One light at a time – Happy Diwali

Written by Rachael Skyring

Rachael Skyring is a curious woman. AuDHD (very late diagnosed). Committed carer. Over thinker. Sensitive feeler. Stubborn AF. With postgraduate degrees in Astrophysics and Rocket Science, she's spent the last twenty years as mostly a Mum, the last ten honing her metaphysical quantum brain surgery skills through mindful movement and embodiment practices. Whoever you want to be, and wherever you want to go, Rachael can start you on your way. The sky's the limit. Let's begin!

26 October 2024

Neurodivergent women carry a rich, deep personal experiential history plus fine sensitivity to their surrounding energetic environment.

They are conditioned to keep moving forward onto the next new thing, shiny object.

This undermines our ability to illuminate murky in between spots with intentional presence.

I teach and practice scheduled slowing down to upskill in exploring very finite sections of unknown.

So that when you find yourself in an unplanned dark place, you have access to the tools to call in light and love and learning.

So you can persist, on purpose, on your own terms, and proceding from more love and intention, less fear and avoidance.

This week’s new moon brings the Hindu Indian festival of Diwali.

The iconic image I have received of Diwali is of glowing circles/lines of light and exquisite colourful mandalas.

The popular public practice of it, in my limited experience, as organised by exPat Indians, has involved far less quiet lamp lighting and much more noisy dance party.

Bollywood classic hit “Om Shanti Om” lit up the dancefloor at a recent event while I was sitting quietly at a table making my own diya lamp with coloured paint and glitter.

There’s room for both.

Further information and Resources:

Read on – practical everyday embodiment encouragement inspired by the etymology of “Diwali”.  (translated into plain English by ChatGPT from an original poem written by me) 

Embodied Earth Calendar: (free PDF download) moon phases, solar seasons and global cultural events, including Diwali.

LOVE MOVES US – Experiential learning through slowing down, journaling, listening and guided intuitive dance. 

Diwali, derived from the Sanskrit “dīpāvali,” meaning “row or series of lights,” offers a beautiful metaphor for life. Think of it like this: each of us is a light in a long line, contributing to a collective glow. Just as Diwali illuminates the darkest night of the year, so too do our small, everyday actions illuminate the path forward, one step, one thought, one breath at a time.

 

One Light at a Time: Navigating the Path to Enlightenment

 

Life often feels overwhelming, especially when darkness—be it uncertainty, doubt, or stress—begins to encroach. But like the first lamp lit on Diwali night, our smallest efforts can pierce through that darkness. It doesn’t take a grand gesture to make a difference; all it takes is the courage to shine in the way only you can. Whether that’s through a kind word, a curious question, or a creative pursuit, each light matters. Each action adds to the line of lights that guides not only us but also those around us.

 

Encouragement for the Curious Mind

 

Curiosity is your first lamp—your guide to understanding and expanding your world. Ask one open-ended question a day. Whether you’re pondering a new subject, exploring a hobby, or learning about a different culture, let that question illuminate a path to new insights. If we look at life as a series of discoveries, then each inquiry is like lighting another lamp in that long line, helping us to see the road ahead more clearly.

 

Try This: Write down one question every day that you genuinely want to know the answer to. It could be about the universe, a person, or even yourself. Then, spend a few minutes exploring it. The process of seeking answers will light up new corners of your mind.

 

Encouragement for the Community Heart

 

Our connections to others are like rows of lights stretching across the night. Relationships—whether familial, friendships, or community ties—brighten our lives when we reach out to one another. Sometimes, the light may feel distant or dim, but the simple act of connecting with someone can spark a glow that bridges the gaps between us.

 

Try This: Make a habit of reaching out to someone in your circle every day, even if it’s just to say, “I’m thinking of you.” This small act of care not only brightens their day but adds to your own line of lights. Community is built one light, one gesture at a time.

 

Encouragement for the Creative Body

 

Creativity is the flame that dances, flickers, and swirls—just like the lamps on Diwali night. When you engage in creative activities, you’re not only expressing yourself but also generating light that ripples outward. Whether it’s through painting, cooking, gardening, or simply doodling in a notebook, creativity energizes the spirit.

 

Try This: Dedicate 10 minutes daily to a creative practice. Don’t worry about the outcome; just let yourself play. It’s not about making something perfect, but about keeping your light burning brightly. Your creative spark adds its own glow to the collective line of lights.

 

A Daily Practice Invitation: Lighting Your Path

 

Each day, choose one light to focus on—a curious thought, a kind connection, or a creative act. Consider it your own small ritual of illumination, marking each day as a step in your personal journey. By doing this consistently, you lay down your own line of lights, one by one, transforming even the darkest days into pathways of possibility.

