Raw Renewal

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Photo Myself

It was in the middle of the night.
First came these words:
Love
Freedom
Raw
Empty
Joy
Full

Then they got filled this way:
Love for myself
Freedom for myself
Raw renewal
Empty of you
Joy of being
Full with myself
To become Empty again
To Love
To Serve

Stripped off of relations
Finding myself whole
Filling up all the holes

Then what looked like a poem took a different form for the image above today.

Do the 2 forms of the poem feel different in meaning and sentiment to you? I am not sure exactly but the words changed form for the aesthetics and they feel different to me. The original poem was ‘Self-centered’ with the ‘joy of being full with myself and empty of you’. The image made it more spirit-related, and empty in general. Somehow I was ok with how all of this wanted to be. Do you have any thoughts?

This journey I feel is not against any one, and for everyone. The world that I walk out in often feels like an alternate reality. What is real is underneath all that we actually see. The shortest way to describe it is Love. Because it is a feeling experience…

101 thoughts on “Raw Renewal”

  2. We start with an idea .. and then we expand our thoughts into words … I love seeing the progress of your poem Pragalbha … I create my poems in a similar way … I have an idea, a word, I write down .. and then other words follow … and I write all my immediate thoughts down, and then I begin the process of forming a poem … This morning I walking Frankie in the misty run, and the thoughts I had then, I wrote down when I got home … I wrote a Haiku ..
    “Loaded Clouds”

    In the misty rain
    Remembering heavy clouds
    Loaded full of tears

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    • Ah so good to know your process and how similar to this poem of mine! I think I shared in detail today because usually poems come fully formed to me as if dictated, and it felt unusual how this one happened. Thank you very much for taking the time kindly Ivor and also for sharing this very beautiful Haiku, what a gift to read it in this space 🙂

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  5. This is what I call a masterpiece, in itself.. The way you have knitted it.. Specially this line, ‘What is real is underneath all that we actually see. The shortest way to describe it is Love. Because it is a feeling experience…’ i just loved it.. So thoughtful and beautiful too.. Bravo dear.. 👍🏼😊👏🏼👏🏼👌🏼👌🏼🙏🏻🤗💕

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  6. I agree with you on the first one being self centered then you moved on into a more spritual journey with the added image and words.

    Its amazing at how few words and arrangements could change the message we want to convey.

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    • Thank you Michelle for seeing and appreciating what happened here – it was different from the usual process of my poetry. I think I was ok with both because of how my intention to love and to serve remained in either version.

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  7. “What is real is underneath all that we actually see. The shortest way to describe it is Love. Because it is a feeling experience…” Indeed. It is not a seeing or a knowing, rather a visceral feeling, and experience of Love, as you write. Resonates deeply.

    What I get from the second poem is emptying oneself of the ego-illusion to then be filled with the Divine Love of the Self. We must empty completely, to then be filled back up again, which is a stripping, and then a refilling.

    Interestingly, I actually get a similar sentiment from the first poem. When we seek freedom, a rawness and vulnerability is required, as is emptying ourselves of our samskaras, which makes room to be filled with Love and Joy. Wow. I’m elated to be reading you this evening, Pragalbha. This was such an insightful write for me. Thank you for always sharing yourself so freely and authentically. So honored to share this space with you. 🙏🤍

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    • The resonace that you bring is such fulfilling joy and delight truly Jeff 🙂

      a stripping, and then a refilling. – it feels so good how you get the tenderness of the process, how much this very human process is so much bigger than how we see or feel it. From that perspective the beauty of it all is undeniable!

      The rawness, the vulnerability, the samskaras …and then the room made for Love and Joy – these truly are visceral experiences and my heart is filled to the brim with joy and gratitude for how you see it all so clearly with me. Thank You _()_

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      • You’re most welcome, Pragalbha. Always.

        It’s always an honor and privilege to read your words, and to share this reflective space full of resonance.

        I always get something when I read you, and it is inspiring and fills me with Joy, as it very affirming and amazing. Love is truly all there is, and it is beautiful to behold, in your words, in this life experience, and in every beat of my heart. Thank you, my dear friend. 🙏🤍

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  9. I’m impressed! You’ve woven a completely beautiful poem with these words!

    And the little message that
    Your “self love” level should be high.

    I am delighted that I read this, amazing!!💖✨

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  11. I love it and I sense do deep a meaning. If only I can empty myself of all the prejudices, the wrongs and embrace love, fill my soul with love will I be able to love the world. Love although fills my now empty soul is much like an empty canvas and has room for everybody! 🙂
    This is a beautiful poem Pragalbha 🙂

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    • Your knowing words ‘fill my holes’. Thank you for seeing through this in exact ways and giving words perfectly like you do. In a way I wanted to be Self-centered with a capital S – a way of approaching gteh wholeness when empty of others. I loved and appreciated your saying ‘changing from one focus to the other’. Makes it a simpler process 🙂

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  14. This poem could be interpreted in many ways and I had to read it again and again to discover what lies beneath your words and thoughts Prag… sometimes words just pour out of our soul and we are wonderstruck how they spin to make a meaningful path into the unknown. This sounds like one of those moments! I like the first version more, as it leaves much to reader’s imagination and comprehension. 😊 Stay blessed dear friend.

