Invocation: trippy

Showing posts with label trippy. Show all posts

Have you met a gypsy?

I have.

You'll know that moment when you meet one!

You're basking in her good vibes.

That familiar carefree movement - her arms swaying in a rhythmic motion, harmoniously sync with her lanky legs.

Vibrant colors dripping from her clothes paint the canvas of your imagination.

The carefree child-like voice leaves an eternal smile on your face while you watch her animated conversations.

You'll know.

A smile so enchanting!

You crave to fill your ears with her laughter.

Attracted to that beatific glow on her face, you are astonished how beautiful and easy it is to be a happy soul.

Before long, you start longing for her to stay.

And don't you start getting high on your own.

Wait for the gypsy to show you the way! Already!

For the gypsy opens her arms to let it all within and without.

Cusp your face and gently whispering to your ears:

But you are a free spirit, the one that must sway;

always looking for a chance to do your own;

to be your own person;

to have things done your own way;

Come dream the impossible dream!

She caresses your hair and embraces you with the sweetest goodbyes and fares you well.

You'll know - it would be your longest sigh!

This Haiku is dedicated to my favorite gypsy.

Happy Birthday :)

Shivani
{{{The Feminine Half of God
Wife of lord Shiva!
Bholenath}}}

***

Read an ode to The Gypsy.

Read more Haikus.

It happened during one of my retrospective sojourns by the lake side. Glancing down at my reflection I pondered upon the age old conundrum, “Who Am I?”

I remember briefly closing my eyes. An unexplainable euphoric joy gripped me. White light flowing over the surface of lake, created intricate ripples all over!

A hollow voice echoed hence, “Rise my son! For what you seek, thy must turn inwards. Rely not on the physical eyes, the light shall enter through the third…”

A reflection gleamed across the steps below, slowly dissociating amidst the ripples. I had risen!

#99Words

#OneFrameStory

[[ Read the first Part]]
Let There Be Pink!

***

If you don’t eat your meat,
how can you have your pudding?

His ubiquity was getting unmistakably conspicuous,as nervous minutes ticked by!

I knew, paranoia, accompanied by indignant helplessness was lurking nearby to sweep underneath my sleeves, that slowly began to strangle me. A perfect setting for eeriness to establish its firm roots in the minds of those who overthink and tend to absorb the negativities around them.

The wrongly-timed blizzard outside had made it almost impossible for me to leave the bilking premises. I could risk sneaking underneath the cafeteria window, by frantically running down the emergency flight of stairs, surging towards the exit point.

However, the bleak possibility of landing to safety was severely outweighed by the numbness of my frigid limbs accompanied by the creamy physic induced anxiety and uneasiness.

The innocuous ubiquity of the crazy diamond couldn't be omitted from the equation, presently being outweighed by the possible presence of a diamond-eyed poltergeist.

I can ease your pain,

get you on your feet again!

Although everything around you seems mundanely familiar, it becomes increasingly operose to tame your complex-cognitive mind. I was at the epicentre of the near-perfect concoction of pure, paradisiac emotions along with a surge of tumultuous, chaotic thoughts.

I could sense moments slip by - each one of them liable for subtle psychological and physical transformations. Only if we allowed each juncture to shape as it was meant to be, our lives could be adorned with a deeper sense of awareness and understanding of one’s purpose of existence.

I was inexorably thirsty for the secret - the saucer full of undisclosed mysticism that vowed to be revealed only to the ears that turned up, tuned in and dropped out.

Persuaded to be the witness of the esoteric revelation, I frantically started frisking through my disorganized stuff for my earphones…

***

Floyd In!

A Saucerful of Secrets is the second studio album by English rock group Pink Floyd. It was recorded at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on various dates from August 1967 to April 1968.

It is both the last Pink Floyd album on which Syd Barrett would appear and the only studio album in which all five band members contributed.

A Saucerful of Secrets.

***

It is imperative to notice that at this point of the night; the magic potion had successfully injected its divine effect on my neurotic system.

Its ramification was swift and very subtle. I could feel my senses go awry - the tip of my hands started to quiver at the slightest of noise being made in the surrounding, including my own sub-conscious breath.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on relatively unimportant matters; instead, my brain chose to dive deeper into the realms of mysticism to unravel enigmas that chose to remain incognito.

