Ash immersion rituals resume in Haridwar at Brahma Kund Har-Ki-Pauri on Friday(HTPhoto)

After over a month-long hiatus, ash immersion rituals have resumed at Haridwar from Friday onwards.

People were seen carrying urns of ashes from the wee hours on Friday to the sanctum sanctorum of Brahma Kund at Har-Ki-Pauri Ganga Ghat. Local priests, too, resumed work and conducted the ash-immersion rituals.

According to priests, normally in Haridwar, about 2000 to 5000 people arrive daily for ash-immersion rituals, post-cremation rituals and Pitra Karmakand (forefathers soul-related rites) which had been disrupted due to the nationwide lockdown affecting their livelihood.

Har-Ki-Pauri is considered to be an ancient place with religious significance. It is believed that nectar of the gods had fallen here after a tug-of-war between deities and demons, as per Hindu mythology.

Haridwar district administration, however, has specified that only two persons and a driver are allowed to accompany an urn to be immersed at Har-Ki-Pauri Ganga Ghat.

Cabinet spokesperson Madan Kaushik said that adherence to the guidelines issued by the local administration and health department regarding Covid-19 preventive measures like wearing of face masks, social distancing and time-bound return to their respective home destinations was a must for carrying out the rituals.

Terming the decision as a step in the right direction, office bearers of Ganga Sabha, the main managing body of Har-Ki-Pauri Ganga Ghat, said ash immersion should have been allowed a fortnight ago.

Ash immersion rituals are part of ancient tradition and customs which help in providing salvation (moksha) to the departed soul. Its quite sad that after funeral rites people had to keep urns of the deceased for quite some time, but now the government has taken the right decision to allow it again, said Pradeep Jha, president Ganga Sabha.

Haridwar priests, who had last week submitted a memorandum to the state government demanding the lifting of the prohibition at Har-Ki-Pauri, were quite busy as people with urns turned up at the Ghats from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR region, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and even beyond.

Akhil Bharatiya Yuva Teerth Purohit president Ujjwal Pundit said the lockdown has severely affected their livelihood as they primarily depend on last rites related rituals and special prayers for the deceased.

There are nearly 2000 priests in Haridwar involved in ash immersion rituals for several generations.

Meanwhile, the ashram and dharamshala owners have demanded the opening of some eateries and tea stalls at Har-Ki-Pauri for people coming from other states.

We have been waiting for more than a week to get the permission, finally Uttarakhand government has granted the same. We have been traveling for the past seven hours. We have reached Haridwar and it is overwhelming that finally, we will be able to immerse the ashes in the Ganga, said Vijay Singh from Haryana.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

Originally posted here:

Ash immersion in Haridwar begins after govts nod to rituals for the dead - Hindustan Times

In 1920, Rabindranath Tagore received a brief but poignant letter from Susan Owen, mother of the English poet and soldier Wilfred Owen. The latter was killed in action in France in November 1918. In her letter his mother wrote that on the day of his final departure from home, Owen had recited one of Tagores poems.

Her account of that moment is worth quoting ~ It is nearly two years ago, that my dear eldest son went out to the War for the last time and the day he said goodbye to me ~ we were looking together across the sun-glorified sea ~ looking towards France with breaking hearts when he, my poet son, said those wonderful words of yours, beginning at When I go from hence, let this be my parting word This letter from a grieving mother of a victim of World War I reveals how a poem written by an Indian poet touched the sensibility of a young English poet and soldier at a moment of crisis.

A part of the English Gitanjali (1912), this prose poem defines life as a beautiful spiritual experience. The voice speaking through it ecstatically declares that what he has seen is unsurpassable. This world is a play house of infinite forms where he has caught sight of him that is formless. Tagores songs, poems and prose offer a heavily nuanced perspective on the paradoxes and ambiguities of life. They celebrate the grandeur of life and, at the same time, acknowledge that suffering is a fundamental human reality.

In fact, his writings inspire us to have faith in the human capacity for resilience, resistance and transcendence. His insistence on the importance of faith and hope has acquired new relevance in todays world where lives and livelihoods are being destroyed by a pandemic. Tagores idea of the power of hope and faith is prominently present in several of his songs. One of these is the song Nibira ghana andharey (1903) which focuses on a metaphorical journey.

The poet assures himself that even in deep darkness the guiding star is shining brightly. The lone traveller must not lose his way in the vast ocean or let his songs cease. Instead of giving in to fear or despair, he must hold on to hope and have faith in life and in love. He must gracefully walk through the joys and sorrows of life. Not surprisingly, for numerous individuals Tagores writings have been a source of emotional solace and strength.

A French translation of The Post Office,the English version of his play Dakghar (1912), was broadcast on the French radio in June 1940 on the eve of the German invasion of Paris. It was a bold attempt to defy fear at a critical moment in the nations history.

In July 1942 the Polish-Jewish educator Janusz Korczak staged the play at an orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto. In the process, Korczak, the founder of the orphanage, flouted Nazi orders forbidding Jews to perform literary works by Aryan authors. In the play, Dakghar the protagonist is Amal, an ailing boy confined to his room and desperately yearning for emancipation. In a letter the playwright explained that Amals eventual death brings him awakening in the world of spiritual freedom. It is wellknown that death plagued Tagore persistently throughout his life.

It was not easy for him to endure the loss of several members of his family, friends and close associates. He grieved but refused to be overpowered by the burden of grief. In Biswa-shok, a poem written after the death of his grandson Nitindranath in 1932, the poet says that being obsessed with personal grief is shameful. We transcend grief once we begin to see ourselves as a part of a world where suffering is pervasive. Tagores life spanned a socially and politically turbulent era that witnessed many calamities including two World Wars and the Holocaust.

