It feels good to be back!

Source: http://www.pinterest.com

The last couple of weeks have been particularly difficult! A combination of health challenges and systems/power issues made it impossible to perform any task on Purpleraysblog.
I thank my friends who kept faith with the blog during the trying moments!
I sure missed everyone; thank goodness I’m back and in high spirits!
Once again I had to seek comfort in the popular poem said to have been written by an unknown author and simply titled:
“BE THANKFUL”
Again let me share bits of it with you:

“Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference….

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.”

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The Rays blaze again….good to be back!

Photo credit: Jude Teme Adonne on Facebook

For about a month now activities have been down here! A combination of systems failure, health issues and relationship challenges all seemed to conspire to make life almost unbearable and access to the internet impossible! It was a trying period!
And what great opportunities slipped by: a full moon, December New month greetings, some important birth/death anniversaries usually mentioned here and the customary build up to end-of-year festivities/spiritual Festivals! Truly, not the best of times to have a down time!
Thank goodness, the worst is over and like the proverbial Phoenix we have risen from the ashes of frustration and uncertainties!
And now to the silver lining! How delightful to get back and be welcomed by a large cache of new followers, friendly comments and touching enquiries. Looks like some good old friends kept faith: in the absence of current posts they simply hit the archive to stir things up. A pleasant surprise!
A pleasant surprise and a lesson to learn: Purpleraysblog has taken on a life of its own…. while the hands behind the blog were virtually kissing the dust, the blog stood there like a luminous Pyramid attracting and reaching out to like minds, friends and well-wishers!
Compliments of the season to everyone and big thanks/hugs to all those who stopped by during the period! It’s good to back!
Once again, the Rays stream forth!

In loving memory of Ajay

Ajay was a fountain of inspiration! Glad I was able to say so while he was with us. Today would have been too late!

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Ajay Mody {Ajaytao}

‘It is with heavy heart and deep sadness that we mourn the passing away of Ajay Mody, also known as Ajaytao, blogger of “Ajaytao2010” and the “Ajaytao Botanical Photography” blogs. He left this world on the 10th August 2014 after a short illness at his home in Mumbai, India.‘

I stare at the screen in shock while I read these words on the blog of my friend Vijay.

Our dear friend Ajay, gone…

I cannot believe this, the world has lost an angel. A pure, white rose.

Dear Ajay, my sweet friend, this is for you. Know that I will always carry you in my heart. You will be missed. Thank you for all the love and kindness you showed me and many others. I am blessed that I have met you. <3

A beautiful white rose

Honest and sincere

Soft pedestals of kindness

Touching…

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The Award for Love and Kindness!

Here’s a big thank you to Eric of http://hunt4truth.wordpress.com for nominating me for The Award for Love and Kindness
What an exciting award; beautiful in design, lofty in ideals! It was created by Barbara Mattio who believes Love and Kindness are necessary tools for promoting peace in the world! The award is her special way of sharing her respect and appreciation for these values particularly among bloggers! In her words:

“It is important for us to remember that we are One Family living in One World; we are Sisters and Brothers, no matter how we look, what culture we live in, what religion we practice or who we love. In many ways, blogging removes some of the obvious barriers between us, and helps bring those of us from all walks of life, ethnicity, creed, colors and ideals together as One Family,”

Thank you Eric, for extending Barbara’s hand of love, kindness and peace to me!
A few words about Eric! He likes to be identified as a Christian and believes in a monotheistic Godhead but discusses Divine Truth, spirituality, life and existence with a very open mind! He glides through various philosophical thoughts, religions, cultures, traditions and esoteric practices with the balance and fairness of an accomplished mentor! His blog is therefore a veritable classroom for Truth seekers; irrespective of their religion, spiritual endeavor/ orientation!
With a grateful heart, I dedicate the award to all friends and readers of Purpleraysblog! Your support and encouragement together with the inspirations you share on your various blogs have made every of my single day a joyful experience to look forward to!
Warm wishes of love, kindness and peace to you all!

Why we chose Purple Rays!

