic had broken out in a tribe. The sickness
was considered very dangerous and several people
had already died. Songo and Nathan decided to stay
and offer their help. During that short period,
Nathan saw a great number of people die. Shortly
thereafter another man died in the presence of his
wife and children, Songo got up and said to the
widow:
28
Aug 2011
“Today is a new beginning!”
After these words Songo turned and left. Nathan
felt great compassion for the widow and hugged
her. Nathan was always touched deeply when
someone died, while Songo seemed to deal with it
more easily.
“Shouldn't we have said more to her?” Nathan
asked afterwards.
“The more words you use, the less they mean,”
Songo replied.
Nathan knew that Songo had an unusual view of
death. The last time they had talked about it, Songo
had only touched on the subject. Nathan thought
this was an appropriate moment to talk about death
again.
“According to you, what happens when our lives
here are finished?”
Songo looked attentively at Nathan and saw
through him to all the questions in his mind.
“The importance of these questions requires that
we take time to discuss this subject.”
Songo pointed at some large trees at the top of a hill.
“Let's sit down underneath those trees; the shade
will keep us cool. What you are going to hear now
are the beliefs of an old man, who has based his
findings on a life dedicated to the extension of the
current existence and therefore on the
postponement of what comes after.”
“That makes my interest in your ideas even
greater.”
“You can divide people in need of healing into three
groups. For the first group time has not yet decided
to send them death; to heal them knowledge and
experience are sufficient.”
“Time?”
“It is time who decides when death can dance.”
“Can death dance?”
“Indeed, that's what he does when he's allowed to
get near someone.”
“Dancing? But it is not a joyful occasion.”
“That is true for the survivors, but for the deceased
it means deliverance.”
Nathan understood that Songo had again chosen an
unusual symbolism to make his views of
complicated issues understandable.
“What about the second group?”
“The second group cannot be saved any longer for
this existence, because time has decided that this is
so.”
“Again it is time that decides.”
“Time has that responsibility! That's why you can
only act with humility, as with that man just now.
 Legend of the Nomad
Book Review - By
- Gayatri Alex Mero
Pagdi
You must never lose sight of the thought that time
knows more than you.”
“Now I'm starting to understand a little more why
the arrival of death is more easily accepted by you.”
Songo nodded affirmatively and remained silent.
“You also spoke about a third group?” Nathan
asked.
Songo still said nothing and kept staring into the
distance. By observing Songo, Nathan knew that he
had to concentrate on what would follow.
“It is by guiding those who are in the third group,
that I have gathered the necessary wisdom to fully
utilize my capacity.”
“Did you find your true life destination thanks to
them?”
Songo nodded, thereby confirming to Nathan that
he would be revealing his true mission.
“When the willpower is strong enough, time can be
convinced to be patient.”
“Can you explain that?”
“In very special cases time can call death back!”
“When does time make such an exception?”
“When time sees that the person, through this
experience, can complete their true mission.”
Nathan understood to what Songo had dedicated
his whole way of being. He understood the skills
Songo had developed, and how Songo consciously
experienced nature. Now, Nathan was curious
about what these experiences could teach him.
“Do people change because of these experiences?”
“They return to us with a great feeling of
responsibility in order to develop their unused
talents.”
“Do they talk about what they experienced when
death came to them?”
“Each one describes it differently, but all talk about
a country of bright luster in which they felt
welcomed.”
“What do you notice in these people, after such an
experience?”
“Many drastically change their lives afterwards.
They consider their experience to be a spiritual
rebirth. They are able to recognize the natural
harmony and have stronger feelings of unity with
others and to the universe.”
During the following days the team of doctors
worked strenuously. They managed to bring the
epidemic completely under control. Calm returned.
Nathan now experienced death in a different way,
but still had questions about the enormous
suffering. On their last evening in Bloemfontein he
25
29
Aug2011
March 2011
talked to Songo about this.
“Is pain a detriment to humanity?”
“Pain is indeed necessary to our personal
development, it teaches us to distinguish between
different feelings.”
“So we have to suffer?”
“You were talking about pain, not about suffering.”
This statement startled Nathan.
“Is pain not the same as suffering?”
“Pain is a guide pointing to a lack of harmony, a lack
of balance seeking recovery.”
“And what is suffering then?”
“Suffering is a brain condition that originates from
the emotional need to escape pain. If we really
understood the nature of pain, there would be no
suffering.”
This was news to Nathan. And this statement would
become clearer in the coming months. Nathan
would come to know several emotional and physical
symptoms of sickness and see how Songo usually
succeeded in helping patients. Meanwhile, Nathan
had become an experienced assistant and, on
several occasions, had been able to heal
independently. In this way, he learned to see how
there was always a positive and negative side to
everything. In particular, he learned to distinguish
between things he could not influence and the
things that he could change. What impressed him
most was the will power of some patients. Many of
them referred to a higher power that helped them to
keep holding on when there were setbacks and
obstacles.