It is true that the poet underwent spells of deep depression. Each time his spirituality and his faith in humanity sustained him and helped him recover. During one such bout of depression he described it in a series of letters to his English friend, C F Andrews. In May 1914, in a letter to Andrews he spoke of it through densely metaphorical language ~ I am struggling on my way through the wildernessWearied, I lie down upon the dust and cry and call upon His name.

In another letter he wrote that he was trying to discover his own soul through the intense glow of the fire of suffering.

The letters he wrote during this phase demonstrate a conscious effort to attain spiritual renewal. The idea that suffering can lead to creativity and spiritual renewal is encapsulated in the song Aguner Parashmani (1914).

Within the thematic framework of this song, fire becomes a powerfully evocative metaphor for suffering.

The voice articulating the song hopes that the fire will enlighten him, purify his life and give voice to his songs. In an age of uncertainties and doubts Rabindranath Tagore, struggled to retain his faith in spiritual ideals. In his essay My School (1917) he proclaims that faith ~ I believe in a spiritual world ~ not as anything separate from this world ~ but as its innermost truth. With the breath we draw we must always feel this truth, that we are living in God. Born in this great world, full of the mystery of the infinite, we cannot accept our existence as a momentary outburst of chance, drifting on the current of matter towards an eternal nowhere.

Tagores distinctive spirituality was grounded in his personal interpretation of the Upanishadic conception of the divine being that is immanent in the entire cosmos. Each being is a part of this eternal and all-encompassing entity.

What this spiritual vision offers is emancipation from the narrow self and from emotions such as fear, despair and grief. It formed the spiritual basis of Tagores strong faith in humanity and human potentialities.

The song Bipadey morey raksha karo e nahey mor prarthana (1906) rejects passive dependence on divine benevolence ~ I do not pray that you shield me from danger. This radically unconventional prayer emphasizes that the human individual must have the strength to face adversities on his own.

Tagore was a firm believer in ideals. A few years before his death, he urged the inmates of his ashram to reject cynicism ~ We must build upon faith and not upon the quicksand of skepticism and the spirit of negation Not to believe in things, to be cynical and to wag ones head to a constant no may seem up-to date and fashionable. But it cannot go on indefinitely. Today, it has become necessary for us to rediscover Rabindranath Tagores idea of inner strength and hope.

The Covid-19 pandemic is transforming countless lives throughout the world. The psychological, social and economic ramifications of this cataclysmic phenomenon are no less significant than the death toll. Because of the pandemic and the resultant lockdown we have become lonelier and susceptible to an uncanny sense of uncertainty. In these bleak times Tagores writings remind us that no one is alone and that we are a collectivity. His writings can inspire us to believe that through hope and through faith in ourselves we can face and overcome this global calamity.

The writer is a Tagore Researcher and Assistant Professor of English, Gushkara College in West Bengal.

Here is the original post:

Poet and the Pandemic - The Statesman

Indias rural-to-urban migrant population is estimated at 120 million. Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP

The highways connecting Indias overcrowded cities to the villages had not seen anything like it since the time of partition 73 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of workers were on the move, walking back to their villages with their possessions bundled on their heads.

On 24 March, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide 21-day lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. States sealed their borders, and transport came to a halt. With no trains or buses to take them home, Indias rural-to-urban migrant population, estimated at a staggering 120 million, took to the roads. On 5 April a statement from the home ministry said 1.25 million people moving between states had been put up in camps and shelters.

The rest started walking. With their jobs in cities lost overnight, and no clear social welfare package, hunger is a more real threat to these millions of people than a pandemic.

Everyone is talking about migrants those who started walking back to their villages, said Anshu Gupta, founder of Goonj, a Delhi-based charity. There are also people who reached their villages, people who were stuck in the cities, and the millions already living in the villages. They are all in distress.

The lockdown was announced without a clear plan for the consequences and Indian civil society stepped in immediately.

With 92 partner NGOs, Goonj started work in 18 states. By 20 April, field teams had delivered rations to 17,700 families, and 16,600kg of rice, flour, lentils, potatoes and oil and 77,800 ready-to-eat meals to community kitchens. They had also produced 42,800 face masks and 24,900 sanitary pads.

Mahatma Gandhi Seva Ashram-Ekta Parishad is doing the same in 39 districts across 10 states. In Madhya Pradesh alone, they say, 99,225 migrants have returned home, comprising daily wage workers, landless farmers and tribals. Thousands of workers and volunteers are feeding migrant labourers and maintaining community kitchens, as well as distributing masks and soap and protective equipment for frontline health workers.

An India Today analysis established that in 13 states and union territories, NGOs are outperforming state governments in feeding people. It found that in states like Kerala, which has been praised for its response to Covid-19, and Telangana, all meals were exclusively provided by NGOs during the lockdown, while in states such as Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Mizoram, NGOs provided 92.8%, 91.7% and 88.5% of all the meals, respectively.

Days after the lockdown was imposed, the finance ministry announced a relief package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore (18bn). This included food, grains and cooking gas, but there was no roadmap for how this aid would reach people. Cash transfers of Rs 500 a month were announced for women with bank accounts under the governments Jan Dhan scheme.

An itemised analysis by IndiaSpend concluded that the financial package announced by the central government is not all additional funding for Covid-19, but a reallocation and often, reiteration, of existing budgets.

Some state governments announced cash transfers, while Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh announced money for destitute women.

But the chances of people ever seeing the money or provisions allocated to them are remote.

