Picture credit: Isabella on Pinterest (@iisabellalima)
This eerie planet changed my life. But what does Saturn have to do with anything?
Is it true what they say about Saturn’s Return and the transformation it brings?
If you know anything about astrology or retrogrades, you may be familiar with where I’m taking this. But for now let’s address the elephant in our solar system, the enigmatic Saturn.
Saturn is THE planet that shapes us into who we truly are and plays a role in our conscience for character development. These lessons come in mysterious forms and it’s upto us to catch it and break a pattern for the greater good.
However, if you don’t care for astrology, open your mind to the possibility that this work of fiction makes me a better human everyday.
I asked Saturn with its countless moons and icy rings, why must you pierce through my emotions so profusely? There’s only so much I’m allowed to feel in this civilised world or they will think I’m mental. For thinking too much and living too less.
Saturn whispered to me, “And who are they? Who are these people who made you think before you could act? Who’s stopping you from living?”
I choked at first, I felt uneasy that a voice in me cared to question me rather than defeat me. I said to him that it was the opinions given to me over the years by family, friends and lovers. My family struggles to take my personality out of the crib and I sought refuge from the devastating state of my family in my friendships and relationships.
Saturn corrected me and said, “As a child you take. As a child you respect those who take care of you and learn how to behave. Tell me, are you a child now? Will you continue to give your inner child the stage, or will you take the stage as an adult and create your own audience?”
I shuddered as the lifestyle I’ve lived so far seemed to be crashing at my feet. The inner child is my imagination. Am I holding on to the miseries of my past to justify the lack of effort in the present moment?
I ask Saturn if the voices that linger in my mind are there to deceive me. Could they possibly be voices of others that are used on themselves as false wisdom?
Saturn smiled and said, “Who knows? Is it something you wish to know? Or forgo?”
Moments in my life where I understand what Saturn means when it says, let go. We live in a miracle
I was lost, am I just confusing myself? What is the point of knowing and how will I ever know? It’s all a silly guessing game and time spent worrying about minds that I can never read.
I’ve met some brave people along the way who embody the sayings, “Don’t worry be happy” or “Live your life to the fullest”. I feel grateful for these encounters because they show me that the path I’ve readjusted to seems to be working. And that my conversations with Saturn are real.
It makes me wonder how they seem to do everything so effortlessly. How are they so live-laugh-love? I ask Saturn, what’s their secret?
Saturn answers plainly, “Today you could live your life to the fullest, tomorrow could be the worst day of your life. Be grateful for the day a light from the outside has been shown to you. On days when darkness takes over your speech, a simple memory of that light will bring back your words.”
I was in awe of the wisdom this mystical planet was inducing in me. It never felt like a voice that was trying to break me down to feel worthless, it was breaking down the unnecessary clutter in my mind to acknowledge my worth.
As a person who loves decoding thoughts and emotions, judgement comes knocking on my door as a regular guest. But the kind of judgement I fear most is the one I have towards myself.
I worry that self-judgement is a silent epidemic which harbours resentment within oneself and blinds the vision enough to look at another as an object of gratification. Gratification of the seven deadly sins as they say.
With a curious mind I asked Saturn, is it even possible to overcome judgement of all kinds? Or must we learn to live with it and not allow it to yield its weapons?
Saturn agreed for the first time and added, “Judgement towards another is judgement towards oneself. Why step on someone’s toes when you fully intend to kick them on the chest? Either way, a spirit has been harmed, theirs and yours. And in the spirit of humanity, you have lost your way again. You find yourself ten steps behind but remember, forgiveness never keeps count and always moves forward.”
The funny thing about wisdom or guidance through any source is how one perceives it and implements it in their own lives. The intention which I write this article will never be reflected the way I wish for it to; but it will resonate with some, one or maybe none.
But perhaps that’s the journey of self-discovery. And Saturn, with its nonchalant advice, comes to teach you that and more if you care to listen carefully.
Here’s a lovely song by international pop-star, SZA who talks about her journey with Saturn.
Louise Osbourne is set to conduct an ‘Act As If You‘ workshop in Birmingham and London in March to bring a fresh perspective to acting
Who knew you could perform your way into reclaiming the real you?
Louise Osbourne with a student in her class, Acting For Screen in Birmingham
Actor and acting coach, Louise Osbourne has combined the art of acting with building self-confidence into a workshop called ‘Act As If You’ specifically for women and non-binary people.
The course focuses on nurturing the inner self and gathering communication tools to thrive in personal and professional environments.
Louise seems to have cracked the code with her expertise to empower women and non-binary people to find their voice through acting and improv.
Louise said, “For 14 years I’ve been doing acting classes in Birmingham for people from 16 upwards all levels of ability and what I noticed was that men and women but definitely mainly women would come to my class not necessarily to go down the path of trying to get an agent and trying to book acting jobs and auditions, but they had lost their identity. Whether that was from marriage or children, and Birmingham is a very Asian multicultural city so a lot of it’s from marriage and not working anymore, they’d have their children or their children would be a little bit older and they’d come to my acting class, not thinking about acting but actually because they gain confidence.”
Before she came back to Birmingham in 2011 to become an acting coach, she had a blistering career in the States as an actor and worked with several award-winning actors.
During this time she noticed that some pretty big names in Hollywood were still nervous first day on the set and found it interesting.
Louise said, “I’ve worked with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn and everybody’s nervous, everybody! It was mind-blowing for me because I was like, there’s no way these seasoned Oscar winning actors are nervous but everybody’s afraid they’re not gonna be believable. I think sometimes it’s almost harder for them because they’ve got to do better than their last best show, because they’ve already reached a level and your next thing has to top it or else you’re gone.”
Louise Osbourne
This helped her identify that a more holistic approach was needed to uplift one’s confidence to play any role in life.
As a founder herself and an advocate for inclusion, Louise felt called to blend her experience to help women and non-binary people become strong leaders.
Her friend, Samantha Grierson, who has contributed generously through her art to the LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities in Birmingham, saw great potential in Louise’s mission to build a safe environment for women and non-binary people to express themselves freely.
She helped Louise bring her vision to life and continues to support and set up this acting workshop with her.
The primary aim of this workshop is to go beyond acting and dig deeper, let the soul’s voices dance and acknowledge the core identity.
Louise added, “It’s not even about the acting it’s about taking the mind off the inhibitions and you can get that through playing say improv games, I’ll give them really interesting fun scenarios and I’d roll the camera, they’d have no scripts and they just have to play along. Sometimes at the beginning they’d be very quiet, let other people do the talking and then after a couple of weeks they’d find their place, find their voice and then they’d interject. And then I’d say to the rest of the class that improvisation is about giving and taking. You don’t need to fill every silence, silence is real life, let the silence be. Silence is where things brew from.”
Louise’ students in Birmingham
The last line couldn’t be more true as we all prepare in our silence to present our “best’ selves on various occasions.
It’s almost like an inner dialogue or conflict that needs to stretch out thin until our minds can finally be satisfied with a fitting approach. So much of this is caused by overthinking, social anxiety and in some cases, cultural upbringing and sexual identity as well.
