Category: when spirit meets science

when spirit meets science

The Logic & Magic of Energy Healing

Haripriya Suraj

“I want to avoid surgery for my knee. Please do something so I can heal without surgery.”

“My blood sugar is sky-high. Please bring it down with Reiki.”

‘My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Please make the tumor go away.”

In the past, I often felt stuck when clients placed medical healing requests before me.

I knew several people in the Reiki community who confidently told clients that they could heal all kinds of health conditions – right from sprained ankles to cancer. Having many friends in both energy healing as well as medical circles, I have often been a part of heated discussions and debates. When the energy healing community made medical claims and the medical community asked for evidence, the former was either not able to produce any, or the evidence they shared inevitably had many loopholes and could easily be dismissed.

As a result, I avoided taking up requests for healing of medical issues and felt frustrated when people approached me with such requests.

One day, Suraj said to me.

“What are you afraid of? All you have to be is authentic. Then neither will you feel frustrated nor will your clients.”

“What do you mean?” I said

“Can you say for sure if Reiki or any other energy healing modality can cure broken bones and cancerous tumors? You’ve trained in Reiki and also tried so many other modalities,” he said.

“Well, I personally can’t say for sure,” I said, “There are many anecdotal accounts of course. But I can’t say anything for sure.”

“My take is this -” said Suraj, “When it’s a question of another person’s health and well-being, just stick to sharing whatever you know for sure, especially if a regular medical solution is available to them. Until you know better, don’t offer medical solutions based on guesswork, hypotheses, hearsay, or possibilities. Tell people only what you know for certain, whether it’s about Reiki or other forms of energy healing.”

“Reiki helps to relax the body, calm the mind, and connects you to your soul. It helps you feel supported and inspires you to stay positive through challenges. Gosh! Reminds me of how comforted and energized I feel when I give myself Reiki,” I uttered in delight

“Perfect!” he said, “So, this is what you should be telling people without hesitation or fear. That’s enough value in itself, without having to cure any disease! Trust me, people will appreciate your honesty. When they see you being authentic, no one will insist that you must cure their wobbly knee or aggressive cancer. When they know what to expect, they are also happy and you are also happy.”

‘But you know, energy healing is so much more than just feeling happy or calm,” I said, “Through energy-based work, I have experienced a lot of life’s magic, synchronicity, and some really good stuff. Wasn’t Reiki a primary force behind my synchronistic meeting with you too? I may never have met you if not for Reiki,”

“Of course,” said Suraj, ‘Your clients may also discover the magical aspects of energy healing should they choose to practice it as sincerely as you do. However, it may surprise them in ways unique to them. Let the ‘magic’ be their discovery, not your promise. Magic is more fun when it is found rather than sought. What say?”

“Absolutely!” I said, feeling like a load had been lifted off my chest.

Now, I tell people clearly that Reiki is not a substitute for medical treatment. I do take up medical cases but offer Reiki only as supportive care.

When friends and clients share positive feedback on how Reiki brought ease to their journey, my soul is satisfied. I take pride in the fact that Reiki has such a lot to offer in itself, without the added pressure to deliver medical outcomes. Reiki is indeed a gift.

modern medicine, when spirit meets science

A Message From A Butterfly

Haripriya Suraj

I was in a meeting when I had a weird sensation in my head.

It felt like I was conscious of the world around me, yet looking through a haze.

It was a routine school day in 2008. I had just said goodbye to the children in my class and was in a meeting with a co-teacher when these uncomfortable sensations kicked in.

Thankfully, the discussion ended soon and I packed my bag to leave.

I wanted to call Suraj. But I knew he had a long surgery scheduled that day. And unless things got out of hand, I didn’t wish to disturb him while he was operating.   

I headed straight home. I thought eating lunch and resting at home would help me feel better.

But the funny feeling got worse, in spite of being in the comfort of home.

“Something is seriously wrong,” I said to myself.

My mind raced with thoughts and worst-case scenarios popped into my head.