Even if the money has come into their bank account in the city, how do they access that now, in the village? asks Gupta.

The inadequacy of the states preparedness to tackle this crisis has led to local and central governments scrambling to build relations with civil society to deliver relief, a relationship that has been compromised over the past five years.

Between 2014 and 2020, the Indian government cancelled the licenses of over 20,000 NGOs to receive foreign funds under the Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act.

NGOs have been demonised, especially those working on human rights issues. Their bank accounts have been frozen, their staff have been harassed, and their intent has been questioned. Now, as the state grapples with a response to Covid-19, the government think-tank NITI Aayog has requested that more than 92,000 NGOs help the government fight the pandemic.

Gupta is unequivocal: Civil society NGOs and ordinary Indians are fully taking care of the hunger problem.

The sooner this government starts to see civil society as allies in fair and foul weather, the better particularly for Indias poorest and most vulnerable people over the next few, very difficult months.

Bharati Ramachandran runs Barapani, a communications agency based in Bangalore, India that works with NGOs across South Asia and Africa

Read the rest here:

Where Indias government has failed in the pandemic, its people have stepped in - The Guardian

Even if coronavirus concerns are keeping us at home, we can still explore the beauty of the Oregon landscape, revisit jaw-droppingly strange-but-true history, and remember when locals got their noses out of joint over a comedy series that spoofed politically correct Portlanders. Whether you crave a virtual trip to the outdoors or are feeling nostalgic, streaming services provide a binge-worthy batch of Oregon-related movies and TV shows.

So, sit back, keep up your social distancing, and bring a little Oregon to your living room with our list of notable comedies, dramas, documentaries and animated features.

MOVIES FOR FAMILIES

The Goonies: Viewers who were kids when they first saw this 1985 adventure have shared it with their own children, which is why the Goonies nostalgia train just keeps running. As Josh Gads recent YouTube reunion of the original cast demonstrates, theres truth to the catchphrase, Goonies never say die. The story of Oregon Coast kids who use a treasure map to search for riches that may save their family homes keeps viewers coming back, and draws tourists each year to Astoria, where much of the movie filmed. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

Stand By Me: Stephen Kings novella, The Body, inspired this 1986 classic, about four boys who come from different backgrounds, but form a bond as they search for a missing teen in the Willamette Valley. Stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry OConnell will make you laugh, make you cry, then make you laugh again. Locations include Brownsville. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made: Adapted from the bestselling book by Stephan Pastis, this Disney Plus movie tells the whimsical story of an 11-year-old boy whose imagination sends him around Portland investigating cases for his supposed detective agency, with his polar bear partner in tow. The Portland locations are down-to-earth glimpses of the city, and the cast, including Winslow Fegley as Timmy, is sympathetic and likable. (Stream on Disney Plus)

Free Willy: A 1993 family film about a boy (Jason James Richter) who makes friends with a captive orca whale, and hatches a plot to let the whale escape. Keiko, the real orca in the movie, was a crowd-pleasing attraction at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, in Newport for a few years. Locations include Portland, Astoria and the Hammond Marina, where, in the film, Willy jumps to his freedom. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video; stream on Hulu)

Twilight: It seems like 100 years ago that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson starred in the first chapter of the saga about romance between a human high school student, Bella Swan, and the much older, but young-looking vampire, Edward Cullen. While the Twilight movies got sillier the longer the saga went on, this 2008 effort had the benefit of Northwest flavor. Stephenie Meyers novel was set in Forks, Washington, but Oregon was used for many of the movie locations, with scenes filmed in St. Helens, Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, and more. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

Kindergarten Cop: Another movie not exactly made to dazzle critics, this 1990 comedy stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Los Angeles Police Detective who, on the trail of a drug dealer, goes to Astoria, where he winds up working undercover as a kindergarten teacher. Sounds plausible, right? Locations include Astoria, the movie star of the Oregon Coast. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video; stream on Hulu)

Mr. Hollands Opus: This 1995 tearjerker is a salute to Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss), an aspiring composer who winds up teaching music at a fictional Portland high school. Its corny, but the movie was filmed on location in Northeast Portlands Grant High School, so students can get a virtual campus feeling even if they cant physically attend school. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video; stream on Hulu)

MOVIES FOR ADULTS

Wild: Portland-based writer Cheryl Strayeds bestselling memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail amid personal turmoil remains a perpetual favorite with readers. The 2014 movie adaptation of Strayeds book is well-made and heartfelt, with fine performances by Reese Witherspoon as Strayed, and Laura Dern as the authors late mother. Locations include Bend, Ashland, Cascade Locks and Portland. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

Leave No Trace: After The Oregonian reported on the case of a teenage girl and her father, who were found living in Forest Park, writer Peter Rock wrote My Abandonment, a novel inspired by the true story. This tale of a father and daughter living off the grid was adapted into a touching 2018 movie, directed by Debra Granik (Winters Bone), and starring Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Foster. Locations include the Portland area, Estacada and Newberg. (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers)

Lean On Pete: British filmmaker Andrew Haigh (Looking) wrote and directed this 2018 adaptation of Oregon writer and musician Willy Vlautins novel. Charlie Plummer stars as Charley, a 15-year-old who comes to Portland with his father, Ray (Travis Fimmel). When trouble arises at home, Charley spends time at a racetrack, where he helps cares for an aging horse named Lean On Pete. Locations include the old Portland Meadows in North Portland, and Harney County. (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers)

Wendy and Lucy: Portland-based writer Jonathan Raymond and director Kelly Reichardt have collaborated on a number of projects, most recently the quiet, but deeply affecting First Cow. The 2008 movie, Wendy and Lucy, is a characteristically minimalistic work, but one that becomes increasingly poignant as it goes on. Michelle Williams stars. Locations include Portland, Salem and Woodburn. (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers)