Women and non-binary people have struggled to assert their voices in male dominant environments. They feel dismissed, overlooked and often forgotten.
Louise’s workshop provides the perfect platform for participants to train their inner voice and not feel ashamed to speak up. And to become comfortable with the idea of voicing out their needs and wants to the fullest.
Louise continued, “We have had so much stuff holding us back as females and non-binary that it’s time to kind of step up and speak for ourselves. My belief is that if we all have that inner confidence that we do deserve a seat at this table and feel important from within, it won’t feel like we’re there just to tick a box.
I think that’s what we need to get our heads around, we need to make sure that we are not sitting at that table because they have promised the shareholders that they’re more inclusive. It’s like oh yeah we’ve got a non-binary, tick! We’ve got a woman, tick! But no voice? Screw that. We need to make sure that if we’ve got a place at the table that our voice is just as heard as everybody else around that board.”
Louise brings a rather powerful yet light-hearted approach to trigger a change that women and non-binary people can utilise as a launch-pad to acquire any position in our society or the corporate world.
Acting isn’t always a piece of cake but what is capitalism without a little performance? In the famous words of a TED talker I don’t remember, “You have to fake to not only make it, but become it.”
The art of performance is used to churn out versions of oneself that were suppressed, Louise intends to unwrap those gifts that reside within.
By urging her audience to create their own compelling narrative, uniqueness comes to life with a little artistic direction, reassurance and a whole lot of fun.
Behind the scenes of Acting For Screen
Louise added, “There’s got to be a lot of laughs in my class, I want people to leave feeling confident but have fun. It’s also about using the fear, switching the fear to be excited about the story you want to tell. So you switch the fear to what you’re pitching about, what your journey is, why should I be telling this story. Why now? At the beginning of the classes I will definitely ask everybody what they want to get out of it and then work with them individually on creating a monologue that’s going to fit into their pitch about their journey. For the first half of the day it’s just going to be improv, it’s just going to be exercising, not thinking about business or anything.
In LA, I’d tell them yeah you’re a teacher, you’re the boys in the class, you’re casting for Matilda. And one of the little boys in the class nailed Matilda, he knew all the songs, he knew everything. He told me he wants to be Matilda but his dad doesn’t want him to be so and then I’ll just roll the camera and it’s really interesting because they have to act. Whether they feel that way or not they still have to go with it and take on that character. Afterwards there’s such a big sigh because it’s not who they are, it’s a different character. Sometimes I make them play two businessmen, and they both end up crying. It’s funny the stuff it brings up. They go, I can’t believe I was crying! A lot of stuff comes to the surface and then you’re way more relaxed and you get more involved in it. I think fear is something, if you switch it, it’s something that can be propelled by you.”
Louise Osbourne mentoring her students
As humans we have a tendency to overestimate the power of fear in our lives. We almost think it’s superior to us and without even trying, we admit defeat and live out our lives not knowing what could’ve been.
Acting as an art-form in general requires an individual to become friends with the chaos lingering inside. There’s a lot of emotional release; you laugh, cry, scream, howl and it almost becomes essential that you feel.
Louise aims to purge all of these emotions out to make women and non-binary people rediscover themselves as leaders of their own lives.
The purpose of ‘Act As If You’ is to break free from the ordinary constructs of gender roles and eliminate the limiting voices that were given to them without their permission.
I’m always in search of unique art and now that I’m back in my home city, I wanted to explore the world of artists in Bangalore.
I found Ragini Chatterjee in the depths of an Instagram stalking session on a page that promotes young artists in the city.
I was blown away by her ability to not only make me wide-eyed at her work on first glance, but also draw me into the intricacies of her art.
Being away from home and in the UK for a couple of years sidetracked my memory of the rich talent that exists within my own people. I’m so glad my stalking, I mean, research skills led me to Ragini’s mind palace, one that seems to hypnotise me in an instant.
I still can’t stop looking; I had to know the heart behind this enigma. And so I asked her some questions to get know who she is for you and for me.
When did you first recognise your talent? What was your first ever painting?
I’m not sure if it was “talent” or simply my overactive imagination that led me to painting. I spent most of my classes doodling, but my first “proper” drawing, one I remember being proud of, was a sketch of Aang from The Last Airbender. I think I was around 9 years old.
What does your art mean to you?
Art is how I process the world around me. Whether it’s a book, series, or movie I’m captivated by, expressing my excitement through art brings me peace. On a deeper level, art allows me to visualise insights about life that resonate with me. Sharing these pieces is fascinating because others often interpret them in ways that reflect their own experiences, creating a unique dialogue between the viewer and the work.
If you could vouch for other artists, what would your message be to the world about the importance of self-expression?
To anyone who feels deeply—whether you’re an artist or not—self-expression is vital. Whether through art, music, fashion, or dance, it’s a natural outlet that should be embraced. Suppressing this instinct can feel overwhelming, and letting it out often creates something beautiful. In today’s fast-paced world, self-expression serves as a poignant reminder of our shared humanity.
A portrait called ‘Mommy’
There’s an abundance of extraordinary talent such as yourself in India. I’ve come across many who feel overwhelmed by the competition in the creative industry and settle into different industries to survive. What are your thoughts on this? Does survival overrule passion? Or does it depend on how one perceives it?
I feel fortunate to create for myself, but I’d be lying if I said recognition didn’t motivate me. However, I wouldn’t describe the creative industry as “competitive.” This perspective probably stems from my choice not to pursue art as a full-time career. By separating my livelihood from my art, I’ve been able to enjoy the process without the pressure of survival, allowing my passion to thrive independently.
Who or what has inspired you to create your pieces?
Life inspires me—everything from a captivating colour scheme to an idea I need to visualise. For example, I painted Behind the Kitten to challenge the misconception that cuteness equates to weakness. In college, I explored the myth of Icarus to reflect on self-discovery and freedom. During the pandemic, I delved into Pandora’s myth, and more recently, I created a piece about self-care inspired by the idea that you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Explain the creative process behind your work. Is it a cathartic journey? How does it make you feel?
My creative process begins with a need to express something—whether it’s an idea that’s been simmering for weeks or an immediate fascination with a book, movie, or series. Once I find a reference photo, I dive in, spending anywhere from half an hour to a week on the piece. While creating is cathartic, I’m often preoccupied with achieving aesthetic beauty, which makes it challenging to feel fully satisfied with my work.
What do you wish for people to experience through your work?
I hope my art evokes a sense of connection and invites viewers to appreciate its aesthetic qualities.
Tell us about a response you’ve received about your art that made you feel happy or seen.
There isn’t a single comment that stands out, as my satisfaction primarily comes from how I feel about a piece. However, I enjoy hearing reactions like, “Wow, that’s so pretty.” I also love when people share their interpretations of my work—it’s fascinating how their perspectives differ from my own.
You’re currently in Paris. Has the cultural shift played any role in the expansion of your vision? I believe life experiences can elevate one’s art. Tell us about your experience.
While my surroundings have changed, my art remains influenced by similar themes—my life experiences, books, movies, and shows. The cultural shift has enriched my perspective, but I wouldn’t say it has drastically changed the essence of my work.
