Peace Amidst Rage

Quietude, Beloved,
Disclosed to those committed
To her self truly—
Close all doors and windows. Stay.
Rainstorm will end soon.

———————————————————-

Stay within and be calm. Heavy rain, flood, typhoon whatever in rage outside this home won’t destroy you. Just be there and be safe. Just don’t go out!

There is no dance in the rain this time for the acid will harm the hides. Stay. Stay. Stay.

Steam will be cool droplets with short contact with fresh air. Just a little while.

the best way is hibernation

Useful link: https://www.livescience.com/amp/why-we-sleep-brain-study.html

She’s A See-Through

Clear sight, Beloved,
Right, clean lens at the right time—
Can you see her through?

————————————————————

The older I am getting, the worse this eyesight is growing. Just last week I decided to buy reading spectacles because of so many errors in identifying tenten (double apostrophe) and maru (circle), two grammatical markers added to hiragana and katakana characters especially that affect minimal pair of voices /p/ and /b/.

It’s fine, at least I can see myself clearer. Liking it or not, it’s me. 😘

May all beings be happy.

reading glasses! bloody hell! that old I am 😏

Seeking You

Chaos, Beloved,
Gives orders to those seeking
Constellations.

——————————————————-

Dear Self,

With little “light pollution” we can look up to the sky and see millions of stars blinking to us. Small and big, dim and bright, near and distant, at one glance they seem like dots of sands spread on the floor – messy and scattered. Yet after these eyes get used to the focal points, there are patterns. With these constellations our ancestors read directions and made decisions whether they were going sailing, whatever they were growing or what nature would present soon.

There is sky within ourselves where we can stare up seeking clusters of stars, gleaming dots and glowing patches in the darkest of the mind. The chaotic mind isn’t necessarily bad. The mind is simply rolling out all memories to see or listen to or touch or taste or smell in order to find the messages and directions of what to do and where to go.

It takes a bit of silence for a while to realise that the crowded mind is full with clusters of messages and hidden wisdom. It takes a minute or two to calm down the helter-skelter on the day. It simply takes a short focus on the breathing to do it.

That simple, Self. That simple, that a few believe it works.

Salaam….

the bright in the dark – Cygnus that is clearly seen in September. soon 🥰

About Cygnus: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_(constellation)

Numbers

Numbers, Beloved
Symbols of the countable
Your blessings and grace

*

or the uncountable, the countless if we are not capable of it

————————————————————

A friend —not close— changed her Instagram account name, it now includes 333. She’s fond of recurring sequential numbers especially 333, 3333, etc. She’s posted tons of photos of her treasured 333 or 3333 found in bank notes, amount of money in her book keeping (she is a finance manager), vehicle plate numbers, coffee shop bills, receipts, time in her mobile phone, everything and anything with 333 or more. Angelic number. Angka cantik!

When I asked her why she likes 3333, she said that when she first joined a community called “1111”, 333 was the first angelic number she met so since then she’s fallen in love with 333.

How simply Life makes someone connect with one’s self!

When I said to her that recently I’ve seen 1111, she said it is a wake up call. I asked for what? She said maybe my guardian angel is blahblahblah.

Didn’t tell her that 1111 is often visible because ComfortDelgro taxi is my preferred taxi, whose phone number is 65521111 painted on the car body. Hailing it, I see 1111. Sitting in it, I see 1111. In the apps, I see 1111. 😁

But hey! Subconsciously I pay more attention on twin numbers now. Aside from Citycab’s 1111, 65558888 is SMRT taxi, 65553333 is Trans Cab (should send it to her), etc…. Almost all taxi fleets in Singapore are angelic. Aww!

Ok, back to 1111. Maybe the angel is trying to tell me “one, one, one, one” in other words “take a deep breath, one at a time”. Yes! Now I believe in 1111 as a message. So simple!

Salaam….

from Pinterest

Pranata Mangsa (Javanese Wisdom)

August, Beloved
Earth is thirsty and open.
Second crop should come.

