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Relationship Retreat
Roast rage for lunch for a happiness pie for dinner
Let’s cremate the carcasses of offended egos! Let’s light a bonfire and toss them in, one by one- the insults that cut soul deep; the ridicule that mocks our human deficiencies WHY ROAST RAGE? Rage is fast becoming a pandemic. It strips us of our human sensitivities. Office spaces, roads, even homes are affected by this toxic stressor. Anti-depressants are regularly required by over eighty percent of the adult population in the developed world. Toxic, mad, angry friends commit an act in a fit of fury that others are unable to forgive causing rifts is solid relationships. If you could just, roast your anger and enjoy it for lunch, I’m sure you could bake a happiness pie by dinner time. Helping you understand your rage, resulting in a happier you is the epicenter of this column. UNDERSTAND YOUR TRIGGERS Different issues send different people over the edge. An understanding of one’s own triggers enables one to devise a strategy for the next time they are confronted with a similar situation. As Baba Bhullay Shah insists, the greatest learning is within one’s own self, yet we seek it outside our own beings for a lifetime only to return, clueless of who we really are. ENERGIZE YOUR NEGATIVITY Prayer, meditation, exercise and pursuing your interests can help you manage your anger effectively. Thirty minutes of exercise every day will not only elevate your mood, beat stress, heart disease and depression but also, possibly calm your anger. Get outdoors, on that exercise bike or jog
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in place till endorphins hit your blood stream and boost your mood naturally. An elevated self image will go a long way in facilitating your interaction with the world around you. Exercise is beneficial for weight regulation and thyroid hormone imbalance induced anger in post child birth females. So, run two miles everyday and burn the incinerators of love, those seeds of anger, the carbohydrates! Let’s cremate the carcasses of offended egos! Let’s light a bonfire and toss them in, one by one- the insults that cut, soul deep, the ridicule that mocks our human deficiencies. Bring out on skewers all your moments of pain inflicted through rejection. Run away from the times you were hanged untried, when you were charged for vulnerability and tarnished in your virgin simplicity. Heal the wounds of frustration when you couldn’t and you lost. Bring on that hurt. Let’s roast it! Run it off! One fat calorie at a time! Hit that sixer out of the ballpark and feel that moment in joy! THE PERSONALITY QUIZ A happy signal can be emitted in our brains with higher levels of dopamine or a greater sensitivity to it, thereof. Conversely irritability and volatile emotions are caused by low levels of serotonin, simultaneously increasing responsiveness to dopamine. Chiefly genetic are personality trait assignments and the balance of these two neurotransmitters hold the key to our primary disposition to happiness
or irritability. The extrovert and introvert nature of various people is the effect of neurotransmitter sensitivities and impacts how they are energized. Cognitive behaviour therapy can be potent in the anger management of the introverted angry individual. However group therapy holds greater merit for aiding the extrovert cope with rage. If your partner or friend needs isolation to recharge and you require company and excitement respect the other’s need and do not feel rejected and angry because recharging draws them away from you to isolation or to a crowd. CONTROL YOUR ANGER So who’s the boss here? Don’t let your anger control you. Be the trainer who tempers the beast and not the fool who bites the tail of the dog that bit him. Devise a plan to change your responses to a negative stimulus. Take that deep breath, scale the person and the offense to size. The unimportant do not merit a response from you. Rise above the conflict and steer that high road. Let go of the grudge that binds you to misery. Don’t waste another minute being angry. Sands of time are slipping through your hands. Stop trying to change people. Change the way you react to them. LOUNGE’S FIREHOSE PICK: Yes, you may play your Angry Birds’ App, as long as you realize the piggies are not real! Out with the angry and in with the happy.