Related: Director Kelly Reichardt on First Cow, and why she makes films in Oregon

Night Moves: Another low-key, tense collaboration from writer Jonathan Raymond and director Kelly Reichardt. The 2013 movie tells the story of a trio of environmental activists who plan to blow up a dam. Its subtle, but gripping, and features striking work by Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard. Locations include Roseburg, Medford and Ashland. (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers)

Meeks Cutoff: Kelly Reichardt and writer Jonathan Raymond again worked together on this 2011 Western loosely inspired by a historic event, in 1845. The film features a guide named Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), whos leading a group of settlers across the Oregon high desert. But the settlers begin to suspect Meek isnt all he claims to be. Michelle Williams stars. Locations include Burns and other Harney County areas. (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers; stream on Hulu)

I Dont Feel at Home in This World Anymore: Melanie Lynskey stars as Ruth, a nursing assistant whos already feeling down, and then finds out that her house has been burglarized. When the police dont seem interested in doing anything about the crime, Ruth, along with an unstable-looking neighbor (Elijah Wood), set out on a quest to find the thieves. Macon Blair wrote and directed the 2017 dark comedy-thriller. Locations include Portland, Wilsonville and Lake Oswego. (Stream on Netflix)

Drugstore Cowboy: Director Gus Van Sant lived for several years in Portland, and this 1989 movie is, among its other qualities, a postcard of the way the Rose City used to look. Matt Dillon and Kelly Lynch star in a 70s-set story about drug addicts who rob pharmacies to pay for their habit. Van Sant made other features in Portland, including My Own Private Idaho, Elephant and Paranoid Park, but Drugstore Cowboy remains one of his best. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

The Shining: You could get all technical about it, and point out that the 1980 thriller, starring Jack Nicholson, did very little filming in Oregon. Yes, the exterior shots of Timberline Lodge are supposed to be the Overlook Hotel, where lots of bad things happen. But since were likely not getting to Mount Hood anytime soon, well take what we can get. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest: The late Ken Kesey wrote the novel that inspired the multi-Oscar-winning movie, starring Jack Nicholson in one of his best roles. Set in a mental hospital, the film focuses on the rebellious Randle McMurphy (Nicholson), and his clashes with authoritarian Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). The 1975 movie has elements that may feel offensive to todays viewers, but there are classic moments. Locations include the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, and the central Oregon Coast. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video)

Animal House: For nostalgic Oregonians, this 1978 rowdy comedy (sometimes known by its full name, National Lampoons Animal House) summons memories of toga parties, the outrageous antics of John Belushis Bluto Blutarsky, food fights, and blow-out blasts at the fictional Faber College and Delta house fraternity. More sensitive souls may find the 70s humor has dated, but its a kick to see circa-70s locations in Eugene, Cottage Grove, the University of Oregon, and more. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video; stream on Hulu, with the addition of Starz)

Paint Your Wagon: If youre truly desperate for something to watch, this 1969 musical Western offers more Oregon scenery. Thats the good part. Less great is the fact that Lee Marvin sings -- or tries to. Costar Clint Eastwood also lends his pipes to the tune, I Talk to the Trees. Critics mostly blew raspberries at this supposed blockbuster. The stories about what went on during the filming near Baker City, in Eastern Oregon, makes things sound pretty wild (hippie extras!). As for the movie, its hokey (sample song title: Hand Me Down That Can o Beans), but harmless. And did we mention the gorgeous Oregon scenery? (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers)

Related: Paint Your Wagon, The Goonies, Grimm and more: The Oregon film and TV office turns 50

ANIMATED MOVIES

Laika features: The Hillsboro animation studio is known for the painstaking care lavished on its stop-motion animated features. Examples include the Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated Missing Link (2019), about a Sasquatch living in a Pacific Northwest forest who joins forces with an explorer for globe-trotting adventures in the 1800s. (Rent on Amazon Prime Video; stream on Hulu.)

Other Laika features include 2016s Kubo and the Two Strings(YouTube Movies); 2014s The Boxtrolls (YouTube Movies); 2012s ParaNorman (iTunes); and 2009s Coraline (stream on Hulu).

TV

Portlandia: Remember the good old days, when locals worried about what message a comedy sketch show was sending, instead of panicking about a pandemic and economic catastrophe? Return with us now to the balmy past, when the IFC series co-created by and costarring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein made Portland look like the world capital of political correctness. Even if youre sick to death of hearing about the feminist bookstore, and Colin the chicken, watching Portlandia -- which aired from 2011 to 2018 -- feels like a trip back to another, less stressed-out era. (Streaming on Netflix; and fuboTV)

Related: Saying goodbye to Portlandia, and the citys love/hate relationship with the show

Grimm: The premise was far-fetched, but the NBC drama about a Portland Police homicide detective who had the power to see the supernatural creatures lurking below the surface of seemingly ordinary folks developed a devoted following. In its 2011-2017 run, Grimm made Portland look like the scene of a dark fantasy you know, like Grimms fairy tales. (Free on Amazon Prime Video for Prime customers)

Related: Grimm may be ending, but its impact on Portland remains

Shrill: In its first two seasons of the Portland-filmed comedy, weve watched as Annie (played by Aidy Bryant, of Saturday Night Live fame) has struggled to deal with her own ambitions to be a writer, her lack of confidence, her messy relationships and a few other neuroses. Bryant is a fine lead, and shes joined by a terrific supporting cast. Catch up now, because the series has been renewed for a third season. (Stream on Hulu)

