Urban Deva profile picture

Urban Deva

It's Time.

About Me

Click the button below if you feel you may enjoy visiting my website:Deva (PRONOUNCED DAY'vah) is a Sanskrit word that literally translated means 'Radiant' or 'Shining One' and it is used to refer to Deities (Gods/Goddesses). I am aware that as a female I should be Devi, but I prefer the feel of the word Deva. However I believe that as we are all a part of the whole and as such that which created us, we are all shining ones. Born and raised in the inner city, I am one such 'Urban Deva'.I’m primarily a writer and by utilising mediums such as MySpace and the internet, I aim to ensure that my work remains as 'grounded' and as accessible to as many others as possible. With several year's experience as a Life Coach and Reiki Teacher, I hope to assist others to reconnect and realign with their own innate wisdom and truth. Combining mystical texts, depth-psychology and mythology, together with photography, poetry and dance, I share my journey openly in the hope that it may perhaps assist others with their journeys.My own life is about creating and deciding who I am from moment to moment and to feel the rapture of being alive. In doing so, I hope to inspire others to 'live out loud' and with purpose; to guide and assist them to walk with dignity and integrity. Perhaps I'll also be able to assist them to create a reality that fulfills them and resonates on far more than just a rational/mental level. In doing so, they might then live out their lives with a serenity and inner peace that in turn, will encourage and inspire others to do so.'Eyes wide shut' is a term that I'd use to describe the majority of people, drifting through life unconsciously. Many live lives of quiet desperation, wishing and wanting to escape from their own private hells. I only hope that I can provide a key to a few of them.What I'd like to say to anyone reading this is if you're going do one thing today, do something that someone truly did not expect of you and do not seek praise for your actions either; something that made both you and someone else feel happy and grateful to be alive; something that made you appreciate how precious a gift life truly is. How? Begin with a smile, conduct yourself with grace and act from your heart.Many believe that it is too late to change the world, that we are on the brink of self destruction and that there is no point. However, I disagree...the world is changing and I believe, for the better. The question is, are you?"You begin saving the world by saving one person at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics." - Charles Bukowski MyGen Profile Generator

My Interests

"Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the unconscious and they must be brought into connection with action. They must be woven together." - Anais NinWhat interests me? Hmmm...Travel.I adore travelling. It engages me on every level and captivates my imagination. As my grandfather once said, “travel broadens the mind”. Indeed it does.We have so much to learn from the many other cultures with whom we share this small planet. There is nothing more that I enjoy doing than fully immersing myself in the traditions and customs of other peoples. Arriving in Morocco, I immediately traded in my western clothing for the traditional djellaba and slipped away into the bustle of the crowd. Marrakech, Casablanca and the Atlas Mountains are undeniably magical and their mystical lands tell a thousand stories. Jordan, in the Middle East is also utterly enchanting and equally mystical. Here, one hears the voices of an ancient people and if you listen carefully, you may even hear the faintly smudged echoes of Moses speaking as he stands on Mount Nebo, looking out across the Promised Land. It is the Red Rose City of Petra however, that for me remains the highlight of this enchanting and cosmopolitan country. Italy remains my absolute favourite country however. From Rome to Pompeii, Venice to the Amalfi Coast, this country has it all; art, language, passion, fashion and culture. This is where one walks aside a history that is still tangible and where one is dizzied by the heady ardour; Roma, the city that gave its name to romance.Aside from travelling and immersing myself in other cultures, I have held a life long interest in people. I began studying body language at the age of 13, as human behaviour fascinated me. I'd read all of the books that I could get my hands on and then, whilst in school, I'd observe the techniques that I'd read about and try them out for myself. It blew me away. I never stopped learning and I now find it to be second nature and something that I no longer have to consciously think about. I would also regularly enter public speaking competitions as a teenager and address audiences of between 300 and 500. Why, I would enter such events voluntarily I have no idea, as the experience always scared me witless! However, I would take the opportunity to talk about subjects that were close to my heart; from vegetarianism to cruelty to animals, from the street children of Brazil to the rainforests. I also managed to win them all.I studied Psychology (Freud et al) at college but it wasn't quite what I was looking for (Jungian/Depth Psychology) so I changed track and decided to study and teach method acting (Stella Adler Syllabus) instead. Method acting in particular provided me with a further insight into human behaviour and to be quite frank, humbled me. This particular naturalistic style of acting taught me not to judge others so quickly and as I immersed myself in various characters, the 'good' and the 'bad', I quickly came to develop a deeper sense of empathy for all of them. We are all fascinating, we are all unique and we all have a story that is worth listening to.In my late twenties I ventured into life coaching, which was closely followed by Reiki healing. I am incredibly intuitive and have always possessed a keen gift of 'sight' from being a child. There are things that I've experienced that I won't even begin to go into on these pages; all I will say is that I know that there is far more to life than most people can even begin to imagine. In closing, everything that I've done has prepared me for where I am now. I'm driven by a desire to assist and inspire others to live more authentic lives. I aim to provide people with sufficient intelligent information so that they may live more conscious lives. In the meantime I say SHINE, whoever and wherever you are. With Grace ~"People think this exploration of self is self-centered and selfish, but I notice that whenever I clear up something for myself it quickly affects everyone around me, as if it were a psychic liberation which in turn affects others' conflicts." - Anais Nin