In one of his talks with Songo he discussed this
subject.
“It is amazing what people can do when they have
great will power!”
“Not only has consciousness, but especially higher
awareness has had greatly influenced the quality
and the brightness of our existence. Will power can
make one aware of what is hiding outside of
consciousness.”
Nathan had learned from Songo to make a
distinction between the conscious and the
subconscious. He had not yet discussed higher
awareness with Songo and he wanted to know his
opinion.
“What does higher awareness mean to you?”
Songo looked at Nathan and replied seriously.
“My ancestors have taught me that higher
awareness brightens the darkness and brings
shadows to life. Higher awareness is that of which
 Legend of the Nomad
Book Review - By
- Gayatri Alex Mero
Pagdi
we are not yet aware, but can access through
insights and dreams.”
“How does higher awareness influence our
healing?”
“Through the instinctive wisdom of our body that
guides the processes and energies within
ourselves.”
“When you give meditation exercises, is this so
people can learn to understand these processes
better?”
“If we are seriously ill, then it is necessary to become
familiar with the world of higher awareness. Thus
we can see which elements are disturbing our
natural harmony and we are able to influence
them.”
“How can we influence these elements?”
“Thanks to our will power!”
“Our will power enables us to suffer less?”
“You are probably referring to our talk on the
difference between pain and suffering?”
“At that time I understood that pain is a physical
phenomenon linked to our nervous system, but that
suffering is a feeling based on the meaning we give
to the pain.”
“That's completely right. Well, our will power helps
us to interpret that feeling of pain correctly.”
“Whether we suffer or not depends on our will
power?”
“Now you are able to understand that our
happiness, as a whole, is fully dependent on our will
power.”
Nathan increasingly understood the great
importance of Songo's messages. Weeks went by
and Nathan further understood how people in
Africa allow themselves be guided by their feelings
to make decisions and less by their intellect. It made
him think. He and Songo had talked frequently
about this. Songo thought that a perfect balance
should be found between our logic, which he called
external wisdom, and our intuitive capacity, which
he called internal wisdom.
On a beautiful evening they were sitting in the
garden and Songo clarified his statement.
“We have to go through life feeling as well as
thinking.”
“Is it not dangerous to allow ourselves to be led too
much by our feelings?”
“We must be certain that our feelings are
determined by us, and not others, since only the
wisdom from within can give us our true
directives.”
25
30
Aug2011
March 2011
“How can we distinguish between internal wisdom
and external wisdom?”
“By letting ourselves be accompanied by the
insights of our intuitive capacity. These insights are
tuned into our true life destination.”
“Do our logical thought processes have any
knowledge of this?”
“Internal wisdom gives us insight into the extent of
higher awareness.”
“Is the power of higher awareness inside us?”
“Indeed, we all have access to a mysterious store of
wisdom. Each of us can let this information flow
through us. The only thing that we must do is pay
attention.”
“In Morocco, a friend told me that the better one
gets to know silence, the more insights of internal
wisdom can be observed.”
Songo showed interest and asked Nathan to tell him
about his experiences in Morocco. Nathan told him
about his adventures, beginning with his arrival in
Tangier until his departure from Casablanca.
Alertness
Songo had listened attentively. His was interest had
been caught by what had happened during
Nathan's stay in the desert.
“Then you became acquainted with higher
awareness. This world is not hiding in the desert,
but inside of us. Your friends used an old technique
to help you to discover the power, the magic and the
mystery inside you.”
Songo waited and then said.
“However, always be alert for people who only
appear to guide you towards your inner power. Not
everyone will have the same sincere intentions as
your friends in Morocco.”
There was an invitation for Songo to attend a large
so-called spiritual convention. He took Nathan with
him and wanted to confront Nathan with the
dangers of indoctrination and mass belief. The
convention was located out of Cape Town, where
large events were usually held. Thousands of people
had gathered that day in front of a large podium
where speakers, categorized by Songo as skillful
magicians, would be speaking.
While waiting for the first speaker, Nathan and
Songo talked with several people in the crowd. The
one-sided perception of life held by all he spoke
with amazed Nathan. It was midday when the first
speaker spoke. Four others would follow him.
Nathan and Songo listened attentively to the
 Legend of the Nomad
Book Review - By
- Gayatri Alex Mero
Pagdi
lectures. Nathan was primarily interested in the
effect of their words on the public. When the last
speaker had finished, it took time before Nathan
and Songo could extricate themselves from the
crowd. They did not hurry and used the opportunity
to inquire about the findings from the other people
present. Because of the less than rational assertions
Nathan had heard, he became aware of the dangers
Songo had warned about. When they arrived at
their car, Nathan's attention was caught by a
colorful poster with photos of musical groups from
different parts of the world. The poster announced a
festival of world music, taking place within a week.
