This magazine may contain detailed information regarding anxiety, depression and suicide. Please read with caution.
The interviews, stories and entries in this magazine are included with the approval of the respective creators. All correspondence and interaction occurred prior to the publication of this issue.
Additionally, this issue includes an analysis of the musical Wicked Spoilers are present.
D E S T R U C T I O N
Dear Reader,
Personally, 2024 has been another year of transformation It’s been a year of learning, growing and in true nature of our beloved Jupiter, a year of expansion. The Winter Solstice photo and video shoot was held last October, and over the course of the last 14 months, I have gone through numerous iterations of this magazine and the corresponding documentary on YouTube Every time I created this issue and the documentary, I felt consistently, “no! this is not it! i have more to say about the Kali Yugam!” It was a joke in my household that this issue was the Kali issue of all my issues, not only thematically, but the sheer difficulty to express my thoughts in a way that would create meaningful impact for you Safe to say, that I think I finally got it.
It all came to me when I was speaking with my dad about Srimad Bhagavatam He asked me, “what topic should we discuss?” I replied, “the Kali Yugam” as I was in an editing session of the doc while he called We then went over a few concepts and he drew my attention to this verse: "The foregoing picture of the Kali age is dark indeed Yet there is a light in it What one attains by meditation in the Krita age, by making offerings to Him in the Treta and by His service in the Dwapara, one attains by repeating His names in Kali". In that moment, I realized... that’s it! The only thing that is going to help us through this very difficult time period is thinking of God The overwhelming feeling I had in that moment was, hope So that’s it, right? We all just need hope
So, yes, we are in the Kali Yugam This is evidenced in Srimad Bhagavatam, the Bhagavad Gita, and countless other scriptures that detail the effects of Kali. There will be leaders that care only for their own benefit as greed will increase, spirituality will decline, fear and anxiety will increase, our concept of family will change for the worse as we quarrel with loved ones over petty matters, Dharma will decrease and our Earth will suffer the consequence of our materialistic desires Per the Hindu Timescale, we also know that time is cyclical We know that our time period starts with Satya (Krita), then Treta (where Sri Rama comes), Dwapara (Sri Krishna’s arrival) and then Kali, where the avatar Kalki will arrive. “And then, what?” you may ask. Well, the cycle starts again.
This issue is not just about surviving in Kali Yugam but about transcending the cycle altogether Our soul has endured these cycles countless times, and it is in its highest interest to break free and reunite with God So, what must we do? Embrace spirituality, relinquish desire to diminish fear and anxiety, and surrender fully While this path is undoubtedly challenging, we can take comfort in knowing that for every step we take toward God, He takes ten steps toward us. That is why, in the midst of this frightening and destructive Kali Yugam, we have a unique opportunity to draw closer to God than in any other Yugam
MIND money
money
"There will be continued drought, and people will suffer from famine on the one hand and from payment of taxes on the other.”
Srimad Bhagavatam
Money is simply an exchange of energy: "I need , so I will offer in return." Yet, we often conflate success and greatness with wealth, placing an inflated value on money that distorts its true purpose.
PRIYA MUKHERJEE INTRODUCING
When I was a kid, fashion was something I really did not care about. I would just wear whatever my parents got me, and we would fight about it because they would say, “wear the new thing”, but I just didn’t care. Fast forward to high school, I feel like I became hyper aware of my appearance, probably even to a negative standard, and I think that is when my interest in fashion began. Thankfully, I am in a different space mentally now and use fashion as a tool, rather than hiding behind it.
sustain ability meets fashion
Fashionisart,andartisimportantandbringsussomuchjoy.Atthe same time though, we have to consider the consequences of not providingtherightresourcestothepeoplewhoarebeingutilizedin fast fashion. I recently pivoted to focus on ethical fashion and sustainability as there were times where I didn’t think about those factors.BeingSouthAsian,ourcommunitiesexperiencesomuchof the brunt of exploitative fashion consumerism. Places like Bangladesh and India have so many factories and places where peopleareexploitedthroughthelackoffairwage.Thereisnosuch thingasHRandwehavetobecognizantthatthisisnotthewaywe should be consuming art. Fashion and sustainability for these reasons, go hand in hand and it’s incredibly imperative to have awareness about it and know what, when and how you are consuming.
I think moving around so much impacted me in positive ways. Like I said earlier, I was a bit of a strange kid. I didn't really care about my appearance – I was such a bookworm. I spent the majority of my young adolescence reading a lot, which is probably good, but I didn't care about my appearance at all. The interest in my appearance came with my moves, I would think, I have the opportunity right now to be someone new, to walk into a school where no one knows anything about me. No one has any preconceived notions andIcankindofjustreinventmyself.Itookmovingarounda lotinapositivelight.OnetimewhenImovedtoanewmiddle school, I spoke in a British accent because I really wanted to be cool and mysterious. Was that a good choice? Probably not, but I think I just rolled with the punches, so to speak, becauseIdidn'thaveachoice.
Iamverypubliclypositiveandoptimisticperson,andIstand by that. When people come to my page, I know they are seeking certain things and I want to make sure that the energyIamputtingoutispositive.Obviously,weallhaveour darkness and demons but overwhelmingly, I find that spinningthingsintoalogical,positivesolutionhelpswithmy mentalhealth.
mentalhealth, BigPharmaHealthcare andservingthe children
I'm very passionate about South Asian mental health and I’ve focused on it specifically within my Bengali community. I'm a big part of the youth group in my Bengali local chapter. We did a collaboration with SAMHSA, if you're familiar. I helped with a seminar where we spoke very freely and openly aboutSouthAsianmentalhealth.Wetalkedaboutpursuingdifferentcareer pathsandjustopenedupthefloortodifferentexperiences.
Something else I'm really passionate about is women's healthcare. I work in healthcare as a corporate pharmacist in Big Pharma. Because of that, I see a lot of data. I'm also just aware of a lot of the incongruities with women's healthcare versus men's healthcare, especially when it comes to pain medication.There'salotofdisbeliefwhenitcomestowomen,unfortunately. Theyoftendon'tgetdiagnosedorreceivepropermedicationbecausemany doctorsjustdon'tbelievewomenwhenthey'reexperiencingpain.
m e n t a l h e a l t h, B ig P h a r m a H e a l t h c a r e a n d s e r v i n g t h e c h i l d r e n
InSouthAsiancommunities,there'sa"grinandbearit" kindofmentalityespeciallywhenitcomestowomen.I like to advocate for getting women the proper health care that they need, especially reproductive health care. And I think, especially from the pharma perspective, women should be able to make whatever choicestheywanttomakewiththeirbodies.
Inhighschool,Iranalittlefundraiserforthisorphanage in Kolkata that I'm still in touch with called Shishur Sevay,whichmeans"servingthechildren."It'sallabout serving and protecting kids who are orphaned. A lot of them are also developmentally challenged. I love working with these children. They don't have a big community at all, and I feel like in certain places, in certain areas of India, they're forgotten about and they needalotofsupport.
My sister and I held a dance choreo for them and sometimeswe'llvideochattostayintouchwiththem.
