IN-SIGHT

"REVERIE"

noreply@blogger.com (Md. Sahil Niyazi) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:54:00 +0000

As I sit by the window, I wonder,

A story unfolds when I close my eyes,

Thinking of yesteryears and dreaming of tomorrows,

A forest of fairytales begins to rise.

As the clock chimes an hour,

My carriage arrives,

A new adventure begins,

I feel so alive.

Off I go riding,

Into the surreal grounds,

Where stars glitter abundant,

And flying fairies surround.

At a distance I reckon,

A shimmer of lights flying free,

I draw near mesmerised,

And Lo Behold! It’s a magical tree.

I lie sprawled upon the grass,

Wishing it lasts beyond this hour,

Just something to remember by,

I put in my pocket an enchanted flower.

Alas! The time runs so fast,

For I hear the reality call,

Again to climb the endless stairs,

To touch the skies and never to fall.

I bid farewell smiling to self,

For when my time is finally done,

As I sleep in my earthen womb,

O! My heaven I shall again return.

Regards,

MSN

WINGS OF ICARUS

noreply@blogger.com (Md. Sahil Niyazi) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:12:00 +0000

I think we are all familiar with the famous mythology of dear Icarus when he tried to be too carefree for the wind was wild and the feathers on his arms were strong but what he forgot was that it was wax that was holding his wings together and when he paid no heed to his father, Daedalus’s advice to not to fly too close to the sun we all know what happened. For those of you who are still wondering –the wax melted and Icarus fell to his untimely demise in front of his father’s eyes.

You would wonder why I am telling you this age old Greek mythological story but this is just to point to that Icarus whom we all let live within ourselves. In today’s sprinting world a person who fails to make a mark is made to feel the worst. He is assured of being a useless burden or a laughable joke among his peers. Gone are the days when just a feeling of satisfaction would be the only blissful venture of the majority. Today if you lag behind even in updating a status on your Facebook page then you are not walking shoulder to shoulder to your closest friend. You are losing out on the front. The light that you commanded a moment ago is making your best friend shine even brighter than you and this is what Icarus wants, to shine and to fly higher and higher and he gets to do so by means of our superficial living standards. Each living moment of almost all “possible” human being (for presently we are just beings, the human part is long lost) of this planet in this present world is spent flying higher and higher not realising the wax of self that is melting away. The self identity, the self respect, the self empowerment. All we see is the inflated ego which pushes us even higher giving false impression rather I shall say a pitiable hope of approval from the masses abandoning the self to itself. A simple promotion to a big business takeover, everything is meant to make you capable enough to fly higher at your own cost. A developed country sets the standard and the developing country tries to achieve it forgetting that they can have their own standards too and make progress within rather than trying to get approved by the outsiders. Everywhere you observe;rather leave everywhere, just observe your own pattern of thoughts when you walk through a busy place and you would see that you are consumed by the materialism of that place including the products and eateries and what people are wearing and what not forgetting that even if you do not eat in those places and even if you are not wearing that suit you still remain yourself but who cares for self. Ever wonder why you feel ugly after reading beauty magazines or health guides? Its the world that calls the shots. So eventually you will squander your hard earned cash to buy that suit or jewellery or car anyhow and my dear Icarus you just soared higher.

Life goes on and we keep on flying higher and higher. Some are unfortunate enough to melt off early and fall to the calling of the fate but for the majority of us the realisation sets in when the old age kicks in. When we feel the wings melting and we begin to see the actual meaning of our lives. When the blinding sun shines in our eyes and we try hard to find the very reason that led us this close. When we try and find the feathers in our arms to make that one last flight. As age increases wisdom increases, but is it always the wisdom that drives us to acquire religion and to get close to God when the end approaches or is it the desperate attempt to find the self which we lost when we decided to pay no heed to the soul and glided even further up. We start getting more possessive about our self as we realise this. Is it the constraint of time that leads us to this place? Why are we more materialistic when young and more spiritualistic when old? Why do we procrastinate over ourselves only? Why do we have reasons for all the things that go wrong but never have enough motivation to take up the right cause when it is possible? Why do we keep different names or follow different religions when we all try and do the same thing?