“What if I collapse? There’s no one around to help me! The neighbours are all at work”

“Gosh! What if I die by the time someone realises I need help and takes me to hospital? Oh my God! What do I do now?”

My heart began to pound.

At that moment, I remembered the times during our courtship days when I had waited for Suraj at the hospital. I mostly waited outside the Emergency Room (ER) of the hospital, as it offered comfortable seating under a canopy of trees. Every time I sat there, I observed the activity outside the ER with tremendous interest. I saw cars, auto-rickshaws, and ambulances bringing in sick, unconscious, and injured people every few minutes.

“That’s it!” I said to myself, “The area outside the ER may be the safest place for me to be right now! In case things get worse, I am certain to get some help.”

I sent a text message to Suraj describing what I was going through. I informed him I would be waiting outside the ER until he was free to come and see me.

I rushed to the hospital in fear, praying nothing would happen to me on the way!

I reached safely and found myself a comfortable place to sit underneath the canopy. As I waited, my body was on high alert, ready to run into the ER should my condition deteriorate!

I didn’t get better. But I didn’t get worse either. So, I didn’t feel the need to run in and continued to wait outside!

An hour later, I saw Suraj walking out of the building adjacent to the ER and heaved a sigh of relief.

From his smile, I knew he had read my text message. But I was surprised he didn’t look one bit anxious.

Cool as a cucumber, he came up to me and said, “Did you take your medicine this morning?”

I was on a course of medication for a suspected bacterial throat infection.

I said, “Yes.”

“Did you take the correct pill?” he said.

“Yes. I suppose so,” I said, feeling bewildered, “But why do you ask?”

He checked my pulse and said, “I’ll tell you. Come on, let’s go home.”

I was shocked to hear this and said angrily, “What? I’ve been feeling awful! Something is terribly wrong. I am not going anywhere until I am evaluated thoroughly and declared fine!”

“You ARE fine. I am telling you” he said, “Come on.”

I was frustrated. I felt like he wasn’t taking my symptoms seriously.

I insisted, “How can you dismiss my problem so casually? Don’t you believe me when I say I am seriously unwell?”

“You are NOT seriously unwell. Let’s go home,” he said reassuringly.

I wasn’t convinced but I was left with no choice but to go home.

Once we were home, he checked on the medicines I had been prescribed and waved them at me.

“This is the culprit,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I said, going closer.

“You’ve taken the wrong pill this morning,” he went on, pointing at a strip of pills, “This one was supposed to be taken just once last night. Remember?”

“And this other one was for the morning,” he said, pointing at another strip, “You’ve missed this and taken a second dose of last night’s pill. That’s why the funny feeling in your head.”

When I inspected the medicine, I saw for myself that I had made a mistake. I had been in a hurry that morning and ended up being reckless.

“Oh,” I said, feeling relieved despite my irritation, ”Is that all?”

“Yes,” he said, “Go, get some sleep. You’ll be fine when you wake up.”

I decided not to second guess my symptoms anymore and to trust him instead.  I followed his simple advice and slept soundly for a good two hours.

And sure enough, when I awoke, the unease had disappeared!

My vision was clear and my head felt normal.

I walked out of my room and saw Suraj in the kitchen.

“So, how are you?” he said, looking amused.

“I’m feeling fine,” I said and smiled.

“You’re just in time. I am making tea. Would you like some?” he said.

“Oh yes! I’d love some. Thank you,” I said.

As we sipped tea in the balcony, I said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t trust you when you said there was nothing wrong with me. It’s just that I was so scared. I’ve never experienced something like this before and I thought something was seriously off.”

“It’s alright. I understand,” he said.

“But tell me,” I said, “How were you so certain that nothing was wrong?”

“Well, I know your medical background – healthy young woman, no underlying health issues, pulse was fine, face wasn’t flushed, just recovering from an infection, on a pill to decongest the throat, which in excess doses can have unpleasant side effects and multiple other observations of a similar nature. Often, medical evaluation happens in a fraction of a second, especially when we know the patient well.”