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Rising star
Nida Ali
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1. What factors contributed to your success? Success is always a combination. Besides the usual factors like hard work and dedication, originality and creativity, outreach/availability and pricing…. they all count and of course a dash of luck. 2. What is your design philosophy? It’s a creative fusion of eastern sensibilities with western contemporary cuts; a modern look to the traditional silhouette with befitting embellishments. 3. How did you get into designing? I started with my own lawn prints in 2003 through my outlet at Zamzama, Karachi. Then, through natural progression, came diversification; initially with bridals and then very recently adding the prêt/ luxury prêt lines. 4. Whose work has impressed you the most? We have some really good designers doing great work and quite frequently we get to see something that leaves a great impression and reminds you of the potential that we have. 5. Do you cater only to women or you have option for men and children? So far, just women - I did some printed Kurtas for men along with my Lawn prints in the beginning but didn’t continue that. 6. If you could dress up any celebrity in Pakistan, who would that be? Why one…why not all of them. 7. What would you wear to a formal dinner? My luxury prêt line is basically for occasions like formal dinners to festive occasions. 8. What makes you different from other designers? I tend to experiment a lot. Plus my colour palette is also not very common. 9. Do you think there is a lot of jealousy in the industry about your success? Jealousy is a natural phenomenon and it’s everywhere. The only way is to handle it is to focus on your own work and have positivity in you. 10. How is your marriage life treating you? Great! I started soon after my marriage and it wouldn’t have been possible if there were any hindrances that generally come with a typical married life. Luckily, I have a supportive husband, adorable kids and encouraging in-laws so marriage has been strengthening for me. 11. Your biggest fear? Being a mother, the biggest fears are the ones our kids are exposed to in the current law and order situation. 12. How do you relax? A nice dinner, some music or just sitting back having quiet time for myself. 13. What message would you give to upcoming designers? There are no short cuts in life. Know yourself, be yourself and don’t give up.
Interview
N1 the Band
Inspiration paired with
entertainment
By Madiha Anwar
T
he N1 Band has been able to make its mark in a short span of seven months with the release of three music videos. A one-man band brought to life by Naimul Abd who has been a successful marketer by profession, for the past fifteen years. Lounge talks to Naim about his music philosophy, preferences and what is currently going on with N1: Q. What is the music philosophy of N1? A. N1 is an outburst of a deep-rooted passion that had been bottled up during teenage life. I resolved that I would be working in two directions. Firstly, I would be doing songs on inspiration: themes such as change, revolution, awakening and social issues. Secondly, I would be doing songs for entertainment: love songs, dance numbers, trance music etc. I am not
Madonna was a big craze when I was a kid: ‘Like a Prayer’ was a sensation at that time among my fellow Aitchisonians
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limited to any one particular style or genre or language or audience My three music videos released to date have been on three completely different lines. INQILAAB is a song around revolution, JALWA, on the other hand, is a melodious love song that revolves around the memory of a mysterious girl. GHOOMAY JA is a dance number that essentially says Carpe Diem! Q. Tell us about your experience of working on two albums simultaneously: A. It has been fueling the creativity so far! I am an avid reader and have loved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, especially Sherlock Holmes. In one of the Sherlock Holmes adventures, Holmes points out that the best way to give your mind some rest is to engage it in something different. I have found that by working on two fronts at the same time, I am able to give one front a necessary break which makes that break a miracle worker for my second front. Q. Are all the songs written and composed by you? A. Yes: idea, composition, lyrics, and
music. N1 is a one man band! However, as the idea develops, I collaborate with relevant people. In music production these have been DJ Ali Mustafa, DJ Shahrukh, Tauseef, and Ali Noor so far. My videos have been done by DJ Shahrukh and lots of post ideas and work is being done by Murtaza Ali. Q. Any specific reason for N1 being a one-man band? Other than collaborations, would you consider making any musician a part of your band? A. N1 being single for now has a lot to do with N1 being forced to follow a second fiddle to my time availability as a corporate professional. The idea of going beyond simple collaboration has crossed my mind. I am on the lookout for people with different tastes and routines who can come in and further enhance the diversity that’s the core of N1. Q. Apart from singing, do you play any music instruments? A. In my teens I did a lot of work on music notation. In fact, at that time, I had a dual-Commodore-Amiga music