Icarus flew to his death without realising what he was flying into and it is not as if he was not warned. Was he merely curious? Was the wind too strong? Was the weather too beautiful and the sea shimmering beneath too tempting? Was he too proud of doing a deed that other men just dreamed of? Or was he too arrogant to listen to a simple advice? Whatever the reason may be we all know where he ended finally. Is world worth enough to put your own self at stake and fly higher just to get noticed once? Why there are so many celebrities but only few role models? If we don’t realise this inner calling that warns us every now and then we should be sure to meet the doom together as predicted in 2012 (which I’m not sure of) or any other event like a Third World War because I don’t think us humans need bigger reasons to kill each other. That is how we fly, but what happens in the end when we reach our sun? Will we have enough time to save ourselves and realise that what we were meant to do was to fly longer than higher. All we need is a life full of joyous and fulfilling experiences rather than the innumerable regrets of losing out on people when we are busy soaring. No religion will be able to satisfy this mammoth of repentance in the future. All that we need to do is to be satisfied with ourselves and work for our own improvement. To all who may interpret this as selfishness may need to rethink. Self improvement is different from selfishness. Being selfish is at the cost of others but improvement is just for you, by you and it helps others in its course. Life is too short to be lived for or by anyone’s ways. A common directive is needed but it should not mar the very identity that you are born with.

All I can say is

-Fly longer and fly happier and more so ever fly for self...with others, together.

Regards

MSN

SPOTLIGHT ON THE OPHIUCHUS

noreply@blogger.com (Md. Sahil Niyazi) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:28:00 +0000

(The matter mentioned here is simply the collection of data I was able to assemble from various sources and I do not claim any personal expertise in the following topic.)

(the sign as designed my Berg in 1995 depicting the image of a man holding a serpent)

The constellation of Ophiuchus denotes a man holding a serpent, thus called "The Serpent Bearer". It is thought to be the only constellation based on a real man
and was mentioned first by Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer.In one of the references the man was Imhotep and he was an Egyptian by descent. One reference also points to Joseph, the son of Jacob. As per the Roman mythology it represents Asplecius, the healer and as Al-Hawwa as per medieval Islamic astronomy. Located opposite to the Orion constellation this one is best admired in the summer season. The sign itself has it position between the Scorpion and the Sagittarius.

(the regular zodiac cycle including 12 signs)

The respective dates of the signs as per the IAU definitions described by Berg are:

· ARIES = APRIL 19 - MAY 13

· TAURUS = MAY 14 - JUNE 19

· GEMINI = JUNE 20 - JULY 20

· CANCER = JULY 21 - AUG 9

· LEO = AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15

· VIRGO = SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 30

· LIBRA = OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 22

· SCORPIO = NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29

· OPHIUCHUS = NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 17

· SAGITTARIUS = DECEMBER 18 - JANUARY 18

· CAPRICORN = JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 15

· AQUARIUS = FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 11

· PISCES = MARCH 12 - APRIL 18

A few of the characterstics which have been summarized for this sign make it seem to be the Zeus of Zodiacs. I’d like to enumerate a few namely:

interpreter of dreams, vivid premonitions,
attracts good luck and fruitful blessings,
a seeker of peace and harmony,
doctor of medicine or science, natural-pathic,
seeks higher education and wisdom,
fame - either grand, or completely misunderstood
astrological talents, intuitive,
large family indicated, but apt to be separated from them when young,
the number twelve holds great significance,
foresight and good fortune to benefit from hard times,
has secret enemies in family or close associations,
many jealous of this subject,
notable father, apple of father's eye when young,
high position in life expected [depending on aspects] highest fame and legend comes after death
feelings of granular, wise, genius mentality,
likes to wear clothing of vibrant colours, and plaids in particular,
receives the favour of those in authority

WOW!! Quite a list of qualities to make one’s ego soar high but none of this, as per me, is of any use unless you put it into action. So here it is me wishing all of the would be Ophiuchusians(?) that may you put these traits into action and make this world a beautiful place for yourself as well as others for you are what you believe!

Regards

MSN

THE CONTROVERSY OF THE SERPENT BEARER

noreply@blogger.com (Md. Sahil Niyazi) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 07:50:00 +0000

(All the matter mentioned here is my personal opinion and interpretation from all the references I could assimilate in my available time and I do not claim any expertise in the concerned topic.)