“I see. That’s pretty remarkable,” I said, nodding my head, “I didn’t know evaluation could be that quick!”

“Medicine is not just a science,” he said and smiled, “It’s an art too.”

“Yes. Makes sense,” I said.

At that moment, I noticed a yellow butterfly sitting on a potted plant near my feet.

To me, the butterfly is symbolic of lightness, positive change, and transformation.

I knew I had something to learn from this incident.

I whispered to the soul of the butterfly, “What message do you bring, beautiful soul?”

And I heard in my heart –

“Release the need to be in control always. Allow others to take the lead when necessary and trust the path that they show. Lighten your load. Life is built on trust, dear one.”  

when spirit meets science

Archangel Gabriel

Haripriya Suraj

Archangel Gabriel is my personal ‘mentor energy’ for writing and creative expression.

I prefer to allow my writing to flow freely rather than think it through in my head.

Incidentally, when it flows is when it seems to be most powerful too.

If you wish to tap into the creator in you and kickstart a journey in creative expression, try connecting to Archangel Gabriel.

You may use this invocation if you wish to.

Dear Archangel Gabriel,

With deep gratitude, I now receive the radiance of your creative light.

I breathe it into every cell in my body and every chakra in my energy system.

I allow the ‘Light of the Creator Energy’ to work through me and to make me a channel for the highest creative expression.

May the words I speak and write heal hearts and uplift souls.

May all my energy be focused on the process of creation.

May I be free from attachment to the outcome.

May all cords binding me to the results of my efforts or to expectations of any kind be dissolved.

May I be free.

May I be free.

May I be free.

In this state of freeness, I am a crystal clear channel and all my energy can be directed towards the accomplishment of the Higher Goal.

May the Light empower the mind and heart to work in sync.

And for the hand to move with ease

So, the words that are spun may bring love and healing.

Thank you!

This is an image of a pill and a palm in an article on Modern Medicine & Reiki for Hypertension & Diabetes by Haripriya Suraj, Reiki Master
modern medicine, reiki, when spirit meets science

Modern Medicine & Reiki For Diabetes & Hypertension

Haripriya Suraj

“Modern medicine is not advanced enough. It can’t cure my diabetes and hypertension,” she complained.

I was lost for words when she made this statement.

An aunt of mine came to me for a Reiki session way back in 2015.

She was overweight.

She ate unhealthy and processed foods every other day.

She hardly moved her body, forget exercise.

Even after being diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes, she didn’t make any effort to adopt healthier lifestyle measures.

And she expected that modern medicine should be advanced enough to cure her!

Talk about not taking responsibility for our own lives and choices.

She looked at Suraj and went on, “You are a doctor. Tell me why I should take medicine for hypertension or diabetes? I am never going to be cured. Isn’t it so? So, what is the point in me popping all those pills every day?”

Suraj said, “Aunty, the medicine may not be able to cure the disease at the moment. But it does help prevent the potential complications of the disease – heart disease, kidney failure, gangrene to name a few. Isn’t that good enough reason for you to take it?”

“But along with the medicine, you also have to be mindful of your lifestyle. The two go hand in hand,” he went on.

She made a smug face and nodded, almost like it was Suraj’s fault modern medicine didn’t have an easy cure for her yet!

And then, she said to me, “Haripriya, please do something with your Reiki. Please cure me of these troubles.”

I said, “Aunty, I can support you with Reiki. But you will have to take your pills properly and adopt whatever lifestyle measures have been advised to you. Energy needs to flow freely within the body Aunty, and I can’t make it happen without your active involvement in the process. Reiki can help you connect to your body. So, making positive changes to your lifestyle may feel easier.”

She gave me a smug look too.

I could almost hear her thoughts, “What a good-for-nothing couple! Neither can do anything to cure me!”

After she left, I said to Suraj, ” I’m sorry if she annoyed you.”

He said, “It’s alright. We are used to people having unreasonable expectations of doctors and medicine.”