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    • Dear Balroop, I felt a very humbled elation to know that you found it worth to read multiple times and reflect on it, it means so much to me! Yes the original came out of those special moments and so I felt attached to sharing it, while the image version got all cleaned up to look and sound good 🙂 I feel very happy and grateful that you found the first version meaningful, it is affirming for me to know. Thank you very much truly for your kind loving words.

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  15. When we use “I” it is an expression of the individual separate self, often expressing itself from the fearful and protective ego mind. This way of communicating keeps us separate and apart. Moving to “we”, allows all to participate and feel what we all are capable of feeling. It invites and opens oursleves up to others and share in our our common humanity. 💕🙏🏼💕
    It is part of the journey, reconciling me to become we.

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    • “Moving to “we”, allows all to participate and feel what we all are capable of feeling. ” – this and everything you said, so beautiful and valuable. I absolutely love and appreciate the wisdom you have shared, especially also the words – reconciling me to become we. Thank you for adding your wisdom in response to my post, it was enriching perspective to read.

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  16. The version on the image feels like a retelling from completion. The version without image feels like the journey from start to completion. From the same inspiration, yet two poems of individual meaning. Thank you for drawing attention to their difference 😊

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  18. Such a beautiful poem Pragalbha!
    I love your dissecting and emptying out as your poem was created and sharing your thought process and reaching under to where we are all love underneath so wisely said.
    As always it is a joy to read you and share time here together! 💖🙏🙏

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    • Thank you very much my kind friend. I feel good about sharing both and not choosing one over the other 🙂 The original felt special for how it came and I love knowing how you appreciate the second. It did become more universal.

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  21. Enjoyed reading the progression of your thoughts and words Pragalbha. Truly loved the poem on the picture. Emptying and filling up and finding a renewed whole self, to love and to serve is evolution. Glad you are moving ahead on that path. Much love to you ❤ !

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    • I am so glad and grateful that you enjoyed reading my process Radhika. It was so good to read how you exactly summarized the essence of my poem, it feels very encouraging. Thank you so much for your kind and loving support.

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  24. I feel it was like a process of expansion…first you saw the main picture (written under “First came these words”)…and then the vision gone finer & deeper…sensing the essence in you…fine tuning the frequency…what you’ve seen & created is divine, Pragalbha…that photo with your words…the blend of two…it’s like adjusting the microscopic lens to attain the clear vision…the deeper & finer details…the final adjustment is the photo…pls do know, I’m not analyzing anything…I’m only sensing 💫

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    • The joy of an artist when their art is seen by a very keenly observing master, who just sees through and reflects back an amplified beauty – that is the gift you give me Navin, for my humble expressions that come from the unknown spaces. I absolutely know that you are sensing – you know the unknown spaces too well, that I know and trust. You make my post feel very freshly coherent to me, for I had felt ‘eh – here I go, simply pouring out however and whatever is insisting to come together and go out in the world’ You shine your light and make it all so precious for me – I appreciate and like seeing my process through your lens. Thank you very much, my kind friend, Thank You.

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      • It’s my pleasure, Pragalbha…That’s the beauty of the expressions, that are coming from the unknown spaces…they are raw, pure & naked…they are simply there in the form of energy…you, my dear friend, have the ability & magical power to sense the essence & express it in beautiful form…from there, not only myself but all your readers are able to connect with you…your expressions…comments are the living proof ✨

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  25. I found myself agreeing with some words and not quite agreeing with others, and I realized that probably reflects the inner struggle we all go through. We live somewhere between our experiences, our emotions, our reactions and our higher selves!

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  30. Your words take me to place I want to go to but have been procrastinating. To empty self of all prejudices and biases, to fill self with unconditional love…wow! Pragalbha, your mastery over soul-stirring words in unparalleled. ❤️

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  31. The first are words that let the reader fill in the spaces. The second shows the process of healing through emptying yourself and making yourself whole again. Sometimes, it is important to strip all relationships to feel whole again- to heal yourself. Hugs.

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  33. Wow!!! You had a moment of stillness and self reflection. I love that.
    I love your thought process, to become full of yourself and the need two empty in order to properly love and serve. I don’t know if that’s what you meant but I definitely can relate to those words. Great job

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    • Thank you so much Sowmya for your thoughtful appreciation. I must share though this progression had a flow of its own that chose to come through some heartfelt space, not much brainstorming here 🙂 Love indeed is the most precious tool and result to land at.
      I truly appreciate you taking the time kindly.

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