I craved for MORE!

***

More is the first full-length soundtrack album, and third studio album, by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 13 June 1969 in the United Kingdom. More contains some acoustic folk ballads, a genre that appeared sparsely on later works.
This is Pink Floyd's first full album without founder member Syd Barrett, who was ousted from the group in early 1968 during the recording of their previous album. It is one of the two Pink Floyd albums to feature David Gilmour as the sole lead vocalist.

Main Theme

***

What is the first thought that comes to your head, synonymous with unfulfilled desires, your wildest fantasies, to be with the one you always wanted to be but never got a chance to be.

The ability to fantasize is a remarkable evolutionary adaptation. It allows us to create elaborate mental models of reality and play out our feelings and desires within them.

Through fantasy, our brains have provided us with a consequence-free space to gratify our desires, give our feelings expression, and to create and test alternate perspectives.

I absolutely adore working in the realms of fantasies.

Sex?

***

Ummagumma is a double album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It was released on 25 October 1969.

The album's title supposedly comes from Cambridge slang for sex. The studio album came as a result of Richard Wright wanting to make "real music”.

Careful With That Axe Eugene

***

Sometimes there are no words.

And sometimes that’s exactly how it should be!

Is there anyone else out there who was very skeptical of this new album that's supposed to be coming out in November?

I can't even explain how excited I got when I first heard the announcement. Actually, it was a link to an article and the link said something like "David Gilmour's wife confirms a new Pink Floyd album is coming". I nearly shit my pants, vomited and blew a load all at the same time. True Story!

While, many felt that without an official band or management statement, specifically announcing 'the end of Pink Floyd' we had to conclude the band still existed – even if not active; meanwhile, debates have raged and heated arguments dragged on inconclusively around sources like Wikipedia about exactly when Pink Floyd became 'inactive' and 'ceased to exist' as a band by virtue of some immeasurable, undetermined, organic process.

When we consider all of this, it seems fitting that Pink Floyd lays these questions to rest in such an ethereal and halcyon manner on

The Endless River.

Side one starts with voices discussing why people argue, before someone mutters, “The sum is greater than the parts”, and a deep boom gives way to the slow fade-up of scintillating synthesizers. David Gilmour uses an E-Bow on his guitar on this side, which makes it sound at times like it has been taped and played backwards and at others gives it a pleasing hum and buzz. It’s light-touch stuff, very pretty.

This is not to say that the music on The Endless River is mellow (some is) but to say that as a listener, from the beginning to the end of the album you sense you are on a mission, heading toward a final destination: one that is at peace with finality as the journey approaches denouement in the lyrics of Louder Than Words.

***

This album is definitely for the unquenchable thirst of all the Floyd fanatics, who have emotively been annexed with the group throughout their long and glorious walk to eternity.

With only three members of the original lineup alive, and only two musically contributing to this album, it is a must have for the compulsive ears that go comfortably numb on that one magical note from the maestro’s guitar!

Goosebumps, after each track unveils and fades out to the next, reminiscent of the good old Floyd era, that once again promises to etch an ever lasting impression on the Floyd-heads.

My brain pulsated, as I tuned in my earphones for the one last time. . .

The journey is beautiful when you are in a quandary about the limitless horizon – nebulous, yet tempting!

You muster courage and decide to plunge into the river, ride the final high tide, before taking the last bow to eternity. All the precognitive knowledge fails; so does the antecedent wisdom.

You lay still, submissive, yet alert to the flowing musical tides, as you allow the prism bearers to stride you to the other side.

A salty drop trickled down my pale cheeks, as I lay exhausted with my hands cupped against my puckered eyelids.

All my esoteric emotions gave away to a compulsive liquid state, as more tears gushed out from the corner of my eyes,

Submerging into the . . .

References

1. Pink Floyd Discography

2. More (soundtrack) Wikipedia

3. Ummagumma Wikipedia

4. Endless River review by Brain Damage Mag.

Oh by the way which one's Pink?

Working late in the night all by yourself, can be ecstatic sometimes. When the only noise echoing through the entire floor are made by your fingers coming down heavily on the subsidized keyboard, particularly the low pitched hollow sound released to append a white space in between two separate words.

