An Abyss Of Imagination

3rd Year Of Abyss Of Imagination Blog

Nayna — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:30:21 +0000

Today marks the third year of my blog, An Abyss Of Imagination, Creativity Unleashed. Anniversary celebrations are always nostalgic whether it is a celebration of a romantic relationship, marriage or a blog. The attachment to something you love and are passionate about always surfaces with a surge of uncontrollable emotions.

The mind automatically transmigrates to that minute in time when blogging was a trend which everyone had to try it out once to experience it. The hesitation of -”Should I do it? What would I call it? I don’t want to sound too cheesy. Will anyone come to read my blog? “

These questions flooded my mind always. But the bold step was taken and the name was coined in.

An Abyss Of Imagination is a bottomless pit of knowledge where every kind of information is welcome. It is written with the understanding of spreading knowledge, creating awareness and entertaining. It is not all vanity but aimed at creating a lasting impression. Quenching the thirst for knowledge which no one will answer has always been the goal of this blog. The bold, direct approach in my writing style is to enhance the thought process of every reader.

Of course, I get bombarded with negative comments but I take it in my stride and forgive them because of their ignorance. Not everyone can take in the truth and not everyone is willing to change for good. But my aim is to expand the knowledge and guide those who think about “progress” whether it is related to health, fitness or spiritualism. Some readers have been very kind and written notes of encouragement. Many have valued my opinions and imbibed my responses in their daily living.

I expect anniversary presents from the readers in form of on-going readership, helpful pointers and encouraging comments. This will fuel my passion further and I intend to continue this quest of writing for this Abyss Of Imagination, Creativity Unleashed until my last breathe.

Thank you for your best wishes and support.

Nayna

The Editor

Akshaya Tritiya 2010

Nayna — Wed, 05 May 2010 06:38:09 +0000

Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most significant day in the year. In 2010, this day falls on 16th May. There are numerous instances in our Hindu texts that mark this day as auspicious.

It is said that every minute of this day is positive and provides blessings and abundance. Hence this day is the best day to get married.

Marrying on Akshaya Tritiya brings good fortune, prosperity and longevity to the couple. Most Indian Hindu customs requires the right muhurat or a significantly positive time of the day.

This is based on the constellations and the planetary positioning of the bride and groom’s birth chart. It is deducted on the science of astrology. But Akshaya Tritiya nullifies all the negativity, Graha dosh or ill effects of the planets.

It is also the best day to buy gold, silver and platinum. The reason for this is explained in the Mahabharata. Our previous post “Buying Gold?” will give you a detailed understanding behind this reason.

Luxury Skincare Products

Nayna — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:30:45 +0000

With the trend of looking ageless and youthful till eternity, more and more women are opting for high-end cosmetic products. These luxury skincare products contain certain ingredients that claim to stop the signs of early ageing and slow down the sagging of skin.

Smart packaging, exotically perfumed products, repeated advertising and celebrity endorsements of such products, automatically get the attention of the average working women. These luxury skincare products claim to be made from caviar, royal jelly, crushed pearls, sea minerals and many more are said to be extracted from rare plants and herbs which erases wrinkles and promotes a youthful glow. Here is a list of what all these luxurious ingredients can do for your skin.

Gold: Yes, flecks of gold are used in many face gels and face packs. It is said that gold speeds up the blood circulation and cellular processing thus activating regeneration. It also works deeply into the skin and restores elasticity. Its anti-inflammatory properties decreases skin inflammation, slowing down melanin secretion and reducing age spots. As it works at the cellular level, it helps to regenerate a firm skin and gives a feeling of tightness to the skin.

Caviar: Caviar possesses antioxidant properties that protect the skin from ultra violet damage. It contains a lot of amino acids, mineral salts, structural proteins and a whole lot of vitamins A, D, E, F, iron which are easily absorbed in the skin.

Pearl: Pearl powder has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to maintain youthfulness. This has now been incorporated in many ranges of cosmetics like compact, blusher, eye shadow, lipsticks and in skin whitening creams and lotions.

Saffron: Saffron adds a delicate flavor to make variety of food and desserts but it has its application in beauty products as well. Saffron soaked in milk and consumed gives virility and stamina to the body. Saffron is widely used in cosmetics to promote fairness of skin. Its anti-bacterial properties are used in creams to relieve acnes, dark patches and blemishes on skin.

Ageing process cannot be reversed but these exotic ingredients claim to reduce the speed of sagging and wrinkled skin. If you have a yearning desire to look younger with the passing of age and have the means to afford them, then they will surely help you reach your beauty goals.

