Philosopher's Stone - PS I love you

A loooong blog... Are you ready?! Haha

Mistake is a word used to explain an experience through a specific action. It is through our mistakes we learn. If only life were easy, where would the excitement be?  
There is always a new place you want to visit, 
a friend you like to meet, 
Cuisines to be tasted, 
a new path to be found.  
The list of the new experiences we all wish for is endless, yet to get there, it takes courage. Courage to change through those mistakes.  

Words have never been more beautiful than the saying of Mark Twain.
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet shed on the heel that crushed it."
Let us be a little more forgiving towards ourselves today and every day. The less you judge yourself for your 'mistakes', the more you allow Space for new experiences. You do realise that by writing these words repeatedly, the author is self-inflicting 

Now, reading the heading and what came after it, you must think I am going totally philosophical here. Oh well, perhaps, but the main reason diverts to a new experience related to Philosopher's Stone, a Mexican truffle I tried on Saturday. And no, it did not come in an omelette, nor a pasta, and it sure ain't Harry Potter stuff.

Bes, a dear friend had texted me only a few days before Saturday on whether I was interested in joining him, his lady, Ama and a few others at an address in the outskirts of London (well, outskirts to me) for a spiritual kind of experience. And how appropriate it is for it to coincide with the meditation course I am attending. I thought to myself... 'See, how my needs are attended to, automatically through the universe, without trying', and being a sucker for spontaneity, I took up the offer with absolute delight.

Now, to go back to last week, it again boggles my mind to look at such a busy schedule. All the lunches, dinners, cocktails, concerts, London Design week as in interiors... 
It was a joy to meet up with Malik and Sana, who were visiting London for dinner at an Italian restaurant convenient for all. Over the many years, we have met at Fabric, our friendship has grown, and it was time to get together in a different environment than a dark dungeon with loud music (excellent nevertheless), where we could talk over a meal. I often saw Malik at the disco; speaking with him has always been a pleasure. Something absolutely loving about his whole being; gorgeous in every way. As for Sana, a bubbly beauty whose eyes lit up every time she told an exciting tale or heard one. We talked about relationships and exchanged fun stories at different life stages.

Now, that dinner was on Wednesday. After lunch at Bluebird with Lyne, we had a business(ish) lunch, which continued with window shopping and a glass of spritzer further along Kings Road at a bar in full sunshine. Greaaaat.

Thursday was madness; I felt dizzy looking at my diary on the day, which shot by with chores, and the evening began early at 6pm, meeting Arabel and her partner Jeffrey at the Metro bank launch. I have been to many launches before, but a bank launch in this crisis?! It was interesting as I met some of Arabel's friends she had fondly talked about, from a stunning, upcoming singer who kindly let me listen to her music on her iPhone to a lady friend of hers who had invited me to her apartment overlooking the Thames on a birthday bash, to more of Arabela's entourage.

I had to rush out of there by 7.45pm to attend a concert at the Empire Shepherd's Bush, where I had not been previously but dropped my Girl off once to a concert some years back.  
The proud mama of the lead singer of Rizzle Kicks, who was playing on stage that evening, arrived at the same time as me and greeted Torsten and me with a big hug while looking over her shoulder, checking where we should soon head to and saying hi to other familiar faces she knew, standing outside. 
The concert was sold out. The energy of the boys on stage was dynamic, and the crowd below us moved side to side and jumped up and down with their hands raised in the air. Mama Emma looked at her watch and suddenly disappeared from where we were standing to appear on stage with her son singing: "Mama do the hump"! The crowd cheered as she boogied on stage and returned to join us, filled with excitement.  
Emma pointed out at the guitarist on stage to tell me:
"That's Jordan's dad."
Me: "Who? What?"
"Haldita..." Emma repeated herself. "The guitarist, that's my son's dad."
And we laughed as I finally understood what she was telling me. Finally!
"Oh!" I exclaimed.

 RIZZLE KICKS

By the way, that was part of the act.

On Friday, Edeline, whom I briefly met on my recent visit to Brighton, arrived two hours late at my place to visit Chelsea Harbour for London Design Week. She came right in time for a late lunch, so we sat and had a leisurely meal before heading to the interior design shops. What is the rush everyone is constantly on? Haha. I know... I know.  
She had done me a favour when I visited Brighton, and it was a pleasure to repay her kindness.
I read somewhere, as part of gratitude, give everyone you meet a gift. Let that be a smile, a hug, a sweet word, or anything warm and personal to make them happy. Life is a roller coaster of give and take. Mmm... I like that.