Photo Credit: Healing Through The Senses on Facebook

Thank you Marlyn for the inner peace award, and a toast for Tracy

Early last week, Purpleraysblog was nominated for the Don Charisma’s version of Inner Peace Award by Marlyn of http://kintal.wordpress.com
Marlyn understands the language of colors and pictures and speaks it with uncommon eloquence! You have probably heard that “a picture speaks more than a thousand words”, you can say that again and again for Marlyn’s illustrations! They don’t only express thousands of words, they speak many languages! They have something for every tongue, culture, religion or, creed; and for those who do not understand the language of pictures, she spices her posts with insightful words to serve a complete menu! A big thank you Marlyn, for the award
Now to the award!
Its simple acceptance condition stands the award out: write a short piece on why you are accepting it! That’s it!
Like I said in the acceptance post of a similar version “The award’s magic lies primarily in its wording: INNER PEACE! Who doesn’t wish himself or herself inner peace? “Go in peace”, “Peace be upon you”, “Peace, I leave with you”, are some of the unforgettable heralds given to mankind by Masters and Light Messengers over the ages!”
More so, I cherish every nomination and consider it a hand of appreciation extended by friends! For me, “Awards are like hugs and nominations are like out-stretched arms for a warm embrace! Once someone offers you one, courtesy demands that you also reach out or, at least, tone it down to a handshake; unless, you have serious issues with the person!”
I offer the award to my friends/readers on the WordPress platform for their wonderful inspiration and support! Also, I am specially dedicating it to Tracy of http://fecthis.wordpress.com
Tracy opened my eyes to the world of the scourge of breast cancer and what my late cousin secretively endured! In her last days, my cousin was always ‘seeing the doctor’ and her closest confidants only told us she had BP problems! It was only months after she had passed on that I stumbled on the information that she actually had breast cancer. I was speechless and still don’t understand why they shrouded her illness in such secrecy! Every now and then I keep wondering how many more health issues are firmly tucked away in my extended family cupboards?
Not so with Tracy and what a delightful change! She freely discusses the ailment and her treatment procedures without bitterness! She spares no detail and bears no grudge, not even on cancer! It is only a benevolent soul like Tracy that can still afford to say, ”In spite of everything that’s happened I don’t resent cancer; it’s just something that happened.”
Fortunately, she is gradually recovering and as usual, taking life as it comes with exemplarily positive attitude!
Deeply stirring are Tracy’s words in a recent post:

“It seems some good can come from almost any situation, including those that derail the life we once knew. Twenty-two months of change has driven me to chose the road less travelled. Though there are bumps along the way, I suspect its a happier and healthier road overall.”

Random thoughts…….the sages are also here!

Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gobin,_Michel_-_Young_Man_with_a_Candle_-_1681.jpg

We seek wisdom in caves, monasteries; in records and sages of old while ignoring the wise ones in our midst! They first need to pass on and become history before we value their words! At best, they need to be attired in cassock, hood, saffron and other  ‘sacred robes’ and live abstemious lives before we value their words!
This I realized last weekend when I took time to go through old posts of friends who have not been active for some time! I was amazed at the wealth of wisdom and inspiration circulating within my small circle of friends and by implication, the Worpress platform!
Daily we hasten through new posts trying to read as many as possible with no time for reflection! We thereby trample underfoot pearls of wisdom shared by present-day great minds!
The old prophets, sages, gurus, seers and called ones we draw so much inspiration from are back here with us! The once promised intense circling and dispensing of the Light are in full gear and Light ‘bearers’ are actively working every single minute unrecognized! Unrecognized because they live normal everyday lives in suits, skirts/blouse and traditional work/leisure clothes! Nothing outlandish; no queer manner of expression and haircuts!
History is repeating itself in grand style here! Only future generations will appreciate their work and words; only future generations will celebrate the Socrates, Platos, Christs, sages, prophets, gurus and seers we now pay no attention to!
For me and you, we will continue to rummage the archives and monasteries; we will continue to look up to the ‘old time religion’ for inspiration while ignoring the Beacons of our times!
The beautiful ones are also here with us!

Blog Awards are like Hugs; they deserve some appreciation!

Photo Credit: Sun Gazing on Facebook

Awards are like hugs and nominations are like out-stretched arms for a warm embrace! Once someone offers you one, courtesy demands that you also reach out or, at least, tone it down to a handshake; unless, you have serious issues with the person!
I would consider it an embarrassment if my open arms are ignored or spurned! Unfortunately, there’s hardly a month I do not ignore nominations from my friends which, if you ask me, smacks of embarrassing them! I got the sad hint last week when a friend nominated me and was full of appreciation for my work, only to end on the sober note:
“If you don’t accept it, I’ll understand”!
That triggered an alarm bell! I could immediately recall that this was not the first nomination from this guy and, this was not the tone of a happy friend! I’m therefore going back to the early days of this blog! Every single nomination will be acknowledged with a thank-you post and a partial fulfillment of the award conditions! Partial, since I may not send out nominations because I’ve lost count of my “No awards here, please” friends out there!
Rather, I’d use the opportunity to honor friends who as beacons of light and enlightenment, are breathing positive energies into the hearts of their fellow humans and the entire Universe through their blogs! With few words and images these bloggers who resonate with the vibrations of the Light in Creation, have spread more wisdom, blessings and inspiration than many a pulpit and temple…..freely without an ‘offering’ box for appreciation! The least I can do is mention them in special dedications!
So, if every now and then you find thank-you posts and, if they appear too frequent for your comfort, please bear with me! Like I said, awards are long distance hugs and like sincere friendly hugs they transmit pure energy and engender good, uplifting feelings! The least I can do is show appreciation!

