#215: The Goa Dispatch 🌊 ☀️📖

On reading Gift from the Sea + December Playlist + A collaboration with Nivaala + Poems that stirred up oceans within me

Hello,

I’m writing to you today from Goa. And I’m sending some sunshine your way (in case you’re reading this somewhere cold). This is my first time staying by a beach alone, and I must admit, it’s more wonderful than I ever imagined. I have colourful braids in my hair, a view of the ocean from my balcony and have been spending my days quietly daydreaming, falling asleep every few hours to the sound of the waves and seagulls overhead. It’s rather idyllic and restful, something I haven’t experienced in a long, long time.

Today, I finished reading my second book of the year (quality > quantity): Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the sea. “The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith,” Anne writes, and I nod to myself in agreement.

As I flipped the pages, reading about Anne’s inner world using analogies of conches and the sea (shall we call them seanalogies?), I found myself finding clarity through a sedimentation in my mind. The heaviness settled, the light clear waters remained. I kept the book down, swam in the ocean till my mind felt empty, and returned to the pages. She talks of the Simplification of one’s life in the book, and it was magical to feel the inner-outer synergy with everything I was reading and experiencing. A tiny example:

I’m feeling so much love for the sea, I must share these two shots from today:

I’m also feeling comfortable enough to share a poem I scribbled down:

I make better margaritas -
but this one will do.
I have a room of my own,
white waves and crisp fries,
my favorite pen and paper,
a poem brewing in my mind.

I think know this will turn out just fine.

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Poems that stirred up oceans within me

Young Girl on the Beach by Albert Marquet

1. from Evening: Ponte Al Mare, Pisa by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The chasm in which the sun has sunk is shut
By darkest barriers of cinereous cloud,
Like mountain over mountain huddled — but
Growing and moving upwards in a crowd,
And over it a space of watery blue,
Which the keen evening star is shining through.

2. First Lesson by Philip Booth

Lie back daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

3. Ah, Come Sit Beside Me by Jiddu Krishnamurti

Ah, come sit beside me by the sea, open and free.
I will tell thee of that inward calmness
As of the still deep;
Of that inward freedom
As of the skies;
Of that inward happiness
As of the dancing waters.

And as now the moon makes a silent path on the dark sea,
So beside me lies the clear path of pure understanding.
The groaning sorrow is hid under a mocking smile,
The heart is heavy with the burden of corruptible love,
The deceptions of the mind pervert thought.

Ah, come sit beside me
Open and free.
As the even flow of clear sunlight,
So shall thine understanding come to thee.
The burdensome fear of anxious waiting
Shall go from thee as the waters recede before the rushing winds.

Ah, come sit beside me,
Thou shalt know of the understanding of true love.
As the mind drives the blind clouds,
So shall thy brutish prejudice be driven by clear thought.

The moon is in love with the sun
And the stars fill the skies with their laughter.

Oh, come sit beside me
Open and free.

4. Poem by Wu Men Hui-k'ai
Translated to English from Chinese by Stephen Mitchell

Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.

5. from Little Glass Planet: Poems by Dobby Gibson

I didn’t write this

to “express my feelings,”
though I hope you will be

the same people relieved
to discover it doesn’t require

a skeleton key.
It’s a little space

opening up language,
full of permission.

---

The Alipore Post December Playlist

Much of what’s gone into this month’s playlist has been discovered in the past few days. I attended Boiler Room over the weekend, so this is basically a full dance set. DJ Ro in the house. Woo! 💃🏽

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Nivaala x The Alipore Post

Sharing a family recipe is about more than just making food - it’s like sharing an intimate memory, one that transcends the table.

The Alipore Post and Nivaala are super kicked to launch this very special campaign (once again!), where you can send your family recipe to anyone you like. We’ll handwrite the recipe on a beautiful postcard, affix the stamps, drop it in the mailbox and send it for you! It’s that simple. 📬

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My inbox has gone into 11,000 unread emails, and I’ve officially given up. Sorry to anybody waiting to hear back from me. I’m too distracted by the sea and am already thinking of my can’t-wait-to-finally-have-time-to-do-these-things-that-actually-make-me-happy-in-2023 list.

Also, Merry Christmas in advance. Spread some love and be kind this Christmas.

Sending y’all some gentle sea breeze enveloped in this email,
Ro