studio and I composed my initial work in notation in Aegis Sonix software using computer’s internal sounds. Later, I started collecting keyboards which I continue to play to date. Q. Which bands/artists inspired you as a teenager? What song do you remember most as a child? A. I was fascinated by Pet Shop Boys. One More Chance, It’s a Sin, Always on My Mind, West End Girls – they all are fresh in my mind! Madonna was a big craze when I was a kid: Like a Prayer was a sensation at that time among my fellow Aitchisonians with so many of us having a crush on Madonna! Stevie Wonder’s Yamaha DX-7 keyboard and Part Time Lover were hauntingly great. Aha with their Take On Me. And there were Labamba, Dancing in Dark, Words, Alone, and so much more! Q. What song would you say sums you up? A. From my own collection so far, I like Jalwa the most. The idea is strong, the video is good, and overall music feel catches on to you. So far, it’s the best from N1 – fans can disagree! From
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across the border, I love the simplicity of Honto Say Chu Lo Tum. The melody line is so simple and brilliant and it blends so well with the words that it’s awesome. I have loved, Jab Koi Piyar Say Bulai ga by Mehdi Hassan sahib – it’s too good. Finally, not many may have heard it, but ‘I will do anything for love’ by Meatloaf is one of my favourite songs. It has got crests, valleys, aggression, and wanting all fused in one! Q. What should we expect from N1 in the coming months? A. Coming from someone who is doing it as a passion, the current pace is good. So I am happy but, I am NOT satisfied. There are 15 near-production tracks and then a list of 40 more
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that are there, lurking as ideas fluff! And then there are covers. So a lot of new and different musical work is on its way. I have not had the time to work through a live performance session yet as my recording schedule is filled beyond the brim for next 6 months. I would say to my fans, keep your hopes
I have found that by working on two fronts at the same time, I am able to give one front, a necessary break which makes that break a miracle worker for my second front
high, N1 will try to go beyond that! Q. Any message for Lounge readers A. Pakistan is a land of opportunities. That’s what I see as someone who has worked with more than 20 brands as a marketer and strategist. There is youth out here that is so talented and needs platforms. There are dark elements within our society that are opposed to music and other forms of arts. The darkness can only end with thorough enlightenment of educated and world-savvy minds as you are. So appreciate music and make it grow. Let your kids, friends, and family appreciate it. And do visit N1’s page and become a part of the growing community at www.facebook.com/n1theband
Bake-A-Bon
I
n the summer heat when children are irritable and desperate for fun activities, Cinnabon Pakistan brings an exciting activity to its various outlets. The Bake-a-Bon has become a Cinnabon regular, and is easily one of the most awaited events of the year. Children from ages 3 to 10 years, get the chance to pose as Cinnabon bakers wearing Cinnabon aprons and Cinnabon bandannas. ‘ I am so excited,’ said 3-yearold Keyaan Saleem Nasir, whose bandanna was a little too big for him and so kept slipping down. ‘And I want to start rolling.’ The Bake-A-Bon provides children with the opportunity to not just experience the fun of baking but also get involved with their mommies as they roll, cut and bake Cinnamon rolls. It’s indeed a cute sight to see little children lined up in their baker outfits as they wait for their turn to do some cutting, rolling and baking. The Bake A Bon Days are a regular feature of Cinnabons all around the world. In the UAE, the United States of
America and other countries, Cinnabon outlets regularly hold such activities which involve children and mothers and provide an engaging and fun way for everyone to spend their day. ‘I think this is a great idea and it’s easy to see why all the children are so excited and happy at the idea of becoming little bakers,’ said Ruqayya Iqbal-Salman, founder of Activity Moms. ‘My son was super excited when I told him that he will be able to bake his own Cinnamon roll.’ Cinnabon Pakistan is quickly becoming the country’s premier dessert company and is rapidly expanding with two stores in Lahore and another two in Karachi. The most recent Cinnabon’ kiosk launch at Atrium Mall in Karachi, included dancers, confetti and a highly animated Mr Bon who could be seen swaying and moving with children.