Leverage: The 2008-2012 series about a group of reformed crooks who took on jobs where they could stick it to fat cats and win justice for everyday people moved its production to the Portland area for Season 2. A rebooted revival is in the works for IMDb TV, with Noah Wyle starring (in place of Timothy Hutton) and other original cast members returning. (Stream previous seasons on the IMDb TV channel, which is available to Amazon Prime Video customers)

The Librarians: A spinoff of a series of TV movies made for TNT, the fantasy-adventure followed a group of gifted eccentrics who used their skills to solve mysteries and, sometimes, save the world. Like Leverage, the series filmed in and around the Portland area. It aired from 2014 to 2018. (Stream on Hulu)

Everything Sucks!: The series about a group of high school kids in Boring, Oregon in the 1990s had a good heart, and cast a compassionate eye on the travails and triumphs of the mostly misfit characters. Unfortunately, it only lasted one season. (Stream on Netflix)

Trinkets: Another moody/sensitive series about high school students struggling to find themselves, Trinkets tells the story of Elodie (Brianna Hildebrand), an unwilling transplant to Portland, who forms surprising friendships with schoolmates, Moe (Kiana Madeira), and Tabitha (Quintessa Swindell). The series will return for a second season, but that will be the last one. (Stream on Netflix)

DOCUMENTARIES

Wild Wild Country: Oregonians who have lived here for a while already know about the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Ma Anand Sheela, and the followers who descended on Central Oregon in the early 1980s. But everyone else apparently first learned about this bizarre-but-true saga thanks to Chapman Way and Maclain Ways six-part 2018 documentary series. (Stream on Netflix)

Related: Netflix documentary on Rajneeshees in Oregon revisits an amazing, enraging true story

The Battered Bastards of Baseball: Before they dug into Oregon Rajneeshee history, filmmakers Chapman Way and Maclain Way made this entertaining 2014 documentary about the Portland Mavericks baseball team. (Stream on Netflix)

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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29 Oregon-filmed movies and TV shows to watch when youre home because of coronavirus - OregonLive

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 7, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Zen Health Technologies today announced that its EverStrong App is now available for iOS and Android. EverStrong is a new mobile app to help users improve emotional intelligence and self-awareness through clinically-chosen mental fitness exercises. EverStrong is now available for an extended free trial through June 16, 2020.

EverStrong combines science with ancient mindfulness training to strengthen emotional intelligence. After selecting specific goals such as "Ease Stress" or "Stay Focused," users complete 30-second mental exercises to help them reach those objectives. Unlike breathing and meditation apps, EverStrong develops mind muscles, emotional strength, and self-awareness.

"Everyone is stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed right now, and the simple exercises available through the EverStrong app immediately relieve stress and help you feel better," said Sibyl Badugu, Founder and CEO of Zen Health Technologies. "EverStrong brings focus and balance back into people's lives. By strengthening individual emotions, we can help uplift our families, friends, and communities during this very stressful time."

EverStrong offers easy, timed exercises by Zen Health Technologies' health and therapy clinical team. When stress and feelings of burnout hit, users can open EverStrong and complete a 30- to 60-second exercise to handle anxiety and manage emotions. The app also includes a quick exercise to get grounded in the "Break Time" section and a tracker to monitor their progress. EverStrong is now available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play store.

ABOUT ZEN HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES Founded in 2015, Zen Health Technologies provides mobile apps, websites, and other technology to help individuals build emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and empowerment. Its flagship product is EverStrong, an app that strengthens emotional intelligence and improves mindfulness. The company continues to develop new, advanced solutions to relieve stress, prevent burnout, and bring balance to people's lives. For more, please visit: https://zenhealthtech.com/

SOURCE Zen Health Technologies

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Strengthen Emotional Intelligence and Improve Mindfulness with EverStrong App - Benzinga

Video conferencing software has been a runaway success during the coronavirus pandemic, topping download charts, becoming the lynchpin of business communication, and being hailed as the defining technology of the lockdown.

But a new phenomenon is emerging alongside this rise video call fatigue.

It describes the feeling of being worn out by endless virtual meetings, chats and quizzes, borne witness to by widespread complaints on social media. And academics say the reasons behind it include having to perform for the camera and missing real people.

But wellness experts say video chats can have great benefits, too, helping people stay connected in isolation.

The popularity of Zoom has soared during the coronavirus pandemic.

Image: Prioridata/Statista

So why are some people finding video conferencing so tiring?

Psychologist Dr Linda Kaye from the UKs Edge Hill University says in large part it is because we see ourselves on screen, and naturally want to present a good image to friends and colleagues.

It's likely that this is enhancing our self-awareness to a greater level than usual, and therefore resulting in us making additional self-presentational efforts than in face-to-face interactions in the real world, she explains.

And then, of course, it could simply be a volume issue. We may be over-scheduling ourselves simply based on the fact we have more time available.

Gianpiero Petriglieri, an expert on workplace learning at INSEAD business school, tells the BBC that another key factor is the extra effort needed to process non-verbal cues such as body language.

Our minds are together when our bodies feel we're not. That dissonance, which causes people to have conflicting feelings, is exhausting. You cannot relax into the conversation naturally.

A new strain of Coronavirus, COVID 19, is spreading around the world, causing deaths and major disruption to the global economy.

Responding to this crisis requires global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community, which is at the centre of the World Economic Forums mission as the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Forum has created the COVID Action Platform, a global platform to convene the business community for collective action, protect peoples livelihoods and facilitate business continuity, and mobilize support for the COVID-19 response. The platform is created with the support of the World Health Organization and is open to all businesses and industry groups, as well as other stakeholders, aiming to integrate and inform joint action.