How can someone find you, your work, and reach out to you?
I have a website where people can leave messages, but the easiest way to connect with me is through Instagram or email.
To reach out to Ragini, email her at raginichatterjee99@gmail.com
Friendships hold deep bonds, sometimes as deep as family bonds
But are friendships always good? Or are they also damaging if you don’t know yourself?
People come and go into our lives on a daily basis. Some we see everyday and others are months and even years apart. There’s a special connection that can make us feel that time never passed. Inside, you know that this person will always be in your life, no matter how much time apart you have. This is the beautiful part of true friendship and companionship.
But what brings people together?
A common ground, family, employment, education, or through coincidental events that lead people to form a relationship. Mutual memories and shared experiences create a narrative that only they know and can share.
When it’s tied to a historical significance, it seals a feeling of forever that can never be downplayed or recreated. A story of friendship and joint paths. That somehow the universe had this written and the belief that one can’t exist without the other. A sense of belonging in a period of time.
If independence, self-love and self-control are seen as essential qualities, then are these relationships set up to eventually fail?
Everyone has their own lives. We can’t always be there through all the highs and lows our friends experience. We all have our own paths. These paths are directed by our life choices and events. They stem from our natural development and a change in priorities.
How do we know when that moment comes?
When the show is over for a bond that once was and people part ways. Some friendships or human relationships last as long as necessary. They allow you to move on to the next stage of your life. It feels like good-bye to the version of you that connected to a version of them. We mutually and subconsciously decide to let go of those versions of us. We do this when the forces of life challenge us to evolve.
Ultimately a relationship with anyone other than family is based on the setting that you meet them in. A work colleague you see more or less every day may leave suddenly. It’s sad, but life continues. New people start working with you and this brings change and new connections. The old work colleague eventually becomes a distant memory. You may meet for catch-ups and go to each other’s birthday parties, wedding, or perhaps meet for dinner and drinks.
The moment you know it’s fading…
Time with them includes reminiscing about shared past memories. It also involves sharing funny anecdotes, reflecting, and updating each other on how everyone is doing. Life has continued and a reminder of the past becomes the only bond that you have with these people. Until the point that social media and the odd messages are all that connects these friends. They lose their glue and the only link that is shared are mutual experiences in the past.
Can work friends, become long-term friends?
People at work we see more or less everyday. We build relationships and maintain friendships during work time. I always say that I spend more time with colleagues than I do with family and friends and even with myself. We are brought together through coincidence. Unless you recommend a friend who starts working with you, everyone there are people you met because you applied for a job with the same company.
I have been extremely lucky enough to meet a colleague at work through a complete coincidence and because of an incident that took place. This person has become a rock and solid foundation in my life. I was there for them through the tragic loss of their mother and reminded them of their strength to get through the heartbreak and absence of their best friend and reason to keep living.
Similarly, they are the reason I am still here. In my lowest of lows, they were there to simply listen to me, vent it all out and we held each other up. When one is deteriorating, the other holds a safety net to catch the other to disintegrate any anxiety or self-doubt. They see similar traits and personality characteristics between me and their mother and I see myself in them. They bring a glowing and shining light into the world and people’s lives but they also carry the shadows of insecurities and self doubt that the world and loss has cursed them with. We are part of each others lives and they are in my heart and always make sure I have whatever I need to be George. Despite this there are times we may not have contact temporarily but we will always reconnect.
From strangers to best friends in a minute…
Some brief encounters feel like you have known the person for years and you share things about yourself that are deep and personal. It’s a shame that most of these will inevitably end. A random meet up, an online date, a shop worker, the person on the train going to work, a customer in the queue, or a person at the bus stop. These people match your mood, energy, and humour but there is nothing else to bring you together. You remain strangers when you part ways until a day that you may see them again.
The overwhelming fear of losing friendships as we grow
I fear sometimes that life will separate me even more from the closest few in my life. The friends I grew up with have evolved on to different paths now. They have children and their lives have completely changed to nurture, care and love their children. I’m always in their thoughts, we speak and meet up on certain occasions but ultimately things could never be the same as before.
I often felt left behind because of my sexuality and lifestyle. During my growth I have realised that I am on my own path that starts with me. I am at a point where I can count my true friends, choose where I go and with whom I want to spend time with bearing no guilt or the need to feel validated or accepted by pleasing others. There have been events that I was not invited to because I have no children. While the people I grew up with can meet regularly to catch up and share memories. I’m not included in this because my lifestyle is different from theirs so I may be over looked, or there is an assumption I may not want to go because there are children there. The truth is I could not think of anything better than seeing my friend’s children grow and seeing my friends in a parental light and the love they share as a family.
But when is it time to make this decision before life does it for us?
Some of us hold onto friendships and relationships because of a history of connections when in reality these people are unsupportive, toxic, and self-centered. Although the initial connection was true and genuine, life has pulled them into a different direction or changed their priorities and they keep you in their lives because of what you supply them with. A support mechanism, a non-judgemental companion that will always be there to vent to, and pick up the pieces every time they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again despite the outcome being the same.
There are genuine times you are there for each other through a loss, support with life issues, or to have a good time. But the outcome will still result in a complete separation either because one will realise they are being used or the other may feel exhausted giving constant advice only to be met with backlash or resentment.
When I was at my worst, I was able to discern between those who were there for me because they actually care about my happiness and those who needed me in their lives because it was convenient for them. By the end of it, the truth always comes out and a painful yet relieving decision has to be made. You start putting yourself first.
What is the role of friendship in our lives?
A friend or companion should make you feel empowered, strong, encouraged, and valued. They will always find time to ask how you are despite the pain they might be going through in their own lives and you do the same for them. They will never intentionally let you down, take you for granted, or use you to vent their anger and blame you for their mistakes in order to validate their own decisions that are wrong or damaging.
Moreover, they will never throw anything back at you that you have confided or shared with them in confidence. And they teach you the value of our choices, they teach you to forgive and move on.
With their support, I have now developed the courage and forward thinking ability to decide who is no longer part of my life journey. I had some amazing and memorable moments with them where we laughed, cried, supported each other and flourished. However, a realisation eventually kicks in, that we’re different people and they’re not healthy or positive to be around for my mental health or well-being. With some people I will never look back and would rather not know them anymore. With others they will always have a place in my heart and I would never rule out reconnecting and sharing good times if life has that in store for us. But it will never be the same as it once was.
George Khoury walking towards a successful life and leaving the past behind
How to co-exist with a sense of self and friendship?
In order to continue to grow, we need to cut loose people that are not ready to move to the next stage of our lives. When you change, this disrupts the use you have for them and you will be held back and reminded of the old you that you are detaching from, and may receive hurtful comments and accusations that prevent you from moving forward. You will be caught in a never ending wheel of toxicity and negativity.
But take a breath and look around you to decide who really inspires you, makes you glow, shine, forego self-doubt, value your self-worth and uniqueness. Put yourself first and remove the barriers stopping you from reaching your goals and life purpose. You will see the benefits this will have in your life before you know it. You’ll realise that this is your life and you have the choice despite memories or connections. You’ve got this. See you on the sweeter side.
