Be The Light

When I was younger, I was much like a sunflower.  I point and direct people and lives to where the light is. A sunflower always points and faces the sun.

As I went through "adulting", the sun dimmed up. I thrived to be the sunflower under the moonlight. But it was exhausting! I kept looking for the sun.

But now, I realized, why be a pointer? Why should I content in just facing the light? So, I decided to be the light post myself.

I cannot be the Sun...there is only one Sun. Even the moon derives her light from the Sun. So does the stars. I will not outshine the Sun. I am a secondary source of light.

True Colors

TRUE COLORS (Trolls Movie)

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged, oh I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
The darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

Show me a smile then
Don't be unhappy
Can't remember when
I last saw you laughing
This world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
Just call me up
'Cause I will always be there

And I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
I see your true colors
Shining through (true colors)
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful (they're beautiful)
Like a rainbow
Oh oh…

Ooh can't remember when
I last saw you laughing
Ooh oh oh oh
This world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
Just call me up
'Cause I will always be there

And I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid (don't be afraid)
To let them show your true colors
True colors are beautiful (you're beautiful, oh)
Like a rainbow
Oh oh oh oh oh like a rainbow
Mmm mmm

 

Songwriters: Billy Steinberg / Tom Kelly

True Colors lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Incognito

in·cog·ni·to

/ˌinkäɡˈnēdō/

 

adjective & adverb (adjective: incognito; adverb: incognito)

1. 1.

   (of a person) having one's true identity concealed.

   "in order to observe you have to be incognito"

   synonyms:

   under an assumed name, under a false name, in disguise, disguised, under cover, in plain clothes, camouflaged, unidentified secretly, anonymously "you'll be traveling incognito"

noun

noun: incognito; plural noun: incognitos

1. 1.

   an assumed or false identity.

    

    

    

    

    

Three Breathing Exercises to Calm you Down

Here are three breathing exercises you can do on an idle time or downtime to calm you:

1. COUNTING RHYTHMIC BREATHS

a.       You can do this sitting on your chair. Keep the spine straight.

b.      Rest your hands palm up on your knees.

c.       Keep your eyes closed.

d.      To the count of 5 seconds inhale deeply and smoothly, fully inflating the lungs.

e.      Hold your breath 10 seconds with the mind concentrating on the energy in your body.

f.        To the count of 10 seconds, exhale through the nose smoothly.

g.       Repeat 3 times.

**Gradually, you can increase the retention time until you are able to hold it for 20 seconds.

 

2. ABDOMINAL LIFT

 

 

a.       Still, on your chair, with legs apart and heels flat on the floor.

b.      Keep the spine straight.

c.       Lean the body slightly forward.

d.      Press the hands on your inner thighs.

e.      Inhale deeply through the nose.

f.        Exhale vigorously through the mouth in a “HA” sound.

g.       Hold your breath and draw up your diaphragm, pressing it against the rib cage in a way that your abdomen is pulled in and upwards towards the spine.

h.      Hold for 10-20 seconds without breathing.

i.         Relax.

j.        Repeat 3 times.

**Eventually, when the abdominal muscles are stronger, you can practice a pumping movement by pulling the abdominal muscles then thrusting them out. Do this routine about 5-10 times while holding the breath. Repeat 3 times.

 

3. ALTERNATE BREATHING

 

 

a.       Position the right hand with your index and middle finger bent towards the palm.

b.      Place your right hand close to your nose with the thumb near the right nostril.

c.       Press your thumb on the nostril. Inhale.

d.      Breathe through your left nostril.

e.      Press the forth finger on the left nostril and release the thumb.

f.        Breathe through the right nostril this time.

**Position your left arm, palm up and resting on your knee. Fingers forming the “symbol of knowledge” pose.

 

 

 

Breathing My Path To Yoga

I’ve started reading on yoga and learning it back in the 1990’s; when I was in high school. It wasn’t much of a thing yet, that time. It was difficult to look for any centers or organizations teaching or doing yoga in the Philippines then. Now, there are a lot.

I’ve sort of self-taught. Hence, I did away with difficult asana which I felt I could not do alone. And the most helpful thing I’ve learned is breathing as relaxation and clearing.

Why Breathing is Essential:

Deep controlled breathing is nature’s tranquilizer and rejuvenator.

