PLIGHT OF AN ACID ATTACK VICTIM

You threw it
just threw it at me
my head caved in
my life crumbled
It grabbed my heart twisting it around.

The burns do remind me
of the fire in your eyes
you chased me
to take your toll.

You couldn't bear direct sunlight
the heat of summer irritated you
then how could you pour fire on me?
didn't my shrieks stagger you?

Now tell me where I was at fault
you expressed your love
I politely declined
Oh! Now I know the blunder I did!

It was my mistake
that I couldn't see
your love was so pure
I couldn't understand.

Now I have realized
I was so wrong!
You just wanted me
I get it.

So here I am
Do you take me now?
Can you look into my eyes
that are buried in my skull now?

Will you run your fingers
on my blistered cheeks now?
You wanted to marry me
Will you tie the knot with me now?

When I walk on the street
children run away
will you cherish my bruised beauty now?
Of course! Your love is so pure.

Tell me something
Do you feel more masculine
after crumbling my heart
and burning my soul?

In my next life
I wish to be your sister
and meet a lover like you
to achieve this dedicated love again!

THE LAST LETTER: A LESSON FOR ALL PARENTS

This is the story of an Indian teenage girl Mehak who apparently committed suicide due to excessive parental pressure. This was the letter she wrote to her parents before she took her last breath.

Dear mom and dad,
You must be wondering why I am writing you this letter when we live under the same roof. I wanted to tell you a few things that I couldn't ever say to you face to face. I want to thank you for everything you have ever done for me. You took really good care of me. I remember the time when I topped in first grade. I can still see that trophy right in front of me. You motivated me to study hard. I am your only daughter and I know that you have always loved me. You did everything for me. But that wasn't enough. Now you must be wondering how can everything not be enough? 
        
        Read this sentence again- 'You did EVERYTHING for me'. You took all the decisions for me too. I was never given a chance to do anything for myself. I hope you remember my childhood. The routine was same for everyday. I woke up in the morning, went to school, came back from school and sat down to study as per your instructions. With great difficulties you granted me 45 minutes for playing outside with my friends. After those precious moments of freedom you called me from the middle of a game and stuck me to that dreadful study table again because apparently according to you getting good grades in exams was above all! Your motto was 'Academics is life'. Pardon me for correcting you- 'academics is just a part of life, not the whole life.' Like enjoyment is a part of life which by the way never occurred to you. You wanted me to be a geek and of course I had to pursue science. So I joined a coaching institute in order to get enrolled into one of the best engineering institutes. It was a matter of prestige for you. I was quite determined to study diligently and clear the entrance examination. Throughout these two years of high school I felt like a caged bird with its feathers cut off. I was suffocated. When I couldn't manage my academics with preparation for the big entrance examination, it was like I was losing a game. I had never lost before. Thanks to you I was accustomed to winning! No one taught me how to handle defeat. I was also trying to get over a broken friendship and relationship. You never approved of me dating anyone. In fact you punished me for dating a guy in high school. Remember the time you grounded me and took my cell phone away? Of course you do! According to you dating was a distraction for teenagers. I totally agree with you! But it is a part of life. Instead of constantly trying to refrain me you should have taught me how to deal with various aspects of life together. 

        Time of results was near. What I always feared happened although I knew it was coming. I didn't get into the top university. You said the utmost bitter words to me. You blame me and cursed me. Wasn't I upset enough? There is something all parents should understand. When your child fails all that is needed is some comfort from your side at that particular time. Was there any need for you to pile up on my existing grief and failure? To be very clear I didn't exactly fail the examination, I failed you. I failed myself. I failed life. You don't even know that I aspired to become a writer. You know why? Because I wasn't allowed to express myself. I was always put under the pressure of walking in your shoes. 

        Of course you loved me. But that love was too much too take. You were trying to hold on too tightly. I can feel my life falling apart right now. I have realized that to build a bright future, I have completely ruined my past and present. My smothered soul needs to be set free. I am exasperated from the shackles that have bound me to my cage and now I am ready to break free. You have always made all decisions for me, but this is the choice I am making for myself."

As she bled herself to death, another innocent soul wept along with many others caught in the undertow.

        

REIKI: THE ULTIMATE HEALING POWER

WHAT IS REIKI?