‘I feel like a real grown-up and like a proper baker,’ said 4 year old Hassan Iqbal, who was tugging on his baker’s cap as he spoke. ‘I have always seen my mother in the kitchen baking away, and now I am getting a chance to do the same.’ The Bake A Bon activity at various Cinnabon outlets is generally accompanied by other activities for children including art and crafts, face painting and also original games such as Pin The Pecan On The Bon and be a Bon, a game comprising of a Picture-It through which children could poke out their faces and pose for a photograph. ‘I love Cinnabons,’ said baby Saima Uzair, 4, who was busy painting mini bons on a sheet of white paper. ‘Cinnabons are such fun and taste so yummy.’ Cinnabon Pakistan plans to continue holding BakeA-Bon activities all across Pakistan, at their various outlets and kiosks.
June 24 - 30, 2012 I 41
Art
A Journey through Imagination
A
By Nadeem Alam
nila Zulfiqar has been a painter with an urge to develop and evolve as an artist of unique style. In this course, she has dipped her brush in colours that speak of her vision and point of view, from where she observes life around. Anila is a painter who likes to rely more on her visual memory and deep observation, instead of imitating what she sees. She started to paint canvases with dark and mysterious themes where surface textures were pivotal part of her paintings. However, with the passage of time, she started to play more with colours, and now she creates textures with her brush and paints. Her palette has embraced more vivid and flamboyant tinges, with a fresh feel of the palette. Anila spent her childhood in the vast green fields of the Punjab plains where she might have observed the nature with all her warmth and sooth. Today, her canvases display the linkage of the artist with nature and environment around her whether it is a landscape or a cityscape. Small frames, intricate weaving of the tiny brushstrokes and depth in perspective are the elements that are quite remarkable in her work. Anila is a kind of painter who does not work on the spot but even then; she is always keen on observing and then painting the atmosphere, its effects and influences that it casts on her. She tries to capture the changing effect of the light and fall within the impressionistic approach. However, her small-scale and intricate rendering shows her style closed to minimalism. Recently, Anila has put on display her first solo show under the title of “Raastay� (The Pathways). In this show one can see an array of small size frames that Anila has painted in a convoluted manner where she seems to be playing with the stylized perspective and visual compositions overwhelmed and based on the recollection, she keeps on observing in her everyday life. Specifically, she has made a colourful statement of the city she lives in, and about the streets, she wanders around. One can see the traditional architecture of Lahore that is still breathing almost its last in Anarkali, Gwalmandi and in the walled city. Since Anila is more prone to Anarkali, her tiny frames give an impression of all these places minimized in an assortment closed to the Japanese Ikebana. In a couple of frames, Anila appears as she is
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experimenting with her painting technique especially in terms of visual depth created through the melted distortion of the objects, in a way that it feels like Salvador Dali is loitering behind the small canvas to cause some surrealistic aspirations in them. Although, this assortment of frames carries diverse visual inspirations from modern-western art movements that are; impressionism, minimalism and Surrealism, even then the regional techniques regarding landscape painting are also prevalent. The colourful clothes, hanging alongside a railway track, or the round shapes of local huts with lush green vegetation around, gives these canvases a feeling of freshness as well as a touch of the native atmosphere. Therefore, Anila’s work becomes a crucible of diverse styles and inspirations, but she controls it with such mastery that she looks successful in making all the diversities unified completely under the one visual idiom, in very small frames. Design quality and compositional balance are other two very strong elements in these frames. Anila has balanced her paintings by composing the main objects along the horizon line in landscapes and towards the vanishing point in her
cityscapes. Moreover, she has made the preeminent area more important by loosening her palette around with drips, drags and casual dabs of fresh and wet-looking colour. It seems an unintentional journey of the artist to explore her own colours around her. Through this journey, Anila has discovered an atmosphere in the alleys of the metropolitan, which she can relate to her nostalgic possessions within her memories. That could be the one reason that all of Anila’s paintings are quite suggestive in terms of colours, composition, and arrangement of objects while at the same time, these frames express a subjectivity regarding artist’s own vision and recollection of her surroundings. Anila, with her soft colours and strong compositions, tries to capture the scenic beauty that has etched in her memory. She amalgamates her perception with
her vision before painting it on the canvas in the shaped of dabs and in tabs. In this way, one can find Anila closed to the technique of Zubeda Javed, who is the pioneer of this style in landscape. Although Anila is inspired by Zubeda’s work, but she has made her paintings conversational by applying her individual colours and the distortion that shows her own emotional thrust. Moreover, she has tried to document the visual heritage of Lahore. One cannot identify the actual place or spot in her paintings, but one can always relate that painting with a collective visual heritage that may have developed in our subconscious over the years. Anila belongs to the new generation of Pakistani artist who has the potential of accepting modern challenges regarding present-day techniques and concepts without leaving behind the conventional painting.