————————————————————

Pranata mangsa literally means season (mangsa) rules (pranata). It is a structured rules for farmers and fishermen in Javanese culture with which they make their plans in growing plants and harvesting the sea. This comprehension was also implemented in Sundanese (major ethnic group in West Java) and Balinese (major ethnic group in Bali). Some European ethnic groups did have this, too like Bauern calendar in Germany.

There are 12 mangsa (seasonal cycles) in Javanese pranata mangsa.

  1. Kasa (Kartika) – Jun. 22 to Aug. 1 
  2. Karo (Poso) – Aug. 2-24
  3. Katelu – Aug. 25 to Sep. 17
  4. Kapat (Sitra) – Sep. 18 to Oct. 12
  5. Kalima (Manggala) – Oct. 13 to Nov. 8
  6. Kanem (Naya) – Nov. 9 to Dec. 21
  7. Kapitu (Palguna) – Dec. 22 to Feb. 2 
  8. Kawolu (Wasika) – Feb. 3-28
  9. Kasanga (Jita) – Mar. 1-25
  10. Kasadasa (Srawana) – Mar. 26 to Apr. 18
  11. Dhesta (Pradawana) – Apr. 19 to May 11
  12. Sadha (Asuji) – May 12 to Jun. 21

The dates are adjusted every four years due to the 365 and 366 days in a year (leap year).

Javanese would grow certain seeds in each mangsa because in those particular mangsa the earth metabolism have specifically different characteristics suit certain plants to grow; and so, growing them will both maximise the crops and mitigate hazards to the soil.

And the Javanese fishermen would go to sea on certain mangsa and wouldn’t in the others or if they went, they knew which directions they would go as in certain parts of sea is in rage or the sea habitat isn’t ready to present crops to the men. Combined with the ethnoastronomy, the pranata mangsa was a powerful tool for Javanese fishermen in their golden era. No more though 🥴

Pranata mangsa was developed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of both the human beings and the environment. That’s confirmed and proven for ages!

However, this powerful pranata mangsa has been left if not forgotten by the owner. Instead the owner has started using the modern no-season farming and fishery where earth is raped and tortured to cater for the human being greed. The Javanese have betrayed both their own identity and the environment by leaving the pranata mangsa.

Do we really need so much? Or do we want so much?

Maybe it has come to a time to apologise to the earth goddess (called Batari Sri in Javanese, the one given authority by God to take care of soil) and the ocean god (called Batara Baruna in Javanese, the one given authority to take care of water)— they might have screamed for so long because of us, we who don’t care of the risks of harmful fertilisers and irresponsible sea harvesting both to us and to the earth.

Maybe it has come to a time to start healing them that are almost broken and exploding, and healing ourselves for having been greedy and selfish.

Salam….

Useful link #1: https://www.salamyogyakarta.com/pranoto-mongso/

Useful link #2: https://fpb.uksw.edu/detail_post/news/masih-relevankah-pranata-mangsa-di-era-globalisasi-ini

Need Some Stupid Conversation

We are all born naked
Dressed differently in death. What—
Would we do in life?

—————————————————————

Would keep laughing at myself in life because there are many comic moments in life (tragedy + time = comedy) — like being born every time, nakedly honest in front of own self

And would love to live around those who can see wisdom from what we’ve laughed at or jokes in wisdom— pure laughter, no humiliation, no underestimation, but yeah sweet insult 🤪

Can’t imagine how boring to live with those who can’t even laugh seeing their face on the mirror…. 🥳

Can’t wait to meet my best people and laugh at this life, accompanied with home made snacks and favourite drinks! Wisdom, jokes, social politic gossip and some stupid “garing” guessing games as always 🤓

Time is relative so next year can feel like one hour from now!

Climbing Vines

A tree, Beloved
Dies of climbing harmful vines.
Pull them to revive.