I'd like to meet:

Rosa Parks - Who sat where she wanted and changed the course of history.Anyone with the courage to follow their hearts, who walk with dignity and grace. I'd like to meet my Father whom I've never met. I'd also have liked to have met my Grandfather who passed away when my Mother was still a child. I miss their presence in my life. Aside from that, I'd travel back and forth throughout time and walk aside and talk a while with some of the most beautiful and inspiring people in history. From Dr King to Jesus, Nelson Mandela to Gandhi, Anthony De Mello to Marianne Williamson, Rosa Parks to Mother Teresa, Anne Frank to Emily Dickinson; people with the strongest personal beliefs and deepest conviction in what it was that they stood for. People who strived to make this planet better and more peaceful for those of us who walk upon it today. However, we still have a long way to go and the call continues to go out for those who are as willing to stick their head above the parapet and take a stand for what it is that they believe in. The question is, what do you believe in? More importantly, do you have the courage and conviction to embody those truths and live them gently, totally and consistently every day for the rest of your life?Viktor E. Frankl, who said:-"Our generation is realistic, for we have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips." Emily PankhurstBorn in my home city Manchester, U.K. shown above being arrested for attempting to win women equal voting rights to men in the UK. She died in 1928, just a few weeks before this was finally achieved.Close your eyes and imagine for a moment what it would look like if every Palestinian, Lebanese and Jew laid down their weapons and embraced one another as brothers. Imagine the effect that would have on the planet, if those images were beamed around the world on today's news. Hold that image as vivdly as possible in your mind's eye...how does that make you feel? What hope would that give to you? Imagine just how powerful that would be for us all... Now begin with yourself and personify that love, grace and compassion in all that you do and with everyone that you meet today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life. It's time for all of us to lay aside our pettiness and begin to see one another for what we truly are...brothers and sisters."Be the change you wish to see in the world" - GandhiOn April 7th 1994, the collective consciousness of Humanity fell unconscious to the cries of its own. There it remained for 100 days, during which an average of 6 men, women and children were brutally slaughtered, every...single...minute. 100 days and 800,000 Rwandan lives later we finally awoke with blood on our hands to genocide of incomprehensible proportions. For 100 days Humanity turned on itself and forgot its truth; that we are One. I now invite you to close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself standing face to face with a survivor. Holding their hands promise them, your brother or sister of Humanity, that for as long as you walk this Earth, you shall never again forsake them. May you be able to say that you were a part of the generation that rose up and said "no more". May you live to see the day, that will be peace on Earth.“You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us, And the world will live as one.” – John Lennon ‘Imagine’Kahlil Gibran - 'The Prophet'And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge." And he answered, saying: Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge. You would know in words that which you have always know in thought. You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams. And it is well you should. The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea; And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line. For self is a sea boundless and measureless. Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth." Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path." For the soul walks upon all paths. The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

Music:

Music is and always has been a huge part of my life. My parents had an incredible knowledge and wide and varied taste in all genres of music from the 1950's through to the present; from classical to rock to pop, they knew (and played) it all. Therefore, my taste is incredibly varied and extremely eclectic. I like music to reflect my mood, evoke emotion and move me in one way or another. MyGen Profile Generator

Movies:

Anything that moves me and challenges my perspective on life. The clips featured in the video montage below are based on Joseph Campbell's book Hero with a Thousand Faces and the basic components that constitute myth.The Hero's Journey in Film

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Television:

Below, Deepak Chopra provides a basic definition of myth;"I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me." - Anna Quindlen MyGen Profile Generator