Hitting the keys and gazing at my dim monitor screen to adore the magical letters dancing in front of me, adorning and giving shape to a nascent, unnamed thought that kept on lingering in my head for the past few weeks.

The diagonally-aligned ceiling lights overhead, along with the air conditioning speed had been turned down low to an unnoticeable level across the floor – reminiscent of a grim, impoverished store room, lined geometrically with revolving arm chairs that if pushed backwards reclined at an inaccurate but comfortable angle.

My eyes wore a murky shade of red – impoverished, sleep denied, an over-strained tool for visual assistance. The red color of my eyes could be attributed to the creamy herbs - hand-picked from the lush green hilltops.

The sempiternal battle between a cotton-mouthed throat and laggardly lazy limbs seldom ends in overpowering the latter. My legs lethargically carried me towards the cafeteria.

The cafeteria which during the daytime, bustled with boisterously decorated minions - wearing sleazy tags over their collar bones, discussing petty issues over long tea/coffee breaks - wore a deserted look then. Everything around seemed incommensurable that night -

The endless night!

I knew it was time to…

Floyd In

Pink Floyd was founded in 1965 by students Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright. They gained popularity performing in London's underground music scene during the late 1960s, and under Barrett's leadership released two charting singles and a successful debut album -

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967).

Astronomy Domine

Pow R. Toc H

Interstellar Overdrive

Floyd out

After one of the longest sigh's that night, I rested my earphones in front of my keyboard and took another sip from my coffee mug. It definitely smelled better than it tasted.
The weather widget on my desktop announced it was cold enough to decline a self-skimmed, steaming cup of coffee. I remember leaning back to my chair, intertwining my fingers, gazing pointlessly at the grim ceiling.

I could hear them mumble chaotically in my head, panting every now and then -

"I found [Barrett] in the dressing room and he was so ... gone. Roger Waters and I got him on his feet, [and] we got him out to the stage ... The band started to play and Syd just stood there. He had his guitar around his neck and his arms just hanging down."

I took a deep breath and gently closed my eyes. The dry outline of my lips forming a beatific smile, as I sank into the eternal void - caressing and embracing me.

* * *

The night was still unwinding. With every nervous moment passing by, I was getting drawn inside the prism to be spewed out into the magical realm of mysticism. It started to get eerie. An uncomfortable, but pleasing assurance embraced me - the pipers had arrived!

The beatific smile crawled back safely over my pale face.

My heart plunged as the pipers came knocking for more...

The Pipers At The Gate of Dawn
[#ComingSoon]

References

1. Pink Floyd Discography

2. Pink Floyd Wikipedia

[[Read the second part]]

A Saucerful of Floyd

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.

He laid his right hand on my shoulder, and said,

"Don't be afraid!

I am the First and the Last."

ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ

It was a late winter night when I was shot from the back.

Five gunshots I remember, the last one piercing the centre of my heart. I fell down like helpless ninepins, making a loud thud!

Strawberry Fields no longer seemed forever, nor could I play mind games anymore.
For once, Love no longer seemed the answer.
It was sad, Peace was never given a chance. Working class heroes stood smiling around me.
The realization of this ending was the most bitter experience I would've wanted to Imagine.
It was so sudden, unprecedented. I was in trouble, but nobody stood by me. Nobody told me there'd be days like these. Strange days indeed!

A child's rhyme stuck in my head, I wanted to write one last time. I wanted to sing my heart out, just one last time - for myself. Only more blood gushed out my mouth.

The last sigh!

I was never afraid of dying. Why should anyone be? Death is just the end of the road for 'this' body.
The identity you thought you had all this while was no less than an illusion.
I knew, the journey would continue in some other form, in some other land, against some other force, under the same benevolent sun.

The dream was over, what could I say.

Mystical trips flashed back through my head which now felt like a spinning Frisbee.

I was taken inside . . .

* * *

"So what you are saying is that I would enter a different dimension or, at least, have such a feeling for 10-12 hours!
Wow, that's insane man!"

He was effortlessly making rings of smokes in the air as the artist playing in the background of the clam baked room sarcastically lamented at the vicious mentality of vain monkeys cutting the gift of mother Earth into two! Right in Two.

