Poetry Ink at Robin's Bookstore

It felt like I participated in a little part of history at the Poetry Ink event at Robin's Bookstore in Philadelphia on Sunday. This annual gathering of over 100 poets for a day of reading has been happening for 12 years now, and this year, my name was on the list too!

Thank you, Larry Robin, for the great opportunity to make a little history!

Art really does Matter

A Friday night I won't soon forget...

I happened to be in town to catch a Spoken Word event held through Concordia's Art Matters festival at the Hive on the Loyola Campus. And umm... thank God!

Michelle (I can still hear her saying it: Meeeeeeeeshelllll) was so warm and inviting and the Throw Collective and Capital Poetry Collective made me feel like I found home in the middle of a crazy winter storm, and when I walked in, mom was warming me up a cup of hot chocolate and dad was roasting marshmallows by the fireplace, as if they knew I was going to show up at any moment.

The event blew my words right out of my mouth (and those who know me know how hard that is to do) and inspired me beyond the realm of inspiration into pure spirituality.

Yes, I did get up and speak my own word. The energy, the encouragement, the laughter, the finger-snapping, the music, the letters put together to form words with the hope and the inspiration and the peace and the heightened sense of just being... wow. I stumbled upon a little piece of paradise and got a new sense of resolve that *this* is where I was meant to be.

I bow down in grace and appreciation. Thank you, Michelle, for a Friday night to remember. Thank you, Concordia, for succeeding in proving that Art really does Matter.

Speaking the Word

I have recently become more interested in the Spoken Word scene and tried my hand at an open mic at the Nuyorican in NYC. It was amazing!

Soooo I attended a poetry slam at Infusion Coffee and Tea Gallery in Philly, where I participated in my first slam! It was exhilirating making it to the second round among poets I could never imagine rubbing shoulders with! The girls were unbelievable - leaving us speechless until we roared into an applause after every performance.

I also read at the Cornelia Street Cafe, in the presence of some wonderful poets!

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to participate and a huge thanks goes out to the Nish Pugh and Sherod Smallman, who welcomed a nervous me with open arms and a huge dose of support!

Can't wait for the next one!

Happy New Year

i thought to wish you wealth this new year
but we are all richer than we choose to see
i thought to wish you prosperity
but success is measured differently between you and me

i thought to wish you sustained health
but there are others who need my prayers more
i thought to wish you true happiness
but only you control the happiness you have in store

i thought to wish you peace this new year
but there are children in this world who know only unrest
i thought to wish you lessons to learn
but there are families whose every moment of life is a test

i thought to wish you endless love
but there are those who have lost their everyone
i thought to wish you continued growth
but your growth and mine follow different suns

i thought to wish you timeless strength
but there are some who will need more than their share
i thought to wish you all these things
but i thought again, for it would be unfair

there are riches and beauty and success in your life
you are free from violence, free from strife

you have love, you have joy, you have strength, you have health
you have family and friends, you have untapped wealth

and all of those things you wish you could own
are illusions of a better life unknown

instead i'll wish that you could unfold
the glory your life already holds

so although i thought to wish you all things great
i wish you awareness in 2008


love rachna

Sapna Magazine!

Check out Sapna Magazine's first print issue to read my article about Changing the World!

Gandhi, My Father

I was very excited the other day to find out that the newly released movie, Gandhi, My Father, is based on a book I edited entitled Mahatma vs. Gandhi, forthcoming from Jaico Publishing House!

Yay!

A chat with Dr. Vidushi Babber

Dr. Vidushi Babber, a Medical Director with a private practice at The Institute for Neuropsychiatry in Louisiana and whose expertise is in women's mental health issues, invited me as a guest on her internet radio talkshow "Winning With Wellness"! Listen to my interview here! Thank you, Vidushi, for the wonderful chat - I hope we were able to help women find their creative spirit!