1.       By slowing down the rate of respiration, it reduces strain in the heart.

2.       The stimulating action improves metabolism, transforming deposits of fat into body fuel.

3.       The lungs get well exercised; hence, increases the resistance to ailments.

4.       Sufficient oxygen in the body wards off fatigue and heaviness.

5.       Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen in our bloodstream.

                a. It brings in oxygen to our muscles, joints and body organs. (This process increases the ability of the muscles to respond and raises the level of energy.)

                b. Our brain get’s more oxygen too. (This gives our minds clearer and better ability to respond more efficiently.)

Most breathing exercises in yoga are done through the nose with our mouths close. This is because our nose serves as a vacuum cleaner which sweeps in the air particles or dusts and bacteria. If we breathe as nature intended and that is by expanding our lungs to full capacity, we can revitalize our energy, calm our nerves, induce good sleep and live longer.

I will share some basic breathing exercises you can do to calm yourself soon.

Adventures on Backyard Farming

My mom was weeding the garden when I walked in. She wasn't only weeding weeds! She was plucking some plants which have grown as excess. I tried to salvage some. It was just too much of a waste.

Then, she happily said she had dragon fruit. Then she pointed to an almost dead-looking cactus sprawling under the big cycas/sago palm. 

I told her it's a cactus; and it needed better sun. She plucked it out and told me to plant it if I want.

It was dreadful to look at it. It was thin and lifeless-looking! I decided to cut it down and make cacti cuttings before putting it to the ground.

Planted it by a plant bed on the driveway. It's not the proper place to grow my fruit. But it will be a good bed for it while it recovers. I am looking forward to having lively horizontal sprawling dragon fruit tree eventually. Just like the ones I see browsing on the net. And from my estrange husband's aunt.

For now, let it be just these.

Ako Nga Po Pala (Me, By The Way)

18 is my name. Read it as Itin. That's short for Christine.

There probably is a gypsy in my soul; an Itinerant in constant travel. Moving from one place to another; never at one too long. I am drawn to the fantasy that her character has.  I love the flamboyance she exudes, the magic and mysticism, the music and the dance that resonates with the fire burning ablaze. I am drawn to the image of strength that she has.

Gypsies, they say, symbolizes spontaneity and wild behavior. And they say one may identify with this archetype if one is interested in a path of spiritual development, such as those aligned to the mystery schools or study of the laws of the universe (perhaps this goes to explain my interest in things not-so-normal, in meditation, and even my path to a degree in psychology).

I claim to be an aesthete/artist, a poet, a thriving soul and this blog is my life in that facet.

This is the snippet of my soul...vignettes, musings, art and stuff.

 For after all, we are all but travelers moving this earth. I am La Itin-erante.

Culture & Tradition: Pasalubong

Pasalubong is the Filipino tradition of travelers bringing gifts from their destination to people back home. Pasalubong can be any gift brought for family or friends after being away for a period of time. It can also be any gift given by someone arriving from a distant place.

And even if it's not much of a distant bringing pasalubong back to the people you love is quite common in the Filipino tradition. Like, a parent going home from work will customarily bring something for the wife and kids. Likewise, a child may bring some small gift for their siblings or parents too.

It's a simple act of thoughtfulness we do :)

Island Hop: Bohol-Cebu

Because part of my life's journey requires me to do this...

Cebu Bound via Tubigon, Bohol (because it's cheaper)

And yes, the cruise took longer than the purpose of the trip.
Unfortunately, I cannot take the leisure of enjoying Cebu today.

So, I shall on the next.

For future reference: Tubigon - Cebu Ferry Schedules

Attempts on Poetry: La Gitana

image ctto

The Black Cat Called Ming

This is one of the many house cats here. She is not a pet but she is aptly called Ming. She is named after an old black cat we had ages ago who resided at my father's office.

 

The old black cat was a male cat though. We called him the CEO.

This new Ming, however, is a female cat. She is not kempt, nor groomed as she is not a pet. She has mothered generations of cats in the house. She still nurses even the bigger babies she had. Amazing motherhood shown by a cat.

 

My mother refuses cats inside the house. She isn't much of a cat person or a pet-person actually. Ming has been calling me by the window  since yesterday. And so today, I obliged her in.

 

I believe I have began another secret affair with a cat as she is looking for a better place for her new litter of kittens. The litter is inside my room.