———————————————————-

Pull away gently the harmful vines that climb a tree in a garden to stop them from growing too wildly and finally leave the tree breathless and lack of sun then die slowly….

Knowing which vines are harmful is the first step.

So excited about next year to plant a tree in the home base’s tiny garden. Thanks to a good friend in Ubud who is willing to graft her arum ndalu tree for me.

Dear Pandemic, be mild and friendly. Don’t you know I want to see my home for just one weekend. Please…. 🤕

This homesickness feels like vines that climb a strong tree.

Dear, Self. Pull them away gently….

May all beings be happy.

can’t even identify what tree it is

Useful link from which the photo is borrowed and some additional knowledge about tree and vines: https://www.nashvilletreeconservationcorps.org/treenews/what-to-do-about-vines-growing-on-your-tree

Keep Learning!

Words don’t end as words.
They wait for context to be:
Fact? Opinion?

————————————————————

Why should be afraid of using precise words —gathered in a context— clear context of statement, question, request or exclamation if it is to positively convey a message and/or to get expected responses?

I found some people are shy if not afraid of conveying messages because of unsuccessful experiences of getting the messages passed on to the others clearly. They thought the failure was purely theirs. No, not at all!

Know, Self that some people don’t have the tools to comprehend certain messages; it can be because of limitation of language, intelligence, culture, perception, intention, name it…. In fact some others simply don’t want to listen.

When the message isn’t well comprehended, an equivalent response most probably will be delivered, which is unpleasant and/or unclear one.

It is not nice to fail in communication. Only true learners never give up trying. 👍🏽

Communication is about intention as intrinsic factor (make sure it is good) and skill as extrinsic. Both take time to be mature. Yet, in whatever stage of maturity both don’t always collaborate at times.

Hell yeah! I’m talking about myself! Next time better, much better than today’s me.

May all beings be happy.

going back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – where am I, where am I?

Magically Blessed

Magic, Beloved,
Scented, shaped, coloured. Travelled
By sea, land and air—

————————————————————

There are many choices of flowers and leaves imported from Down Under recently. Protea, leucadendron, silver bell eucalyptus pods, Geraldton wax flower, eryngium big blue, eucalyptus leaves, etc appear in the flower shop.

As they don’t come every month like roses, chrysanthemum and spider lily, I grabbed them fast. Greedy? Please don’t. Let’s call it excited. 😌

These flowers and leaves prove to be not only pretty but also aromatically medicative. Imagine working breathing eucalyptus for at least one week. Ya, they last longer than roses, chrysanthemum and spider lily.

I think I’ve received a lot of blessing and healing through travelling, flowers and food most time of life, particularly recently. There is nothing better to thank but breathing deeply and chewing slowly with all heart and soul.

If not because of being blessed and loved, what else are we given all these?

Sending blessings and love across the ocean to the one dearly loved. 💝

May all beings be happy.

aromatherapy in a vase
leucadendron, the florist called it differently I forgot what
protea
silver bell eucalyptus pod – just saw them and fell in love
eucalyptus leaves – I can breathe it the whole day literally

A Who Who Is Missed

It rains, Beloved
Orange stays bright in the west.
Wish you were here, Who?

———————————————————

Sometimes the one that is dearly missed is that who never remembers us. What a paradox!

Paradox is beauty of life, contradictory realities that are given at the same time. There are plenty of hidden messages in between only clear heart can read.

May all beings be happy. 💝

thanks for everything 🙏🏼

See Beyond A Dead End

Mistake, Beloved
Taking action with dead end.
Back to square one? No?

—————————————————-—-

Earth revolves around the sun, so each dead end experiences a sun rise a day.

What a relief!

where can I find this book; let’s go to the library

Life Skill Is Not That Simple

It takes basic skill
To be happy and peaceful.
Folding paper rice—

——————————————————-

Another Vietnamese cuisine came for brunch! 🍴

Thought it would be easy and fast to fold rice paper to wrap some veggies and meat. Thought it would take only basic skill of folding paper like making origami heart.