I was the leper, the seeds of a grape, Bitter and unwanted.
But I was there, chewed and spitten raw
Everyone knew me as the keling with frizzy hair, the terrorist who always got yelled at by her teachers, the quiet one that always forgot her red pens.
The teacher, Ms. Ong would yell out to the class, “Everyone take out your red pens for corrections on our English test!”
And there I would be, My table completely empty devoid of books, pencils, paper or red pens.
I didn’t know why it mattered so much, I had always gotten every question wrong. The papers would have been molded and soggy, red ink flowing through every corner.
The questions would drown, then the words wouldn’t be legible anymore. But homicides and bad grades just didn’t happen in Singapore, and so I didn’t happen either
I looked behind my desk,
A Malay girl that always seemed to side-eye me in the hallway. I asked, my mind already predicting the response, “Could I borrow a red pen?” She looked at me as if I had confessed to murder, her eyes were as wide as saucers, “My mom told me you Indians have diseases, So I can’t ” I paused, went back to my seat and sat patiently. No red pen, no drowning paper, just me and the vultures picking at my organs like some rotten corpse.
Maybe I did have a disease, everyday it had felt like the plague was hugging my rib cages, thrusting in and out of some space in my heart until it was ragged and beaten.
It’s been 6 years, I’m still a diseased girl that has no red pens.
the WORD S E A
R C H
DESTRUCTION
KALI
CAPITALISM
MONEY
GREED PAIN
PRALAYA
FEAR
PURPLE
REINCARNATION
BODY fear
“Every day their mind will be agitated with the anxiety as to how food may be procured. They will abandon old friendships and quarrel with one another, and will even kill their relations.”
Srimad Bhagavatam
Desire inevitably leads to fear and anger, and one of the greatest challenges we face in this Kali Yugam is the relentless growth of desire. We accumulate endlessly, only to turn to spirituality late in life, thinking, "Now that I have everything, let me seek God."
We approach our relationship with God as transactional, yet in the same breath, we wonder why we, as a collective, are plagued by misery, fear, and crippling anxiety. The truth is, everything we search for in the external world already exists within us. The security, success, or status we hope to gain from money are not tied to material things they are simply feelings. And those feelings can be cultivated internally, without relying on external validation or possessions. Look within, and you’ll realize that you already have everything you truly need.
The Gunas are tattvas, principles of reality that define human existence They are constantly in flux,butarealwayspresentinallbeingsatvaryinglevels.
However,thereisadistinctimbalancepresentinourworldofTamas.Outofthefourerasinthe Yugacycle(SatyaYuga,TretaYuga,DwaparaYuga,andKaliYuga),KaliYugahasbeenpredicted by the ancient scriptures to be the age of darkness, hypocrisy, vice, and misery. These elements, governedbyTamas,havebeenpresentinheightenedlevelsduringKaliYuga,ourpresenttime.A markeddeclineindutyanddevotionwithanobservableincreaseinspiritualdecayandsufferingis visible.
Asacollegestudent,IfeelsuffocatedbythehighlevelsofTamasobservablearoundme.AsIlook both introspectively and externally at my surroundings, the qualities of Tamas become extraordinarilyclear.
Addiction,andthenormalizationofsubstanceabuse.Thesocialpressurestospendweekends partying,drinkingalcoholuntilyoucan’twalkstraight,andtopartakeindrugusageinorder to have the “true college experience” are things almost anyone in college can report having witnessed.Iseethosearoundmelookingtowinunspokencompetitions,fromwhoeverhasa higheralcoholtolerancetowhoneedsthemostcaffeinetogetupfortheir8AMBiologyclass. Saying‘no’ornotwantingtobeapartofthisculturecanmakeyoufeellikeanoutsider you aredifferentforchoosingtonotjoinyourpeers.Whiledoctorsonsocialmediawarnofthe dangersofvapingonyounglungs,spendingweekendssobermakespeoplefeelliketheydon’t belong,thatthey’remissingout Tamas=Addiction
How many water bottles does one person need to own? Overconsumption is present everywhere, and influencers have normalized spending hundreds of dollars in one shopping trip,fashionstoreschangetheirstockweekly,andadvertisementsmakeyoufeellikeyouneed tobuythingsinordertofeelhappy Tamas=Materialism
WiththegrowthofsocialmediaandappslikeTikTok,thephenomenonof“doomscrolling” has become an inescapable problem.The short length of the videos and ease in switching contenthasdramaticallyreducedmyattentionspanandfocuslevels.It’sbecomeincreasingly commontospendhoursonTikTok,scrollingtoapointofparalysis witheachscroll,thereis amountinginabilitytogetup,toexecutetheactionsandaccomplishthegoalswevisualizefor ourselvesbecausetheseappscontributetoalackofactionWesit,consumingoverstimulating content,andremainstagnant.Tamas=Inertia.
Thegenerallackofcolor,creativity,inspiration,andauthenticityindesign.Buildingsarecopypasted across neighborhoods, while baby nurseries are decorated in shades of beige I see identical dorms, identical “modern” furniture, identical decorations, identical aesthetics. Washes of bright color are deemed tacky, and the slow erosion of designs drawing from community and tradition has brought society closer to its goal of cookie-cutter perfection. While a seemingly small detail, the gradual shift from unique and individual creativity to a heavy,seepingstandardofdull,unattainableperfectionfeelspervasive.Tamas=Dullness.
Everyday,especiallywithsocialmedia,therefeelslikeanewcrisistokeepupwith Itfeelslike thereissomuchevilinthisworld.Wars,famine,poverty,disease,corruption,misinformation, and suffering. We have a social responsibility to learn as much as we can about every event goingonintheworld,andhavetheimmenseprivilegeofnothavingtobedirectlyinvolved witheachone Eachday,Iseemoreandmorepeoplecollapsingunder“informationfatigue” It can be so overwhelming to feel emotionally connected to all the suffering in the world outside of your own life, and feel helpless to do anything truly useful. As more atrocities continue globally, the empath’s mind feels more powerless to positively change the world. Tamas=Hopelessness.
Meditation, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, connecting with nature, and practicing acts of kindnesslikevolunteeringformeaningfulcauses→formoreSattva,calm,bliss.
Attimeswhenitfeelslikedarknessisallencompassing,Itakeastepback,lookingatthejoyand lightstillpresentinourworld.Oneofourmostpowerfulabilitiesashumanbeingsistobeableto consciously manipulate the Gunas, to control their levels. In achieving harmony and correcting imbalance,despitethenatureofourtime,wedoourbesttostriveforthehigheststateofbeing
HOWEVER, THERE IS A DISTINCT IMBALANCE PRESENT IN OUR WORLD OF TAMAS.OUT OF THE FOUR ERAS IN THE YUGA CYCLE (SATYA YUGA, TRETA YUGA, DWAPARA YUGA, AND KALI YUGA), KALI YUGA HAS BEEN PREDICTED BY THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES TO BE THE AGE OF DARKNESS,HYPOCRISY, VICE, AND MISERY. THESE ELEMENTS, GOVERNED BY TAMAS, HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN HEIGHTENED LEVELS DURING KALI YUGA, OUR PRESENT TIME. A MARKED DECLINE IN DUTY AND DEVOTION WITH AN OBSERVABLE INCREASE IN SPIRITUAL DECAY AND SUFFERING IS VISIBLE.