 

If it doesn’t sound like me, it is not from me!

Photo Credit: stockvault-purple-flowers116763.jpg

PUBLIC NOTICE: If it doesn’t speak love, it is not the voice of Purplerays!
Until very recently I’d been confused by the contradicting tones of the comments of some friends! One moment, they are sharing their insights and politely expressing their reservations about my views; another moment they come out brash, out of context and somewhat abusive! Why the discordant tones; are my posts that discordant to attract such divergent reactions?
As a rule, no dirty arguments; I approve and respond to the positive comments and trash the insulting ones!
Please don’t get me wrong! I am open to and gladly welcome critical and opposing reactions to my posts! I consider all such as friendly advice and helpful suggestions, so long as the language is civil! Also, it’s just that with time you get to associate your blog friends with a high level of decorum; it comes with the feeling that flows from their essays, pictures, videos, comments, etc. Real positive vibes such that you can hardly expect anything unjustly insulting!
Nevertheless, the confusion continued until…
Last week, the uncommon happened! A regular reader and friend sent in two opposing opinions on a post! That kind of got me thinking; is it that she changed her mind later and became comfortable with the post? If so, why not make reference to the first comment? Why sound nice and friendly after an earlier bashing on the some post? Many questions; and to find answers I sent her a direct mail seeking explanations!
A few hours ago, her eye-opening reply came in: Yes, she wrote the second comment; but no, she had nothing to do with the first! She could not have reacted so shortsightedly and negatively to a post she loved. Her apologies were profuse and almost overboard!
She alluded to the possibility of hacking, unauthorized access and stuff like that! She capped it all with:

“…..if a comment is not fair, just and rational, it is not from me, even if it is supposed to come from my blog and bears my picture, ID or, signature!”

Could same be happening to me out there? That’s why I have to come out with this quick NOTICE!
Dear friends and readers, just in case hate comments are making the rounds out there in the name of this blog, please ignore; they definitely cannot come from me!
The voice of Purplerays heals, comforts, enlightens and inspires! That is the mission and spirit behind the blog! Anything short of this does not originate from this platform!
If it does not sound like me, it is not from me!

 

Some spammers do have them……random blogging thoughts!

Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

I frequently visit my blog’s  spam folder. That way, I have been able to retrieve valuable comments from friends and readers! Sometimes, it appears as if some blogs have a pact with this folder and their comments repeatedly head there! I wonder if same is happening to my comments somewhere!
Spam comments also remind me of the days I started out blogging and wondering “who will ever notice your blog?”! Just then, the spams started arriving as if to assure me that I have, at least, created something! Back then, even spams felt good!
I also take time to read spam messages and: Boy oh boy, some spammers do have them! There are those who hit the sales pitch straight off, others who tickle your ego with praises and big promises to spread the word that a Socrates is on the blogoshere! The pros keep it short and simple; the shorter, the more difficult to thrash. Comments like “learned much”, “true indeed”, “insightful”, “excellent” really get you thinking in different directions! Is it a spam? Is it not?
Top of the pack, are the experienced Pros! You need something close to the sixth sense to handle these ones especially, if their comments had slipped into your ‘pending’ box! They don’t talk short or long; just the right words you would expect from a true friend and reader! These ones have turned spamming into an art; they are the real spam gurus! How I wish they used their talents and fertile imagination for something positive and less offensive!
…….then my friends and readers! Bless their souls! Never a friendship so inspiring; inspiring in friendship but, selective in reading: write about Karma, reincarnation and the virtues of Prophet Mohammad, and my core Christian friends would not touch it with a long spoon! Swing over to celebrate Christmas and Christ, and my friends from parts of Middle East and Asia are out of ear shot. Win some, lose some but, the beauty of friendship is they always call again when you are back to their comfort zone!
……also views and likes! Still a mystery how some posts get regular top views but, are among the least liked! Is it that after the possible one time like, readers visit again and again to re-read, or, is it a question of readers not liking what they see? I just don’t get this one!
…….and Rush Hours! Gradually, I’m beginning to establish the rush hours. There seems to be a link between when your friends post and when they read your posts! I coined the phrase: “You get more readers when you get more posts”! As for the rush days, I still cannot figure that one out. Some weeks, it is Tuesday; other weeks, it is Thursday and in between, the weekends have it! Still learning!
So much to learn in this blogging world!