Yes, it is pre-basic skill of folding the paper yet the skill to control what’s inside the heart is not that basic. The intention to fold tidily and the urge of immediately eating nice food collided hard just because of a thin layer of helpless wet rice paper. It felt like now or never. Drama! 😂

Today’s target of eating 5 wraps didn’t happen. The rest of the filling became a bowl of salad.

Sorry, dearest paper rice. I failed you. No, no! 3 of 5 is 60%, more than 50% means winning in democracy. 😂

Next time better! 💝

yummy! will work better tomorrow for lunch 😊

Free Day

Rest day, Beloved,
Free— Stay away from workplace.
Let it be messy.

———————————————————

Just wanna be free, don’t care about dirty house and all the mess. Just wanna take time to do nothing—

Welcome Saturday night! Let’s browse recipe for Sunday! 😎

leaving weekend as weekend, without touching anything at that corner

A Cleansing Talk

Friendship, Beloved
A vast ocean and its waves
Sweeping all debris—

———————————————————

A friend visited me at my lunch break. A short talk made the day.

About her retirement plan to hop from one city to another from one country to another with her husband, future visit to my home base, future visit to Ubud, her sons and the menace, my future plans, health and healthcare, vaccination, and everything….

Our longest talk after 2 years of not going someplace together! She brought our favourite kue from Bengawan Solo! 💝

Couldn’t believe it could happen only in one hour. We must have talked as fast as flash!

⚡️

Bengawan Solo jajanan pasar delivered by a friend today

You Is The Limit

Freedom, Beloved
Is gauging limitation.
How low can you go?
How high can you fly? How long?
Life’s integrated limits.

————————————————————

There is always the next level of things. Perfection? Some say yes. Some say it is freedom, up to self, don’t care about others, want more, and everything.

No one can stop one except one’s self.

Is the end the limit? Not sure; yet it must be sun and moon the cycles integrate.

Beloved, if you allow, let me just be better than my own self before. Nothing more, nothing less.

May all beings be happy. 💝

thanks for the sugar; how many people mustn’t have sugar and I’m still free to consume it – isn’t it a blessing? 💝

Guarded

Swaying gently down,
Feather falls off from the wings
Flapping. Angel smiles.

——————————————————————————————————

I used to pick up feathers met on the way to school, office, home, everywhere. Feathers have been good signs to me for years. There has been a feeling of being protected.

Superstition? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not.

Now? Still believing that feather present is the presence of protection, but I stopped hoarding. Just look at the feathers, pray for protection and greet the guardian angels, and walk on with a bunch of blessings.

May all beings be happy.

🪶

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-feathers-propel-birds-air-history.html

Journey of A Friendship Is To Know Yourself

Time runs, Beloved
Not flies. Its feet touch the ground,
Planting you deeply
To the journey. Feel the pace,
Beloved. The end is good.

————————————————————

Today’s video call with 6 best friends was at least 2 hours of stupidity in the brink of wisdom.

The talk of health of some of us and overall healthcare in our country has become both joke and contemplation.

One of us said that as a father of two he doesn’t want to be selfish thinking about his health too much. He wants to give the best to his children and if he has to leave them forever, his family won’t suffer of having too little. This oldest of all of us is always the funniest yet the wisest.

One of us said that whatever medical complaints she has, she wants to handle them now. She said she’d better know the diseases how much ever bad they are and do possible treatments soon rather than later when she is older. What a good anticipation!

Another said that he still enjoys everything freely. He called while chewing donuts with heavy chocolate and sugar toppings! What a joy!

Most of us don’t have serious medical issues except that the pandemic in the country is more happening that fear of it is more deadly than the virus itself.

Blahblahblah and hahaha continued when we talked about religions. Those who are religious made fun of us who are “not clear”. And we teased them who are “too clear-cut”.

Fun 2+ hours! Mood booster to welcome another week!

Hope we are all completing everything well.

Take care, crazy good friends! You’re blessed.