NEHA DHARMAPURAM INTRODUCING
creativepassions.
Growing up in Dallas, being a part of the community naturally meant diving into dance, singing, and various workshops Myparentspushedmetoworkondancing and singing especially. At first, I was a terrible dancer but an amazing singer. AfterachallengingexperiencewhenIwas younger in show, I decided I would become a good dancer, too When I’m passionate about something, I need to masterit.
Fast forward, in high school, I started viewing movies differently Instead of just watching as a viewer, I began noticing the sound, the framing, and the actors’ expressions. It became clear that movies were more than an escape they were a way to tell stories, and I wanted to be part of that That’s when social media was just starting to take off, and I saw it as a way to build a portfolio and get noticed. I began creating videos of myself in slow motion, pretending to be an actress. Initially, I didn’t think social media would work for me, especially with the small creative community in Dallas at the time, which lacked support and understanding. That’s why I moved to New York City. The opportunities here are real, and they’ve significantlyimpactedmycreativecareer.
thehistory.
I was born in India and spent my early years in California before moving back to India for five years. That period was fundamental to my Indian identity. After, when we moved to Rhode Island, the lack of cultural connection was stark; I was one of a few brown people in my school During that time, I started Kuchipudi, which kept me connected to my culture My parents quickly realized the importance of raising me in a community where I could connect with my culture, so we moved to Dallas. There, my creative pursuits in singing and dancingreallytookoff.Now,beinginNewYork,IfeellikeI’mintherightplaceattheright timeagain,whereI’mpastjusttrainingandamnowfocusedonwhat’snext.
My journey has been challenging from a young age, dealing with mental health issues around eleven or twelve. Back then, my friends didn’t understand, and I couldn’t explain it myself. My mom ’ s prolonged illness and numerous surgeries meant my dad was focused on her care, leaving me feeling isolated. As an only child and an immigrant, I often stayed with family friends, which made me question why I couldn’t just be with my parents.
When my mom had her hopefully final surgery around age thirteen, I felt a mix of relief and anger. I started rebelling, thinking I deserved freedom after being the “good kid.” This phase lasted about four years, where I dated people my parents disapproved of and engaged in risky behavior, which led me to become underweight and seek psychiatrichelp.
mentalhealth
mentalhealth
Looking back, I’m grateful my parents were open to therapy. The ironic thing is, my mom had battled depression her entire life due to her health concerns, but she couldn’t grasp the idea that I couldbegoingthroughthesamething.Itwastoughcommunicatingthatmystrugglesweren’tabout seeking attention rather truly needing help. Overall, they were both incredibly supportive and put up with my struggles. Despite their support, high school was hard as many friends didn’t understand my mental health journey and distanced themselves from me. Now, I can identify that they just wantedadifferenthighschoolexperienceanditwasn’taboutmebeinglessthan.
Today, I’ve learned to balance being supportive of others while also protecting my own mental wellbeing. Therapy and medication have been crucial for me, especially after a family member's death in April, which made daily life difficult. Medication helped me find hope and motivation, and I advocateforseekinghelpwithoutfear.
I love my therapist and regularly check in with him. I encourage others to be open with their parents andseeksupportwhenneeded.It’sbeenablessingtoexpressmyneeds,andIhopetoinspireothers to do the same. I believe that sharing more with loved ones strengthens our bonds, and I’m committedtonurturingthoserelationshipsasImoveforward.
findingthebalance
I often struggle to find supportive communities where people have good intentions rather than viewing everything as a competition In New York, being surrounded by so many creatives made me feel constantly in competition, leading me to be defensive and reluctant to share my own opportunities. It took me a while to realize that it's okay if I don't get every invite or opportunity; my work will eventually speak foritself,andIcanchoosewhereIwanttobe.
As a first-gen immigrant, I face the challenge of balancing my own values with my parents' expectations. For instance, while alcohol is off-limits for my family, I've had to find a middle ground where I can have a glass of wine without causing conflict. I’ve had to push boundaries with my parents, and they’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll do what I want to do I haven’t given them any reason to not trustme.
I want my parents to know me fully, including aspects of my life they might not initially understand, like drinking or dating. It's important to me that they hear these things from me rather than from others. Although these conversations are challenging, they’re worth it to maintainanhonestrelationshipwiththem.
issuesintheworld
Something that I have been more recently involved in is immigration, going through that in my life, it’s definitely a very niche issue. If you haven’t gone through it, I've been focused on immigration issues, an area close to my heart. Navigating visa processes, depending on my dad,andwaitingforourgreencardwhileunable toworkortravelwasincrediblytough.
A notable issue is the plight of kids who grew up in America but face deportation at 21 because theyageoutoftheirparents'greencardprocess. ThegroupImprovetheDreamisworkingtopass abilltoprotecttheseindividuals.Many,including myself, face this uncertainty. My dad applied for our green card over a decade ago, and I nearly faced deportation as an international student at 21 before we received it. This visa status made it hardtoworkandbuildacareerlikemyfriends
This issue affects many beyond just Indians; it’s a broaderchallengeforimmigrants Theproposed billwouldofferprotectionduringthegreencard or visa process, acknowledging that for many, the U.S. is home. Although my life may seem privileged, my family has fought hard to build a lifehere,andnooneshouldfacedeportationdue tolegalloopholes.
SOUL spirituality
“They will not follow the achara (right conduct) that has come down from their ancestors, and will not be ashamed at doing so "
Srimad Bhagavatam
As we journey through Kali Yugam, it’s essential to pause and reflect on our priorities. The world is calling us to heal so let’s turn inward, ask the hard questions, confront our past, and awaken. Spirituality is often dismissed as “ woo-woo, ” belief in a higher power is ridiculed, and those who speak on these matters are ostracized.
Yet now, more than ever, we must create space for vulnerability and truth. But how can we recognize truth when we identify solely with our body instead of our soul? With 78% of the world vibrating at a frequency of just 200*, we are far from truthfulness It’s time to rise above falsehood, connect with your higher self, and discover who you truly are.
INTRODUCING
RUSHIL VISHWANATHAN
Like most kids in our culture, I began with Indian classical music at the age of six. When I was younger though, I never had any specific interest in music. I used to sing, for fun but mom saw my potential and she enrolled me in Hindustani classical and I continued that in middle school, high school, and college. Then, through school, I did plays and choir, and I got exposed to pop music, R&B, and Bollywood music. After that, I developed an interest in making my own stuff and singing covers and began posting them online. With the culmination and progression of everything, Iamnowherewiththesealltheseelements addedalongtheway.