Friday evening was a fun-filled night at Momo's. Melissa Laveaux, from Haiti/Canada, was on stage with her guitar in front of a microphone, singing folk music that sat gently on the heart. Her understated sense of dressing, the small chapeau and her charming smile added charm to her captivating voice. Time flew before she left the stage for the DJ to play excellent house music. I was accompanied by Donna and my friend Ron at Momo's basement club, which had a dark, cosy atmosphere, with people sitting at tables with candlelight, watching Melissa perform. As the dancing began to the music of the DJ, Donna had to leave, so Ron and I continued till 1:30am when we bid each other farewell, and I cabbed it home. However, on the way, I had a missed call from Sana, telling me to join her and Malik at Wellington's. Refusing was rude, so I re-directed the cabbie and went in for another boogie before heading to bed.

And then ...  Saturday morning arrived.
I had a text from Bes asking me to pick up his friend Fadl at a station near me and drive to the address he had sent. Quite mysterious as when I asked Fadl, as we met, whether he knew what the day was about, he murmured:
"Sounded like it was a kind of spiritual experience."
I smiled and said: "I kind of gathered the same. We'll find out soon enough."
Once we arrived at the address in the 'outskirts', we walked into Sam's house to be met by Bes and Ama at the door. They introduced Horus, who had the biggest grin I had ever seen. Even his eyes shone as he smiled.  

We all gathered in a lived-in room around 2pm, where Ama and I settled comfortably into the large sofa while everyone sat on a chair or sat on the cushions on the floor as Bes began telling us of the experience we were about to have. An introduction to 'Philosopher's Stone', a Mexican Truffle. It looked like a mouldy walnut. Bes then explained how the Incas and the Shamans (I would assume while they entered a trance state during a ritual) of each tribe in Central South America would use it in ceremonies, served with chocolate and honey. However, in this instance, grinding the hard nut was the best way of swallowing it with water. It tasted slightly nutty. Nothing like those awful mushrooms I tried in Gili, without any effect, I may add.

Bes played trance music on his Mac, and we talked awhile. Before I knew it, the effect of the PS began to be felt in my stomach. Bes explained how the feeling gets stuck in the place we feel the strongest emotions within. By holding his hand directly close to where the pain came from, as a form of healing, after a pause, he released his hand in mid-air with a movement of flow through his wrist. He carried on a similar motion by holding his palms close to my head and letting go of what was inside. Although almost everyone around me was talking, I laid myself on the floor, legs crossed, in a meditation pose and closed my eyes, oblivious to the world outside of my being. My head felt lifted, and the vision of outer Space came out. A spiritual insight of planets moving swiftly in a universe where colours were significantly bright, with the background of a pitch black yet starry sky. Shades of pink and blue formed a lilac or purple ensemble, surrounded by planets with rings around them, others in plain circular form, and there I was, floating in this magical experience. The feeling was so wholesome and pure, the experience like none I had ever come across and all I felt was ... 'Could I stay here for as long as it takes? I don't wanna go back. This is BLISS'.
If this was heaven, then we have nothing to fear of death.

Time became irrelevant, and pure joy was all I felt. Before I knew it, I returned to earth and checked my watch, which read 7pm. I was only aware of meeting Kelly for dinner, as I had texted earlier to say I was in her neighbourhood. She suggested picking me up at 8:20pm and taking me to a local Japanese restaurant. Good, there was time to recuperate. I had an out-of-body experience; Bes explained and travelled into the universe. WOW, like never before.

I'm returning home after a three-hour dinner with Kelly, during which she almost fell off her seat a few times, laughing at my stories!  
Saki in hand, when it came to cheering and hitting the small cups together, all I heard Kelly say, instead of cheers, was: "Space!"
Puzzled, I looked at her and said: "Space?! Really?"
"Space?" She repeated. "No, honey. I said to Spring!"
Great friends and fabulous experiences with them make my world go around. And smile, big time.

Sunday was dinner prepared by my beautiful Girl and astounding Boy for Mother's Day. Their company, love, and support make me proud to be a mum. I am sooooo blessed.

'PS I love you' is what Ama and Bes have named this magical truffle. Rightly too.