Of declarations and healing regrets. — The title is an ode to the Annie Lennox song I used to be obsessed with. Of being woebegone, alternating between desire and despair. Having gone through all that, there is a peace and serenity in the heart. For love never really leaves us. In the residue of the aftermath…

The Goddess who governs the Solar Plexus. — Athena is a bad ass b*tch, I’ll give you that. Not in a primal way like Lilith who governs the Root chakra. Athena or Minerva as she is referred to by the Romans will kick ass in a calm, strategic manner. Legend has it she sprang from her father’s forehead…

A farewell lament… — When I walk in this park and see the water reeds, the murky waters; I think of you. As I lay my mat down and get into my routine on the patio overlooking the water’s edge; I think of you. Sunset comes and casts lovely rays of molten gold across…

Anchoring the soul into the body. — My name was a problem for me for the longest time. A ‘Shiren’ spelt with only one E, it caused confusion to all my teachers, my schoolmates, colleagues, and acquaintances. I would tell people to pronounce it as ‘Shireen’ but they could not figure out how can that be when…

Connecting the element of air and water. — When I was 16 my sister gifted me a journal. Those gradient coloured perfumed types with per page thickness of rice paper. It was very pretty and inspired me to journal even more. …

And flames need fanning… — It is my good karma to have known love from the men in my life. From platonic love to carnal love to romantic love. After four years of being separated and subsequently divorced, I wondered if I have ever truly loved in return? While the memories blur throughout the passages…

Tears of shame, tears of grief. Tears of joy, tears of gratitude. All are sacred and all are welcomed. Tears are a display of vulnerability. An ability of our body to override the pride and allow emotions to be expressed. Some of us cannot cry. We just do not know…

Little practises that go a long way… — Mornings I dread the most. Often I used to wake up in a flurry with heart pumping to the blaring alarm then jumping into the shower and hastily putting my zombie self through work. Even after quitting, I still had not harnessed a fruitful routine and practise to set the…

Life’s spiralling journey… — Not marked by a wreath of roses; that is a coronation. Befitting someone who has willingly embarked on an initiation journey. What is it to be initiated? It is like the Tower card in Tarot. Something breaks, a meteor shitstorm, and you plunge down to the ground, deep into the…