I said, “Isn’t it the same for Reiki? My hands can’t do anything when someone isn’t willing to lift their own finger to take charge of their life!”

Our answers obviously did not convince her. She never returned for Reiki.

Four years passed. In 2019, she was diagnosed with kidney failure and landed in the ICU.

Her family told us she eventually stopped taking her medicines and switched to a form of alternative medicine. Those medicines helped with certain health conditions, but they couldn’t keep hypertension and diabetes under control. As a result, the disease progressed and wreaked havoc on her kidneys. The extent of damage to her body was so high that she needed to be on even more modern medication to keep it functioning.

We were sorry she was having a hard time. What made it worse was the fact that the progression of the disease could have easily been prevented, had she been willing to view it through a different lens.

Some incidents in life are hard to digest. But I guess everyone has the right to create their destiny – even when that means bringing misery to oneself.

In such situations, all we can do is pray for people and wish them well.

This is an image of a woman praying with candles in an article on Ho'oponopono for dealing with difficult people by Haripriya Suraj, Reiki Master
when spirit meets science

Ho’oponopono & Medicine: Dealing With Difficult People

Haripriya Suraj

I am sorry

Please forgive me

I love you

Thank you

These are the four phrases of Ho’oponopono – a Hawaiian prayer and healing practice. I chanted them repeatedly because I overheard a disturbing conversation one morning.

I was rambling on cheerfully about something important to me when Suraj’s phone rang. It was a call from the hospital.

Suraj was eating his breakfast and put his phone on loudspeaker.

The anxious voice of a staff member on the other end said, ” Sir, the patient, and his family are being very difficult. They have been throwing tantrums ever since he got admitted. They complained that the blanket is not soft enough, the TV doesn’t offer enough entertainment, and the coffee in the cafeteria tastes awful. They yell constantly and none of us is able to reason or communicate with them.”

And all this just a couple of hours before being wheeled into the operation theatre for surgery.

As per hospital protocol, only one person is allowed to be in the room with a patient. But several family members managed to throw their weight around and barged in. And each person had their own complaints and demands.

Suraj hurried through his remaining breakfast and prepared to leave. I knew he had some challenging folks to deal with that day and decided my story had to be reserved for another time.

My stories are filled with kind people, angels in disguise, love, gratitude, healing, sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns! Darkness is part of my energy healing world too. Accepting and transforming the darkness within ( and helping others do the same) is part of every healer’s journey. But staying stuck in darkness and drama is not.

Healing and angels are part of the medical world too. However, they have to be excavated from within the predominantly heavy energy pool of illness, tantrums, aggression, and entitlement. And in the worst-case scenario – violence.

More so, with several hospitals offering star hotel-like facilities and services today, doctors are held responsible for even the coffee not being up to the patient’s taste! Like they personally picked the coffee powder!

The drama that unfolds in the medical world appears black and white to me. A large number of people who come seeking medical assistance are either complete angels, complete demons, or indifferent like robots. Unlike in the energy healing world, the chance of someone being a demon in a difficult moment and then transcending the darkness to discover the angel within seems less!

I found myself growing angry while I overheard this phone conversation. I don’t like the fact that someone I love has to deal with a handful of haughty people almost every day. And not just deal with them verbally, even operate on them!

Imagine having to cut open someone who is argumentative, fussy, rude, and demanding. How much more fussy would they be through their recovery period? How much more complaining and blaming would they indulge in and make life miserable for everyone attending to them?

Why does life have to be so complicated?

Why can’t people be more considerate of others’ feelings and emotions?

What is a bigger priority for patients and their families – that the surgery goes well and the patient recovers, or that a temporary tv and coffee match their needs perfectly?

Even if the patient isn’t happy with a facility in the hospital, isn’t there a courteous way to express discontent?

What is this attitude of, “We are paying money. So, we have every right to break all protocols, be rude to every staff member we encounter, and behave as we want!”