I worked at a startup during college and completed a marketing internship. I graduated this past May, which involved tying up loose ends and finishing my final classes. Then, this past summer, I've been performing and focusing on making music a lot Over the last, I'd say, one to two months, I've been doing ten to twelve shows. Some of them were DJ-ing, some of them were singing, some of themwereboth.Itriedtostayasversatileaspossiblebecausealotofpeoplehavepartiesduringthe summer, different events, and different stage shows. I just tried to take every opportunity that came myway.Sofar,it'sbeengoingwell,soI'mjustgoingtokeepupwiththatmomentum.
Back in March 2023, my mom forwarded me the opportunity to participate in this Saregama USA contest in Edison, New Jersey People came from all over the country, and I participated in the contest and had the honor of winning it. Through that opportunity, I got to record an official medley for the movie Rocky Aur Rani, commemorating the movie through Saregama, the official label that put out the soundtrack. So that was a cool release, and I'm really happy that it's out now. There was a lot of back and forth because it’s a major label But overall, I'm really happy with everyone that I workedwith,andI'mreallyhappyit'soutnowandthatpeoplearelovingitsofar.
destruction is found in creation. Everything is cyclical Everything matters. Burn through the karma, that’s why our action matters No room for complacency. Do your duty in devotion knowing destruction heals
kali yugam Winter Solstice Volume 4
photography by Sahil Kumar
Is there anything you didn ' t expect about the music industry?
This is something I was aware of, but I hadn't placed it into context yetthe number of rejections you face, and the constant effort required to secure one opportunity that leads to another can be quite challenging. I realized that this industry isn't as straightforward as, let's say, a corporate job where there are predefined steps for career progression. Creative arts are much more unpredictable, and various factors need consideration to keep progressing in this industry. Iknewallthisinthebackofmymind but only when I started on this journey did I see this come into play. Of course, frustration and impatience occur with this as well. My support system, my spirituality, knowingmyselfalittlebitbetterhas allowed me to remind myself that things take time and it’s all going to be okay. Patience is crucial. Reminding myself of all that, has been redefining in the way I look at these challenges that come up in thisindustry.
I've noticed this ongoing theme that's really taken over my life, especially in the past year— with graduating, diving deep into my music career, navigating a longterm relationship, and facing uncertainties about the future. Patience has become this big overarching thing I'm trying to grasp a bit more. And with patience comes delving into that shadow self we ' ve chatted about before figuring out where I might be holding myself back from becoming the person I want to be and reaching the places I aim for I'm working on those things that might trip me up, like insecurities that could spill over and impact the people I care about It's a process, you know? Even though I've got goals to fix those things, it just takes time. As long as I'm making a bit of progress and doing my recalibration routine every day meditation, self-talk, journaling it helps me stay on the right track. It's like, "Okay, it's cool. I'm heading in the right direction." If I do certain things today, and I'm intentional with where I want to be in terms of patience and treating peopleright,thenIguessit'sokaytomoveforwardslowlywithallthesethings
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: CURRENT LESSONS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
I try to stay consistent with it It's not as disciplined as I'd ideally want it to be, but whenever I find myself in a mentally challenging space or after a rough day, I seek solace in meditation practices. I'll just close the door to my room, let everyone in the house know I'm taking some time to meditate, and for about 15 minutes, I follow a guided meditation. It helps bring me back to my center. Journaling has been another outlet for me—just dumping my thoughts either in my notes app or journal I really enjoy writing in it These practices, in a way, help me recenter and recalibrate,allowingmetogetbackintotheheadspaceIwanttobein.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE WESTERN VIEW OF SPIRITUALITY?
I believe anything, be it spirituality or religion, which is inherently pure and sacred, loses a lot of its authenticity when mass-produced. It's disheartening to see people packaging spiritual practices on platforms like TikTok, selling courses promising quick manifestations in six weeks. I don't consider that true spirituality; it seems more like a business approach. The same goes for certain religious practices that dictateacceptancebasedonstrictadherencetorituals,threateningpunishmentifnotfollowed Personally,I don'tviewthatasgenuinereligionorspirituality
Recognizing these patterns over time prompted me to take a step back and reevaluate what spirituality means to me. TikTok was initially a great space for spirituality, where I connected with people like you, engaging with valuable content However, it became inundated with elements that didn't align with what initially drew me in. So, I had to pull back and discern what I genuinely wanted to embrace and see through thesuperficialaspects.
There's been a recalibration in my understanding of spirituality At the core, I've simplified it it's about striving to be a genuinely authentic person and open in my thoughts and feelings I find that when I embrace authenticity, I feel good, and it seems to attract positive things into my life. This approach has helped me steer clear of practices that felt forced or didn't resonate, simplifying it to just wanting to be good to myself andthepeoplearoundme.
MentalHealth.
It's a very fluctuating journey, and I think a lot of people can relate to that. I tend to reflect a lot on the past— thinking, "Back then, I was dealing with those issues, and now I'm dealing with these entirely different issues, but they feel just as heavy, just as significant." Every period in life comes with its unique set of challenges, right? However, I've come to accept that there will always be something to work through, whether it's an external problem like figuring out the next big break or something more internal like being triggered by a certain issue Accepting that reality has become somewhat comforting because it's a constant—there will alwaysbechallenges.Overtime,throughmaturityandfiguringthingsout,Ihopetonavigatethembetter.
Overall, I'm grateful for many things in life, and I acknowledge that I'm privileged in how I've grown up and whereIamrightnow.Thatawarenessaddsalayerofgratitudeamidsttheupsanddowns.
I never overlook those aspects, especially now, living at home post-graduation while many of my friends are moving out and working in the city I've encountered loneliness in the past, and I believe everyone faces it at some point. The relationships and connections in my life hold immense importance, so when loneliness strikes, it becomes even more significant. I've been trying to navigate this, acknowledging that maybe this is a period where I need to be in my own space, focusing on my craft and seeing how pouring energy into that unfolds. Simultaneously, I'm making an effort to stay connected with people who bring positive energy and maintain close ties with my family, taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time at home with those I love Theseeffortshelpcombatloneliness,butit'ssomethingthatcanstillcreepuponyou
Transmutation.
Loneliness can hit you out of nowhere, and suddenly, you find yourself sitting in your bed or at your desk, thinking, “I wish I was doing something right now with other people " It's a feeling I've experienced. Paradoxically, though, since the pandemic and delving into a more spiritual path, I've started to appreciate time alone much more. My extroverted tendencies were extreme in high school and maybe even the beginning of college. However, over time, I've come to recognizethebenefitsofbeingaloneandspendingtimewithmyself.
A recent example is when I went to San Diego for a wedding show It was my first solo trip ever, and I was on my own for the entire weekend—three days with no one else to accompany me or help out. Honestly, I thought I'd feel much lonelier than I did. I tried to make the most of it, exploring different things. Even though I was busy most of the time, it's interesting how loneliness works. Sometimes, being by yourself allows you to figure things out and realize that it'sokay
I think being with yourself isn't as bad as I thought it was. Sometimes it hits you, and you need social interaction. So, for me, that's been the duality of it. I just hope over time that, when I need social interaction, I'm able to find it more frequently, and then when I need to recharge, I have thatopportunity,too.
