In the Quiet Light of Thankfulness”

“In the Quiet Light of Thankfulness”

In a world that tumbles forward in haste and noise, the act of expressing gratitude feels like an intimate pause — a stillness that speaks louder than words. It is the soul’s gentle bow to the beauty it beholds, often unseen by the distracted eye. Gratitude is not merely a polite gesture; it is an awakening. A deep and sacred awareness that life, in all its layers — the gentle and the grating — is a gift.

How do I express my gratitude?

At times, it flows through spoken words — a tender thank you, a phrase softened by sincerity and brightened by presence. But often, my gratitude is quieter. It dwells in silence, in small acts of kindness returned, in eyes that meet another with truth and warmth. A letter left beneath a book, a prayer whispered to the sky, a simple nod to the passing wind — these too are hymns of my thankfulness.

Gratitude, for me, is not confined to festive seasons or ceremonial gestures. It arrives unannounced — with the first light of dawn filtering through the curtain, or the fragrance of rain on dry earth. It lives in the ordinariness of moments made magical by awareness. A smile from a stranger, the rustle of trees in an afternoon breeze, the music of solitude — all become sacred when received with grace.

The great thinkers have spoken of gratitude as a spiritual virtue. In Stoic philosophy, it is considered the key to contentment. In Indian traditions, it is pratishruti — a vow to remember the grace bestowed by life and others. Rumi wrote, “Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” This isn’t just poetry — it’s a practice, a living philosophy.

Gratitude refines the spirit. It burns the excess of ego, softens the edges of complaint, and heightens one’s sensitivity to the interconnectedness of all things. It teaches us to honour both the giver and the gift — be it joy or grief — for each has a role in our unfolding.

Even suffering has been a strange teacher. Looking back, I have learnt to be grateful for losses that revealed hidden strengths, for rejections that re-routed me to wiser paths, and for silences that deepened my understanding of life’s music. Gratitude doesn’t erase the ache — it transforms it.

In the practice of gratitude, there is also humility — an acknowledgement that we are not the sole authors of our happiness. Nature, chance, people, time — all conspire quietly in our favour. Recognising this, I find myself offering thanks to the nameless, the forgotten, the divine.

Whether it is through lighting a diya at twilight, writing a reflective note, offering a song, or simply being still with the moment, I let my gratitude breathe. Not out of obligation, but from reverence — for life as it is, imperfect and radiant.

Let me conclude with a few stanzas — verses that rise from the still waters of appreciation:

Verses in the Light of Thanks

Gratitude is not a grand parade,
But moonlight on a field once frayed.
A hush that sings through broken stone,
A hand that clasps, though worn, alone.

It blooms in cups of evening tea,
In moments steeped in memory,
A smile exchanged, a door held wide,
The ache that taught the soul to glide.

It’s thanks not just for joys we keep,
But also for the trials that steep.
For every no that shaped the yes,
For silence that gave voice to bless.

So I bow to dusk, to the leaf, to the flame,
To all who passed and left no name.
And in this fleeting, fragile hue,
I live, I breathe, and I thank you.

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Exaltation: When the Soul Stands on Tiptoe”

“Exaltation: When the Soul Stands on Tiptoe”

There are certain moments in life that feel like the spirit itself has grown wings — moments of clarity, ecstasy, elevation, or awe. That feeling of profound upliftment, where heart, mind, and soul seem to rise above the ordinary, is known as exaltation.

But what truly is exaltation?

Is it joy? Is it reverence? Is it the splendour of triumph or the subtle thrill of transcendence?

In its essence, exaltation is the state of being raised high — not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It is a word steeped in poetry, theology, astronomy, and philosophy. Like a chisel on stone, it carves deeper meaning into our experience of being.

Etymological Roots and the Depths Beyond

The word exaltation is derived from the Latin exaltare — “to raise high,” from ex (out of) and altus (high). It suggests a lifting up from the mundane to the majestic. In poetic use, it often denotes a moment when the human experience touches the divine — an ascent not of steps but of sentiments.

Exaltation is not always loud. Sometimes, it is the silent bloom of inner peace, the stillness after prayer, or the quiet joy of watching the sun break through stormy clouds. It may arrive in the humblest corner of a room or at the edge of a mountain cliff — when one’s soul bows to something greater than itself.

Philosophical and Mystical Dimensions

Philosophers and sages have long tried to articulate this ephemeral state. Plato, in his dialogues, speaks of a soul being drawn upwards toward the Good, the True, and the Beautiful — an act of intellectual and emotional exaltation. For the Vedantins, such elevation is the soul remembering its original oneness with Brahman, the Absolute. It is the shedding of ego and embracing of higher consciousness.

The Bhagavad Gita hints at exaltation when Krishna speaks of sthitaprajna — the person of steady wisdom who, unmoved by pleasure or pain, dwells in equanimity. Exaltation, here, is liberation through detachment and spiritual insight.

Christian mystics like Meister Eckhart or St. John of the Cross describe exaltation as a mystical union — the soul’s ascent through love and surrender to the Divine Presence. It’s less of a leap and more of a melting — a soft surrender to the overwhelming beauty of God.

Exaltation in the Celestial Skies

In astrology, exaltation holds a unique place. Each planet is considered to be exalted in a specific sign, a position where it expresses its best, most dignified, most beneficial nature. For example, the Moon is exalted in Taurus, signifying a place where emotional needs find grounding, and the Sun is exalted in Aries, symbolising the spirit of initiative and identity in its boldest brilliance.

Here, exaltation is not random — it is resonance. It represents a celestial harmony, a moment when cosmic energy sings in its purest form.

In Art, Nature, and Everyday Life

– One does not need to be a philosopher or mystic to taste exaltation. It is woven into the tapestry of daily existence.

– When a musician strikes the final note that echoes like truth through silence — that is exaltation.

– When a poet bleeds verses that lift another heart out of despair — that is exaltation.

– When lovers meet after years and speak no words, yet feel everything — that too, is exaltation.

– Even when standing under a canopy of stars, with the breath caught halfway between awe and humility — the soul is exalted.

The Emotional Alchemy

Exaltation is an alchemy of wonder, gratitude, and grace. It may come from faith or beauty, from truth or transformation. It is as much a stirring of the spirit as it is a remembrance of something eternal within.

In a world often weighed down by routine and realism, the capacity to be exalted is a gift — a sacred fracture through which the light pours in.

A Thought to Carry Forward

Let us then keep ourselves open — to exaltation. Not through pride or pomp, but through presence and perception. Let us notice the dew on morning grass, the smile of a stranger, the scent of old books, the echo of a distant hymn, the last light of the day — for these are quiet calls to rise.

As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke once said:

“Go to the limits of your longing… Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in.”

Exaltation is just that — a flare of the soul. A moment when we do not walk this earth, but glide ever so lightly — as if eternity had brushed past us in the wind.