I’m an American of Anglo-European ancestry. My grandparents came to the U.S. in the 1930s, leaving everything behind to escape what they recognised as the omens of a devastating second world war
Unfortunately, they were correct. But besides having anticipated the coming of WWII, the other thing they did accurately was appreciating the value of volunteer service in their new country
One of my grandfathers engaged in charitable works for children who were affected by the Great Depression (1929-1939). On the other side of the family, my great-grandmother headed a ministry at her church in New York City benefitting members of the congregation, while my grandmother was one of the founding members of the volunteer ambulance corps auxiliary in our town.
Immigrants all, and heedless of any unwelcoming atmosphere, they proved themselves through devotion to others and won the respect and admiration of their communities. Often, they were the only foreigners in groups comprised of people who could trace their American roots to the country’s very foundation.
This was particularly true of the more affluent charity groups, but having lost their fortunes due to the vagaries of war, my ancestors had nothing but their time and their talents to offer.
Nearly a century later, the best tribute I can pay to their memory is to follow their example. For much of my youth and all my adult life, I have been engaged in charitable work in the various communities across the U.S. in which I’ve lived.
From making philanthropic donations to physically helping to build a house, serving on boards of directors or planning fundraising parties, reading stories in Spanish to non-English-speaking children or producing musical dramas with troubled inner-city teens, it has been my pleasure and my honour to work with these groups.
Among my cousins, the tradition of service has also remained strong. One went on to have a career as an official for FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) and even met with President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy.
Being a follower of Vedanta (it’s a long story!), I have come to know many Indian immigrants. I’m infinitely impressed by their kindness, their resourcefulness, and their enthusiasm. I appreciate their ambition and their desire to realize the dream of building a prosperous life in America.
However, I fear they sometimes settle for a superficial definition of success. Granted, everyone wants to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and be able to afford things like a house, car, and a good education for their children.
But we have a remark in America, to be “keeping up with the Joneses,” meaning one’s striving to compete with those who express themselves through what they buy, not what they are. Furthermore, some Indians who have taken me into their confidence said they endured scorn at the hands of successful fellow immigrants—sometimes even their own relatives—because they drove a non-luxury car, worked at a little-known company, lived in a less-prestigious neighbourhood, or some such criticism.
Meanwhile, these social critics flung themselves headlong into the hamster-wheel of American greed, focusing on little else besides amassing wealth, despite already having achieved a comfortable lifestyle.
I was friends with such a person, and tried explaining that having already achieved a modicum of prosperity, perhaps they could balance their lives with an investment in their community—for example, volunteering two or three hours per month with a worthy charity.
They were not interested. For all their intelligence and business acumen, they failed to see that the simplest of human acts—helping others—was the key they had overlooked to being more widely accepted in society.
Charitable organizations are a wonderful way to make friends in the community, to form personal bonds, and to learn valuable skills. Networking opportunities abound. A connection with a fellow volunteer could be forged within a few weeks which would otherwise take years in the less-informal business world, and such a connection could lead to unforeseen opportunities and support.
Furthermore, the circumstances at present are more favorable than ever for Indians and other immigrants to join boards of directors of nonprofit organizations. Many are actively looking to fill positions and—finally—have begun to realize the importance of diversity.
Individuals without prior board experience are usually very welcome as long as they are willing to learn, and often positions can be obtained simply by contacting the organisation and offering to serve on the board.
It’s also worth noting that board membership can sometimes be arranged even if one does not live or work in the area in which a charity operates; it’s common that board members can serve from anywhere in the country and attend meetings remotely.
America is a large country, and we have a wide variety of challenges. Indians are known for the strength of their devotion. I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering to ask themselves which condition or situation most strongly resonates with them, and then pursue a charity which serves that need.
Incidentally, volunteer work is becoming a more and more prized category on one’s C.V., so charity work may ultimately fuel career success. Also, it’s hardly limited to adults—there are opportunities for children and teens to get involved as well, which is an excellent way to prepare them for a life of empathy and consideration for others. I can’t think of any better way to ensure a child’s success.
If you are planning to emigrate, or if you are an immigrant, please make it a point to balance your career-work with volunteer service. Success is a many-faceted jewel. Your devotion may well produce results that were previously unimaginable.
Cinzi Lavin, an award-winning musical dramatist and writer
Cinzi Lavin, an award-winning artist from the States reached out to 2Shades to tell her story
When I read about her, I was shocked to find out how she isn’t better known for her contributions. But that wasn’t the point, Cinzi’s calm yet captivating approach to life is a distinct voice that 2Shades is honoured to provide a platform for.
Here’s how Cinzi’s journey with life has taught her a great deal about the unexpected turns it might take, and how you can make it easier for yourself, in her own words.
“Everyone’s success story is different. As an award-winning musical dramatist and writer, my work involves telling stories, so I’ll gladly share mine in hopes of inspiring others.
I’ve seen life from many angles: as a child growing up in a wealthy Manhattan suburb and as a young woman eking out a living as an impoverished musician. I’ve been a New Yorker and a Texan. I’ve been an actress, playwright, educator, and lifelong student (and may I never graduate!).
My career path, if it were printed out like an EKG reading, would look like someone having a coronary seizure. Far from straight and uneventful, it included forays into multiple fields in every direction. However, all the paths I followed—from journalism to teaching to performing (and more)—played a crucial role in developing the skill-set I use today.
Early on, I wanted to do amazing things, and I was good at writing and had an ear for music. I took piano lessons for a few years with a neighbor-woman, and I was her worst student. A few decades later, I’d created and produced three full-length original musical dramas and performed by invitation at the White House.
The short answer to the question of how I achieved this is that I made bread out of straw—I created something out of nothing. Circumstances dictated that if I wanted to enjoy success, it would take more than hard work, luck, ambition, or even talent: it would require my humanity, my creativity, and my ability to recognize that obstacles are only illusions.
Here are my three crucial components for success:
1.) Helping Others – There is much to gain by the intentional, systematic, unselfish, and abundant donation of your time and talents. Imagine someone putting a teaspoon of vegetable seeds in a hole in the ground and returning to discover a football-field size crop has grown from it.
I’m a huge proponent of volunteering, because it represents an opportunity to learn valuable skills in a supportive atmosphere, boosts confidence and self-esteem, and encourages networking which may lead to furthering your goals. Additional ways of helping others include always striving for a win-win scenario and mentoring others in your field.
2.) Thinking Creatively – Particularly when you start with nothing, creativity is a powerful way to optimize your talent. Always do things the way you think they should be done, even if it’s not how everyone else does it. In addition, don’t be afraid to utilize unique or unusual ways of promoting your work, such as lecturing in local clubs or libraries.
3.) Ignoring Obstacles – My artist’s statement is as follows: “As an artist, my two most valuable tools are my index fingers; when someone tries to point out obstacles to my dreams, I place them firmly in my ears and say, ‘La la la! I can’t hear you!’ It works every time.”
