"We are the leaders we've been waiting for" -WLC 2010

I attended a conference of diva hotseaters late last week. If there is any reason to re-awaken the potential we all know that we have lurking inside us, then the best way to go about it is to surround yourself with women who challenge themselves everyday, women who break with regulatory myths, women who trample unsavoury stereotypes; yes, women who change the world, one day at a time.

The Women's Leadership Conference convened at the Sunnyside Park Hotel in Johannesburg on 11-12 March 2010. As luck would have it, traffic into Johannesburg was reduced to a mere crawl thanks to a truck having exploded near the Atterbury exit into Pretoria and traffic was rerouted around nearby cities rather than over and through them. I was on my way into the mega-city having been out of town for the wedding festivities of a friend. It turned out to be a rather testy welcome into Gauteng, if you take into account that losing your cool is not the greatest show of survival of the fittest in a city that collides with the shortness of time and has to digest a population of feisty beings intent on making a corporate killing rather than just surviving on a daily basis. Those below the breadline are a mere mirage, an invisible fringe for the most part. A fantastical media report or two at the most. Such is the plight of the rainbow nation governed by the most TENDER-hearted of statesmen.

Time is money and tangents are costly. So where was I?
Aah. And so it came to pass that I was invited to join this gregarious bunch of divas in this neatly carved space for dialogue in Parktown.
I missed Debora Patta's talk but heard snippets for the length of the conference; she being of South Africa's more outspoken, daring media personalities and unsurprisingly Vodacom's Media Woman of the Year for 2009.
Kristine Pearson envisages a world of 'Women Lighting-up Africa'. She is CEO of the Freeplay Foundation based in the UK, US and SA. Noble cause indeed. And much to be made of the impressive vastness of her not-for-profit international organisation and its intent to more than create awareness of the devil of parafin usage in rural Africa and its insistence on gobbling up unsuspecting children in the impending darkness. She lobbys for clean and renewable energy, lighting and job creation for rural women in Africa.
Day 1's workshop was run by Philipa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa: The Art of Telling Your Story. A powerful orator, Philipa held the audience in a trance of sorts as she went about her talented renderings and interactive sharings.
I sat on a panel that rounded up day one, along with Nicole Wills, founding partner and MD of award-winning advertising and communications agency Stick Communications SA; and Dr Sonia Joubert, academic and consultant in Creativity and Organisational Intelligence. A beautiful thread of conversation ranged from ways in which we might galvanise our own creativity on a regular basis to how to mentor and be mentored in an environment that encourages and unleashes creativity in others. I was happy to work to the theme of the THINK DIFFERENT ad, thanks to a friendly reminder from a brainstormy friend. Crazy works for me!
This theme pretty much carried forth throughout to the end of the two day-conference. It was more than imagination that confirmed the sparkle in people's eyes by the end of it all...

Day 2 began with an inspiring presentation on the mastery of organisational politics by Mardia Van Der Walt-Korsten, Businesswoman of the Year 2009 who is also the CEO of a German multi-national called T-Systems. Mardia cites her key to success simply as her love for life, and her intention to create an environment that puts soul into IT. Her value for humanity in her workplace is infectious as the direct interaction with a woman whose eyes sparkle when she speaks about her life and her work.

Tali Nates from the Johannesburg Holocaust Centre spoke about building bridges and learning tolerance. She spoke about the awareness of being: are we perpetrators, upstanders, bystanders or victims? Choice and repentance were strong themes in her talk.
There could not be a more fabulous way to end the conference than to welcome Prof Edna Van Harte, Dean of the Faculty of Military Science at the Military Academy in Saldanha at Stellenbosch University.
If it is about challenging stereotypes, and if its about a question of whether or not there is a place for women leaders in the military, then I think that she awakened that potential in more than one way.

The conference rounded up with the message of social movement; believe in something strongly and passionately enough, and get something going! Remember this? The MTN Clap :P

Enjoy. And stay with the magic. Its inside of you. Let it Live!