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Books
Some Lessons
of an Enlightened Life
K
By Syed Afsar Sajid
hwaja Masud (1922-2010) was a teacher of Mathematics, and principal of Gordon College, Rawalpindi during 1972-82. He combined academic pursuits with socio-cultural activism. A long-time author of the ‘Fuelliton’ column, he was a philosopher, progressive and ‘an intellectual’s intellectual’. He opposed orthodoxy, fundamentalism and obscurantism and espoused free inquiry and scepticism. He was greatly influenced by the German founder of socialism, Karl Marx (1818-83) and the Italian political theorist and follower of Marx, Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937). The instant book comprises Khwaja Masud’s writings on four seminal topics viz., The Glory and the Dream, Freedom Struggle, Islam, and the Spirit of Revolution. Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, in his introductory note ‘About the Author’, has highlighted the biographical details respecting the late Khwaja Sahib whom Senator Mushahid Hussain calls ‘one of the great public intellectuals’ of the country, and who in his view ‘popularized history and philosophy threading them with his expertise and undoing prejudiced views’. Here we are also told that Khwaja Masud was ‘a remarkably humane individual’ with a ‘compassionate understanding’ of the life of the poor, downtrodden, neglected masses. He was also respected and regarded as ‘the conscience of the progressive
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movement’. Khwaja Sarmad, son of the deceased author, has written an exhaustive but scholarly foreword to the book. The articles in the book retell ‘history as lived by the heroic fighters who staked their lives on the altar of freedom and liberty’. The lessons issuing from these writings mirror ‘a lifetime of struggle for truth’ that his father waged in ‘troubled times’. These lessons are meant, as he avows, to arm our new generation with the Qur’anic injunctions of tafakkur and ta’aqqul. There is a perennial clash between the interests of the ruling class and those of the working people. The latter has to be mobilized to unyoke itself of the fetters of a life-long oppression. The remedy lies in ‘revisiting and restoring the Quaid’s vision of Pakistan’ as he was deeply concerned with the weal and woe of the working people. Democracy is a creed of tolerance, mutual understanding, and acceptance of divergent views. Islam is a panacea for all our evils. It is a permanent revolution against stagnant dogmatism and consuming hypocrisy. No doubt, lives of great men are ‘lessons in revolutionary philosophy, theory and practice, strategy and tactics, ideological hegemony, humanism, passionate belief and organizational discipline, which are all necessary tools to forge a new way to progressive change’. In the opening ‘lesson’, the author ruefully laments (like in Iqbal’s Shikwa) what has befallen us as a nation – the conundrum of blackmarketing, smuggling, drug abuse, ubiquitous corruption, exploitation, undemocratic politics, intellectual sterility, moral depravity, vulgar ostentation, opportunism, hypocrisy, inflation, illiteracy, poverty, and hunger continues to stare us in our face albeit sixty-five years have passed since the
realization of our ‘dream’ of a separate homeland in the sub-continent. The irony is gruesome as anybody could perceive the ominous chasm between what we originally aspired for and what subsequently fell to our lot. A ‘cultural renaissance through ijtihad’ as envisioned by Allama Iqbal could, in the author’s opinion, kindle a passion for revolution in us so that we march forward with a ‘dauntless, iconoclastic, forward-looking spirit’ to attain ‘the glory that is the destiny of Pakistan’. The head ‘Freedom Struggle’ encompasses four essays on ‘Pakistan as envisaged by the Quaid-e-Azam’; ‘Founding Father’s journey to Pakistani Nationalism’; ‘Ten days that shook the Raj’; and, ‘What our freedom-fighters teach us – Bhagat Singh & Dada Amir Haider’. The Quaid dreamed of a Pakistan without the exploitation of the working people and peasants. He loathed imperialism, landlordism and capitalism, and upheld justice and Islamic socialism which emphasize equality and brotherhood of man. Liberty, equality and fraternity were his ruling passions. His belief in the working of democracy was unshakeable as he had faith in the ‘invincible might of the working people’. He was opposed to theocracy and advocated liberalism and enlightenment but within the purview of the ideology of Islam. The author regrets that we have forgotten the Quaid’s vision of Pakistan and digressed from its raison d’etre. The Quaid was of the view that social emancipation must concur with national liberation with a view to uplifting the working people. His idea of Pakistani nationalism envisaged absolute non-discrimination of its citizens on grounds of religion, caste or creed. In the ‘Ten days that shook the Raj’, the author narrates the short-lived but