Sure we’ll still meet again in a better time! So sure!

💝

just-put-them-in leucadendron and pink striped daisy is ready to welcome the productive week 😎

Attributing You

How perfect you are,
99.
I’m the 1 completing the reality.
And so we are completed,
100!

Life is blessed when the heart is loaded and bedazzled with three gemstones of the beautiful names and attributes of God: the amethyst of Ar-Rahman (the beneficent), the emerald of Ar-Rahiem (the merciful) and the rose quartz of Al-Latif (the subtle one, the most gentle).

It’s a personal interpretation; don’t quote me.

People say that the quality of God can’t be bounded with the beauty of any but at the same time it can in order to attribute God with something sensuously beautiful at the same time symbolising some characters. I chose gemstone. Why not flowers, why gemstones? Let it be

The three qualities are those projected to be. Someday —not sure when— I’ll acceptably be. Not sure when….

Enchanting those three attributes without thinking what religions I’m holding has been helpful to cope with many challenges especially facing those contesting and/or underestimating. Forgive them, love them and keep gentle in the heart— how much ever tough the argument is, be gentle in the heart; how much ever confrontation to be tackled, be gentle in the heart; how much ever firm intonation to be uttered, be gentle in the heart. At the end it is not winning an argument that’s important; it is accepting the learning process the bounties. Gorgeous and precious as gemstones—

So thankful to be a human being, being able to wildly interpret what might be rigidly believed by others, being able to move meaning from where beauty is rigidly defined to wherever a defined beauty can be criticised. That’s a privilege only for those who have enough space for being humane — take learning step, one by one….

In this crowded world, the safest sanctuary is being one’s self where those that I know don’t really care and those that I care don’t really know.

May I have another gemstone? 🤨

May all beings be happy….

counting the blessings – thanks for everything.

Friends Truly Taste Summer

A gate wide opens
Out to a meadow. Summer,
Show your charms to earth.

Not that I’m happy all the time but speak happy talk happy smile happy eat happy work happy has made me happier longer than before.

So why not?

Thanks for those humble and kind orbiting around me. So blessed for being some simple waza waza for each other! 💝

It is not easy there but you can do it!

This too shall pass!

Salam…. 🙏🏼

flowers from the desert, beauty and endurance blended in colours like friendship

Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken.
Path’s cleared by last night’s rain. I—
Miss you in the dark.

————————————————————

New day, please bless me…. 🤍 Erase all the torturing memories even from the best listed ones…. Amen….

You The Punctuation

You are you thats you
The you thats not you the you
I think is you Who

—————————————————

There are so many yous in you You through a complex prism is able to compel one to sign an everlasting contract with no terms and conditions but saying yes to all of you

Your signature is a punctuation while mine is a dragged line called names

Youre that important that history of alphabet puts you as a technology that moves meaning

Punctuation is you

May all beings be happy

you beauty that builds meaning

Maybe He’s Right

Listen, Beloved
To one softest voice inside.
Whisper of the far—

—————————————————-

This person said what sounds crispy yummy and cracks a door inside, resonating what’s the heart has believed for ages. He might be right. He might be…. Or not.

Will Smith has never failed me. He’s never…. Or not yet.

Weekend pulls me to herd immunity with love…. Or not.

Always about love. Always…. Or not.

💝

A Neighbour-To-Be

One step out of gate
Is a neighbour who greets you,
Supports you with heart.

—————————————————

‘ve always loved to have neighbours, good neighbours. Bad neighbours? Gosh! They are just those who don’t know how to thank for what they have been given and think that others are more blessed and happier. I had both back then. Now? My neighbours here are doors with numbers, cleaning service and security guards. 😁

Many want to live in a place where neighbours are those greeting and supporting each other with heart. I don’t mind to have a few rather bad neighbours among most good ones. And my home-base-to-be seems showing good signs. A good friend cum a good neighbour-to-be said that her friend owns a restaurant located near the home-base-to-be. A restaurant named “Jiwa Jawi” (literally means Javanese soul) is there right at the back of the home-base.