As the new decade was taking its yet infantile breaths and was setting up the pace for a new era our world witnessed the birth of yet another controversy which would never see the end of the tunnel.
To those who have not being able to put their fingers on the issue, I am talking about so called “gatecrasher” to the age old system of astrology, the 13^thsign of astrological system-The Ophiuchus or The Serpent Bearer . This new sign created waves among the followers giving them yet another reason to panic in their already over consuming lifestyles and for the non-believers, a new topic to be cynical about.

As far as I am concerned, I follow these systems as per my convenience...but don’t we all do that. I presume that this will be the best place to mention that I am a CANCERIAN as per the Zodiac/Western system of astrology and the reason I am being so specific about the system is that there are many systems in existence like SIDEREAL; ZODIAC/WESTERN; VEDIC etc etc. The reason I chose to “follow” this system was that first of all it is the system which most of the people follow around the world and secondly it was assigned to me as per the date of my birth. As a kid the more I came to learn about the traits of being a Cancerian aka The Crab I started to relate my way of interpreting this world with it, not that it governed my world but few pointers here and there to a confused kid tend to make him feel more secure about his identity. As for the belief, I consider myself among those people who tend to pick out the best apples from the basket without sweating too much on the rotten lot. Consider me a hypocrite but if you ever wake up with a grumpy face and the forecast says that you’ll have the best day, I think it is a good enough reason to give yourself hope to kick start the day.

So now after all the rant about my own self we land back again to the topic in hand-the 13^th player of the team. This sign is based on the SIDEREAL system of astrology which follows the star constellations of same names in the sky and is widely followed by Indian astrologers and some western astrologers too. The 13^th sign has been a well known entity among the astrologers of both the sides for quite some time but rarely been included due to various reasons including the fact about the division of the entire 360degrees dimension into 12 equal divisions of 30degrees each even though they were aware of the dynamic nature of the stars and the planets until now when some “astronomer” pointed out the precession of the equinoxes and the shift of the Earth’s tilt making it possible to include a whole new sign into the dynamic astrology system. The Sun also confers an important influence on this astrological system. Though the sign was made popular by the BERG system of astrology in 1995 as per the directives of International Astronomical Union (IAU), it was not accepted into other systems like Western or the Tropical system. It is fairly popular in Japan though. I would again like to point out here that this constellation was in knowledge of the astronomers and the astrologers for ages but it was not eligible to make it to the list of the Zodiacs until this century when the Sun’s position was desirable and then there was a fair chance for the astronomers to milk the opportunity and create a baffling controversy affecting the masses and the astrologers alike.I would also like to clear the famous rumour saying that it is only for people born after 2007/2009 etc as completely false. This originated from people who thought about the recent tilts in the earth’s axis in last few years linking the former to the latter forgetting the fact that this has been happening for ages.Finally what counts is what system you prefer to follow.

So for now I would conclude this article but all I can say is that it is just the matter of faith unless you belong to the dying breed of people who do not leave home if the forecast says that it is going to be a stormy day ahead. A word of advice for those who are devout believers and especially the Hindu community to confirm it with their respective honourable astrologers so as to what the influence is on your signs though there have been news that only few new aspects will be assimilated in the old signs without making any new changes to the whole system but don’t take my word for it and confirm yourself. Well my other friends need not worry as the western system is based on seasons and not dynamic constellation phenomena so you are still what you were. So here we are in the end and all I can say now is that it’s up to you to see how much priority this matter needs in your life because finally we all are the products of the choices we make and the reactions we give. Hope I was able to clear a few doubts.

Regards

MSN

P.s: the next article is in continuation dealing with the so called date changes and some light on the Ophiuchus

....and the journey begins!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Md. Sahil Niyazi) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 14:59:00 +0000

It is always said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and so here I am taking my first step into this so called autonomous world of blogging where supposedly I am the master and I am the slave for I will enjoy the fruits of the hard work and I will bear the brunt for my misdeeds.I realize that every coin has 2 sides and so it’ll be my humble attempt always to bring out the best from my side and an honest expectation that the world is fair in its criticism.

As for what to expect in this blog all I can say is that I never know what inspires me or interests me and every turn of life is full of surprises. So just sit tight as I journey with you painting my canvas of life.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Pdt. Jawaharlal Nehru