Reiki is a healing technique in which a person can channel energy into oneself or the other person by means of touch, which activates the natural healing processes of the other person’s body to restore physical and emotional state of well-being. It is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation. It also promotes healing. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese word ‘Rei’ which means “Universal Life” and ‘Ki’ which means “Energy”. Everyone has the ability to connect with their own healing energy. It is just that people don’t realize how much power resides within them. It is a much less known yet extremely powerful technique.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH REIKI

I am not a Reiki practitioner. But the marvelous experience I had with Reiki is worth sharing because I have personally experienced the healing process. I had a minor sprain in my hand while playing badminton. It was so painful that I couldn’t even move my hand. Since my exams were coming up I couldn’t afford an injured hand. I knew that it was just a sprain and it would heal on its own time. But I had a lot of math problems to solve and for that I had a lot of writing to do. It was then when I was introduced to the concept of Reiki by my grandmother. She had recently attended a Reiki training camp and said that she could relieve my pain to some extent through Reiki. At first I refused to believe that someone can really heal my sprain by merely closing their eyes and touching my hand that needed healing. But anyway I decided to give her a chance. She held my hand and closed her eyes. At first I felt nothing. But after about 5 minutes I felt a tingling sensation in my injured hand. The sensation kept on increasing. It felt like electricity passing through me, only it felt harmless. I thought that my hand was about to get numb and after a while I thought it did. She opened her eyes after 15-20 minutes and let go of my hand. She asked me to rotate my wrist and check of any decrements in the amount of pain I was experiencing and I did. I was completely dumbfounded! It was magic! The pain was completely gone as though it was never there. I didn’t know what she did when she closed her eyes but the pain vanished. It was then I realized that if this wonderful technique can cure a minor sprain within 15 minutes what wonders it will do if someone incorporates it in their daily life. This is when I started my research on this wonderful healing therapy and decided to spread this knowledge to as many people as I can.

HOW DOES REIKI WORK

Reiki can be performed on self as well as on others. There are five principles of Reiki:

1) Just for today, do not anger.
2) Just for today, do not worry.
3) Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
4) Earn your living honestly.
5) Show gratitude to every living thing.

Although there are many books available on how to practice Reiki, but Reiki cannot be learned through books or traditional educational techniques. It must be passed on through an attunement or initiation process. This means that you have to learn it from a master. The attunement energies are channeled into the student through the Reiki Master. So do not try to practice Reiki without getting attuned from a skilled Reiki practitioner.

BENEFITS OF REIKI

Reiki can be used for the following purposes-

• ·        For stress reduction and relaxation.
• ·        decrease pain
• ·        ease muscle tension
• ·        speed healing
• ·        wish fulfillment

 DEGREES OF REIKI

There are basically three levels or degrees of Reiki.

1. The First Degree: Reiki Level 1

Level 1 is a practitioner's initiation into Reiki and is open to anyone. The focus during Level 1 is on opening the energy channels on a physical level.  This includes the history, the nature of the energy, how it is passed on and how it interacts with the body. Many Reiki Masters emphasize self-Reiki as the goal of the Level 1 designation, encouraging students to focus on practicing Reiki on themselves. People experience energy in their palms after the first attunement like tingling, coolness or heat. The main aspect of the teaching is the Practical side. After a demonstration there is a practice session. Even though the main focus is on self healing, you are enabled to give minor Reiki treatments to others. Following your attunement you will begin to be aware of changes occurring on all levels.

2. The Second Degree: Reiki level 2

A gap of 21 days to 3 months is a must between level 1 and 2. Level 2 is focused on practicing Reiki on others, as well as an expanded opening of the energy channels. The main purpose of Level 2 is to do distant/absentee healing, group healing and also to become a professional Reiki practitioner. Students receive the "Reiki symbols" and Level 2 attunement. The Reiki symbols allow the practitioner to connect more deeply to the universal energy. From Level 1 to Level 2, the amount of energy that you channel increases about 200%.  Your healing ability also increases. This includes the ability to provide distance Reiki, or sending healing energy to individuals wherever they may be. 

3. The Third Degree & Reiki Master: Reiki level 3

The Reiki Master Level is considered the teacher's level — a practitioner who has received the energy and knowledge to attune new Reiki practitioners. You are given the master attunement. With attunement, you receive the full empowerment of the Reiki energy. Your energy frequency is raised, increasing the amount of energy that you channel about 400%, your intuitive powers are heightened, which makes you a more powerful healer. Becoming a Reiki Master also represents a deep commitment to the Reiki practice, and some feel that significant time should pass between achieving the Second Degree status and Master Level.