Celebration Time

Nayna — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:31:02 +0000

It is time for celebration. An Abyss Of Imagination, Creativity Unleashed will be celebrating 3 years in few days. It has been a cumbersome journey of stress and unlimited bouts of sheer ingenious work. Drilling out fresh ideas, pursuing dreams and putting readers first are only a miniscule portion of the factors to be kept in mind while writing an article.

We have covered over 500 posts to satiate the infinite urge of every reader. We have made put forth ideas, theories, remedies and provided guidance in almost all aspects of the human life.

We are grateful for the support that we have received from our audience with their positive and not so positive feedbacks. The positive ones have boosted our spirit while the less encouraging ones have made us aware that you cannot please everyone in this world.

The feedbacks from our readers have been tremendous and so we have decided to feature their contributions and submissions. We will be publishing incidents that have changed your life, inspirational tales, paranormal events and anything else that you feel will help others under new category – Readers Write

We will edit your submissions to check for spellings, grammatical errors and we will polish it up to match up to our creativity level. Your name will feature in the story of course, unless you chose to remain anonymous. There will be no word count restriction. Write to your heart’s content and we will publish it for free. Type in your story in the comments box at the end of this post and be sure to type in your correct email id otherwise how will we notify you.

So join in and celebrate our third anniversary with words that will inspire, encourage and uplift the minds and hearts of people. Well, that’s what we aim to do always.

Baishaki And Shuvo Noboborsho 2010

Nayna — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:33:24 +0000

With the advent of spring, comes the harvest season. The hardwork of the whole year and the wait through the tough times pays rich dividends now.

The month of Baisakah or Vaishak (April) in the Hindu calendar marks the beginning of the crop cycle. This is the time of rejoice and widely celebrated among numerious communities in India.

The first day of the month of Baisakah or Vaishaka is celebrated as Bengali New Year, popularly known as Poila Baisakah or Pohela Boishakh. The Sikh communities celebrate this event as well and call it Vaishakhi.

Families get together to celebrate the New Year with a lot of excitement. Everyone is dressed in their best with new clothes and accessories. The household entrance is decorated with “Alpona” which is similar to Rangoli but in the Bengali community, the designs are drawn with rice paste instead of dry coloured powder. These remain longer and do not get easily smudged unline Rangoli. Flower garlands are hung at the entrance of the house which creates a jovial mood for every visitor.

Bengalis are knows for their sweets and this is the best occasion to put this to the test. Unlimited varieties of sweets and savouries are made at home or purchased from leading sweets shops. Members of the family all come together to celebrate this day.

“Probhat Pheri” is a procession organized early in the morning to welcome the New Year. Most business establishments have Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi Puja/ Pooja at their offices, so that they can start the first day of business with blessings.

The account books or “Halkhata” are marked with red vermilion with signs of Swastika to bring them good business for the whole year. People throng in large numbers to Kalighat to seek the blessings of Goddess Kali. (Read our previous post on Kalighat to understand the significance of the Divine Mother.)

Rabindranath Tagore’s songs and poems resonate through the streets of Kolkata. Cultural programmes are organized in every street corner to spread cheer. There are fairs organized to add to the extravaganza like Bangla Sangit Mela.

Poila Boishakh has a way of uniting all Bengali across the globe together. It makes us understand our roots although we maybe global citizens. The rich Bengali culture brims with knowledge, arts and music waiting to be experienced by one and all.

We wish our readers Shubho Noboborsho.

Root Vegetable Wonders

Nayna — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:30:01 +0000

Root vegetables are often ignored and not given its due importance. We concentrate a lot on our greens and proteins. No one actually goes to look for root vegetables when we head to the supermarket. I guess mainly because no celebrity diets or nutritionist has ever written a book on “How To Lose Weight With Roots” or “Look Youthful And Sexy with Roots Diet.” Maybe I should write one on this- something like Hoot For The Root. (Remember, this title is copyright protected so don’t you dare steal my idea.)

The advantage of eating root vegetable is that they are economical, versatile and is more filling that your average green salad without dressing. One tip to know how to buy root vegetable-always chose them when they are smaller in size and deep in color. The richer the color of root vegetables the more nutritious it is. All roots are excellent source of fiber and nutrients.

Here is a list of root vegetables that should be added in everyone’s diet irrespective of age and gender.

Beets: The lovely colored beet not only adds color to the food but is a mine of nutrients and iron. One half cup of beet contains only thirty-five calories. Beet can be incorporated in the diet in the form of mixed salad, a slice in a sandwich or can even be used in mixed vegetable soup.

Carrots: They are excellent for the eyes because of beta carotene. Its juice helps in weight loss and it is a great crunchy delight to overcome hunger pangs. Read our special article on Vegetable Juices.