One of my favorite stories involves a young man who took a job selling encyclopedias door to door many years ago. On his first morning at work, his employer provided him with six sets of the heavy books; he put them into his car, and set forth. Around noon, he returned, saying “I’m ready for the next six sets to sell this afternoon.” His boss and his fellow salesmen were shocked. Nobody had told him that the six sets he’d received that morning were intended for him to sell during the upcoming month. Thinking the six encyclopedias were his morning’s quota, he didn’t suffer any preconceived failure.
As for success itself, I recommend that anyone aspiring to greatness not only define what they want but why they want it. For example, if you want to make a lot of money, it’s not the pieces of paper or the multi-digit numbers on your bank statement that you actually want—you want something the money represents, whether that be financial security, power, or the freedom to do whatever you wish with your time.
I highly recommend practicing economy in your career—not necessarily of money, but of everything good that comes your way. Envision a pathway to success where not a scrap is wasted. During America’s Great Depression in the 1930s, when money and resources were scarce, there was a popular saying: “Use it up, wear it out; make it do, or do without.” People did what they could to make the most of whatever they had. They even created a recipe for a delicious dessert called “Water Pie”!
One of my favorite films is Apollo 13. It recounts the true story of America’s 1970 mission to the moon, during which things went terribly wrong. An oxygen tank ruptured two days into the flight, endangering the crew members, whose life-support system was disabled. The film shows how the three astronauts, with help from NASA’s ground control workers, improvised a means of reestablishing the carbon dioxide filter system using various materials foraged in the tiny spacecraft.
The first time I saw the film, I was spellbound, watching the men in outer space—whose only hope for survival depended upon whatever they had with them that could be used to make the necessary repair. Suddenly, inconsequential bits of plastic tubing or similarly unremarkable items literally meant the difference between life and death. It impressed upon me the importance of taking nothing for granted, and of utilizing everything at one’s disposal even when survival isn’t at stake. Put another way, if those astronauts could save their own lives more than 200,000 miles from our planet with a few bits and bobs they collected in their space capsule, what more could I do here on earth with a wealth of resources available to me? (Not least of which is oxygen!)
In pursuit of your dream, waste nothing; treasure every networking connection, every professional invitation, and every promotional opportunity. I rejoice for those for whom success is within easy reach, but those who are starting with nothing are the ones whom I congratulate, because the world of possibilities opens before them.”
George Khoury, a 40-year old bouncer who touched our souls at 2Shades on our night out, unaware that we’d be meeting an angel at the doorstep of a pub in Elephant & Castle
He will be writing for 2Shades whenever his wisdom takes the wheels and he’s got plenty of it.
George Khoury’s, “Let’s start with you” in his own words.
“One of the deepest yearnings I’ve had is to learn and understand who I am, what my purpose is, what I need to do to continue to grow, develop and flourish. This is something that each of us require to feel true happiness, ensuring we put ourselves first and utilise the people and opportunities around us to be the best version of ourselves that we can. This emphasis on your own existence is what really brings about the concept of self-love.
George Khoury
“If you don’t love yourself, who else will….” These are the truest words that my mother once told me. I remember hearing this but not truly listening or understanding the implications.
What do we want for the people and things we love? To protect them and keep them safe, to make them happy, support them through difficult times, encourage them to understand their self-worth, their positive qualities, develop their strengths while improving and managing their weaknesses. We would do anything for these people to show them that life is worth living and that everything will be okay. There is a sense of fulfilment and joy that comes with encouraging someone to shine. In most cases the person that loses out on this support, encouragement, and love is ourselves. How can someone who has been there your whole life be unappreciated, disregarded, and sacrificed?
From birth we are pure, vulnerable, and dependent. We are a product of the life we are born into. We learn what we’re shown and understand the world in that way. Our surroundings become our reality and we are told what is right and wrong, what our values should be, what is important, what is expected, and how we can be as happy or successful as the people before us. Everyone needs a mentor, a support mechanism, and a community that helps you build the road ahead rather than leave you to find your own way in a complicated and challenging world,
I was born into a mixture of cultures, ethnicities, and languages. I always knew I was a boy but I didn’t care. My gender was fluid and not defined. I was allowed to be a curious child and was never judged or labelled from a very young age.
I was occasionally asked at the after-school club “are you a girl or a boy?” With my long hair that I could tie into a small ponytail like my fathers. He has always been my hero. He is strong, brave, resilient, and gives everything he has to better himself and provide for his family. The first one to respond to a loud noise at night and the first one out of the door to get to work early and put food on the table. These are qualities that are inspiring and meant that I was lucky enough to have a strong father figure in my life. My only issue was feeling that I would never be good enough or be able to make him proud.
From the moment I started year 7 I stood out from everyone else. I was a positive and curious soul who wanted to make friends and learn. The reality was much different. Either the pupils were confused by the way I was, felt threatened or generally disliked me because I did not fit the idealistic norms of society. The people who did want to be my friend had to accept the burden of being associated with me. The name calling, being singled out, laughed at, scrutinised and analysed daily. Everyone wants an easy life and I made things complicated for them by being me, whatever that was.
My entire being contradicted the norms that these young people had been adapted to. Male presenting with a feminine and caring nature and a distinct voice that people associated with being gay. That was my reality and if it wasn’t for the values, morals, and wisdom that my parents had planted deep into my consciousness, I can honestly say that I would not be here today.
The physical and emotional abuse I was subjected to on a daily basis took away my light, my uniqueness and my purpose. It labelled and categorised me into boxes I didn’t understand or choose for myself. How could I defend something I didn’t understand or have the opportunity to identify and love? I was already what they called me and was in a body that I had no emotional connection to.
The only way I could survive was to try my hardest to be what everyone felt was normal. Lowering my voice and using less of an emotive tone, restricting my natural body movements to not stand out, trying to please everyone to make them happy and in return feel accepted and included with an actual purpose.
George Khoury
As I turn 40 and reflect on my life, I realise that there was never an issue with me at all. I have always been that same happy and glowing soul I was when I was a child. The world twisted and pulled me into a box I couldn’t fit into no matter how much I tried to.
It took losing myself and wanting a way out of this life to truly understand how special and unique I am. Exactly what my parents had been trying to show me from a young age, and why they would get so angry and disappointed in me for not recognising it. They knew I could do better and be a more successful version of myself and that the potential was always there.
This came across as disappointment and never feeling like I could be the child they wanted. I came across a key ring my parents bought me for my birthday which I never took real notice of at the time. It was during a low moment where I had to try really hard to get up and do anything.
It said “…if we could give you one thing in life, we would give you the ability to see yourself through our eyes. Only then would you realise how special you are to us,” This was the turning point for me and after wiping my tears I realised who I was, and saw the purpose I have in the world, something I had never been able to do. In this life you need to listen to the people who love you unconditionally whoever they are and find your people. If I hadn’t found my queer community and beautiful people that see me as I am without any other judgement or labelling, I would never have believed that I was an actual human being that was allowed to be me and not what the world bullied me into becoming.
I am a glowing ray of positive energy that walks through life climbing the barriers and mountains that humanity have placed in my way and keeping my fire burning no matter how cold or dark it gets, however windy or overwhelming things are, no matter how much my anxiety tries to hold me still and stop me growing, I will carry this light to bring happiness and laughter into the world.