BHAGAVAD GITA TALKS ABOUT SEEING PAIN + PLEASURE AS THE SAME, HOW CAN WE WORK TOWARDS THAT?
This question reminds me of something else I've grappled with, especially in the music scene. Sometimes, as a person, I don't celebrate achievements as much as maybe someone else would. In my view, it might not be something worth celebratingjustyet.I'vehaddiscussionswithclosepeople,andwe'vetouchedon the idea of not caring too much about the big wins so that the big losses don't hit too hard. It's not about not caring necessarily, but rather not taking either extreme too seriously. This philosophy also extends to the interplay of pain and pleasure. Avoid getting overly immersed in pleasure, where everything seems perfect, and also recognize that even in painful moments, this too shall pass. It's about finding a more centered middle ground between the two, acknowledging thatlifeconstantlyfluctuatesbetweenpleasureandpain.That'showI'vecometo thinkaboutit.
Of course, it's much easier said than done. As you said, I hope everyone in the world, and I, can find a more centered, balanced way to oscillate between the two.
DI VI SI O N
In 2020, amid the overwhelming challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, everything seemed to be reaching a critical point. I was grappling with feelings of separation, loneliness, and the global divisions that were manifesting. I felt the need to channel these emotions into music, believing that art is a powerful way for people to digest complex feelings. I created a song titled "Unity," the name itself being quite selfexplanatory. It addresses the collective struggles and the negative energy prevalent at that time. One unique aspect of the song is its multilingual approach, incorporating Hindi, English, and Spanish. I collaborated with a few individuals to capture the essence of the message in each language. While "Unity" may not have the commercial appeal of a pop song, I consider it one of my most impactful and powerful works. Those who have heard it express that it serves as a comfort space, something they turn to in times of need. This reception aligns perfectly with my intention for the song. I hope that as time goes on, people continue to connect with it and find solace. For me, the root of loneliness often lies in the prevalent division. I imagine a different era, perhaps 30 years ago, where subway rides were filled with conversations rather than everyone engrossed in their phones. While I wish for a return to that kind of interconnectedness, we find ourselves in a time where individualism prevails, and striking up conversations may be seen as more challenging. As we discussed in our group conversation, there's a need for various efforts to gradually rebuild a collective and grouporiented society. This shift is essential for navigating out of the divisive state we currently find ourselves in. So I hope that we do and we get to see that in our lifetime.
So, after I knew what this issue would be about, I kind of read a little bit more. On the train here, I was reading more about the timeline and what happens in the Kali Yugam. So apparently, we're not even into it at all. We have so much more to go. We're just starting. So that was news to me.
It's shocking to see the timeline and realize it's just the beginning. Reading about the potential deviation from spiritual growth or hindrance to collective and group mentality was disheartening yet validating. Disheartening because that's not the ideal direction for everyone's well-being, but perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, it's necessary for societal rebuilding. We've witnessed this pattern with various societal issues—racism, sexism, and all the "isms"—gaining increased attention and sparking conversations.
While it's encouraging that more people are engaging in discussions about these matters, it’s overwhelming that all these issues are coming up at the same time. But maybe, this is the catalyst for collective awareness and change.
KALI YUGAM DISCUSSION
MONEY KALI YUGAM
Money has an impact on music. In this day and age, everyone has access and the market is so oversaturated. Billions of people are making and uploading music from their bedroom. Approximately 70,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify every day, and a significant portion of themstruggletosurpassathousandstreams.
I hate to admit that the music industry has become somewhat of a "pay-to-play" game. Many opportunities involve paying marketing companies to promote songs and push them to a wider audience. While I recognize the importance of money and genuinely aspire to generate significant income from my art, I am cautious about certain pay-to-play approaches. I believe that financial success is crucial, but the people that come with it is my focus. I want to navigate this journey with integrity, avoiding shortcuts that compromise the authenticity of my work. Striking the right balance between financial success and artistic integrityisapriorityforme.
FEAR KALIYUGAM
Fear ties into money. It’s complex especially when it intertwines with concerns about financially sustaining yourself in a competitive and demanding industry. The pressure to consistently produce and maintain visibility can lead to burnout and mental health issues. It's challenging when creators become products, constantly expected to engage with their audiencetoavoidfadingintoobscurity.
However,differentiatingbetweenfearanddangerwasabigrealizationforme.Jumpingoffa thousand foot building onto a pillow is dangerous, but fear on the other hand, whether it be fear of external judgment, failure, or the unknown can be a transformative thing if you do the action despite it. A lot of successful people have talked about falling into fear rather than beingafraidoffearandthatthoughtprocesshasservedmewellsofar.
AK L I YUGAM:THEWICKEDY E A SR
JANANI K.V. RAJAN
PART 1
Ozisinanageofseveremagicaldecline AftertheGreatDrought,theOzians were in disarray with their growing environmental and societal discord. Mysteriously, the Wizard appears and through his miraculous entrance, the Oziansfeltatlasttheyhadaleadertoguidethem.TheyreveredtheWizard,saw himtobewonderfulandwoulddowhateverheasked,evenifitmeantcreating divisionandstrifefromtheperceivedenemywithin:theAnimals.TheWizard convincedtheOziansthattheAnimalsweretoblamefortheenvironmentaland societalinstabilityandgradually,theanimalslosttheabilitytospeak.Asaresult, theOziansstartedtoturnagainsteachother,scapegoatingtheAnimalswithfear instilledintheirheartsandactions.ThethemesofWickedbyGregoryMaguire, musicalbyStephenSchwartzandWinnieHolzman,parallelourcurrentworldin theperiodknownastheKaliYugam,atimemarkedbystarkspiritualdecline, loomingenvironmentalcrises,fracturedsolidarityinhumanity,tyrannicalleaders powered by greed, and a pervasive culture of fear that motivates much of humanity’s actions. Through the analysis of the Wizard, Madame Morrible, GlindaandElphaba,thesethemesarepushedforward Often,weidentifywith the main character to confirm our “goodness”, however, Wicked forces us to reexamineourmoralambiguityleavinguswonderingifweareakintoElphabaor areparalleledbytheOzians.
TheWizardofOz
The Wizard is presented as a savior of Oz. In One Short Day, “who's the mage, whose major itinerary is making all Oz merrier? Who's the sage, who sagely sailed in to save our posteriors? WhoseenthuseforhotairballooninghasallofOzhoneymooning?Wiz-n'thewonderful?(Our wonderfulwizard!)”Hepromisestogranttheheart’sdesireswhileshieldinghimselfbehindthe curtainofintimidation.Theillusionisfragile;however,thefullextentofhiswickednessisseenin ActII.