Parsnips: They are closely associated with carrots. They are good source of vitamin C, folate and potassium. It can be enjoyed in mixed salads and soups.

Radishes: Radishes are a great source of vitamin C and phytochemicals. Read more growing organic vegetables.

Turnips: These are available in many varieties across continents. They make excellent soups and help in making good broths.

Rutabagas: They look similar to turnips and often referred to as yellow turnips. They are vitamin C enriched and delicious when cooked and seasoned properly.

Jicama: These taste excellent when added in the wok along with other vegetables and stir fried. They are sweet, crunchy and crisp so it’s a delight to the palate in a salad.

Colocasia: This is rich in iron and potassium. It should be eaten as much as possible because of its healing properties. They make great puree for stews and soups.

Tapioca or Cassava: This does have a little more calories but indulging in them gives us a good supply of vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. They act as good thickening agents in soups and stews. They are easy to digest and filling.

Everything we eat should be ingested in moderation. Creating a balance of different food groups not only gives us variety in our diet but enhances our taste buds and provides us with the necessary nourishment. Naturally grown fruits and vegetables should be given priority over instant foods and frozen dinners.

Developing The Hero’s Character In Your Story

Nayna — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:30:25 +0000

Building characters is an integral part of any novel. They are the main ingredients that make up the key elements of the story.

The character can be of any gender and age but its placement, timeliness in the plot can make the story dramatic, energetic or just a drag. Often novels hit the bestsellers list because a certain character’s trait touched their hearts. Stories always don’t have to be non-fiction to drive home a message or create empathy among the readers.

Fiction stories too can create the same impact and at times a better impression if the hero of the story has total command over the other secondary characters. He should be able to control the readers mind and their reading speed.

We can take examples from various writers who have successfully created genre heroes that have become eternal classics. My all time favorite characters or heroes are Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Perry Mason by Erle Stanley Gardener, Hercule Poirot by Dame Agatha Christe and Alex Delaware by Jonathan Kellerman.

So what makes the character of the hero so special that it takes the reader’s consciousness to the next level? Developing the hero’s character depends on a number of factors.

1) The theme of the novel.

2) The purpose of the hero in the story. What is the hero supposed to do? Save the love of his life or destroy a virus?

3) Are there any shades within the hero’s character? Is he always a good Samaritan or just pretending to be one? The hero could turn into a villain too.

4) The reason behind the hero’s actions.

5) What is the hero’s personal gain from his actions?

6) Will he achieve it in one shot? What are the obstacles standing in his path?

7) Will there be a happy ending or will he face a heroic death?

These are some of the basic questions that a writer should think of before thinking about what attributes the hero’s personality should possess.

A good way to build a hero’s personality in the story is to watch the most loved television actors. I am fascinated by the character played by David Caruso in CSI Miami that airs on CBS in US and AXN in India. The character of Horatio Caine has a cult following. His unique expressions, style of talking, the flick of his sunglass, his walking in and out of the frame is simply amazing.

The following video gives a better idea of what I am talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sarYH0z948

The uniqueness that is needed to be created to build a hero’s personality is a tremendous job. If more attention is paid into building this character then even a simple everyday plot can be spiced up by giving it its own subtle touch.

Building a hero for your story is no cakewalk. You need to develop a mental picture of him or her and refine their movements, accents, features and adorn them with a solid background that influences their very being. The hero’s character can be larger than life as in the case of Horatio Caine yet it is easily identifiable and adored by people of all ages across continents.

Budget Travel

Nayna — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:30:09 +0000

We all would love to travel given an opportunity, with an unending supply of money, without a care in the world for anyone’s feelings or responsibilities. Unfortunately, not all of us have been entitled to this kind of luxury and good fortune.

Earning a decent income, fulfilling the basic requirements, managing a family takes a toll from the one source of income. Saving from that income to go for a luxurious vacation is unimaginable. But the desire to go for a holiday still lingers and that has given rise to alternate means of traveling.

Budget travel to Europe has gained a lot of popularity in recent times. While budget travel to India too has its charm but most international visitors tend to be skeptical. Backpacking is also an alternate way to travel if you have an adventurous bone in your body.

A lot of budget travel magazines offer a variety of destinations with exciting offers. Budget airlines, budget hotels and budget travel online websites surely lure a lot of stressed customers but the key is to find the right one.

Many people get cheated each year when they land at the destination and find out that things are not what it seems to be. What was shown in the brochure was not a reality and at times it is impossible to get a refund of the money.

Budget Travel Tips

1) Find out the background of the tour operator and their operation procedure.

2) Check with reviews online about the company and the number of happy customers.