My mind was whirling with these disturbing thoughts and questions. I stopped and told myself that, practically speaking, there was nothing much I could do about this situation.

The world is how it is.

All I could do was be empathetic to my partner, offer to do some Reiki to help him clear the garbage he picks up energetically at work, and clear my own negative feelings about the situation. That’s when I began to chant the Ho’oponopono prayer.

In energy healing circles, we chant this prayer when we find ourselves in emotionally charged or challenging situations. The belief is we are ALL part of a larger web of energy and are connected on some level. Therefore, clearing our inner turmoil first is the key to the resolution of outer conflicts or challenges. Once our mind and heart are clear, we are either able to resolve a conflict harmoniously or the negative behaviour of another doesn’t bother us anymore.

With my steadfast faith and positive experiences with Ho’oponopono, I chanted it and let my anger go.

I then invested the same energy into envisioning a world where we can communicate with fellow humans without pulling their energy and spirit down. And followed it up by offering a quiet recharging Reiki session to Suraj later that evening.

I appreciate everyone who has to work in challenging setups and deal with difficult people and situations every day. It is no easy job. You all are Angels in disguise!

energy medicine, modern medicine, when spirit meets science

The Unfolding Of When Spirit Meets Science

Haripriya Suraj

As I meditated on a cold winter morning in December 2018, I felt a gentle tingling in the region of my third eye.

I took a deep breath and knew something was unfolding.

An image of a book appeared in my vision, “When Spirit Meets Science.”

I was at an energy healing conference earlier that month. Some speakers at the conference expressed that their work will not be accepted in the mainstream, because unlike modern medicine, which is rigorously tested and documented, their success stories are mostly based on anecdotes.

When I shared this with Suraj, he said research and documentation are not restricted to modern medicine. They are open to everyone in the world. He even offered to teach interested healers about how they can take up research projects to support and validate their work.

I was contemplating how best this initiative could be taken forward. And I received my answer in meditation – “Write a book.”

I knew I could only write one half of this book. I needed an expert in science and research to write the other half. I wasn’t sure if Suraj, with his busy schedule, would feel like taking up more work. But I took a chance and asked him anyway. He agreed immediately!

I then shared this idea with Reiki Rays, a global platform for Reiki teachers and practitioners and asked if they would publish it. They immediately agreed too.

I felt very grateful. I believe when the Universe gives you an idea, it also gives you the support you need to accomplish it.

And thus began this book, which was completed in less than a month. It felt like the content just flowed and all we had to do was pen it down.

Our own journey through the realms of spirit and science, both as individuals and as a couple, certainly made the process of co-creating this book a breeze!

The book is divided into three parts.

Part 1: Intuitive Ms. Feminine & Rational Mr. Masculine

Part 2 : Science In Alternative Therapies – An Evidence Based Approach

Part 3 : Empowered Medicine

Here’s a peek into Part 1 of this book. The chapter titles below give a fair idea of how our journey unfolded and of how we managed to blend two contrasting paths into one.

Part 1: Intuitive Ms. Feminine & Rational Mr. Masculine

The Seed Of Reiki – The Seed Of Science

When Reiki Comes Knocking At The Door – Medicine Calling

The Magic Of New Beginnings – The Logic Of New Beginnings

A Peek Into The World Of Physical Science & Rationality – A Peek Into The World Of Spirit

Conflicting Stories Lead to Inner Dilemmas – Conflicting Stories Lead to Inner Turmoil

Is It Reiki Vs Modern Medicine?

