Being Brave ……

“I count him braver who conquers his desires than him who conquers his enemies ; for the hardest victory is over self” – Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)

When I started this adventure and the planning thereof, I called it a Sacred Divine Adventure, and for me that is exactly what it was.  As I planned it and what it is now,  as it unfolds and as I go through and live each experience. And  when I decided to started the blog and writing, as a reflection of my journey, I wasn’t 100% sure how it would work out or how my writing and who I am would be accepted,  as its not only my close, personal friends who are reading my blog and following my adventure, in fact as more and more people follow my blog,  the more aware I have become that I am exposing myself completely and in an honest and open way. 

I have had so much feedback from my friends and people and the most feedback I have been receiving is an acknowledgement of how brave I am in what I am doing. This has got me thinking as I really didn’t see myself as brave and what I have been reflecting on is, "what does brave mean? and am I really so brave?"  The quote at the top written by Aristotle explains bravery and for the first time, I realised that I am brave and that my journey is one of bravery.  And its a humble realisation about myself,  because as I look back over my life and how it has worked out for me, without bravery and courage,  I would have never come to where I am right now and become the person that I Am.  So I take this moment to thank you all for acknowledging my bravery, for acknowledging me and for encouraging me, supporting me and loving me as my journey unfolds. 

And for my new friends and followers, thank you for joining me on this Sacred Divine Adventure.


Visiting Florence was amazing,  but the hoards and hoards of people and the noise and bustle of city life made it really challenging and once again, there was the stress of catching buses, reading maps, getting directions, getting ripped off by taxi drivers  - not the softness of the country side and it rained and rained.  But what a beautiful city and I would love to come here again, rent an apartment for 3 to 4 weeks and explore Florence and spend time seeing the treasures it has to offer.  And there are so many.  I booked a tour called My Florence – which included the Academy (where the magnificent David resides), a walk around Florence exploring the architecture and learning about its amazing history and then a visit to Uffizi Gallery – the most unbelievable centre where every amazing Renaissance artists’ work is resident.



While in Florence I met Australians, Germans, Americans, Chinese, Dutch, Canadian, Belgium, Russian, Spanish people all visiting for different reasons, all having a completely different itineraries and all in awe of the beauty and the history.  And I did meet South Africans,  I love our accent – it was great to meet and chat with people from home – from Jozi, Cape Town, Somerset West – wonderful !!!

Now getting back the story of being brave – Michelangelo was a genius, an artist, and a very brave man.  His work, his passion, his self discovery and self awareness and his work is so inspiring and visiting his work and feeling the power of his sculpture, learning how he envisaged the form within the marble and then created pieces that show the emergence of sheer brilliance and movement reflected in his sculpture – what an inspiring man – and I am enthralled by his genius and talent – so much to offer and learn from this master.




So from a brave Nidhi – who has been travelling for a month now – from a very proud South African who really missed home today -I wish you blessed Freedom Day – an amazing Pink Loerie Festival – a blessed Samhain – happy 1 May – until next time so much love xxx

Beloved and Blessed Siena

Leaving the retreat and the countryside and the safety and protected space of Casala san Bartolomeo was a little challenging for me and it is confirmed how much I love the country spaces and the slow gentle pace far more than the busy city life.  But in saying that,  the transition is actually the challenging part and once I am settled in my new space, and start to wonder and experience the magic on offer, I relax into my new surroundings.  And so it was with Siena.  What a magical and wonderful town with so much to offer - and walking around, being in each moment and allowing to happen has been so wonderful.  I made no plans - came accross all the sights and had the most marvelous 2 1/2 days.


I am in a flow now and i have a rhythm and am super organised.  It takes me a few minutes to pack each time, I have the train times and all the info I need and its working - YAY - I have 2 days less than a month left in Italy and lots to do and see.

It was very choppy weather - changing from rain in an instant to a clear, blue sky with sun and warmth, to suddenly raining again, but walking on the old, cobbled streets, whether in rain or sun, was wonderful.