Songo looked at it with interest and said it looked
like a promising event. Nathan was immediately
enthusiastic and looked forward to going to the
festival.
On their way home, Nathan and Songo discussed
their findings about the convention.
“What did you think of the lectures?” Songo asked.
“I felt like a witness to a burglary of individual
thinking.”
Songo appreciated Nathan's way with words and
smiled.
“Did you also recognize the method used?”
“The speakers could conquer the emotions of their
listeners by the way in which they announced their
statements. It seemed more like collective
hypnosis!”
“Indeed, their purpose is to overcome fear and joy
in their followers. They know these feelings will be
strengthened by the large number of people
present.”
There was a short silence. Nathan became aware of
the danger Songo was protecting him from. At the
same time, there was something worrying him. He
realized that all humanity was not being protected
from this.
“All those we spoke with,” Nathan said, “subject
themselves without question to what is taught to
them.”
“What do you remember from our talks within the
masses?”
“For them it seems that spiritual life mainly consists
of fulfilling imposed obligations. The behavior of
most of the followers is comparable to that of
herded animals. They follow their leader and do
what the herd does.”
Nathan and Songo arrived home. Even though it
was late at night, they were both in good spirits and
sat down in the garden. Songo got some drinks and
25
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Aug2011
March 2011
snacks and they spent some time talking. Songo
knew Nathan's thoughts about their last
conversation and continued:
“I saw that you were pondering the consequences of
such indoctrination, if done on a greater scale.”
“I fear that when people are no longer free to think
individually, a critical way of thinking will become
impossible.”
“What do you think the result will be?”
Nathan recognized his father's methods working in
Songo's question. This approach had enabled him
to use his thinking capacity to the fullest to discover
important truths. This also indicated that what
Songo wanted to tell him was very important.
Nathan thought about it and then said.
“That these people are no longer able to think
independently about what is good for them. They
behave based their lives on what others expect from
them and account for their behavior based on
rehearsed arguments.”
“Nathan,” Songo said in a very serious tone of voice,
“what you bring up here is the basis of the lack of
harmony on earth!”
A silence followed, after which Songo spoke in a
softer tone.
“What kind of feeling does this bring up in you,”
Nathan?
“A feeling of injustice for all the victims and for the
victims they make in their turn.”
“Do you feel anything else?”
“The feeling I always have when I come up against
injustice. The will to prevent this injustice!”
Songo laid his hand on Nathan's arm and again
spoke seriously. Nathan looked at Songo and felt
that a very personal message would follow.
“You can only go against the main current if you let
yourself be accompanied by courage. Courage has
resistance, hope, and an immortal trust in a good
outcome!”
Songo's words had the same effect on Nathan as
when he had heard Sanah's words. His power of
creation manifested itself to make it clear to him
how important was this message.
“I did not show it, but from our first meeting I was
aware that you are exceptional!”
Nathan thought about this.
“Did you come to meet me at that time?”
“Sophie's sculptures were what led me to you. When
I noticed you, I recognized your inner being.”
Songo was still holding Nathan's arm and his words
penetrated deep within; Nathan let Songo's words
sink through to him.
Legend of the Nomad
Book Review - By
- Gayatri Alex Mero
Pagdi
“My inner being, my exceptionality?” Nathan then
asked, “Can you tell me more?”
Songo hesitated at first and then continued.
“Your core is the symbol of purity and
receptiveness. Because of this you will always feel
the urge to free people who cross your path.”
A silence fell, after which Songo let go of Nathan's
arm.
Numerous thoughts swirled in Nathan's head. He
tried to remember all the conversations he had ever
had with those who had noticed his exceptionality.
Songo gave Nathan space to think.
“You just spoke about a good outcome,” Nathan
continued. “What did you mean exactly?”
Songo took his time in formulating a proper
response.
“From a very young age you knew that everything
forms part of a greater whole. After that you learned
that everything within this whole is made up of
energies. In the meantime, you understood better
how these energies interrelated. The next part of
your journey will give you insight into what
constitutes the connective tissue of this whole!”
Nathan thought about this.
“Do you mean the power keeping everything
together?”
“During your future journey always be receptive,
willing and accessible and whatever needs to be
clarified will be.”
“Why hasn't it become completely clear to me yet?”
“I only have one more piece of advice for you.
Embrace patience, tolerate ignorance and you will
experience brightness!”
This conversation with Songo had been the most
intense by far since Nathan had come to know the
wise man. He knew that Songo had completed his
task. Thanks to him, Nathan had obtained a much
broader view of his life purpose. He had received
the necessary lessons and could now continue
onwards.