Challenging discrimination, bullying and representing every minority that exists in this world through my gender, sexuality, and ethnic background, I will keep being me, as this was what I was always created to do.
Look after yourself and remember that it all starts with you. You can only give all of your love and soul if you have your housekeeping in order and this starts with knowing who you are. Not the constructed and created you by society, peers, and family but the true being that you are with no deflection or distraction from the issues that come with living. The beautiful, unique, and wonderful you, Let’s start there, let’s start with you.”
Alex said, “Tarot is there to reaffirm your intuition, it’s not there to replace your intuition. It’s an inner knowing”
There are days when I can’t seem to arrange my thoughts in a linear fashion. I catch myself in moments like these and ask myself, what am I trying to align myself to?
I listen to music and await a lyric to collide in my mind to feel heard and define a state of misalignment.
I read books to familiarise myself with situations of a fictional character and believe that I was meant to read that one line in a chapter according to the universe’s clock.
It comforts me to know that in moments of despair and blinding confusion, art and spirituality exists to create a bridge that leads me out of a complex forest and into a community park where everyone re-energises.
Sometimes I lay on the grass with my eyes closed and an open book napping on my chest. Shadows of people eclipse the brightness of the sun behind my eyelids as they walk past me. And in the blissful presence of nature and humanity, I seek messages from my version of a spiritual podcast, a tarot reading video.
I’m fascinated by the soothing voices of tarot readers. I always wonder how radiant their energy must be in real life to sit down for hours and tune into intuitive channelled messages from the spirit realm.
How did they even begin? When did they know this is who they were meant to be?
My dear friend Alex Reads Tarot’s words resurfaced and her introduction to tarot amused me. She said, “I kind of sat one night and I thought, what am I doing? This is not me. Something in me just flipped a switch and it felt like I’m meant to be somewhere else.
I saw readers on TikTok, people like Curious Magpie and Madam Adam and I was just mesmerised. I thought, this is incredible. I’d only heard about tarot but this inspired me to get a deck of cards. I wanted the original. I’m very traditional. If I’m going to learn something, I have to do it the traditional way and then I can go for the fancy stuff. Ever since the first day I got my deck of cards, which I still have nearly five years on, I never parted ways. I slept with them under my pillow. I carried them around with me every day doing different spreads. I was just so invested in it, something just felt right. It felt like a missing limb that I’d finally found.”
There’s a purity in Alex’s connection to tarot that I understand now but I can’t lie when I say I questioned if tarot was even true. And if it is, I found the accuracy of the messages so bizarre that my belief turned into scepticism. How can an entire collective of people be going through the same thing?
There’s nothing sweeter than hearing the words, “They’re thinking about you right now. They wish to contact you.” The temptation of these words from a lost love filled me with hope and anger. Anger at the tarot reader who stirred my dormant emotions and anger at myself for allowing them to say the words I wanted to hear.
My ego convinced me that I was being fooled but a deep desire wished the message was true. It is true because it’s my desire, the tarot reader simply reflected the thoughts I hoard in denial.
I scanned the comments section to see if others felt the same way, I wanted someone to validate my doubts for a cheeky laugh. But to my surprise I saw people using words of hatred to demean the tarot reader, I wouldn’t go so far.
Among many nasty comments they famously say, “Stop feeding my delulu!” A valiant act to protect their own ego, so did I when I bothered to read the comments section because hurt can be a hard pill to swallow. The struggle to accept brews into hatred when we fail to acknowledge the simple emotion of missing someone, that we do wish they would contact us and that life feels sad without them.
Alex said, “The word ‘delulu’ really does irk me. But I’ve had to learn over the years to just let people actually delude themselves with their own delulu buying into it. Which to me is kind of ironic you know, you’re almost setting the intention that it’s delusional. You’re essentially saying that it’s therefore not possible for you. It’s the classic phrase, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You can give advice, but it’s up to people how they use it.”
I wanted to educated myself, I googled, “What exactly is Tarot?” and the answer is quite plain and simple. Tarot does not predict the future, it gives you guidance and insight in the present moment. It’s a useful tool to align our current situation to our manifestations and our authenticity.
That became a healthy filter to have in my brain to navigate whom I can trust when I come across readers online, it urges me to be real with myself in the moment. I see a few readers who interrupt my scrolling to say, “STOP! This message is for you!” and I immediately think, don’t tell me what to do?
But there’s a few whom I intuitively feel drawn to, their aura matches mine and my energy feels safe to intermingle with theirs.
It could be their sense of taste, their style of delivering a message or just my intuition, the reasons are varied. But I ask my heart, do I want to receive this message? Does it provide reason for the voices I have circulating in my mind? And if it doesn’t, I do indeed scroll away.
Alex added, “I sometimes have readers that I don’t follow or haven’t come across before. And I get a bit of a feeling that maybe I wouldn’t connect so well with that person. I always listen to my intuition. But do I send them hate? No, I send them absolute love and I thank them for their service.
The best readers, in my own humble opinion (which is that there are no best readers), are the ones who can harness such a deep connection with tarot, you don’t just look for the generic meanings. You have to kind of overlay it with intuition. And that’s allowing that inner feeling to just go with it. It doesn’t have to make sense to other people. A 1000 people could look at a painting and interpret it differently. And that’s almost like tarot, you might be drawn to the knapsack or the colour yellow, or the symbology of the tunic. It’s allowing that intuitive nature to override and work with the generic meaning as well.”
The concept of tarot runs across generations as a form of witchcraft, taboo and mystical voodoo. The representation of tarot in films and shows have always been about a kooky woman dressed in either ragged clothes or absurd ornaments in a dingy lair that accentuates her connection to the unknown.
The undertone of portraying them as crazy women or evil witches can cause a stereotype for our automatic rejection towards it. Alex said it best, “People often fear what they don’t know.”
In recent times, tarot has transformed into an entertaining practice that people do for fun as a party trick, while some rely on it to seek guidance or advice. What’s more, literally anyone can learn tarot! Try it, you’re not going to burst into flames.
But there exists a community of extreme religionists who wish to send the art form its messengers to hell before they can even attempt to live out their purpose.
Alex shared a similar sentiment by saying, “As readers, we’re kind of expected to take on the brandishing that we are satanic, that we’re demonic and that we are evil. I get told quite a lot that I need to turn towards the light, and that I need to repent for my sins. And for me, I’ve always been very accepting.
I don’t care if you’re a Buddhist, if you’re a Hindu, if you’re a Christian, there’s such a big Christian and Catholic community in my AlexReadsTarot community and they are very respectful. They see it as God’s work or however they view it. You can have your faith and still enjoy tarot. As long as you’re not using your faith as ammunition against someone’s choice for how they live.”
When you’re divinely connected to any art form, there’s a powerful journey an individual takes to solely focus inward. It’s not easy to maintain the perfect measurement of self-confidence all of the time but it matters very little what others have to say about the inexplicable relationship between an artist and their art.