Memoirs For Kimya

It has been two years since the launch of "Daughters are Diamonds", and I am finally ready to launch my reflective manuscript, a blog to book, or a blook even. To be found therein, are some writings and reflections compiled along with poetry written in various flavours of writings along the years since I began blogging in 2005. And of course, I wanted to create something beautiful to commemorate writing as a journey of choice. As a cathartic one sometimes. And a rather promising and appreciative one at most.

"Memoirs for Kimya" is ready. I am thrilled beyond words. Yes, I repeat. Words cannot quantify how much appreciation I have for this process of creativity, and the ways in which I may share it with readers. Also, it gives me great pleasure to inform interested readers that it is available for pre-order with Amazon.Com along with "Daughters are Diamonds". Search for the individual titles or my full name at the Amazon website and the titles will simply show up.

The official launch of M4K will take place this weekend at the JoZi Book Fair:

Venue: Market Theatre Complex, Museum Africa, Newtown, Johannesburg.
Dates: Saturday 8August from 9am-6pm and Sunday the same. My booklaunch/reading will take place at the BookLaunch Island on Women's Day, the 9Aug at 2pm.
ALL WELCOME :)

2009 is a splendid year so far, and I feel blessed.

:)

The GUeSt HoUse - Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

from- The Essential Rumi- Coleman Barks translation.

QuiEtneSs - Rumi

Inside this new love, die.
Your way begins on the other side.
Become the sky.
Take an axe to the prison wall.
Escape. Walk out
like someone suddenly born into colour.
Do it now.
You're covered with thick cloud.
Slide out the side. Die,
and be quiet. Quietness is the surest
sign that you've died.
Your old life was a frantic running
from silence.

The speechless full moon comes out now.

J.Rumi.

RUMI- THE BOOK OF LOVE (2005)p33,transl by Coleman Barks

i dont believe in coincidence..

I was speaking to one of my friends regards the inevitable stream of divine inspiration everywhere around us; and with special reference to the way that Rumi-yana finds its way into my hands at various stages of my life..
Anyway, I picked up one of my newest anthologies (bought in Delhi last month, 'Rumi-The Book of Love'; a transl by Coleman Barks.. and opened to a page, just browsing. The following pieces all occur side by side on pages134/135, all make varied but profound sense to me.. based on some conversations and reflections with friends and loved ones.. sometimes, we don't have to look all that far in order to find divinity.. its in the spiritual water we drink from being close to or being with people who inspire real joy in us..


CANDLE AT NOON - p134

'A man is wandering the marketplace at noon
with a candle in his hand, totally ecstatic.

"Hey," calls a shopkeeper,"is this a joke?
Who are you looking for?"

"Someone breathing Huuu,the divine breath."
"Well, there are plenty to choose from."

"But I want one who can be in anger and desire
and still be a true human being in the same moment."


DERVISHES -p134

When school and mosque and minaret
get torn down, then dervishes can begin
their community. Not until faithfulness

turns to betrayal and betrayal into trust
can any human being become
part of the truth.


DOVES -p134/5

People want you to be happy.
Don't keep serving them your pain!

If you could untie your wings
and free your soul of jealousy,

you and everyone around you
would fly up like doves.


WHEN WORDS ARE TINGED WITH LYING -p135

Muhammad gave this indication of how to know
what's real. "When you feel

a peaceful joy, you're near the truth.
Unquiet and off centre, jealous or greedy,

then what you do seems pretentious
and those around you insincere.

Speak the clearest truth you know,
and let the uneasiness heal."

When words are tinged with lying,
they're like water dripping into an oil lamp.
The wick won't light, and the pleasure
of your love room will diminish.


---------------------------------------Jumuah love to all...Shfs

and so it goes on..

can women ever be enough. just enough? or are we destined to be either too much or too little?

just sharing a thought that over time was impressed at cellular level. and based on the thoughts of the characters being developed. and the workings of a mind meandering beyond everyday happenings. and just based on knowing at some other level that everything in the world is exactly as it should be. and based on just being.