Wouldn’t it be nice that our backyard is looking out to a restaurant in a small jungle? When the food at home isn’t enough for visiting family and friends, just dial the number and get some to be delivered in no time. Indonesian food will always be one most favourite on the home-base’s dining table.

Another good news, this restaurant is a ground where people can eat, chat, camp, play, gather, pose to enjoy the day! When some intermezzo is needed, just step out of the gate and chill out there. Some friends said it is instagramable.

Can’t wait, can’t wait…. I miss home.

Salaam….

A Tree, A Friend

Dear tree, wait for her.
She’s caught up but will come back
To give you big hug.
Not that you miss her hugging.
It’s she missing your stillness.

————————————————————

Some friends are so loyal that they still touch your heart even without talking to you.

Thanks to a friend from a distance for her humble wisdom every now and then, for inspiring me silently….

a friend happily inspires one’s friends silently 🙏🏼

PENSI – Pentas Swara Indonesia

It’s just beautiful!

If young Indonesians don’t sing those songs, let them rot in hell. 🎼 At least three of those songs, guys! No worry about your out of tune — just sing! Or hum! Ok, sing in silence! 😩

🐣

Am I Free

I’m a torch no more.
I’m a morning for my day
To be. Am I free?

————————————————————

Just one click! Then the monitor shows something brighter and full of hopes! Vast ocean of happiness—

Why is it so blocked to be optimistic? Take a mirror, unlock just one sweet smile, look into the smiling face more deeply a little bit longer and know why…. Dear, Love. Just one click!

May all beings be happy.

Scenery, A Beauty That Prisons

Where are you, oh dear?
Mountains and oceans are passed
By with beauty glued
As memory. Beloved,
Where’s the next stop? Peek a boo!

————————————————————

When I was young; I joined spiritual workshop, class, training; read spiritual books, journal, articles; listened to spiritual preaching, cassettes, radio programs; name more —mostly informal, some non-formal, one formal not finished oh I’m blessed that It wasn’t. Whenever I was asked why I did, I would say “I wanna know God.”

Hopeless popus!*

Has anyone experienced this looking-sophisticated-but-actually-comical thing? Thanks God (s/he’d like to be censored actually) I’m not alone in this zero to zigzagging journey— from being very excitedly curious to being a drunken master. 🤪

What a blessed journey it was!
If I’m supposed to tell that young me when starting through the reading of those looking-sophisticated-yet-actually-comical random materials, I would say “Hey, Lady Haha! You should have a map but a destination is paramount!”

And I still feel so blessed!

May all haha moments be deciphered. 😊

* refer to the video of “How To Dad” in “How To Teach A Kid Curse Words”.

a pinch of salt to my life, no pepper though

Beautiful Scars

Bruised and scarred she is;
A stained-glass window to see
Both sides of her world.

————————————————————

22:22 / Sunday – June 6, 2021

I thought all of those were wounds and warts until observing carefully. I’ve been living with a beautiful stained-glass window which puts colours and gives unique perspectives when seeing inside and outside. As long as it doesn’t derail from being a human being, I think I’m blessed.

Why shouldn’t I be thankful and happy? 💞

And….

May all beings be happy.

Salam.

Duality Comprehended

Happy and healthy
Two to walk, to cook good food—
About the balance

————————————————————

Have ever questioned why duality is everywhere? Right left. Hot cold. Bright dark. Name it.

So much about duality in which one finds oneness as the balance after these years of living and to many years to continue living— With less and less confusion for sure

Harmony

Black in white, white in black

Polarity well comprehended

Centeredness in busy hours

Distance between zero and infinity

May all beings be happy.

sour, sweet, curve, corner – such a nice flavour, a lime tart from a local shop yum yum!

Expelliarmus!

Did my father teach me how to curse? 😁

This dad has made me work hard to recall what and how my father taught us to do things as kids. 🤩