Modern Medicine To The Rescue – Comfort In Reiki

Year 2012

Reiki Takes Centre Stage – Intuition In Everyday Life & Medicine

Unconditional Love: The Merging Of The Rational Masculine & Intuitive Feminine

We both were perfectly happy in our own little worlds and often clashed over the contrast presented by the opposite world until life gradually revealed to us that –

  1. There is beauty and value on both sides of the coin. In the context of this book, the two sides are Energy Healing & Modern Medcine.
  2. Subjectivity is one kind of strength while objectivity is another. Obective studies help to achieve widespread acceptance and application, especially when one wants to apply energy based therapies to attain specific medical outcomes. It also lends more credibility to one’s work. At the same time, everything in life cannot be objective. Feelings and perspectives count too. Wisdom lies in knowing when to be subjective and when to be objective, or when to be a combination of both.
  3. Being different from each other is no obstacle to the blossoming of unconditional love in a romantic partnership. Love comes first. Everything else is secondary.
  4. Differences between partners can bring them closer together. While each partner honours their core strength, they also learn to integrate the opposite polarity that the other reflects. This makes them stronger as individuals and closer as a couple.
  5. Unconditional love is freeing and liberating. Once you reach this state, all struggle dissipates. Only love remains. And this elevated love creates whole new possibilities.

This is an image of medicines and a heart in an article on "Can Modern Medicine Be Holistic?" by Haripriya Suraj, Reiki Master
energy medicine, modern medicine, reiki, when spirit meets science

Can Modern Medicine Be Holistic?

Haripriya Suraj

Can Modern Medicine be holistic?

I often contemplated this question after I became a Reiki practitioner.

From infancy to adulthood, I was cared for by a kind and gentle family physician Dr. Vasudev. His prescriptions were also as gentle as him! For symptomatic relief, he often prescribed paracetamol – a very mild and safe drug. And thanks to the body’s innate healing mechanism, the most common infections I got as a child healed on their own.

Dr.Vasudev prescribed antibiotics only when indicated. Over the two decades that I consulted him, he must have prescribed antibiotics a maximum of three times!

In my early twenties, Reiki came into my life.

I came down with the flu right after my Reiki training class.

My temperature was very high. However, in the Reiki class, we were told to avoid modern medicines since Reiki was considered holistic healing.

After struggling with fever and extreme fatigue for a couple of days, I told my teacher I couldn’t take it anymore and took paracetamol to support myself.

Once I got better, I began contemplating the meaning of ‘holistic.’

Sure, I practice Reiki now. But does that mean I must not take modern medicines when required?

This question gave birth to an internal struggle and I was determined to find an answer. Every time I remembered Dr. Vasudev, I felt there was absolutely nothing wrong even if I chose to take modern medicines. I wasn’t popping them for pleasure! I took them only when I genuinely needed them.

The Universe must have heard my cry. Less than a month later, I crossed paths with Suraj.

When I looked into his eyes for the first time, I recognised a hidden light. He felt very familiar and my heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know yet that he was a doctor.

I told the Universe, “Looks like I found my soulmate! Universe, please tell me my intuition is correct.”

And the Universe whispered, “Wait and watch.”

When Suraj revealed he is a surgeon, my eyes almost popped out of my head!

“This sure is no coincidence,” I thought.

In spite of our contrasting backgrounds, we clicked.

Our subsequent union in marriage answered my question – “Can Modern Medicine be holistic?”

I soon saw that much like Dr. Vasudev, Suraj’s prescriptions were also very gentle. The drug he recommended most often was paracetamol too.

He prescribed an antibiotic for me just once. This was for a suspected bacterial infection, where the use of antibiotics was indicated. In the fourteen years that we have been together, I have needed antibiotics just once and he not even once!

He has told me repeatedly, “Most minor infections resolve on their own, irrespective of whether you choose to take medicine or not. In such cases, medicine is primarily for symptomatic relief. “

On the same note, he insisted, ” But if it’s a major infection or other health condition that requires your body to take external medical support, don’t you dare tell me you will not take it! I don’t care if you are a Reiki practitioner. Go ahead and do all the Reiki you want. But if your body genuinely needs support, I am not going to allow you to take any risks and you will take whatever treatment is required.”

And I was like, “Wow! You actually are another Dr. Vasudev!”

In our co-authored book “When Spirit Meets Science,” Suraj writes “Allowing the body to heal naturally when it can is a sign of strength while turning to external support when it cannot is a sign of wisdom.”