As an organization, the Forum has a track record of supporting efforts to contain epidemics. In 2017, at our Annual Meeting, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched bringing together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to accelerate the development of vaccines. CEPI is currently supporting the race to develop a vaccine against this strand of the coronavirus.

Another factor explored by researchers at University College London is gaze duration. While people are happy to stare at people they feel comfortable with for longer periods, gazes of more than 3 seconds can feel uncomfortable in less relaxed situations.

The BBC cites a German study published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies that finds speech transmission delays of little over a second can cause participants to perceive those on the video call as less attentive, extraverted and conscientious".

There is also the problem, Gianpiero Petriglieri explains, of self-complexity. In simple terms, human beings like variety, but now many aspects of our lives are coming together in one place video calls.

Coronavirus has been tough for many Americans.

Image: Gallup

The growing frustration with video conferencing may also be related to the wider well-being challenge the lockdown is posing.

A recent survey by US pollster Gallup found almost 60% of Americans feel worried up 20% on last summer while 45% told the Kaiser Family Foundation the coronavirus crisis was harming their mental health.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to reduce video chat fatigue.

The benefits of face-to-face

But many are singing the praises of video chats.

Yale Professor Laurie Santos whose popular lessons on wellness have made her an influential voice on mental health issues during the pandemic says face-to-face communication can help with lockdown isolation.

The research suggests that the act of hanging out with folks in real time - in other words, things like Zoom or FaceTime - can be a really powerful way to connect with people.

You see their facial expressions, hear the emotion in their voice, you're really able to connect with them.

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Why 'video call fatigue' might be making you tired during lockdown - and how to beat it - World Economic Forum

THE HILARIOUS WORLD OF DEPRESSION By John Moe

Not every book is for everyone, and not every book on depression is for every depressive. But the question that might be asked of any mental health book, regarding its raison dtre, is: Can this help someone?

The Hilarious World of Depression, by John Moe, the veteran NPR host and creator of the podcast after which this book is named, could be a particularly useful tool for those who grew up in homes where seeking therapy was seen as weakness, those who dont have the language for mental illness, and particularly for men age 50 and older. If youre looking for a Fathers Day book for a depressed dad who is aware of his condition but averse to seeking treatment, this is the one.

Tonally, the book may be best described as jocular Americana, rife with vintage cultural references like The Carol Burnett Show, the original Match Game, Dick Cavett, Fleetwood Mac, the Coneheads, Hogans Heroes and Glenn Frey. Rather than tackle the past, Moe writes of his early unwillingness to delve into his trauma, I was willing to settle for a tense cease-fire with it, letting my life be like Middle East countries that hate each other. There would be car bombings, but a homeland is a homeland. In his search for a 12th therapist one with whom he can finally have a long-term relationship Moes criteria stipulated that candidates had to offer a cognitive behavioral approach, and that they couldnt be, like, 23 and/or named Kristi.

Moes humor is more universally astute when describing the depressives propensity for faulty reasoning, particularly in terms of negative self-attribution and self-defeating thoughts. One problem with clinical depression is that it speaks in what sounds like the sufferers own voice; thus, even in spite of therapy, proper medication and self-awareness, a person with depression can still find it difficult to discern a distorted thought from an objective truth. Moe captures these blind spots well.

On being hit by a car in seventh grade, he says, Yes, Im blaming myself for getting hit by a car. On having contemplated suicide on the Aurora Bridge in Seattle: Jumping would mean doing something. Doing something was not really my thing. In describing his time working as a senior editor for Amazons e-cards initiative during the first dot-com bubble, Moe recalls reasoning that if no one said the cards sucked, that meant they sucked.

This exploration of impostor syndrome is where the book really shines. He employs tidbits from his years worth of interviews with comics and artists like Neal Brennan, Maria Bamford, Jeff Tweedy, Jen Kirkman and Andy Richter to convey the way a person with depression may perceive tomorrows success as an antidote to his or her suffering, only to discover that no amount of achievement ever feels like enough. As Richter says to Moe, The hole will never be full.

Unfortunately, these sound bites often feel cursory small blips in Moes overarching narrative. The book would be better served if it included longer, deeper takes from these podcast guests.

Yet the message of the book is a good one: that mental illness is not a cause for shame, and that sharing honestly (and even humorously) with fellow sufferers can be a path to healing. If there are readers out there who still believe, as Moe once did, that mental illness is for people in the booby hatch doing sad craft projects with safety scissors as in Girl, Interrupted, this book could be their path to deeper understanding and openness, by way of laughter in the dark.

See the original post here:
The Funny Thing About Depression Is ... - The New York Times

As a headteacher and a woman who is introverted, it is challenging contending with environments better suited to your extroverted colleagues on top of your already demanding role.

Having strategies to deal with these challenges and knowing how to be at your optimal will help you to stay strong in your already successful career.

As a leader, self-awareness is crucial. It helps you see what impact you have on others and how to get the best from them.

When it comes to managing conflict and tackling staffing issues, self-awareness enables you to better understand why people behave the way they do so you can modify your behaviour and communications to get the best outcome.

Regularly self-reflecting on why you respond to situations the way you do and why others behave the way they do towards you will increase your self-awareness. Getting 360 feedback will help you to see yourself through the eyes of others.

People who utilise their strengths are naturally more confident, more motivated and more likely to be in flow. When we are in flow we are at our best, so play to your strengths.

Listening forms a major part of our communication and introverts are well known for being good listeners.