consequential ‘mutiny’ of the Indian sailors starting on 18th February, 1946 – arising from ‘bad cooking’ that ‘convinced the British that their days were numbered’. In ‘What our freedom-fighters teach’, the author focuses on the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh (1907-31) and Dada Amir Haider (1900-1989) for the cause of the down-trodden humanity – the former suffering death sentence, without any second thought, while the latter suffering prolonged trials and tribulations, without betraying his trust, for the sake of ‘inqilab’ (revolution). Islam is the subject of the third part of the book. The six sub-titles under this head are named: Message of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is permanent revolution; Iqbal, the destruction of false gods and Islamic revolution; Social context of Shariah – from Shah Waliullah to Maulvi Chiragh; Islam, Science and Ijtihad; Muslim contributon to Mathematics; and, The courage of martyrs (Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari –The cry of Qurrat-ul-Ayn Tahira). The last portion of the book is titled: The Spirit of Revolution with subheads as May Day; Marx and Iqbal; and, Inspiring Revolutionaries (Lenin, Che Guevara, Antonio Gramsci, Rosa Luxembourg, Ho Chi Minh, Nelson Mandela, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, all of whom were committed to the concept of progressive change culminating into the establishment of an egalitarian society). Generous allusions to torch-bearers of progressive change in this book serve to exemplify its author’s zestful optimism for the future as these lessons will continue to inspire the present generation and the coming ones as a prerequisite to human enlightenment and progress.
Generous allusions to torch-bearers of progressive change in this book serve to exemplify its author’s zestful optimism for the future as these lessons will continue to inspire the present generation and the coming ones as a prerequisite to human enlightenment and progress June 24 - 30, 2012 I 45
Recipe
Rosemar Mustard Grilled Chicken Breast Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Marinade
¼ cup mustard 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, pressed 1½ tablespoons minced fresh rosemary (or 1 tablespoon dried) ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Method:
Combine the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl. Cover the breasts with wax paper and pound the thicker side. Make slices in the chicken breasts at about ½-inch intervals. Put the chicken breasts in a Ziploc bag and add the marinade. Distribute the marinade around the chicken as evenly as possible. Refrigerate the chicken for at 6 – 8 hours, turning the bag over occasionally during the day. If using a gas grill, turn it on high to heat up for about 10 minutes. Turn the heat to medium and grill the chicken, slit side down, for about 6 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts over to cook for an additional 5 minutes. When done, remove to a platter, cover with foil, and let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving. 46 I June 24 - 30, 2012
Rising star
Asad Tareen -
Taking over Dubai after ruling Pakistani fashion world
A
sad Tareen CEO of The Designers Multi Brand Store has brought some of the best and diverse designers together in a one stop shopping experience. With ready to wear prêt, luxury prêt, semi-formal and bridal, The Designers Multi Brand Store houses some of the most well-known fashion designers in the country. “Our aim is to give a better buying power to the customer. Taking a designer on board new or established, our aim is to bring the latest collection to our clients, right off-the-ramp from the most recent fashion shows all under one roof”.