My first evening I went to a medieval restaurant serving traditional Tuscan food - so delicious, home cooked food and I had vegetable soup that warmed my heart - let me tell you now about how restaurants work here - the bread they put on the table, whether you eat it or not, you get charged for.  Everyone orders water so its standard on your bill as well.  One thing I have noticed is that very seldom is there salt or pepper on the table - and the bread is usually unsalted.  The food is so tasty and flavourful that it does not need salt and that's the reason for the bread being unsalted.  And the food is really delicious - so rich with flavour and cooked with so much passion and the most wonderful ingredients.  Each cafe or bar, trattoria or restaurant is stocked with the most amazing pastries, cakes, breads, cheeses, meats, and gelato, which is so abundant.  And not to mention the coffee - YUM !!!

                         

On Thursday evening just after I arrived, I went to sit in the sun at a Cafe and had a cup of coffee and as I was about to leave I recognised a small sign - Sinagoga ebraica - Hebrew Synagogue - and I was so excited as I missed the Jewish Museum in Rome and wanted to see something from my heritage here in Italy.  I followed the signs, and at the door met a woman, Danielle (another one :-)) the Rabbi's wife.  I arranged to attend the Shabbas service at the Synagogue the following evening - at 19h00 - she did say that I should expect many people as the community was very small in Siena.  I was so excited !

On Friday morning it was raining so hard, the only thing to do was to go to museum and I did in the middle of the central piazza in Siena - Piazza del Campo.  There was an exhibition going on outside the museum entrance , and although I couldn't find anyone speaking English to give me details on the exhibition, there were pictures and creative pieces that depicted what it seems to be to do with oppression, abuse of power, destruction and the deep problems of the world.  It was sad and touching, I did take a few pics but some of the concentration camps were too hard to look at and definitely not to photograph, and then I cam across a poster about South Africa and the apartheid issue - although in Italian - it was amazing and I had a good cry - whoever did these pieces of art, depicted so many issues that touch the world - I have an email address of the organiser and will write an email (translated into Italian) so I can find out more.

   

                           

                  









Powerful stuff !!! I am happy that the rain subsided and the sun came out - and I was able to wander around the wonderful streets and clear the pain from my heart.  And then I came across the Cathedral of Siena (Duomo) - something that is absolutely out of this world.  Again the wealth and abundance of the Catholic Church is overwhelming and quite breathtaking - and then I went inside -  Absolutely beautiful - the shrines, the works of art the ceilings, the floors - wow !

                               

I fee "churched out"  and my pending Shabbat Service was something I was really looking forward to.

What a wonderful experience it was -Eli Rabini is the Rabbi and it was wonderful meeting him, and seeing the beautiful old Synagogue, rich in history (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Siena.html) and with an old feel to it.  He lived and worked in South Africa many years ago and it was greatl to share some stories and experiences.  We lit candles at 19h00 (sunset now that its nearing summer) and then he did the service, signing with a beautiful voice, and me being the only other person to start off with.  Another member of the Jewish community of Siena joined us half way through - but although there were only us, the essence and beauty of the authenticity was so enriching and I felt fed and touched being part of something so special.  Daniella and Rabbi Eli invited me to have dinner with them and their 3 children after the service - what a wonderful evening - I am so blessed.

   

Saturday I wondered around, went to buy art materials for drawing my mandalas (I will post some pictures of my creations soon) and again dodged the intermittent rain.  At round 3 I decided to go for a walk and find some sun, and as I went downstairs I head drumming.  Not djembe but it was drumming and it was loud, resonating through the old streets, filling the space, and I followed it, to a new place in Siena that I had not been to - right to another church.  On 25th April is Italy's liberation day - much like our Freedom day on the 27th April, and in Siena they have a medieval festival, so the drummers and flag artists were practicing and the drumming was absolutely amazing.  I lapped it up, sat in the warm sun, and listened and felt each beat and each rhythm.  What a gift !!!!

   

And so its Goodbye Siena - a gift of space and time - the gratitude and blessings I am feeling for this opportunity are "wordless" and I look so forward to what Florence or as they say in Italy - Firenze,  will bring.

