Celebrating The Beggar's Dance

Reading an excerpt from
The Beggar's Dance

The Beggar's Dance book launch was a celebration with people who supported me during this five year writing journey.

Joyce Gram introducing me
www.gramediting.com

My editor Joyce Gram shared her story about how much she enjoyed working on this project before introducing me.

 

The party getting started - emcee Liz Schofield

I am blessed with family and friends who helped at the event - my husband, my son, my sister-in-law Zain, my brother, my goddaughter and two friends, Rozy and Zahra, and fantastic emcee Liz Schofield.

Book signing with Gloria Barkley
www.gloriabarkley.ca

Highlights worth mentioning:

• My mum crying before I had even started the presentation.
• Gloria Barkley attending and getting my book  signed.
• Me wearing high heels for the three hours. 

Moments I shall cherish forever. 

Books have arrived - The Beggar's Dance

The Beggar's Dance by Farida Somjee

Somebody pinch me
  Is this for real
Must be a dream

I gaze at the box
 and smile
Yes, it is a dream

Journey of Joy and Love

Rose Quartz & Rhodonite bracelet

Here is a Rose Quartz and Rhodonite bracelet I made a while back. A symbol of love. That day, I wore it during my yoga session and took my attention towards the heart chakra, chanting the sound YAM.
  The same evening, I wore the bracelet when I went out. Not knowing that this ordinary bracelet would soon become a journey of joy and love.
 I unexpectedly met a friend. She commented on how lovely the bracelet was, and spoke from her heart how much she loved my design and the beads.
   I removed the bracelet from my wrist and gave it to her. She was surprised and thrilled, and kindly accepted the gift. I felt that I was also sharing my heart chakra energy with her. But when I got home, my heart was more energized than earlier. That's when I realized; it was she who was sharing her heart energy with me.
  It's true, when you give unconditionally, the universe gives back thousand times more. 

East African Safari Rally

The month of April in Vancouver, British Columbia, is breathtaking. The showy mountains and colourful gardens bring smile to my whole being. Soon my front garden will turn red and pink with azalea flowers, and the favourite of all, the magnolia tree will bloom in abundance. And of course, the best is walking my dog in the neighbourhood under the cherry trees (quite a few around).

Datsun 240z East African Safari Rally - Shekhar Mehta1971

Photo: JPG file on Pinterest via Vintage East Africa. (See Link). 

This takes me to my childhood, how different the month of April was in Africa. The monsoon season was truly magical. I felt joyful when the water from heavens poured.

My most cherished memory is a family holiday. Dad drove us from Dar es Salaam to Arusha to Ngorongo Crater for a wildlife safari trip. It was during the Easter week holidays, and the East African Safari Rally was happening. Every time the race cars zoomed by, Dad pulled aside to let the drivers pass. We honked and cheered. Wow! what an experience.

Happy April to all.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/48695239695193407/

Life is You

I was at a funeral this afternoon and could not stop thinking where life could have taken this wonderful woman (in her sixties), who lost a battle with cancer. After everyone paid their last respects, she was carried to another place where she now belongs. The hymns and prayers echoed in the hall that left me in silence within my own inner space.

I believe, in this short journey that we are granted, it's important to follow our passion, because this will make us understand our purpose. Life is not a race, life is not comparison, life is not guilt—life is in our heart, life is love, life is compassion, life is giving thanks, life is generosity, life is discovery.

 Life is You.

May her soul Rest in Peace. Amen.

The Monsoon Rains

After a heavy rainfall, the sun was out, the grass was wet, and the worms welcomed the migrating birds for a feast. I stood on my deck and listened to the stellar jays, robins, chickadees and woodpeckers singing together. Rain is magical in the West Coast during the fall season, despite the cold.

I remember as a child, growing up in East Africa, the cool breeze from the rains brought laughter on the streets. Children would get drenched playing—a heavenly experience.The scent of the earth and rain was divine.

I have captured several scenes in my novel, The Beggar's Dance, during the monsoon season.

The Magic of African Beads

Kazuri bead bracelet by Farida Somjee

I discovered Kazuri beads—Swahili word for small and beautiful—a couple of years ago when attending Fraser Valley Bead Show in British Columbia. The person selling Kazuri beads told me the story of how these beads were handmade by women in Kenya. At the time, I had completed one of the chapters in my novel The Beggar's Dance, where there is a subtle mention about the handmade beads. Was this a coincidence or was it mean't to be? I love such mysteries of life, and suddenly this subtle scene in the novel became meaningful.

On the weekend, I was at the bead show again and purchased Kazuri beads for the bracelet I made (see photo). The reddish brown beads represent the earthy soil in Africa, the antique findings is for the rich cultures of Africa and the bird's wing charm stands for a falcon—all symbolic in my novel.