Durbans always eventful, often arb

And so last night I attended premiering of Mission Istanbul, saw the Oberoi character in the flesh and a rather well-tailored suit, unlike in the movie; and got home again to perform rituals of hot chocolate and evening handshakes with the goldfish who have replaced me, namely lindt and mint. But of course, its all in good faith, and so today was more refueling of the sunshine tank :) Interesting how a trip to the mall can turn pretty spontaneous and awesome at the same time. And so it did, in good ol fashioned kiddy fun style at Milky Lane. Must be the weather.
Waffles, anyone? Imagine, having political and philosophical debate with two reknowned thinkers of the east coast, over waffles and creme soda floats. Yep, it was the weather!

I am begining to enjoy these random short posts.
They delve into daily life more than my cryptic (or maybe not so cryptic) rambling philosophies about everymans guide to absolutely nothing.

So this is value-driven :P

Or something.

Yeh hai Mumbai, Meri Jaan...

I have been traversing through India for a week now, and it feels like a bit longer; considering the cities and flavours that I have delighted in, in this short space of time... We landed in Mumbai a week ago, in transit to Jaipur, the famed and imaginative 'pink city' of royal fantasy. After gleeful visits to Amber Fort and the treasures of the old city around the City Palace and the glorious Hawa Mahal, the visions of the puppet shows continue to remain as trinkets in my mind (I have a pair souvenir dolls -male&female- to remind me! hmm, just like in that movie.. what was it again..)

The celebration of pinks moved on to deeper shades of colour as we made our way through Rajasthan... onward to Agra, with the incredulous stop at Fatehpur Sikhri, famed for its sprawling palaces and mausoleums. The palace of Queen Jodha, the towering five-storeyed Paanch Mahal, the Diwan-e-Khaas that undoubtedly houses many secrets in his innately carved walls... the Hall of Mirrors... myriad fantasies come to mind in making my way along the paths and through the hallowed arches, and beside the now deteriorating pillars that form the structure of some 46 palaces here...

Agra, filled me. The joy spilled pearls uncounted through my eyes. Its been seven years since I visited the Taj Mahal. Seven is a lucky number? It just occured to me that it might be. Who knows. The Taj is mesmerizing as ever. I am spellbound still. Maybe it means a different thing to me now than it might have back then. But its a good difference. I conversed with those walls of milk and honey. They smiled at me. Mostly for being silly. Mosly for my strange state of self-denial. Mostly for my unwarranted contradictory state of being. I wanted to place what I thought was a burden, at its feet. Too much drama ensued. Have you ever seen the Taj Mahal, in all its majesty, break down into a fit of giggles? It did. And what a beautiful sight that was. Sigh. And then onward to Delhi. Bustling, rumbling Delhi. The grandest rajhdhani. Where I usually delight in the wares of booksellers. But I ventured to nurse a bit of fever and some well-known delhi belly. Souvenirs, no doubt.

Having arrived in Mumbai just last night, I must look somewhat in a trance state; dazed as I am from the happenings of the last week or so. And then, of course, is this something special about actually being back in Mumbai... because there is something that draws me back here, time and again. Something, that links the energy untapped within me, to the immense energy that resonates through this place of many contraditory things. Perhaps it is that it is intensely beautiful in its tragic state, a contradiction in itself. Or that it is so often misunderstood, misused by its custodians and so out-of-reach of its essential benefactors...
So many whats and ifs... and yet the city thrives because of and in spite of it all... immensely alive with creative energy, life, and all things magical. I am here to reconnect. My soul is thirsting and quenching almost at the speed it would take to fumble through the beads of my tasbeeh.. Greatful, and joyfilled and somewhat in acknowledgement of the inner chaos.

Ru-ba-ru Roshni se... Finally face2face with Sunshine. The tears flow freely now.

With Love and Magic
Shafs