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Mei's avatar

I don't feel so festive this year considering everything including my chaotic personal life. but your piece brought me back to life. Maa esheche. ❤️

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

May you find your way back to your creative centre, love, and nurture dear sister. Maa aschen 💜

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Jonathan Foster's avatar

What you have called poetry-prose I’ll just call life whispering. That’s was beautiful and inspiring Swarnali. Such wonderful writing and feelings. Thanks you so much

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Antonia Malchik's avatar

"life whispering"! I love that.

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

💜

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

Jonathan, I am deeply grateful to have your attention. Thank you for spending time with this! 💜

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John Lovie's avatar

Thank you, Swarna. This is beautiful and inspiring and just what I needed today. 🕯️

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

I am glad, you found this blessing on your birthday John! 💜

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Antonia Malchik's avatar

What an incredible journey this was, both inward and outward. I'll be coming back to this essay again and again. I feel like it should be a small book that all pilgrims, journeyers, wanderers, the aching of heart, the sore of soul and also light of spirit, can carry in a pocket as they search.

"the goddess is invoked as a warrior who destroys the demon, but also as a daughter returning home, a mother who feeds, a presence who enters kitchens and thresholds with equal sanctity" -- LOVE love love this!

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

We just finished celebrating dushhera (the completion of those nine days) a couple of days ago. In ritual, yet again, with aching heart, we departed with our mother-daughter goddess. But those of us who traverse a path of inner transcendence are aware that the invocation is inwards and once the goddess is awakened, the conscience can never sleep.

There is so much hurt and aching in this world Nia. Sometimes it seems wild that the truth of wisdom and prayer can even percolate through this prevalent hate, but I still believe in this inward journey that can liberate us from ourselves. Maybe to counter such desperation and loss of meaning, I attempted to write this essay.

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Antonia Malchik's avatar

So are all such essays, it seems. A way to find the meaning in it all -- or, as Estes says, find our way to the river below the river ...

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

Oh the rivers the Estes evoke, more akin to time and its flow…

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Ann Roberts's avatar

Mmmmm so evocative, I felt I was walking with you. Delightful and powerful and such a gift. xxx

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

Thank you for being on this journey so far Ann 💜

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Renee Faber's avatar

Swarna—this piece brought tears to my eyes. So much grace and power lives in your words, wisdom weaving itself.

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

You, my friend, have the kindest of hearts. Thank you for acknowledging the mother goddess 💜

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Maia Duerr's avatar

Just beautiful, Swarnali. Breathtaking/giving. I especially love the prose poem, and the eighth night. Just reading this conveyed to me a deep deep sense of peace.

Thank you xox

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

Thank you, this is a deeply spiritual time Maia. I am glad you connected to this in peace 💜🙏

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Lucinda's avatar

Thank you so deeply ❤️

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Swarnali Mukherjee's avatar

Thank you for reading 💜

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