Be blessed always

Om Shanti Om

Umbria

As I download my photos and reflect on the past 2 days and the last 2 days of my retreat here in Umbria, I hope that I will be able to capture the essence of my experience effectively enough for you all to feel and experience what I have experienced.


I decided I needed to explore a bit of Umbria and because I don't have a car   looked on line and was guided to a Umbrian Tour Guide - Daniela Paci - and contacted her about taking me around Umbria to see and experience some of the countryside.  Meeting Daniela has been an absolute delight   We have spend the most magical, synchronositc 2 days together exploring and getting to know eachother and each conversation and experience we have shared has been inspiring.

umbriatourguide.com

On Tuesday (17 April) we visited 2 towns - Montefalco and Bavangna and had lunch in between at Wine Cellar - Colle Del Saraceno run by Myla and Francesco Botti.  I think that instead of giving you the history and information of these towns - information you can always get on line - and I would not like to bore you in anyway, what I would like to share is the wonderful experiences we had exploring these towns and the wonderful, gentle Umbrian countryside.

The art, the churches, the squares, the views and wondering through the streets of these walled towns that are from another era was absolutely wonderful.  They feel like they have always felt and without the autobanks and the motor cars and buses, time stands absolutely still and you can almost feel life in medieval times.  What is amazing with the restoration of these towns and the fact that most are built from and show signs of Roman ruins, old pagan temples and relics from long time past, the philosophy has been to re-use everything and that is what has been done and is evident - melting the past with the present - acknowledging the ancestors and bringing the old ways, the methods and the history into and making it part of everything that is done today.  

www.cantinabotti.com




And there is the Olive Oil, the Sagrantino Wine, Spelt, Honey, Lentils, Pork all products from the area, rich and fertile.  The countryside is full of farms and  small holdings growing olive trees and grape vines, dating back to the beginning of the 1900's. And the olive oil is absolutely delicious.  


Bevanga, I found an intriguing town and the energy was very old and still feels like the Medieval Ages - each of the medieval towns although similar have their own very unique energy.   Wandering around the narrow streets experiencing life here is magical and Daniela arranged for us to visit a Historical Palace L'Orto degli Angeli, an absolute delight.  Its an ancient house dating back to 1788 and has been owned and preserved by the same family since then. In between 2 buildings there is a garden - The Garden of the Angels - filled with Wisteria and over 150 rose bushes, which I can just imagine when blooming must take one on a journey - so beautiful, peaceful and surrounded by ancient buildings.  In Bevanga, part of the town has be built using an original Roman amphitheatre, filling in walls and spaces.  Absolutely amazing and the restaurant in L'Orto degli Angeli is under the street level using the curve and part of the original amphitheatre.  

www.ortoangeli.com

On Wednesday, we completed our journey visiting the medieval town of Spello and the city of Perugia.  Another day of magic, beauty, and very special moments.  In Spello, visiting Santa Maria Maggiore and the absolutely breathtaking frescoes by the Pinturicchio, we had the absolute honour of meeting a friar from the Francescian order, Friar Paulo who is an artist and creates the most amazing pieces each year for the Infiorata feast of Corpus Domini.  This very special man goes into the fields around Spello each Spring in June, and collects various flowers, dries them very well, crushes them in an old little bowl, keeps each colour in its container, and then mixes them with glue to create these pieces that have the messages representative of his faith and his complete love and devotion to God.  He told us that he is not the artist, God is.  This man embraces Silence and it was the most unbelievable honour to meet him and share his gift and faith with him.

And then there is Perugia,the capital city of Umbria, and very much a coming together of the modern and the ancient.  The city has a mini-metro, which takes one from a central parking area into the old, centre of the city.  A very innovative and clever way to keep cars out and make it easy.  What a funky system - transport system in Italy is wonderful and everything actually comes on time and is really efficient.  Within Perugia while wondering around looking at the various sites, Daniela showed me a complete underground town that was discovered and is being restored and untilised - again bringing in and resuing the old and making it work.  We had lunch at a restaurant completely organic and only using locally produced produce.  Al Mangiar bene - www.almangiarbene.com

And then its time for me to leave the retreat and head out into the world once again - I have absolutely loved staying in the country, connecting with nature and I have met some really lovely people. I have a very full month left in Italy with much moving around, sight seeing, connecting with friends and soaking up spring.  And I am sure lots of writing and sharing.