Q. Tell us about your plans for launching The Designers in Dubai? A. We will be taking the top Pakistani designers from here for clothing and accessories. Q. How did you decide which designers to take on at The Designers in Dubai? A. Dubai is not just about the desi crowd. We will be taking designers who can cater to Dubai clientele which includes people from all over the world. Q. What do you think about the market for Pakistani fashion in Dubai? A. Indians are big buyers for Pakistani designers. Q. What are the three
most important attributes which help a new designer become successful in the field of retail? A. The designer should be very clear on customer’s requirement of style, price and quality. Once they have these in control they should start working on the image. Q. Which collections did you like in the recently conducted Fashion Pakistan Week and PFDC in Lahore? A. Among the new ones, Bani D, Momal Halepota and Zonia Annwer were good. Karma, Imrana of Body Focus, Shamaeel, Wardha Saleem and Fahad Hussayn showed good collections. Q. You were the first one to pick up Adnan pardesi, Akif
Mahmood and Mohsin Ali. What is it about these designers that prompted you to sign them on? A. What prompted me to sign them on was the creativity that their products entailed and the product itself. Q. There have been many multi brand stores opening up recently. Why is everyone so interested in getting into this business? A. Well we are one of the pioneers who started this concept. I faced a lot of issues initially to convince designers to stock with us, as they were not used to the idea of giving their clothes to anyone. We got an over whelming response and the concept has picked up.
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FAIR AND LOVELY
A
s a psychic counselor every day I dipped into people’s lives, emotions and felt each day spiritually I would try to decipher why in our society especially women suffer so much. First I figured out how psychic energy could help such people. I truly feel that a psychic counselor could help people see who they really are, what are they capable of doing to help them understand a full picture of themselves and their potential. In our eastern culture, a women’s skin-tone has a major role in self-image. A fair woman is a symbol of beauty. I can never forget the pain in the eyes of a 24-years-old girl who come to me for psychic counseling. There was sadness; not only in her eyes but the soul was wounded. She was an attractive girl. She had two sisters and both of them were fair, while she was on the darker side. That was her only crime and because of that she was treated like a step-daughter by her mother. The mother was convinced that no one would come and ask for her hand in marriage. She kept covering her face with her hands. She told me that whenever there was a family occasion or there were people visiting her house, before introducing her, the mother would give an explanation about her dark colour. She loved bright colours. but was not allowed to wear them. Moreover she could not go to sleep, as she had cried a lot every night from childhood into her teen’s her tear’s had dried. She would repeatedly take God’s name “Ya Batin” which means Oh God, show me the
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hidden. Intuitively, I felt that the girl girl had had to feel the pain of rejection again again in in order to heal. I told her go back back in the moment of rejection, and feel that emotion with extreme sensitivity. The tears, which had dried began to roll, and the healing process began. Anger is an honest emotion; if we don’t express it outwardly we will store it inside. I told her to feel the anger at a 100% and then release it too. The next step was forgiveness. We must understand that forgiveness is the key to our emotional freedom. Forgiveness means clearing up of toxic emotions. If we do not forgive, we are refusing a mental health tonic. She developed her own visualization exercise whenever she had a little stress being with her mother. Her visualization exercise was very interesting. She said, “I visualize myself as a big tree with strong roots, my branches are thick with green leaves, my family members are little small plants, who want shade from the big tree.” I used mirror work technique for her it is often used to find out an issue, which prevents us from loving ourselves. You can also deal with the issue of forgiveness in this technique. Sometimes you can forgive yourself and others by talking to yourself the front of the mirror especially when you are afraid to talk to people in person. It is an excellent to for clearing up old issues. One can use several creative
ways to practice mirror work; the best is to connect with your inner wisdom and let your inner voice tell you what to do every day. Whatever the issue one has about self-worth working on loving the self is the key. Every pain has a meaning and there is a special meaning for growth and recognition of something, which we are ignoring, in her particular case, pain, got so magnified just because of the cultural notion, which her mother had acquired. She needed to see other aspects her life and personality, which were totally suppressed. I asked to forgive her mother for being so naive; she had a smile and completed the sentence, “I forgive her for being so naive but will surely show her other qualities of my personality, which she refused to accept”. This goal became a strong part of her growth. She had excellent painting abilities and began to paint. Later on had a solo exhibition all her painting had women with dark skin-tone but strong personalities. She was appreciated a lot whenever there was appreciation; her mother would stand besides her and introduced her as the most talented daughter. Healing tip: Hold Green Jade in your left hand it will improve self image.
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