When I had episodes of acid reflux after our second baby arrived and my lifestyle took a hit, he didn’t tell me to blindly pop antacids!

He said antacids were only a temporary solution (I confess I took them when symptoms were severe).

He pointed out exactly where I was going wrong in my eating habits and asked me to become more mindful.

This advice made me reflect on my eating. I realised I was stuffing myself with food for emotional reasons! I worked on addressing my emotions and became more mindful in my eating. This made a positive difference to the health of my gut. This approach requires more effort than just popping an antacid and feeling fine right away. But in my particular case of acid reflux, this was the holistic way towards long-term healing.

Seeing my husband practice medicine ( not just with me but also with his own patients) gave me the conviction that modern medicine can also be ‘holistic.’

On the rare occasions that Suraj prescribes a medical treatment, I know in my bones that if he is recommending it, then I (or anyone in our family) ought not to think twice about it.

And when he says, “Just give it time. The body will heal itself,” I know that’s perfect advice too, and take it easy.

Reiki is present for me either way – calming, balancing, and softly supporting the remarkable human body in its process of healing!

This image shows a clock amidst trees in a blog post on Valentine's Day by Haripriya Suraj
personal, when spirit meets science

Blast From The Past : Life Lessons On Valentine’s Day

Haripriya Suraj

This Valentine’s Day felt different!

Suraj and I celebrated by going for a walk in the neighbourhood we resided in when we were newly married.

We lived in a simple yet cosy apartment back then.

When we stopped by our old home, we had some sweet reminiscences. We followed that up with some ‘compare and contrast’ to where we stand today.

And here’s what came up-

  1. We had all the time in the world back then! Our work was our primary responsibility. Once I got back from school (where I taught) and he from hospital, we had plenty of time to chat, go on long walks, play board games and do anything we wanted to. Now, with two kids and several responsibilities, uninterrupted time feels like a luxury! We have to seek support from family in order to get quality time together. And while being parents is very rewarding, we agreed we must also continue to be present for each other, like we were in the beginning of our relationship.
  2. In our first home, we enjoyed sipping tea in our tiny balcony that had magnificent trees forming a canopy over it. We continue to enjoy spending time in our current balcony. and have several plants for company.However, we do miss the presence of trees. I personally feel being out in nature is healing to body, mind and spirit and must be made priority. We agreed it would be good to visit our local botanical garden at least once a month and connect to trees. Count yourself lucky if you live in the vicinity of trees!
  3. During our early days, the inside stories of the medical world were new to me and felt much like a thriller movie! Apart from cancer surgery, Suraj also tended to general surgical cases back then and was frequently on call. This meant he had to rush to hospital in the middle of the night in case a patient requiring emergency surgery showed up. Every time his phone rang in the night, I would awaken too and begin to wonder what kind of a case had presented in the Emergency Room! Was it appendicitis? Intestinal obstruction? Trauma? (These were the most common emergencies that showed up). How was the patient? Would he or she become alright? I felt concerned about his patients although I didn’t see or know them. I still ask about how his patients are doing (now they are primarily cancer patients). But after all these years, I know what to expect and everything feels routine. Remembering my wide-eyed, open-eared younger self, brought some of that childlike wonder and innocence back into my being! The next morning, I found myself wondering what would unfold in hospital during the course of the day and how all the patients in the wards were doing! I told myself I must initiate deeper conversations with Suraj about his professional life! Taking interest in what our spouse does can help them feel good and strengthen the relationship.

I believe revisiting the past can be helpful in some ways. We may grow wiser as we age, However, our younger selves also had many strengths and lived through some happy moments. Integrating the good from our past (strengths as well as memories) into our current life and personality can bring more enrichment.

Having relived some good moments, we ended the evening sipping iced tea at a mall that was one of our favourite hangouts from 2007 to 2017.

In 2017, we moved to a different neighbourhood. Life here is very different and I will probably reflect on it in a later post.

It was a Valentine’s Day well spent.