People like to feel that they are heard. Listening in this way plays a key part in being influential so utilise this strength.

Identify your strengths and utilise them at work. However, a word of caution, dont overuse them because they can become weaknesses if you neglect other important areas of responsibility.

All leaders need to be able to adapt to different environments and situations. Self-awareness makes it easier for you to identify when you need to adapt.

Being adaptable doesnt mean that you put on a persona and pretend to be something youre not. Its about being your authentic self, whilst recognising situations where you need to step out of your comfort zone or modify your behaviour for the greater good.

Your role requires you to spend lengthy periods in overly stimulating environments so be mindful of the impact to your energy.

Extroverts are energised by being around other people whereas spending too long in such situations can be draining for introverts. When we are drained of energy it is harder to remain engaged with others and be upbeat.

Introverts like to recharge by going inwards and being on their own, but this isnt possible if you have a busy day ahead.

Be aware of what drains your energy and plan around it. For example, if you have a morning of heavy meetings, keep your diary light in the afternoon. If this isnt possible, make sure you take a break and get some fresh air.

Introverts typically like to think and reflect before making a decision, but weve come to expect everything to be instant, which isnt always a good thing. As headteacher, make others aware of your preferences and you be the one to set the tone.

Let people know if they want you to give your best, they need to give you sufficient time. Let them know your initial thoughts, but for a well-informed decision, you will get back to them.

Make sure you dont receive agendas for meetings last minute. This gives you time to go through them and do your thinking beforehand. This not only helps you to be at your best in meetings, but also helps the other introverts on your leadership team.

As a headteacher your role is demanding and its easy to get caught up in the busyness of it all, losing sight of how to be at your optimal as a leader. Make regular time for self-reflection and it becomes easier for you to identify how to lead at your best.

Known as the coach for high-achieving introverted women, Carol Stewart is an executive, career and business coach and founder of Abounding Solutions, with over 25 years coaching and leadership experience.

Go here to read the rest:
How to excel as an introverted leader - Independent Education Today

Lets face it, were entering a recession. Getting your career off the ground and feeling good about it has never been easy, but in the midst of an unprecedented global economic downturn, the cards might feel stacked against you more than ever.

Coupled with the American predisposition to enmesh career with identity and self worth, were in for bleaker times, both professionally and mental health-wise. Job opportunities are dwindling. Mass layoffs have already begun. And yet, your friend/former co-worker/cousin seems to still be thriving on Instagram? What?

Regardless of market upheaval, that feeling of professional jealousy is unfortunately an ever-present issue. Social media doesnt help the issue either. You can end up comparing yourself to peers, colleagues, and people youll never meet based on no information.

But before diving headfirst into a pit of toxic energy, stop and remember that despite what individualistic ideas of workism imply, you alone are not 100 percent responsible for what happens to your career.

Take a step back, and stop yourself from conflating professional achievement with self-worth. You are not your work. Your work is not you. You arent how much you make, the title you may or may not have, whether or not you can afford next months rent. You are just you.

Sara Kuburic, the Canadian psychotherapist and academic researcher behind the popular Instagram account, @millennial.therapist, says the crux of many peoples issues stem from the fact theyre unsure of how to define themselves, or what their values are.

Kuburics client base is primarily twentysomethings struggling with life transitions. Her account promotes healing and tips for self-awareness in bite-sized pieces, informed by her background in trauma-informed therapy. The whole comparison culture stems from us not being fulfilled, or from us now knowing how to be fulfilled, says Kuburic.

We know serious self-work and progress is nonlinear, but its still hard to do, and even harder to accept right away.

Professional jealousy only stops when we feel fulfilled in our own lives, she says. That stop only comes when someone understands their core beliefs, or knows what makes their life fulfilling which differs from person to person.

So to help get to the core of your jealousy and make the story back about you, Kuburic gave us five tips.

Lets begin your journey to coping with feelings of inadequacy in this tumultuous economic period in world history.

Kuburic encourages reframing whats happened to you in order to validate your own sense of worth and value. Instead of feeling like a failure or thinking I dont have a job, Im not going to be able to get another, Im a loser, she says instead to tell yourself something like, No, the coronavirus happened, and it really derailed my professional path. It shifted my career.

Through this, people can not only validate their feelings, but realize that many circumstances, professionally speaking, are not their fault.

It comes down to recognizing your own sense of worth, Kuburic states. I might not be where I want to be, but that doesnt mean I dont have inherent worth.

According to her, the fact that others have value should not take away from your own value. Its not, If theyre successful, Im somehow less, Kuburic says. To realize you have inherent value and youre learning, regardless of how well you do, can help you get over that hurdle.

In Kuburics practice, many clients often list their values, attaching them to their core beliefs about what makes a good life. It boils down to things that matter the most to you, Kuburic says. Is it being authentic? Is it having flexibility at work? Is it helping people? Its essentially what drives you.

For someone struggling with comparing themselves to other people earning more money, she offers this line of thought process: I understand that Billys making twice as much money as I am, but I chose this job because it allows me to live out my values.

For you, the highest value may not be the money you have in the bank, but for Billy it may be. In either case, both you and your hypothetical friend are both living out your values. You shouldnt try to mimic someone elses values, because they may not align to your own, she says.

A therapists term, negative self-talk refers to self-deprecating inner dialogue, which stems from the inner critic, according to Kuburic. When left unchecked, negative self-talk taints our perception of who we are, our sense of self-worth, and our sense of success.

If you cant control that inner dialogue of Youre not good enough, then professional jealousy will always be a problem, she says. To close the gap between you and your inner critic, she suggests acknowledging and taking note of things youve already accomplished.