MadameMorrible
MadameMorrible,theheadmistressofCrageHallatShizUniversityisthefirstandonlyknown practitioner of magic Despite this, she is unable to open the Grimmerie further displaying the magicaldeclineinOz.SheistaskedtomanipulatestudentstoserveassoldiersfortheWizard’s mainagenda:tosuppressdissentandmaintaincontroloverOz’sinhabitants,especiallythesentient Animals.MadameMorribleisfromGillikin:thenorthernquadrantofOz.Thisregionisthemost prosperousandindustriallydevelopedwhichinformsherprivilegedbackground Oneofthefirst thingswelearnaboutGalindaisthatshewishestolearnfromMadameMorrible,anditcanbe impliedthatshehasknownofherpowerandwantstoemulateherenergy.
Madame Morrible has every reason to teach Galinda sorcery. We see Galinda rush to the headmistressstatingthatshehadwrittenanessay,MagicWands:NeedTheyHaveaPoint?This alludestoGalinda’sambitionandintelligence Shestrivesforexcellenceandprovestobeastudent worthy of learning. However, Madame Morrible, does not choose Galinda and rather chooses Elphaba to teach. Aside from the fact that Elphaba has natural powers, it can be inferred that MadameMorribleknowsthatElphabaisestranged,thereforeeasilymanipulated.AsGalindais surrounded by friends and community, she isn’t deemed desperate for acceptance. Therefore, Madame Morrible makes the wrong inference of Elphaba’s trajectory, assuming she would be desperateforattentioninthelongrun.
Coming from the same region, Madame Morrible and Galinda alike, wish to work within the systemandmanipulateothersinordertoprosperwheretheyseefit.MadameMorribleisaware that the Wizard does not have any power but remains submissive to him. Similarly, Galinda’s ambitiontobemagicalandadoredbytheOziansisunderstoodattheonsetofthestory Both womenusemanipulationtacticsandgotofarlengthstoultimatelyservethesystem.AsGalinda’s characterevolves,weseehercometotermswithOz’swickednessand,inparallel,herown.
Galinda/Glinda
Maguireintentionallycreatedenigmaticcharacterstocommentonhowweashumansinthistime aremorallyambiguous.Thestorybeginswiththefirstprominentcharacterwemeet.Galindaisa privileged, elitist, popularity-obsessed young woman who walks into Shiz University with a purpose.Withhercoordinatingpinkluggageandblondehair,shemakesastatementamongsther peersandquicklybecomesthepopulargirlatschool.Inthebeginning,sheissmart,conniving,and her plan to study magic under Madame Morrible is suddenly interrupted with the entrance of Elphaba,an“unusuallyandexceedinglypeculiar”greengirlwithatalentformagic Galindaand Elphaba’s relationship begin tumultuously as they are placed together as roommates at Shiz. In What is this Feeling, we see these two women loathe each other however, even this disgust is nuanced.“Whatisthisfeeling,sosuddenandnew,IfeltthemomentIlaideyesonyou,mypulseis rushing,myheadisreeling,myfaceisflushing,whatisthisfeeling,fervidasaflame?”alludingto thisadmirationGalindahasforElphaba.Afterall,ElphabahasthemagicthatGalindasodesires. Immediately,wesubtlycanseehowhumanthesecharactersare;neitherfitthe“good”or“evil” archetype
AswecontinuewithGalinda,shealongwithherposse,bullyElphabauntilDancingThroughLife. ThissceneisoneofGalinda’sturningpointsassherealizesthatshehascausedElphabapain.She embracesElphabaandafterthat,theirrelationshipbeginsanewchapter.InPopular,shemakes manypoignantpointsaboutsocietalstructure Werealizethatsheisacutelyintelligentandthe onlyreasonwebelievedshewasn’t,wasbecauseMadameMorrible,dismissesherinthebeginning. HerlinesinPopular,“Celebratedheadsofstate,Orspeciallygreatcommunicators!Didtheyhave brainsorknowledge?Don'tmakemelaugh!Theywerepopular!It'sallaboutpopular,It'snot aboutaptitude,It'sthewayyou'reviewed.Soit'sveryshrewdtobe,Veryverypopular,likeme”are strikingly similar to Wonderful, “A man ' s called a traitor or liberator, a rich man ' s a thief or philanthropist.Isoneacrusaderorruthlessinvader?It'sallinwhichlabel,isabletopersist.”This indicatesthatGalindahasunderstoodtheintricaciesofOzaheadoftheaudience,whoremainsin thedarkuntiltheendofActI.Unfortunately,whileshecancommentonsocietalturmoil,she remainswithinthelinesofstructureasthissystemhasbenefittedherwell.Thisismuchlikethe humans in our society where we may comment and even at times, boycott or rebel against the norms,butweultimatelysuccumbtothesystem,especiallyifthatsystemhasservedus
MuchlikeGalinda,weconformtobeautystandards,staywithinthelimitsofcareeraspirations, submittotherulesofCorporateAmericaevenifitdoesnotsuitcollectiveneeds,purchasefrom companiesthatutilizeslavelaborbecausewewanttostayfashionable,andsoon.Whilewemay careinourheartsforpositivesocietalchange,ouractionsdonotalwaysaligntothis.Someactions come off as performative as our ignorance and privilege clouds us from taking beneficiary, collectiveactiondaily ThiscanbeseeninGalinda,afterDoctorDillamond,aprofessorElphaba adores,getsimprisoned.FiyeroandElphabareminisceaboutthedaytheyrescuedalioncub,and GalindachimesinandproclaimsthatshewillnowbechanginghernametoGlindainhonorof howDoctorDillamondmispronouncedhername.Thoughherintentionsweretobeinsolidarity withthecauseoftheAnimals’voicesbeingtakenaway,heractionsringshallow Thisparallels socialmediaactivismwhereweseecontentcreatorsmerelypostaninfographictoshow,“Iamon therightsideofhistory,see,Itooamgood”.
Elphaba
Elphabaisagreenskinnedgirlwithtraumainherbloodstream.Withherentrance,thelooming senseofinjusticeinthestoryisborn.ElphabawalksintoShizUniversitycausingasceneinthe perspective of her embarrassed sister and father, rustling the feathers of the delicate ecosystem Madame Morrible had curated. Elphaba proves to be magical, and in the words of Madame MorribleinTheWizardandI,“ManyyearsIhavewaited,foragiftlikeyourstoappear,”Elphaba finallyfeelsspecial.“ThisweirdquirkI’vetriedtosuppressorhide,isatalentthatcouldhelpme meettheWizard,ifImakegood,soI’llmakegood”Elphabaissuddenlythrustintoafloodof emotions so foreign to her: acceptance and hope. We learn that even as a child, she had been waitingtomeettheWizardandtellhimherheart’sdesireashislegacyportrayedthathecould grant it. Her focus narrows as she grows closer to her favorite professor, Doctor Dillamond, a talking,educatedgoatwhoexpressestoherinconfidenceinSomethingBadthat“theanimalsare nowbeingblamedforeverythingthatgoeswrong.Forcedfromourjobs,toldtokeepsilent.”Her concern grows and she replies, “if animals are losing the ability to speak, leaving Oz, then someone ’ s got to tell the Wizard That’s why we have a Wizard” Doctor Dillamond is a compassionateandintelligentscapegoatthatphysicallyembodiesthestruggleforAnimalrightsin Oz’scorruptsociety.ThelossoftheAnimals'abilitytospeakservesasaclearparalleltoourworld, wheremarginalizedgroupshavehistoricallybeendisplacedfromtheirhomesthroughoppression and silencing In this country, these communities are pushed to society's margins, forced to persevereunderunjustconditions.Yet,whencrimeratesriseorunemploymentisrampant,society unjustlyshiftstheblameontotheveryvictimsofsystemicinjustice.