Until next time be blessed - I will post photos on my facebook page - Adventure with Nidhi - enjoy.


xxxxx

Retreat

   Namaste and blessings from a very special space in Umbria – situated between San Venanzo and Marchiano.  I wish I could photograph and share with you the peace and tranquillity here – you have will take my word.  Its so peaceful and the sounds of the birds is all that one hears – occasionally a car in the distance, very distant, or a plane flying over – very seldom.  The house is old but has been renovated so has all the modern necessities to make staying here wonderful.  Being Europe and having cold weather, they are properly equipped and there is central healing in all the rooms and the bathrooms which has been amazing as its been quite cold – an average of 12 deg.  each day going down to to about 4 at night – and its been cloudy and rainy so the heating is most appreciated.

Gabriele is an amazing Italian chef and has been feeding me local Italian delights each evening.  Each evening I have been surprised by the variety of food he serves me, the flavours and the tastes.  Each meal includes a starter of some sort – a rice or pasta course and then I asked for vegetables, which are all prepared in a very Italian way.  Most evenings I have leave the vegetables and have them for my lunch the next day as I just can’t finish the food and with meal is a wonderful red wine which is made locally – Italians love their wine ! and so do I – each evening I go to my room slightly flushed and really relaxed.

Because this is a retreat space for me – time for Rest and Relaxation – I am not doing much each day and am so enjoying the quiet, the tranquillity and the space to catch up with myself.  As I relax and Be more and more each day, I let go of all the angst and stress I carried after packing up my house, saying goodbye to my animals, my loved ones and my life.  This was a really good plan for me to create this space and the timing was perfect, and confirms the divinity and sacredness of this journey and how beautifully it all has worked out.  This whole journey is Divine and Sacred and I am supported completely to do this – I AM Blessed I AM Divine I AM that I AM !

      South African Grapes and Plums in the local supermarket      Old ruins as I walked on the property (some sunshine )   

   View from the property looking onto the valley – open spaces beautiful vistas

I leave here on the 19th and have a very busy and wonderful itinerary planned for the rest of my time in Italy.   I have made some changes to my original itinerary and one the them includes a visit to Antibes in France to meet with my friend Ursula who is working on a Yacht there.  I am really looking forward to this adventure, seeing a tiny bit of France and seeing a friend from home – someone familiar and comfortable to be with. 

In the past week there has been 2 earthquakes – one affecting Bali and much of the Indian Ocean and one in Mexico.  I am off to Bali after Italy and its interesting for me to feel the vulnerability of travelling and knowing that anything can happen at any time.  And that includes the garden route too – I was really saddened by the whale that washed up on the beach on Buffalo Bay –  blessed whale be at peace.

My daughter Nicole, leaves South Africa on the 25th April for China - wow that is going to be an amazing journey and learning about  a new culture.  I am sure being there will be different to what the media and our understanding of China is.  I bless Nicole as she travels and undertakes this remarkable journey - be safe my angel and have the most unbelievable time.

To end of - today is the 14th April - its 23 years ago since my father passed on.  I didn't have a good relationship with my father and there much that I feel that is missing from my life because of this.  Here I am in Italy where my father served with the Allied Forces during the 2nd world war.  I wish I knew where - but anyway that is the way it is, and today I take this opportunity honour and acknowledge my father and the role of the masculine within my life.

Until next time, be blessed
Om Shanti Ome

Lord make me an instrument of Thy Peace ..

Assisi was just so wonderful - I absolutely fell in love with the peace and the magic of the ancient town - and felt my heart centre expand as I wondered the streets and alleys, enjoying the Easter festivities and the many many people who come here to celebrate their faith and honour their religion.  Although extremely busy with throngs of people, I was able to wander off and find some treasures that were far from the madding crowds that inspired and excited me.  And its was snowing on the mountains so it was so cold, and this added a crispness to the air and enhanced the warm, sunny spaces that I found to watch people.  