"Hmm, You have to do it to believe it, bro!"

Lucy was a man of few words. Diamonds were easy to be a spot in the sky than words from his mouth.
Everything had to be felt or experienced first hand with him. You could not expect him to narrate a long story containing minute details of every aspect of his first trip to the other side. Obviously, he saw patterns and vivid colours. Who wouldn't? Our minds were designed to sense these beautiful patterns and signs. Our eyes had been taught to perceive otherwise. Sad.

"And what about the music this time?"

I heaved a long sigh pondering about the confusing and misled music we chose on each night to journey on! It wasn't promising enough to show us what we all wanted to see. We all could swear on the importance of music during such transitions. Music and music alone has the strength to lift you up, grip your balls hard till they squeeze and drop you from a great height onto the other side. Then there had to be a sudden intermission so you could regain your breath before heading on to the final lap to outrun your train of imagination and embrace the ever shining light emanating from your inner self by coming back home! Drawing us back in, showing where it all began!

The date was decided, so was the destination - at Lucy's.

* * *

I thought I will play along for sometime and told her that I too was a kind of Guru. But she took me seriously and started addressing me in forms like 'My Lord'. She started beseeching me to give her a 'spiritual awakening' and 'mystical healing'. This frightened me sufficiently to tell her that I was no Guru. She merely said:

"No Guru calls himself a Guru."

I smiled.

But calling oneself Guru and having a handful of followers merely is not enough. The answer is out here, you just needed to ask the right questions. An imbecile bunch of monkeys, chanting mantras and feeling euphoric to have unearthed the revelation. Some said, to feel nothing, was the answer, others believed and advocated experiencing the truth that is inside was the ultimate pleasure one's mind could feel.

I began exploring.

The era of Flower Power had begun. Peace had become the explanation for most of the unanswered mysteries. Love was the path to the peaceful exit to the other dimension. Infinite possibilities.

A man's search for hidden answers can take him to the remotest of places. He follows his heart, trusts his instincts, walks for hours, crosses jungles, rivers.

I too had miles to walk, before sleep.

* * *

"Its called Dark One!"

There was a wicked grin on his face, as he welcomed us to his fortress. Everything was in its right place. With posters carefully affixed on exact angles on one side of the wall made a perfect invitation to the watchful eyes learning to absorb the hidden message from each. Everything around introduced itself. The writings on the wall couldn't have seemed clearer.

"Perfect Setting, eh ?"

He interrupted our train of thoughts, as was evident from my curiously wide eyes. It was quite obvious that today was pre-planned with master intricacy, taking care of all possible scenarios that could occur during the psychic's journey to the other side. The setting played a major role in many ways. He had evidently, experienced, realized and eventually implemented the truth. The rest had to be done by the imbecile voyagers - young, watchful, self-taught trippers living in the yellow submarine willing to traverse across the universe, under the watchful vision of the blessed guru.

"Let's do it. . ."

I lit a cigarette making not so perfect smoke rings. I always longed for the perfect spiral shape, travelling a long distance to be later poked by the playful finger. I watched the watch and minded my mind not to mind my mind any longer, as I felt I was prepared for going downstream. I could hear distant cheers as my welcome to the forgotten home was foreseen! It was an escape to the unknown realms of reality - hidden and closely guarded by on signs and intricate patterns that no ordinary pair of eyes could possibly see. One needed that extra piece of the eye, he was born with - that had been concealed purposefully to entrap and misguide the lost soul to walk without a direction or purpose. I was ready to find mine.

Powerful vibrations grabbed my heart beat into an undiscovered rhythm as the first tunes were bestowed onto our psyche by the harmless looking spears modestly hidden underneath the wooden table.

I heaved a long sigh and closed my eyes. . .

* * *

When the expiration hath ceased, the vital-force will have sunk into the nerve-center of Wisdom and the Knower will be experiencing the Clear Light of the natural condition. Then the vital force, being thrown backwards and flying downwards through the right and left nerves - the Intermediate State momentarily dawns...