I trust this article will inspire you to honour your unique journey, revisit your past, review your life and unearth some beautiful jewels to bring into your present!

This is an image of heart made with hands in a blog post on Celebrating Love by Haripriya Suraj in her blog When Spirit Meets Science
unconditional love, when spirit meets science

Celebrating Love : Happy Valentine’s Day!

Haripriya Suraj

We all know a sweet energy that is invisible but is the essence of life itself.

This energy defuses difficult situations, heals hearts, and brings hope

It shines in the eyes of animals and is shared effortlessly by young children.

It is felt in the warm embrace of the parent, the sibling, the friend, and the beloved.

Through the years, we may discover that it can be felt in the embrace of pretty much any human being.

It is present in every single heart. If every heart on the planet taps into this essence completely, Earth would likely transform into ‘Paradise.’

It is often misconstrued to be the cause of pain and suffering. But, eventually, we realise it is a balm that heals pain and alleviates suffering.

LOVE – One of the most powerful forces in the Universe!

Love is to be celebrated every single day, yet having a special day to honour this sacred force is wonderful too.

May love heal any pain stored in your heart, bring you joy and lightness and make your life beautiful in infinite ways.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This image shows the Yin Yang symbol and represents the healthy union of the Divine Feminine & Divine Masculine in an article by Haripriya Suraj, Reiki Master
divine feminine divine masculine, when spirit meets science

Divine Feminine + Divine Masculine = Balanced World

Haripriya Suraj

11 a.m on a bright and sunny morning.

I plugged in some music and plopped down on the comfy cane chair in my balcony garden.

I was surrounded by my plant friends and the sun shone down on my feet. The warmth of the sun felt comforting. I pulled some of that warmth up through my body and allowed my whole being to bask in its sweetness.

Sensational news and strong opinions about unpleasant encounters between women and men in the world outside had left me feeling stimulated and irritable.

The company of the sun and plants restored a sense of peace and serenity within me.

As I relaxed, I felt intuitively guided to place one palm on my womb and the other on my heart.

I asked for a healing message and allowed myself to just breathe.

The womb and the heart serve as a portal to connect with our Divine Feminine (Yin) & Divine Masculine (Yang) energies. The messages that came through were spot on and I penned them down!

Healing Messages From The Womb & Heart

  1. A healthy Divine Feminine sees a portion of the Divine Masculine in herself, while a healthy Divine Masculine sees a portion of the Divine Feminine in himself. The more they accept and integrate the opposite energy within them, the more difficult it gets for one to hurt the other.
  2. A healthy Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine do not intimidate one another. They do not use individual/collective stories or sensational dramas as tools to create further separation between them. They hold a respectful space for each other and strive to lift one another up at all times.
  3. A healthy Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine see eye to eye. They are equals. They know that if one of them tries to overpower the other, the balance will tilt and chaos will reign. They strive for balance and harmony.
  4. A healthy Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine are complete in themselves and complementary together. They don’t expect one to complete the other.

The integration of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine or Yin & Yang has to happen within oneself first.

This means you embrace both the Feminine and Masculine energies within you while also knowing that one of them is going to be primary. This Yin-Yang integration within you opens doors to achieve the same with your partner if you wish.

And in case you’re wondering how on Earth you can get your partner or spouse on board with all this woo-woo, the good news is that they don’t have to know any of these theories to come into alignment with you!

They may or may not understand these concepts but they can certainly sense when you shift. And this will spontaneously trigger a shift within them too.

This shall then give birth to a harmonious union of the Divine Feminine & Divine Masculine in your relationship. The terms are not important. The outcome is what matters.

And how is harmony in your personal relationship going to help the world?

Any kind of collective transformation always begins with individuals. As each individual shifts, the collective transforms. The results may show up decades or centuries from now. But they can show up only if someone gets the ball rolling in the current time.

The integration of the Divine Feminine & Divine Masculine Forces is a powerful approach to solve many issues that plague women and men.