Nartikki – Pray, Dance,Love

Dance of Life

During a very sad time in my life….my Mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The C word alone was devastation. I was young for my age of 20 something, a Pollyanna at heart and I wasn’t prepared to face the world alone, without my Mother, who was only 19 years older than me and my best loving friend. Bedridden in a hospital, she was so frail and unable to eat; I too had stopped eating. She looked at me with a playful glint in her eyes, “Christmas is coming, you must go away, you can’t watch this anymore.  I promise I’ll be here when you get back.”

Following her request, I went to Italy for the holidays. Friends nurtured my saddened spirit, and just like she promised, she waited until the day I came home  to make her departure from this earth plane.

My praying quest began…with a trip to the Far East; including a trip to an ashram in India…to find  myself…to make sense of life. I was given the name, Nartikki, which in Sanskrit means ‘Great dancer of Life’,  by the amazing spiritual teacher I met there.  After my stay in the Ashram I went to Singapore and on to Bali.  I found love there, not of the romantic nature as in “Eat, Pray, Love”…but rather a sweetness and love for the people and the culture. And ultimately for myself.

I wrote a book “Nartikki” that was filled with adventure, silliness, and profound connections of the heart.  Watching “Eat, Pray, Love”…obviously there were some parallels: same countries, same quest to find one’s core essence, the purpose for being here on this planet. The question that went around in my head, “Who am I and what am I doing here?”  It did get answered for me. I had a profound awakening of connecting with my true nature and the Oneness we all share.

The most authentic parts of the movie for me were some of the travelogue scenes, ;the Indian children banging on the taxicab. I too had been on the same ride to the same Ashram.   Also the vistas in Bali, the wise man, the rice paddies jarred a remembering.

The book Nartikki was turned into a screenplay and I contemplated how to make it without sounding preachy, spewing words of wisdom that had been shared along the journey. The fact it was a travelling journey, we would meet new people along the way, but the interconnections would be minimal and it would be in three countries. Part one, two and three. Would I want a narration? Often they are dreadful.

“Eat, Pray, Love ” is a great premise, but the movie suffered from the same considerations I referred to, and other disjointed continuities. As a writer and filmmaker I know the difficulties of mounting a film with a message. In summation, the book outshines the film., as is the case with many screen adaptations.  It lacked heart, emotional connection for me. The Ashram scenes…lacked the essence of the magic that happens., even the chanting was strained. The scenes in Italy with the camaraderie of friends rang so true. And to do nothing is an art form the Italians have mastered.

Would I recommend the movie? Yes, I would, not because it was so entertaining, but for the lessons. We need to step out of the limited beliefs that keep us from living a full life.  And, we need to take risks to find out ‘who and what we truly are’. Even if the movie shouted “all about me”, the bigger view is all about us connecting to self-love, the eternal connection. To understand the depth of love’s power, the journey of discovery will take many forms. And, some lead to romantic love that also can lead to unconditional love of all sentient beings.

Nartikki – Soul Dancer- Merrie Lynn Ross’ adventurous book – release Spring 2012

www.merrieway.com