Books:

I'm currently reading Man and his Symbols by Carl G. Jung. This book is an introduction to the 'hidden' meaning of the symbols used in legends, medieval archetecture, classic books and ancient myths as well as dreams. Patterns of psychic growth and development, individuation and transcendence are explained along with other psychological terms. MyGen Profile Generator

Heroes:

All of those who walk with grace and inspire positive change that is for the highest and greatest good of the planet and all its inhabitants..."What must I give more death to today, in order to generate more life? What do I know should die, but am hesitant to allow to do so? What must die in me in order for me to love? What not-beauty do I fear? Of what use is the power of the not-beautiful to me today? What should die today? What should live? What life am I afraid to give birth to? If not now, when?." - Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Sun Sign: Gemini
Sun 21° Gemini 26' Gemini Horoscope
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Moon Sign: Sagittarius
Moon 23° Sagittarius 06' Sagittarius Horoscope
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Rising Sign: Leo
Ascendant 2° Leo 50' Leo Horoscope
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Personalized insight, advice and predictions!"Psychological work is soul work; by soul, I mean the eternal part of us that lives in this body for a few years, the timeless part of ourselves that wants to create timeless objects like art, painting and architecture. Whenever the ego surrenders to the archetypal images of the unconscious, time meets the timeless. Insofar as those moments are conscious, they are psychological — they belong to the soul. For me, soul-making is allowing the eternal essence to enter and experience the outer world through all the orifices of the body, so that the soul grows during its time on Earth. It grows like an embryo in the womb. Soul-making is constantly confronting the paradox that an eternal being is dwelling in a temporal body. That’s why it suffers and learns by heart."- Marion Woodman MyGen Profile Generator

My Blog

Thank You. Clooney. Margaritas.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have left me such thoughtful birthday wishes both yesterday and in the week leading up to my birthday.  I'm incredibly&n...
Posted by Urban Deva on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:19:00 PST

Dandelions & Butterflies

My occasional foray into poetry&   And in that silent moment satimpracticable despairintolerable sadnessegoic prideshards of a broken armya once golden erain which you and I surveyeda Techin...
Posted by Urban Deva on Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:17:00 PST

Through the Looking Glass

I joined MySpace in February, 2006.  However, I did little to nothing with my account until I returned from a holiday last June.  To be honest, I couldn't see the point. I had initially been...
Posted by Urban Deva on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:35:00 PST

Road to NowHere?

"What is it that we are questing for?  It is the fulfillment of that which is potential in each of us.  Questing for it is not an ego trip; it is an adventure to bring into fulfillment your ...
Posted by Urban Deva on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 01:51:00 PST

Se7en Random Things - (I've Been Tagged!)

OK, it would seem that an epidemic of tag is currently sweeping its way through our small corner of MySpace and I have been tagged, courtesy of my running mentor Kelly and asked to come up with s...
Posted by Urban Deva on Thu, 31 May 2007 04:21:00 PST

The Constellation of Truth

As a child, I wanted to be an Astronomer's observing assistant.  I would spend hours gazing up at the stars until my parents eventually bought me a shiny red telescope with which to gaze deeper i...
Posted by Urban Deva on Wed, 23 May 2007 10:35:00 PST

Marathon Countdown Update - 24 Weeks to Go

As promised, each week I'll provide a brief round up of my thoughts, ramblings and experiences regards my training, in the countdown to running the New York Marathon to raise money for children i...
Posted by Urban Deva on Sun, 20 May 2007 03:27:00 PST

The Wrath Of Demeter

"Each child lives deep inside his or her own psychic house, or soul castle and the child deserves the right of sovereignty inside that house.  Whenever a parent ignores the child's sovereignty an...
Posted by Urban Deva on Thu, 17 May 2007 10:29:00 PST

Deva Runs the New York City Marathon

I'm doomed. That's right, 25 weeks from today on Sunday 4th November, I shall attempt to complete my first marathon in the Big Apple. I am SO doomed. However, I'm running (jogging, walking...
Posted by Urban Deva on Sun, 13 May 2007 11:02:00 PST

Journey into Womanhood - Suicide Girls & Tiv Women

Yesterday, Kelly Moore posted a blog debating whether the Suicide Girls are feminist heroines, porn or just silly young girls.  The Suicide Girls are routinely the number one blog ...
Posted by Urban Deva on Thu, 10 May 2007 07:30:00 PST