There was a low pitched howl when I entered the void. I could sense sound waves and screams across my left and right brains. The building walls around me collapsed and melted into a perfect geometric hallucination. As men around me lamented and screamed at their loss, a sense of gratification embraced my attention.Chants of men residing in the holy mountains resonated in my soul, which was ever attracted to their calm voices, but were sadly inhibited by the mind games played through out one's life.
Like jewels of water dripping, I felt a strong sense of each moment as I laid my head still and prepared myself to float away.

Turn on, tune in, drop out.

What we confuse as death: The time when something ends - is an essence needed in daily lives. The secret although lies in how we died, rather than how we lived dual sides of the same coin, maybe. To live is to die. The death of the ego gives a new way to look towards one's self - the long-forgotten passage to liberation towards the higher self.

Basking in the glory of valour, possessions, and responsibilities successfully carried out, I drifted away from redemption. I needed something or someone to show me the way. Every moment comes out as a perfect explosion and understanding of His creation. Being one, and one for all. Feeling the universe within, being a part of each precious breath exchanged in return of the blissful remembrance of the sacred universe we are a part of. Feel. The fabrics of the universal creation are inter-woven into the minutest of component imaginable to the known psyche, waiting to be explored and understood, to be felt, firstly, a deep sense of gratitude to allow your soul be a part of it, and nurturing your existence since ever known life forms. To feel and be the part of his imagination, an intricately designed and coloured castle being built by the thought of the thinker.
Embrace and hold on to this preciously timed moment called Life. Be a part of it. We are part of the same being, complementing one another in perfection. Exiting one known form and coinciding with the unknown. Extra-dimensional beings flowing in a common rhythm.

Take a long sigh and feel the moment.

The universe is always calling out to you.

It is calling you now!

Did you just hear that ?

Did you just see that ?

That's...

The herb is strange.

It plays tricks with your head.

Enhances your power of imagination.

The ability to imagine separates human from other nature's creation.
We are bestowed with a brain wired to imagine and create our own reality.
As many brains, as many realities.
Everything we perceive around us, nature included, is an extension of our imagination.

One's power of imagination is boundless.
The herb enhances it.
All over the globe, millions claim that the herb can actually bring peace to this world.
The believers have felt its peacefulness.

I felt the same.
I was amazed at how calm I became.
You expand your imagination, enter a peaceful zone within the walls of your bustling brain, care less about the worldly things around you - not amounting to be careless - just care less!
The herb is indeed magical!
Sad it is illegal.

***

Almost a year ago, I became friends with him.
Our chanced acquaintance slowly cemented to a strong bond of friendship, over several herb-sessions.
I still remember the day when we first met.
I was out in the sun, carefully hid in the grass, getting baked.
And there he stood- with a bright sparkle in his eyes, staring blankly at me - a hunger still unsatisfied!

I observed his dark locks being swept across his shoulder in slow motion, by the cool winter breeze.
He was tall, taller than me, had an average built, with a wheatish skin complexion.
The first indication that he was one of us - an ardent devotee of the herb - was his T-shirt that proudly had the hemp grass printed all across it!

Trippy!

A long silence followed. A bird flew above us, its wings casting a brief shadow on our blank faces.
I noticed his eyes - blood red, brimming with water.
A second later there was a crooked smile on his face, perhaps he too had noticed the color of my eyes.

I smiled.

After a long dead air, I said the first words...

Let's go up in smoke?

***

There was no looking back after that. As if both of us understood each other's imaginative state of mind.
We had finally found each other!

He talked about things I could understand and relate to. We shared a common taste in music, art, literature and even the post-session munchies.

I was proud of him!
I shared my thoughts with him, at times seeking answers.
He was intelligent.
He had learnt how to use the herb to enhance the power of one's imagination, for one's welfare.
I gained several of such prowess and hacks from my dear friend.

He explained the evolution of one's brain from a normal functioning unit to a fully explored and trained machine, the magical herb being its fuel, galvanizing the magnanimous thought process.
I was amazed at his cognition.
During the course of our trip, we loved discussing any worldly or abstract matters around us.
I loved those discussions.

Looking heavenward, I would bow down to the Lord for sending me an angel!

***

It happened during one of our routine toke up sessions in the streets of my neighborhood.
Like most of our evening trips, I chose to keep quiet.
I observed instead.