Elphaba’scomplexitycanbeseeninDancingThroughLifeandPopularwherehervulnerabilityis broughttothesurface.Theaudiencemayassumethatherhighboundariesareinsurmountable, however,sheisinfactsensitivetothepainofherexclusionandfindscomfortinGalinda’sloveand attention WhilesheisatfirstbetrayedbyGalinda’sbullying,she’sthrilledtobeinvitedtohervery firstparty.GalindapresentsherwiththeiconicblackhatinDancingThroughLife,“Ithoughtyou mightwanttowearthishattothepartytonight!It'sreally,uh,sharp,don'tyouthink?Youknow, blackisthisyear'spink.Youdeserveeachother,thishatandyou”andElphabaacceptsthehatand wearsittotheOzdust Thisisatensionfilled,emotionalmomentasweseeElphabamockedand ridiculed for her outfit of choice. Galinda sees the pain that she has caused but at that point, Elphabalookstohaveembracedhercircumstancesandbeginstodance.AsGalindarealizesher mistakeandjoinsher,sheacceptsherhandandtheembrace.ThisshowshowlovingElphabatruly isandthoughtheworldhasmadeherquestionherworthandforcedhertohavesharpedges,she softensthemomentsomeoneshowshergrace.InPopular,sheenjoystheattentionthatGalinda givesher,thoughshedoeshumorouslycallElphabaa“project”.ElphabaturnstoElphieintheeyes ofGalinda
ThetruthofthematteristhatinbothOzandourworld,weallcravetobeaccepted Wehave opportunitiestobereceptivetoloveandtransmutenegativeenergyintoself-loveandacceptance. InthewordsofJonM.Chu,thedirectorofWicked, “stressisthemisuseofimagination”.We oftenspendourtimetoilingoverinsecuritiesandpainwherethereisagoldenopportunitytoturn thoseexperiencesintoart.Lifeismeanttoteachuslessonsbeyondwhatmeetstheeye,andwhile wemaynotbeabletograspeverymessageinthemoment,turninginwardsandtreatingourselves withrespect,willallowustobeareceiveroftruth,understandingsandblessings.Elphabaproves thisverypoint Herreceptivenessallowsotherstoseeherforwhoshetrulyis Atthecoreofher character, while she does evolve, her self-respect and collective mindset does not shift. She continuestocarefortheAnimals,continuestoshowupasherselfandthroughpain,actsinaway thatbalancesboththeindividualandcollectivemindset.Fromthis,wecanalllearn.
After One Short Day where Elphaba is invited to meet the Wizard, there comes a moment of realizationthattheWizardisacompletefraud.Hisliesandcorruptnaturecometothesurface when Elphaba approaches the Grimmerie and performs a spell where she accidently causes the monkeystotakeflight.Werealizeherpowerandrelationshipwithgravityandthelackthereofin Madame Morrible and the Wizard. Elphaba comprehends in that moment that she has been a pawninMadameMorribleandtheWizard’slong-termplanofgainingfullcontrolofthedenizens ofOz Anger,confusionandbetrayalfloodElphaba,andherandGlindafleethescene
EverythingElphabahasknownandwantedisshatteredinfrontofherveryeyes.Inthismoment, what rises above the rubble of her belief system is the choice she makes. She leaves behind her previousdreamsanddesiresandchoosestostandonjustice.Therecomesapointintimeinallour liveswhereweareaskedtomaketherightdecision.Weknowthroughliteratureandthespoken wordofthewisethattherightdecisionisnotalwaysthecomfortablechoice.Inourlives,weare asked to choose dharma above desire, collective duty above individual needs, and introspection overillusion WeseethatElphaba’sdesiresofacceptanceandacclaimarepushedasideonceshe realizesherdutytoprotecttheAnimals.MakingthechoiceofsavingtheAnimalsthrowsherinto discomfortassheisrippedfromthefruitsofherlaborintheformofMadameMorrible’ssmear campaign,demonizingherintheeyesoftheOzians.
Glindapleads,“Elphie,listentome,justsayyou'resorry.YoucanstillbewiththeWizard.What you 'veworkedandwaitedfor.Youcanhaveallyoueverwanted”,Elphabaresponds,“Iknow.But I don't want it. No, I can't want it anymore. ” In this moment, we see how Glinda is still in submissionofsocietyandthatElphabahastranscended.
ThankGoodnessandNoOneMournestheWickedmirroreachotherinthatOziansareaccuratein their fundamental understanding of wickedness, however their target is misguided. The relationshipthatGlindahaswiththemistransactional–theygiveheraplatform,shegivesthema personificationof“good”.Therefore,whenspeakingtothem,it’sclearthatsheallowsthemtosit intheirignoranceratherthanchallengingthemtoquestionwhyElphabaistheWickedone.“And Goodnessknows,theWicked'slivesarelonely”and“Therearebridgesyoucrossyoudidn’tknow youcrosseduntilyou’vecrossed”,indicatingthatthesubjectofthelinesisnotElphaba,butrather Glindawhobearstheguiltandshameofabandoningherfriend,effectivelysidingwithoppressors.
Inourworld,weconstantlyseekdefinitionsforwickedandgoodtoanalmostobsessivedegree Thisdesireprogramsustodivisivelanguage,thoughtsandactionscausingustovehementlydespise what we believe to be “wicked” and desperately try to rationalize our own “goodness”. This internalwar,prophesizedastheKaliYugam,istheactofourownegosattemptingtofearfully avoidtheconsequencesofbeinglabeledwicked “NoonemournstheWicked Noonecriesthey won'treturn.Noonelaysalilyontheirgrave.ThegoodmanscornstheWicked.Throughtheir lives,ourchildrenlearn,whatwemisswhenwemisbehave”.
IntheKaliYugam,thewarbetweengoodandeviliswithinusandwhilewecanconvinceourselves ofourgoodness,wecannotdenythattherearepartsofusthatareselfish,shrewd,andvainaswell. Thejudgementofwhatisrightandwrong,whetherthroughintrospectionorobservationisall consuming Thebattleinthisperiodislessaboutvanquishingadharmicpractices(likeintheTreta orDwaparaYugam)ratheraninternalwaroffearandself-hatred.Thisleadstoexternalwarswhere thegovernmentandthepeoplealike,areunabletolookpastdifferencesofideals,race,gender, sexual orientation, values and much more. Ozians are no different in that the Wizard felt that Animalsshouldbeseenandnotheard,sotheybelievedthesame Thefactofthematteristhatfear isthemainmotivatorforaction.
InOz,youseemagicaldecline,thesilencingoftheanimals,truthbeingostracizedandfearinthe hearts of civilians. In our world, you see spiritual decline, the voices of those in marginalized communitiessilenced,truthunseenandfearintheactionsofall.