I have seen so many churches and basilicas since arriving in Italy and the funny thing is that when I eventually found the Jewish Museum & Great Synagogue, on my last day in Roma,  it was closed, so I have created my own sacred spaces wherever I have gone and found so much symbolism and magic everywhere.  


On my arrival in Assisi it was raining and really cold, but I went for a stroll and at the point when I took the above photos, I met 2 amazing woman Julie and Alison.  

Alison More, on the left,  originally from Canada, is now based at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Holland. She is a medieval historian, who is working mainly on identity formation in houses of religious women (not nuns - mainly beguines and tertiaries), and looking at the ways in which such women complemented or contradicted the official identities they were given.

And Julie McElmurry, on the right,  who lives and works in North Carolina, USA running an organisation called Franciscan Passages - http://www.franciscanpassages.org

It was amazing meeting Alison and Julie, and there was an instant connection by kindred spirits,  unfortunately they were leaving the next morning so our time was limited, but we have been in contact since then and we will continue to communicate and who knows they could very well come and visit in South Africa.


Assisi, home to St. Francis,  who gave up his nobility and wealth to serve the people and honour nature and all of God's creations.  What I find so fascinating is how much wealth has been spent on building this huge basilica to honour his memory and his sainthood and in the middle of this huge building is a small, humble and very sacred little chapel that was the original place of worship of St Francis.  This analogy is a reminder to me of how much emphasis is placed on creating an exterior world of such beauty and value, and then the amount of rules and regulations that are placed on managing and monitoring these creations and what is really at the heart is the inner castle, the sacred inner space of simplicity and pure light that needs so little to be and is beautiful as it is.


St Francis' Prayer - O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is doubt, faith;  Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved 
as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

I have begun to find my rhythm travelling and everything has its place now in my 2 bag, so when I have to pack up and leave its quick and efficient.  When I was in Narni, I cleared out my case and got rid of some of my clothes (given to charity) and made my life so much easier now - my case closes easily now !  Every now and again I get this thought that I have so many more months of travelling still to do - what an interesting reality !!!

When I booked my sacred adventure, I knew and know now, that I need space to be in peace and rest, and that city energy is too much for me for too long.  When I left Sedgefield on the 10th March - I was in Jozi for 17 days and then flew directly in Rome which is a huge city, went to Naples, back to Rome and then to Narni and Assisi at the most busy times of the year - Easter, so have been surrounded by so many people and so much energy for well over a month now.  As part of my itiniary I booked myself a stay at a guest farm in San Venanzo, which is in Umbria, and then was to do a yoga retreat near Perugia before heading off to travel and explore more of Italy.  The yoga retreat was cancelled, so I have extended my stay to 9 nights at Casale San Bartolomeo  ( http://www.casalesanbartolomeo.com ) and I couldn't ask for a better place to retreat.  Its so beautiful here, just like the Garden Route, with indigenous forests, green hills, peace and just the sounds of birds, crickets and nature.  I am so happy to have the clean air to breathe, the peace and tranquility to re-charge myself and prepare for the next month of travelling in Italy.  Casala San Bartolomeo is run by Gabriele and his wife Anna - they used to live in Roma and moved to the country 3 years ago with their 2 very sweet and beautiful daughters - Julia and Georgie.  Anna works at a bank in Perugia (about 40 minutes away) and Gabriele runs the house, takes the girls to school and he is a tourist guide, Italian teacher and amazing chef.  And the cuisine is amazing and so is the local wine :-)

This time I am going to use to write, read, walk and be in nature, sleep and just BE - in my previous post I mentioned that I Am Doing this journey, well the step after Doing is BE-ING and its in that Be- Ing that the deep connection with the Self happens and the loneliness subsides into a space of acceptance and bliss.

Being in nature and in tranquility assists me to shift and I feel at peace where I Am right now.

With love always

Om Shanti Om xxx