It also comes with the realisation that not everyone can be pleased and that someone will be disappointed. A portion of people will retaliate, ridicule, resonate with it fully and obsess over it more than they need to. They accept the rejection and move along the course of satisfying their soul.
Alex continues, “I think the biggest thing that I’ve kind of come to, I think it’s for my own comfort, because being any kind of creator on social media, you are expected to take the rough with the smooth, you are expected to take people’s hatred, people’s negativity. And for me, I do fortunately have a very good support system. But I’m still a human being.”
I have personally misjudged tarot readers and spiritual healers a lot too. I thought they dressed simple, were out of touch with material pleasures, embodied a holier-than-thou persona and slept with a cross on their nose. I assumed that nothing could break their resilience, that anger or sadness were fleeting emotions after much penance and are always at peace in the face of all adversities.
After meeting a lot of professional psychic mediums, I realised I was wrong; they live just like us and are learning about life just as much as we are. They only wish to pull out an inner wisdom that resides within us. And offer words that reverberate a positive, healing perspective.
Alex agreed and added, “But you know, it’s not a 24 hour kind of hotline. Your tarot reader is not your therapist or best friend. I get a lot of people asking me, do you do emergency readings? I’ve always vowed that I would never do an emergency reading because for me as a reader, a huge red flag in a client is when they use phrasing like, this is urgent I’m struggling! I actually message these people privately and say, what are we actually talking about here? Because for me, if you’re in such an intense need for reading, I don’t know if it’s always the right thing to do because then you’re depending on a reading. When you’re not then actually listening to yourself.
I do have compassion for people in a sense, because some people are just really lonely and struggling. And a lot of people say, I can’t speak to anyone about this, you’re the only person. And I do take that on with such care and compassion with anything. But there have been the odd occasions where people have crossed over that boundary repeatedly. And I think it has taught me to make sure that my boundaries are clear.”
What I admire most about some of the professional tarot readers I follow is that they level with me, they’re unafraid to tell me they go through the same struggles, they’re silly and yet so unique. They allow me to see them for who they are while delivering exactly what I need to hear and not what I want to hear.
I thoroughly enjoy readers who let their hair down and express that they’ve had a bad week. Or that they followed a similar pattern of toxic relationships and took a long time to make peace with difficult family situations. It’s human, ordinary but magical at the same time.
Alex concluded by saying, “I think that for me personally, it’s understanding that you don’t have to just meditate or journal. Some of us are just not equipped to deal with things in such a calm way. We need something that’s a bit more fiery and aggressive to get it out. Like I go for a drive and blast some loud music. So that’s really how I kind of do it, which I’ve learned how to accept. I’m not like a 5D Star Ascension love and light person. I’m very real. I’m just like, yeah, let’s get angry and then let’s get through this and then we’re okay.
Some of us experience happiness in bigger waves than others. But the beauty of being human is that it’s a spectrum. And if you deny yourself essentially half of that, you’re denying yourself of exploring half of who you are.
Accept that you are going to be aggressive, you are going to be annoying, you are going to be mopey, you are going to be maybe anxious at times and a bit of a nervous wreck. If you can accept that, you’re just going to be accepting who you are. And that is what we’re here to do.”
Sam Grierson said, “After my best friend took her own life, I stopped writing. I couldn’t write anymore. I met Michelle and she told me to give myself a nudge. And I went on holiday a few weeks later, and I sat on a beach in Croatia. And I hear her in my head, give yourself a nudge. And I thought to myself, you know, I’m autistic.
We’re not supposed to have big emotions. But I was having massive emotions for Jenny taking her own life. And I missed her. She’d been my best friend since I was four. And I completely missed her. And I’m thinking, I am having colossal emotions here. How is it possible that autistic people don’t feel?”
I’ve had the honour of watching Sam’s short film The Programme which is set to release in November. Her writing and direction of this enterprise made me feel a thousand emotions at once.
It’s about a non-binary and autistic character called ‘Drum’ played by Granite Harbour actress, Michelle Jeram who is interviewed by an AI robot. The purpose of this film is for the AI robot to gather information on a neurodivergent individual’s feelings and emotions to navigate how to treat them in the future.
The conversation between the AI robot (played by Sherise Blackman) and Drum was a painful watch and in many ways, made me feel seen and a huge reminder of the empathy we lack as human beings. The urgency to separate what’s normal and abnormal in people through labels, assumptions and ignorance is the root of all the divide.
People often forget that the spectrum of neurodiversity is far too varied to be generalised. There’s a reason why people say “they’re on a spectrum” after being diagnosed or familiarising themselves with certain traits. With this context in mind, Sam’s work deeply reflects how feelings and emotions also lie on an infinite spectrum that cannot be classified.
Sam explains, “Autistic people are shut down and shut up so often. I just wanted them to be able to express themselves and just talk. So I wrote the film to talk about grief and loneliness because they’re big feelings we don’t talk about. And again, as a neurodivergent person, what does that look like for us? And Drum’s not trying to be every neurodivergent person, it’s just a story by a person. But by letting them articulate their feelings, big, deep feelings, I just wanted to let people sit without uncomfortableness”
The essence of discomfort Sam speaks of while watching any of her creative explorations is an attempt to free the mind and elevate us to all forms of acceptance.
How often, as human beings, do we come across a story, feel a rush of emotions based on our own life experiences and settle on an opinion? Or, in some cases, feel so unsettled that the world becomes a projection of our emotions?
However, that’s exactly what Sam tries to portray through her work, we’re all human and equally messed up, neurodivergent or not. We’re all invited to feel the emotions that we do in our own ways. The keyword being feel and to be courageous to sit with ourselves, allow the voices to speak to us and initiate transformation through self-acceptance.
Sam mentioned, “Liz and I run workshops, we start all the workshops on the left hand side of the room, we put flip charts up and we say, right, what does autism look like? What does grief look like? And then can you express your emotions, for example, right? So we’ll put these on flip charts. And then Liz will interview me a little bit about why I wrote the film and then we’ll watch the film. Then we purposefully take a break. We let people go to the loo or whatever and just sit with it for a minute. We bring them back in the room and we say, right, talk about the film for a bit. And before they go, we do the flip charts again but on the other side of the room. We say, right, what does autism look like? What does grief look like? And can you express your emotions?
Sponsor and Film Producer, Liz Crutchley with Sam Grierson now working on a new feature film, ‘Station’
Every single person who’s ever been to our workshops has transformed in that two hour period from what they wrote and thought when they came in, to what they wrote and thought when they left, because we have challenged people, we have moved people’s perception. And the reason that we were able to do that is because we’re telling the story. And we’re able to draw people into Drum’s world and see it through Drums’ eyes in a really personal way. And so for me, what do I want to achieve? It’s that. It’s taking people’s perception beforehand and coming out the other side and transforming it. I think most people who’ve seen the film said they needed to watch it again.”
I had to watch it two or three times myself, not to make sense of the character, but mainly to make sense of my own emotions. I went through a spectrum of thoughts watching The Programme because at times I felt the writing was peeling into my heart like a stranger breaking into my house but I allowed it to happen?