A week later Nathan visited the world music
festival. It was an amazing day. The program
included musical groups from all continents. The
public sang and danced along happily. Everyone
was in the best of humor. In the evening a Latin
American dance group performed. It was an
assorted mix of Brazilian and Caribbean dancers.
Nathan, himself a fan of dancing, could appreciate
the value of this performance and admired the
rehearsed choreography. It was an enormous
performance to make the different styles intertwine
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Aug2011
March 2011
harmoniously with each other. The fact that the
presented dance styles of Latin America had their
origin in Africa was beautifully expressed to the
great joy of the public.
Later that day Nathan went to one of the food
stands. He was in line waiting his turn and noticed
that the two girls just behind him formed part of
that same dance group that had impressed him. He
noticed that they came from Cuba, because of their
Spanish accent. He used this opportunity to
congratulate them on their performance. The girls
thanked him, but they emphasized that the
management was in the hands of an Argentinean
choreographer and that she merited the greatest
praise. When it was Nathan's turn, he ordered his
meal and went looking for a place to sit down. The
two girls followed him and invited him to join them
at their table. He accepted the invitation and
followed them. He was introduced to a couple of
other dancers from the group and to Catalina, the
choreographer. Nathan congratulated the group
and sat down in front of Catalina. She was around
forty years old and had the beautiful, toned body of
a dancer.
She looked intensely at Nathan; his appearance
apparently did not remain without effect.
“You speak Spanish fluently,” she said. “Where are
you from?”
“My father comes from Spain and I have been there
frequently myself.”
“I heard that you enjoyed the show. I am very proud
of the boys and girls; they worked long and hard.”
“You can be proud of yourself. I think it was
fantastic, the way in which you brought the
different styles into one harmonious whole.”
“Thank you…”
Catalina, who seemed to be a bit confused, excused
herself and left the table.
“I'll be right back!”
One of the male dancers now spoke up.
“Catalina is a formidable choreographer, but more
than that, she's also a fantastic human being. She
has that special capacity to bring out the best in
someone.”
After him a female dancer remarked:
“During our rehearsals Catalina always emphasizes
that we must form our movements from what we
feel within ourselves and, in this way, we will be able
to discover the immeasurable wealth within us.”
Another dancer added:
“Her words give us so much energy and self-
Legend of the Nomad
Book Review - By
- Gayatri Alex Mero
Pagdi Aug2011
March 2011

confidence!” her invitation?”

The male dancer spoke again: Songo took note of Nathan's enthusiasm and knew
“In Mexico we only practiced a couple of weeks, but that an answer was not required of him.
each day we made great progress.” “If a decision has already been made deep within
“In Mexico?” Nathan asked. yourself, it's up to time to choose the moment when
“Catalina's dance school is in Mexico City. We all you will make this decision known.”
had the opportunity to practice with her.”
“Unfortunately our fairy tale is coming to an end.” Nathan had become so used to Songo's unusual
Another dancer added. sentence construction that he immediately
“We all learned so much from this experience, both understood what Songo meant. The next day,
on a professional and personal level. In a short time Nathan went to the hotel where Catalina and the
my life has really changed.” dancers were staying and told them of his decision.
Nathan sensed how the dancers looked up to Nathan and Songo said goodbye to each other at the
Catalina and how sorry they were that their Cape Town Airport some time before the New Year.
adventure would soon end. She had become a sort Nathan thanked Songo and promised to keep in
of a mother figure to them. He understood that they touch. It would be a long trip with many stops in
had experienced a wondrous time. In a couple of between.
weeks Catalina had succeeded in creating a tight
bond between herself and the dancers. Now
Catalina had returned and sat down again. Nathan
noticed that Catalina was concerned about
something and he wanted to bring her out of her
worries.
“Catalina, I hear nothing but praise and
appreciation for your work. The joy all of you are
experiencing just bounces off of you.”
Just as the others Catalina was very emotional
because the fairy tale was coming to an end.
“They are all sweethearts,” she said, “We will never
forget this!”
“No, we will never forget this!” All the dancers
agreed.
Catalina asked Nathan the reason for his presence
in South Africa. He told her about his journey and
all the members of the group listened attentively.
After the meal, Catalina invited him to stay with
them during the festival. The performances would
continue throughout the night. Meanwhile, Nathan
and Catalina got to know each other better. Both
showed a clear interest in the other. When they
parted at the end of the festival, Catalina invited www.alexmeroblog.com
Nathan to come to Mexico.
“The secret roads of passion cannot be lacking on
your journey!”
Nathan wrote down her information and promised
to think about it. Once at home, Nathan told Songo
about his day.
“What do you think?” He asked Songo, curious to
know his opinion.
“Everything that is revealed to you carries life with
it, Nathan.”
“Do you think I would be acting right in accepting

25
33
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