Love Friendship Community Faith Wehaveallheardthattheseforceshealbutwaiveitoffwhen askedtopractice.Wearewalkingcontradictions.Wecrythatoursocietyisbrokenbuthesitateto hold forgiveness in our heart for ourselves and others. We crave community but contribute to cancel culture and dogpile in comment sections. We feel alone yet are reluctant to lean on spirituality and ostracize those who preach the truth We want a loving world but fail to love ourselvesandbyextension,eachother.Dualityexistsinthisworldforustolearntosurpassit.Our self-importanceisimbalancedbyinactionforcollectiveneeds.Thereisacalltomovepastanyform of hatred including for those that you deem wicked. There is a call to move past any form of idolizationincludingforthosethatyoudeemgood.Thisextendstoyourviewofyourselfandhow youoscillatebetweenextremes.
The Wizard, Madame Morrible, Glinda and Elphaba serve to display the themes of spiritual decline,climatecrises,societalturmoil,fracturedsolidarity,greedandfearthatubiquitouslybleed througheverymemberofoursociety.Toidentifywithdualityistodoadisserviceforthefull breadthofthehumanexperience;tocravetobeseenasgood,istothedetrimentofyoursoul.The thoughtsandbeliefsabouttheworldaffecteveryaction,thereforeaffectingsocietyonaglobal scale.
Prideandegoforcestoustoidentifywiththemaincharacter.Inreality,thedualitieswecycle between,thematerialdesireswedesperatelytrytofeed,andtheactionswetakebornoffearand hatred are depicted most clearly in the Ozians, much as we may wish or believe otherwise. Analyzing our own moral ambiguity allows us to neutrally do the prescribed duty, thereby devaluingthesenseofselfandriddingusofsuffering
SAIARCHANA DARIRA
WORK IN THE U.N.
currently serve on the US outh Advisory Council to he United Nations Ocean ecade where a group of oung people advocate for imate action, bridging he gap between young eople and institutions. ftentimes, a lot of global stitutions tend to create hange and decisions ithout young people in he room, and our goal is change that.
THERE IS A COLLECTION OF HUMAN ACTIONS CAUSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND MUCH OF IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU AND ME; INSTEAD, MANY CORPORATIONS RELY ON FOSSIL FUELS TO GENERATE ENERGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS.
p yp y p g connectwithmysoulandunderstandmy purpose.Ittaughtmethat,insteadofleaving thisworld,Icouldcontributetomakingit betterforpeoplelikemetobeinit.
EVEN IF THERE'S SOMETIMES A SENSE OF EXTERNAL SEPARATION ON A DIVINE LEVEL, WE ALL ARE THE SAME.
FEAR
AtColumbia,I'mtakingaclasswithHillary Clinton,andshe'sgivingherexperiencewith developing foreign policy and making decisionsinthesituationroom.Somethingshe toucheduponwasfearandtheideaofloss.She mentioned that oftentimes people can be driven more by the idea of loss than by the idea of what they can gain. I've taken that personallyinmyownlife,thinkingabouthow Inavigatemyowndecisionsandwhetheror notit'sdrivenbyfearordrivenbyhope.
Whenwethinkaboutinternationalrelations, Iunderstandwhyfearcreepsin-we'reliterally dealing with life and death, and so many countrieshavenuclearweapons,wherewitha press of a button, people can destroy civilizations. It's so terrifying. I think being abletonavigatetheseveryscarytimesfroma placeofhopeisreallyimportantbecausehope notonlydrivesyoutocreatechangebutalso healsyou.
Sometimes doing this work can feel exhausting, and it can eat you on the inside becauseitcanbesoheartbreaking. Being able to find hope while facing war, famine,andclimatechangeis,inmyopinion,a powerfulformofresilienceandhealing.
The Kali Yugam is the cycle happening in humanity where human beings are letting negative destructionbethemainthingthat drives them. This includes climate change, war, famine, hatred, bigotry, lack of empathy, etc. I thinktheKaliYugamallowsusto seetheshadowsideofourselvesand howperhapsourpsychesarebeing reflectedinhumanityandthedeep need for us to not only heal ourselves but the collective. So I think the Kali Yugam wakes up humanity to the negative patterns happening and the negative cycles we 'vebeenrepeatingoverandover again and the importance of breaking those cycles. When we thinkaboutcycles,wethinkwe're supposedtostickbythembecause we ' ve been operating like that for thousands of years. Perhaps cycles aremeanttowakeusuptowhat's happeningthat'sbroken,andforus toreinventthewheelandinventa newwayofbeing.IthinktheKali Yugam is meant to wake up humanity to what we need to do differently.
Sometimesitcanbesohardtobein the Kali Yugam because of all the destructionhappening.ButIhope thateveryoneremembersthatthere is a divine reason as to why you were put on this Earth. There's something you ' re meant to do on this Earth that would change the world for the better. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been chosen to be on this Earth at this time of being. The way you were raised, everything you experienced was meanttobuildyouintotheperson you are today. They're meant to helpyouhealtheworld.You'reput here for a reason. If you ' re ever findingyourselfdoubtingwhether or not you deserve to be here, or your role in saving the world and making the world better, know thatthedivinechoseyoutobehere andyouhavearoleinhealingthe world.
KALI YUGAM
Thank you God for taking my hands, and writing this issue. Thank you to God for allowing me to learn about the Kali Yugam through my parents.
Thank you to my husband, Kiran Rajan, who held me while I lamented over this issue.
Thank you to the participants for speaking from their hearts. Thank you to you for reading, loving and inspiring me daily.
the INDIAN STANDARD
WINTER SOLSTICE
COVER MIND
Priya Mukherjee
From Your Diary: Red Pens
BODY
Local Color: Tamas
Neha Dharmapuram
SOUL
Rushil Vishwanathan
Kali Yugam: The Wicked Years
Saiarchana Darira
BACK COVER
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bibliography
WINTER SOLSTICE
Bhaktivedanta Swami, A. C. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 12, The Age of Deterioration. The BhaktivedantaBookTrust,1987,Chapter2,Verse9.
Bhaktivedanta Swami, A. C. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 12, The Age of Deterioration. The BhaktivedantaBookTrust,1987,Chapter3,Verse25.
Bhaktivedanta Swami, A. C. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 12, The Age of Deterioration. The BhaktivedantaBookTrust,1987,Chapter3,Verse41.
Schwartz, Stephen, and Winnie Holzman. Wicked. Directed by Joe Mantello, performances by IdinaMenzelandKristinChenoweth,UniversalStageProductions,2003.
"THE FOREGOING PICTURE OF THE KALI AGE IS DARK INDEED. YET THERE IS A LIGHT IN IT. WHAT ONE ATTAINS BY MEDITATION IN THE KRITA AGE, BY MAKING OFFERINGS TO HIM IN THE TRETA AND BY HIS SERVICE IN THE DWAPARA, ONE ATTAINS BY REPEATING HIS NAMES IN KALI"