At times I felt a wave of sympathy for Drum’s character for being dehumanised by the AI robot when they not only answered the questions, but also bravely articulated every ounce of their misery. Only to be shot down for digressing or being “vague”.
Sam has evolved to a state of living where she challenges herself to do things and think differently but also does everything her creative soul tells her to do. She has a wonderful community of people who share her vision to allow people to go beyond themselves and into themselves.
Executive Producer, Claire Brown with Sam Grierson
Soundtrack writer and artist, Megan Black with Sam Grierson
She continues to represent the neurodivergent community through her storytelling but also wishes to create a space for everyone to feel safe to express themselves. She works selflessly to include all voices to have a platform through her projects to spread an important message.
Sam said, “I’d like you to think differently, the other side of it. And I really want to hear from people. We’re going to put it out in November, free, because all my content is free. I really want to talk about neurodiversity. So I don’t charge for anything. It’s all self-funded. I just do it because I want to do it. I want to tell these stories. I’m going to put it out.
I really, really want people to get in touch with me and tell me what it did. What did it do? How did it make you feel? If you don’t like it, fine. Tell me why you didn’t like it. I don’t need you to like it. I don’t need you to love my film. But did it make you have some kind of emotional reaction? Yeah, that’s what I want to do. That’s what I want to do with all my audio plays, all my stories. I want to provoke an emotional reaction in people.”
And just like her audacious podcast, “Daring to be Different” Sam holds no grudge with criticism and opinions. When someone like herself enters a space of inspiration through service to the world and a community, it doesn’t matter what people think, it only matters what they feel and what they desire to share.
She is in the works of another project set in Glasgow called ‘Station’ about a man in a train station having conversations with fellow travellers to explore a multicultural perspective to life.
Director of Photography, James Peakman with Samantha Grierson
What I will say about Sam’s work before you experience it for yourself is that she always ends it with a twist. A stomach-curling, pillow-grabbing and mind-bending twist that leaves you hungry for more.
Her purpose towards people is to provide an outlet for limitless perception that without intention, without bias or any kind of expectation or outcome, re-programmes us to lead with our hearts.
Watch the trailer of ‘The Programme’ by Sam Grierson
Saugat Adhikari shares his mission with MagicalNepal and narrates the paths and souls he met along the way
As I sit comfortably in my office, the clacking of my keyboard often pales in comparison to the echoing steps against the rugged trails of the Himalayas—that’s where my heart truly lies.
My name’s Saugat Adhikari, I’m about to share with you stories that traverse beyond the peaks of those formidable mountains to delve into the very essence of adventure, culture, and life’s unanticipated joys.
Picture credit: MagicalNepal
The inception of MagicalNepal in 2015 marked a turning point in my life. My career had been a labyrinth of digital marketing ventures; SEO and PPC were the languages I spoke fluently.
Yet, it was the serene whispers of nature that called out to me, beckoning me to pivot towards something more profound—high-altitude trekking in the majestic landscapes of Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.
When you allow the mountains to be your guide, every trek becomes an anthology of human experiences. The first chapter invariably begins with anticipation—bag packed, boots tied, and soul yearning for the untamed wilderness.
As I took my initial steps, the heartbeats resonated with the uneven terrain, and a sense of symbiosis with Mother Nature ensued. The air, crisp and thin, was both a challenge for the body and a rejuvenation for the spirit.
The connection with the locale goes beyond the physical journey. The remote teahouses perched on the edges of the trails have served me not just steaming cups of butter tea, but stories steeped in generations-worth of tradition.
The landscapes of Nepal. Picture credit: James Wheeler via Pexels
Their walls, much like parchment, bear the tales of countless trekkers, etched in the wear of the wood and stone. Every time I converse with the natives, there’s an unspoken exchange—a transfer of wisdom, resilience, and contentment. I’ve been humbled time and again by their profound sense of community and unrivaled hospitality.
An encounter that vividly stands out took place during a trek to the Everest base camp. One evening, I ventured into a modest, lantern-lit teahouse in Dingboche. An old Sherpa man, his face carved with lines that told of a lifetime spent amid the harsh elements, shared his pride, fears, and the transformative impact tourism had on his homeland.
The narrative was not just his but echoed the voice of the entire local populace. It impressed upon me the depth and nuances of the socio-cultural landscape these communities navigate—a story that needed to be chronicled, to be heard.
Sustainability, a word often tossed around too causally, assumes a formidable weight when you witness the fragile balance of life in these high-altitudes. Promoting responsible tourism is not a mere marketing angle for us at MagicalNepal; it’s a pact with the land and its people.
Our efforts continually steer toward empowering the local economy, preserving their indigenous culture, and safeguarding the environment. We don’t see trekkers as customers; they’re partners in our shared mission of conscientious exploration.
Equally stirring are the tales of the trekkers themselves. Individuals from the far corners of the globe, united by the allure of these terrains, become part of an eclectic mosaic. Each bringing their idiosyncratic outlook and life experiences, they merge into the tapestry of the trek.
A happy community of trekkers with MagicalNepal
Like the Israeli army veteran who found solace in the silence of the mountains post-service, or the cancer survivor who defied her physical limitations to bask in the glory of the Annapurna sunrise—every trekker pens a unique passage in this narrative.
Yet, it isn’t only about the transcendence of the soul or the physical triumphs; it’s also about confronting realities. I’ve witnessed global warming’s firsthand effects, monsoon variations, and the resultant impact on the trails and the lives reliant on them. Experiences like these mandate a chronicle, a lesson that what we do in the lowest valleys casts shadows upon the highest peaks.
However, it’s not all solemn. Reveling in intercultural exchanges during shared meals, discovering common ground over a game of cards, or the collective groan as the cold of the night sets in—these moments paint joy across the canvas of toil. It’s the laughter in the face of adversity that cements a group of strangers into lifelong friends.
Through my lens, the quintessential narrative of high-altitude trekking is a sensorial anthology. It’s the gust of wind against your face, the murmur of a distant river, the sturdiness of the rocky path beneath your feet, the aroma of pine mixed with the earthiness of rain-soaked soil, and the visual panorama of undulating terrains crowned by snow-clad peaks piercing the skies.
Each of these elements, when woven together, creates a tapestry so vivid and intricate that it demands to be shared. With 2Shades Magazine, I see an opportunity to craft a mosaic of experiences that celebrates the human spirit’s capability to thrive within nature’s vast amphitheater.
The stories I propose are not mine alone; they belong to the faces behind the prayer flags, to the travelers who’ve become part of these mountain narratives, and to the landscape that governs us all.
I am not just sharing articles; I’m entrusting you with the very chapters of my life etched by the altitude, and in turn, humanising the heartbeat of these treks.
Plan your next peak climbing challenge in the Himalayas with MagicalNepal
Here’s to tales of resilience, moments of blissful clarity, and the indomitable essence of the human experience—all from the vantage point where Earth meets sky, and stories linger in the thin air, waiting to be recounted. Welcome to the journey through my lens.
Have a look at MagicalNepal’s travel packages and itinerary on their website if you fancy taking a trekking trip to the Himalayas, but more importantly, to create your own story for a lifetime.
2Shades Magazine 