3) Read about the destination that you wish to travel. If the package tour operator is taking you off season at a low price, understand what the reasons are. Most of the time, they plan winter packages which is not always a feasible option. You could be stranded at the airport due to bad weather and will lose out on days of the tour.

4) Always have a backup option if the tour operator has decided to call it quits. Surviving in a new city with strangers and not speaking the language can be difficult. Running out of money or political events can also pose a grave danger especially if you are traveling alone or accompanied with children.

5) Compare the prices and benefits of every budget holiday plan that a tour operator offers.

6) You may not always require a tour package to enjoy a budget holiday. You can use their facilities to get the visa done and book your flight but the hotel stay and sightseeing can be done on your own. For that a little bit of time should be taken to research and gather relevant information.

We all want to take a break from our mundane, hectic life but selecting the right means to enjoy the vacation within a limited budget is most crucial. A holiday should not be a nightmare but a journey to be cherished and shared with your loved ones.

Nuts Nutrition

Nayna — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:30:37 +0000

In this age of fitness and weight loss management, most people stop eating essential foods which are meant for the well being of the growth and development of the body.

Alas, if only people knew the importance of certain foods that may contain few more calories than steamed vegetables. But most prefer the high end calories of cheese burgers, fries and a large glass of soda. Sometimes just the sight of nuts turns dieters away. Nuts are the richest source of vitamins and have been available in nature for the enhancement of mankind.

Fistful of assorted nuts on a daily bases can eradicate the need of taking a vitamin pill. Anything eaten naturally is more beneficial that processed protein or fiber. A sneak peek to the world of nuts is as follows.

1) Almonds: They are the best natural form of antioxidants. It is best to eat it with its skin. It is rich in protein, vitamin B and E. It contains mono saturated fats which actually work to reduce cholesterol. It helps to keep skin radiant and healthy.

2) Brazil Nut: This too has similar benefits like the almond. But its specialty is that it contains a lot more percentage of selenium which helps to keep off a wide variety of cancer including breast and prostate cancer.

3) Cashew: This is the most common and well loved nut. People usually like to eat their cashew in the form of salted, roasted or sweetened. This should be avoided. Cashew should be enjoyed plain for its high nutritional benefits. It has immense percentage of iron and magnesium which helps to combat osteoporosis. Besides, it helps to reduce blood pressure, severity of asthma and works on the overall immune system.

4) Chestnut: These come in various varieties. There are the American chestnut, the European chestnut, Chinese and the Japanese chestnut. They are a rich source of protein, carbohydrates, calcium and potassium.

5) Hazelnut: These nuts are more memorable when they are dipped in chocolate. I am sure you agree with me. But these should be enjoyed as they are without any sugar coating or frostings. It contains a lot of Vitamin E that is why its extracts are used in body creams and lotions to soften skin. It is a rich source of all forms of vitamin B mainly B1, B2, B6 along with iron, zinc, calcium and potassium. It helps to maintain strong and healthy bones and teeth.

6) Pistachio: This nut is only remembered as ice cream toppings but truly this nut is not given sufficient credit for its enriching properties. It contains fiber, protein, iron and magnesium. They too like hazelnuts are vital source of vitamin E.

7) Peanut: Peanuts are most popular nuts and known to everyone worldwide. These nuts are truly magical because they work wonders in filling up a growling stomach. This nut energizes the body rapidly and prevents muscle fatigue. They are highly rich in proteins and vitamin B.

8) Walnut: This nut is known as brain food. Indeed, they resemble the brain in appearance and work wonders to control cholesterol. Arthritis, psoriasis, eczema and asthma patients get relief to some extent with the consumption of walnuts as it has anti-inflammatory properties.

9) Coconut: The largest of all nuts is the coconut. Every part of this nut is widely used and has been discussed in detail in our previous post – Coconut Water Benefits Every Lifestyle. Coconuts are a rich source of calcium and iron.

Everything in moderation is good for living. Similarly eating nuts in limited and monitored quantities is extremely beneficial to the body.

Random Posts

Haunted Kitchen, Mumbai (Bombay)

Nayna — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:30:39 +0000

Most of us have heard a bump in the night and how do we react? We run to hide under the covers and await dawn. We keep quiet about it until someone else in the household speaks up about the situation. Until, then we don’t get up to use the bathroom at night, make sure there is a big bottle of water on the night stand and keep the covers above the head at all times.

But what if all such events never occurred at night but at daytime? When the sun was shining bright and you were wide awake planning your day? Sounds unbelievable? I thought so too but then things slowly began to make more sense. One thing I learnt from this experience was that never second guess yourself because these ghosts, spirits, entity – whatever name you prefer to give them, they certainly do exist in our world. Let me tell you how it all began.