 

Practice: At the end of each day, jot down one small “light” that you kindled. It could be a moment of learning, a connection made, or a creative expression. These little reflections will remind you of the light you bring to the world, helping you to see your own progress.

 

Gentle Encouragement for Sensitive Souls

 

For those who feel deeply, the brightness of life can sometimes be too much. It’s okay to retreat to the comfort of the soft darkness when you need to rest. In the quiet, a new glow can emerge—a light that is uniquely yours. Remember, your light doesn’t have to be the brightest; it just has to be true to you. When you are ready, you can step back into the line of lights, bringing your gentle glow to the world.

 

Diwali teaches us that even the smallest light can push back the darkness. So keep lighting your path, one lamp at a time. You are one in a line of lights, part of a series that stretches back through time and reaches forward into the future.

Your light matters.

Chat GPT request:  Transform the poem below into a relatable everyday embodiment encouragement blog.  Use my friendly tone of voice. Open with a simple analogy between Diwali etymology and life. Include one suggestion for curious mind, one for community heart and one for creative body.  Outline one daily practice invitation.  Close with encouragement for sensitive readers.

Wikipedia Etymology : Diwali (English: /dɪˈwɑːliː/)[9]—also known as Dewali, Divali,[4][41] or Deepavali (IAST: dīpāvalī)—comes from the Sanskrit dīpāvali meaning ‘row or series of lights’.[23][42] The term is derived from the Sanskrit words dīpa, ‘lamp, light, lantern, candle, that which glows, shines, illuminates or knowledge’[43] and āvali, ‘a row, range, continuous line, series’.

 

One light in a line.   A line of lights

The path of enlightenment

One light at a time

One life at a time

One idea at a time

One step at a time

And then there is a rising tide

A glow from around

Mirroring the glow from within

Smiling eyes, open hearts

Yes, it is possible.  There is hope

One light in a line.  A line of lights

Diwali.  Darkest night of the year

The night of lights

Darkest because it is dark and getting darker

As the sun retreats, when the moon is gone

The stars come out.  One at a time

Flickering.  Glittering.  Spreading

Over the sky.  Reflected on the earth

Yes, we see you. We are here.

Made of stardust.  Stars in our bones

In our breath and our blood

One light in a line.  A line of lights

Almost ancient as the stars,

The line of life stretches backward

One life at a time

One light at a time

Shards of the light of beginning

Then the darkness of parts

As the stars began to glow

And grow and flow from one into another

Stardust is the elemental form of existence

Planets, oceans, algae, a sea of life

One light in a line.  A line of lights

Depth and breadth.

And at the crux is you.

Here, now, figuring it out.

One breath, one idea at a time.

There’s a spark of genius whenever minds meet

A spark of love when hearts meet

A trail of stars as you move through the world

Every connection a shower of fireworks

Neural paths too.  Electricity zapping

Energy flowing through the biology of brain

One light in a line.  A line of lights

Tingle tangle mingle mangle

Non linear lines swirling in a nebula

Nexus.  Which light next

Node to node, spark to spark

Your frequency unique signature

Elemental blend of elements

A spectrum over time

An arc a swirl a scribble across space

A deeply etched groove

The tracks you follow the most

One light in a line.  A line of lights

And if light is knowledge

It’s all here for you

Sometimes there is so much light

We turn away, seeking the ease of darkness

The light behind

The shadow ahead

And every step we lay a line of lights

To mark the trail of our crossing

To another light

Out reach in the distance

One light in a line.  A line of lights

Why do we leave the brightness

My eyes hurt.  My head aches.

I long for the ease of the soft darkness

Resting there a while.

Light dimmed – under a bushel

Leave me alone you light bearers.

I seek not your light but mine.

It is only from the soft darkness that a new glow emerges

The light of ages.  The light of stages

I am one in a line of lights.

Resources to explore further:

Embodied Earth Calendar: (free download) moon phases, solar seasons and global cultural events, including Diwali.

LOVE MOVES US – Experiential learning through slowing down, journaling, listening and guided intuitive dance.

You may also be interested in …

To the power of two

To the power of two

Embracing the Known, the Unknown, and the Space in Between   Let’s face it: life doesn’t come with a clear...

One step toward the universe

One step toward the universe

Neurodivergent women (and especially late diagnosed AuDHD women) have a unique perspective to offer and they are often...

This is your call to adventure

This is your call to adventure

Ready enough is ready   It unfolds as you go.   It makes sense as you look back and forward, not necessarily in...

Blooming self belief