Kuburic also encourages her clients to identify their emotions in their commentary, to step back from saying Im not going to get that role to Im feeling nervous I may not land this job. Even rephrasing small statements are crucial to coping with feelings of career-related jealousy and inadequacy.

Youre not letting the emotion define the experience, she says.

Before you even start to compare yourself, Kuburic says that first and foremost, you should know what success means. To guide clients on their journeys in identifying that for themselves, Kuburic often asks clients to imagine who their future self will be, 5 or 10 years down the road, both career-wise and in other aspects of their lives.

She also recommends reading books, talking to peers you can be vulnerable with, or asking others you admire how they define their own success. Visualizing ourselves and stepping outside our personal vacuum can guide us and be super helpful, Kuburic says. From there, once a clearer future successful self is defined, it can be easier to work toward it.

Whatever the tangible angle is, you can explore that, she says. That can be one way to kickstart what success is to you. She once again returns to the importance of defining for yourself what your values are.

Youre only going to feel successful if youre living out your values, Kuburic says. If youre not, no matter how much praise you get, you may not actually feel fulfilled.

We all have people in our lives we talk to, but they may not always be the best for our mental health. In order to truly get at the root of professional jealousy, it may be important to reexamine who you surround yourself with and how they make you feel.

If youre unsure if you have a healthy support system, Kuburic says, chances are you dont have one, but that shouldnt be cause for alarm.

Define for yourself what a support system should look like. It will look very different depending on your personality and your needs, she recommends. We think a support system is a passive, accidental thing that happens to us. Sometimes its not. We have to reach out and build that for ourselves.

Do the people you turn to for support give you permission to be yourself? Do you feel like they have your best interests in mind? The way that relationship makes us feel is a big indication of what it is, Kuburic says.

Starting a new support system may not even require meeting new people, but instead redefining who your support system consists of, and in what particular capacity. People dont have to be intimately close to you to be your support system, she says. It could be your mom, your boss. It could be a professional mentor.

According to Kuburic, these five tips are just the start of a longer journey to clarifying for yourself what contentment and success mean. Are you willing to tick boxes or climb the corporate ladder? Or would this affect your capacity to cultivate a life of creativity or flexibility? That balance is something each person must decide and discover for themself.

Theres no quick fix to deeply rooted, societally driven feelings of professional inadequacy and insecurity, but there are solid, therapist-approved ways of figuring it out.

For anyone with the means, low-cost online options for therapy like BetterHelp and Talkspace can help you find a mental health provider to explore this one-on-one in the age of physical distancing.

Speaking specifically to millennials like herself, who she also says is a generation exposed to more opportunities for comparison online than ever before, Kuburic also stresses humility and exploration, and to ask yourself, What is my life really about?

Her final words on humility: Furthermore, why should you know everything in your 20s and 30s? And if that was the case, what a boring life to live.

Patricia Kelly Yeo is a freelance writer and journalist covering health, food, and culture. She is based in Los Angeles. Find her being mostly professional on Twitter.

Read more:
5 Ways to Cope with Professional Jealousy (Or Any Kind of Envy) - Greatist

Particularly because many of us have been spending nearly 24-7 time with our families for weeks and weeks now, Mitchell Lyons from SEL4 Newton thought it might be a good time to share these timely and timeless tips.

By Mitch Lyons, Coordinator of SEl4Newton.org

Here are some plain-speaking social-emotional learning skills to think about and employ in your home. I hope they speak to you.

A smiling face

Does your face light up when your kid walks in a room? Does your expression say, Im so glad you are here?

When they come down from breakfast, either cranky, miserable or tired, do you greet them with a smile? When you do, it creates a safe space for them, where they know they are unconditionally loved.

Mr. Rogers offered children every day when he signed off his show with, Youve made this day a special day, by just youre being you. Theres no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.

As psychologist, Dr. Phyllis Fagell says, Your kids have a Ph.D. in you. They are watching everything you do. You children are watching you when you talk to them, when you are waiting in a line, when you react to the news, when you talk on the phone or even watch TV.

It takes self-awareness to think about modeling behaviors and a lot of practice to change or improve upon habits weve fallen into, but today is an opportunity to begin again.

The words above are largely taken from the articles below.

Resources:

https://info.montroseschool.org/blog/does-your-face-light-up-five-words-that-changed-my-teaching-and-parenting

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54064/how-parents-can-help-middle-schoolers-build-confidence-and-character

An optimistic and hopeful outlook

Being positive is a skill. It has to be practiced and honed like any skill. Ask yourself several times a day, How am I feeling? to reset yourself if youve slipped into a negative mood. Its easy to feel down in the dumps considering the reality of the situation, but showing hopefulness will reassure your children (and yourself).

The article below employs and Even If strategy.

Resource:

https://apertureed.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Promoting-SEL-at-Home-OT.pdf

The strengths of your child

So often we focus on what needs improving in our children that we forget to mention to them whats so right about them. When we do, we give them confidence. When we start conversations with some statement about what theyve done well, they will be more willing to listen to constructive criticism.

When they are passionate about something, latch on to it as if it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Children are on their own road, and while we can help by setting guardrails on that path, when we spot their intense interest in something, find ways to support it.

In these times when we are all together, its a good time to sit down and list your childs strengths. As the article points out below, these strengths can be personal, social, language, literacy, math, logic, music, sports or machinery.

Commenting about these strengths regularly will help their self-confidence, their sense of hopefulness and their knowledge that they are fully appreciated in their own homes.

Resource:

Identifying Your Child’s Strengths

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Happy and healthy at home - village14.com