I shifted to a new flat a year ago. I didn’t get acquainted with any neighbors except for the airhostess, next door. Tara was a typical flight attendant with exquisite features, hourglass figure and the make-up with the tight-fitted uniform, turned a lot of heads.

We got along like two pods in a pea and I really missed her company on the nights she was away across continents. Often, she got me souvenirs and I kept some dinner for her when I knew she would be home late.

I rarely visited her flat as she preferred to come over and lounge in my room. I didn’t mind it though. One evening, she looked very pale and distraught.

“Do you know who lived in your flat before you moved in?” she asked.

“No, not really. As far as I know these flats have been newly constructed and we are the first ones here.”

That seemed to have consoled her a bit. But she changed the topic and told me about this new guy she met in-flight.

Few days later, she asked me if I could water her plants while she was away. She gave me a set of her keys and said she would be away for a week or so. I really didn’t mind it. I am an artist so a change of venue for my creativity is always welcome.

Her flat was neatly styled. It was minimal yet inviting. She had a lot of ferns, aromatic herbs and roses neatly arranged in her balcony. Sunlight glared brightly through her French windows and the fragrance of the flowers swept across the rooms. I went to check if she had any leftovers that needed to be discarded and I stepped into her kitchen.

A draft of chilled air brushed past my face giving me goose bumps. It did surprise me but I didn’t think of it much. I checked on the contents of the fridge and left for the day.

My flat was designed in such a way that the passage connecting from my living room to my study overlooked her kitchen window. I am sure you must be wondering why I am suddenly describing my floor plan in the middle of this story but this is vital later on.

I went about my household chores as usual and as I was about to enter my study, I felt someone was watching me from Tara’s kitchen window. I took a step back and looked again, but there was no one. It seemed a little weird but it could have been a reflection from the windows from the flat downstairs.

Couple of days later, I found someone standing and looking on my side of the flat from the kitchen window. I walked to the passage to check but again there was no one. I was sure it wasn’t Tara because if she had returned she would have definitely drop in to tell me that she was back and also her windows would be open.

Slowly, this became a regular feature. Every time, I would step into my study from the corner of my eye I could sense someone was standing and looking through the kitchen window. When I looked closer there was no one. I didn’t stop watering the plants but made a quick dash, poured the water and hurried back.

One morning, I thought- “I am being silly; let me go to the kitchen and check. Maybe there is a cupboard and its refection is creating a shadow effect.”

With a positive and open mind, I walked into her kitchen. Suddenly, a mesh of cobweb fell over my face. I felt extremely cold. I could feel the hair at the back of my neck stand up. I stood frozen for a second and scrambled to reach the sanctity of my own home. I sat panting for eternity-well that’s how I felt then.

The same night, Tara was back. She was her jovial self and told me all the exotic locations she travelled. She did notice my anxiety and my lack of enthusiasm in looking at her travel photos. I was lost in thought, wondering if I should share these episodes with her. I decided I would tell her eventually but not today. I needed to rest and figure out the best way to break this paranormal situation to her.

Tara had few days of leave and stayed at her place sleeping most of the day. Evenings she would come over and we would chat up. We were enjoying our tea in my study and I was seated in the corner where I could see her kitchen window. I consciously looked away and Tara sensed my distraught look.

“It may sound silly,” she said “but I really get freaked out at my place.”

“What you mean?” I asked.

“I feel someone is watching me all the time. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is but I feel someone is watching me from behind. I really don’t know how to explain this. I know you must think I am on dope.”

“No, I understand exactly what you mean.”

Now was my chance to give her all the details of the incident.

“Who do you think it is? The previous owner?”

“Tara, this is a new building. We are the first ones here. But I agree there is something or someone’s spirit that is lurking. It knows that it has got our attention. So far no harm has been done so at least we know it’s not violent.”

“Thanks for the reassurance but I am not going to sleep there tonight. I am staying with you.”

“That’s no problem but then we have to find a solution to get rid of it otherwise it can come over to this flat too.”

“What you mean? It will follow us here?”

“Why not? It makes me uncomfortable in my flat. What is stopping it from come here?”

That night, we sat and researched on the internet and found out about different cleansing rituals. We bought all the things listed and started trying it out from the following morning. There was uneasiness and of course we were scared but we kept at it and after a month of cleansing, it left and went away.

The kitchen seems warm and inviting now. There never were any cobwebs but somehow on that day, it appeared out of the blue. Everything has settled down and the kitchen is no longer haunted.

An Abyss Of Imagination

3rd Year Of Abyss Of Imagination Blog

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