He was talking about the suddenness of life.
Ups and down being a part of life, he pointed out the subtle transformation from an upper wave - to a downer, happens almost instantly- in a blink of an eye- comes knocking at your door without prior warnings.
"Life can never be presaged", he commented taking a long drag as the smoke engulfed his face.
I dwelt on the thought...

Is life really so unpredictable?
Can any event go smooth and hassle free as it was supposed to be?
Or are the tides a part of life?
Can we really risk being complacent for even a slight moment and expect the world around to stay unaltered?
Can things actually go up in smoke and vanish in front of your eyes?

Let it be...
I cared less!

He stood in front, more than a couple of steps ahead of me.
I noticed I had trailed.
Lost in my thought process, I gazed aimlessly at the objects around me, looking out for things that could go up in smoke.

It was getting dark, nothing except the lonely street lights gave us company.
He was ready with the next spliff.
I had the light, it was my turn to do the honours.

He stood near a rusted transformer. A complex entanglement of wires poked out from every inch of the old machine.
It was dangerously suspended from a height with just a couple of rusty pillars to support it.
Power fluctuations were common in our area.
I had heard stories of many such transformers bursting into flames.
Electricians would calmly remark "the transformer tripped"
Funny! I thought.

He called out my name, I was lost in my own train of thoughts.
I began briskly walking towards him.
As I hurried, the lighter fell out of my hand...
I bent to pick it up... and then, suddenly I heard it!

It was one of the most powerful sounds I had ever heard.
A bright light, an immediate spark and a loud explosion followed by complete darkness.
The area where he stood was filled with white smoke.
A burnt stench spread.

Moments later I could hear people screaming and complaining that the transformer had tripped again!
A few of them even cursed God.

Tripped
Funny- I thought!

***

I still keep on looking for him during my evening trips...

"Everything you can imagine is real"

- Pablo Picasso.

Image Courtesy

Doodle It Out.

It was during one of my trips, I remember.
I was in the middle of the tiring task of returning back to my base from a "clam-baked" place.
I felt my heart rate rising, I was not paranoid. I knew the way-
"Take a left and walk straight till you reach the dead-end."
It would hardly take a minute, I was sure.
I was confident!

Thus, came my legs into action,
I was aware of my heavy feet dragging along-
Reluctant they were, ever complaining to my brain.
Yet, they weren't allowed to stop!
My eyes tripping red, throat dripping dry-
Was I supposed to cry or enjoy my high?

A dog walked by, its brown fur shone in the fluorescence of the street light,
its shadow larger than the light posts behind,
its eyes sparkled, saliva dripping, tongue waged outside.
Our eyes met, I felt strange!

Strange I thought.

But that is how things work.
The moment of clarity had begun.
The roads were neatly divided, paved accurately.
I kept dragging.
The left turn was in sight now,
the street lights were leading the way.
I gazed into the endless labyrinth.

And then it started...

I heard voices, and they weren't in my head.
My head was numb... I knew.
I heard them again - clearer this time.
Did the munificence of the herb start its work?

Maybe!

I started to run -
My lungs heavier with every breath I sucked in,
legs tired with every force I exerted towards motion,
But I didn't stop!
The voices grew louder.
Sweat poured out from every gland of my body,
But I had to get rid of the mystical voice following me.
I did not dare to turn back and face it.
My throat parched with every gulp of dry air I took.
I needed water- A gallon of it!

I saw the end of the horizon,
My destination was within reach now!
"Just a couple of more frantic limb movements and I'll reach"
Re-calculation and reassurance were necessary during such tense moments.

The lights behind me started to fade.
But I felt safe!
The familiar landmark was finally within sight.
The voices were clearer than ever.
I could sense someone was calling out to me,
but in a language foreign to me.

Strange - I thought!

I paused to stop running.
Out of breath, wet, exhausted!
And there it was-
The "clam-baked" room - from where my journey began- was in front of me!

A dog was guarding its gate.
Its brown fur shone in the fluorescence of the street lights.
Our eyes met -
And I felt Strange!

The Strange Herb.

PS: It is often said,

"The Earth is Round"

...........................

So is my head.

...........................

X_X

Invocation

#Haiku04 : Shivani

Rise!