Menonstruckshunal; A Brief Matter of Political Context

That title is nonsense, of course. Nothing political is ever brief, and context is no small matter when it comes to the political as it stands for society. 

A hefty sentence to begin the post, but, dear readers, the subject prompted is itself hefty. What prompt? This comment from Gail, in response to Monday's menoculayshunal post...

...So get a cuppa and biccie and settle down for a long read.

Although, to some degree, the answer lay within the last few lines of that post as to the currency of the caste system, the remaining questions deserve an answer, and this is a subject that often gets skirted. To be fair, a part of me would like to just move along, but this cannot be ignored. I said on Monday that it is a thorny subject - perhaps it would be fair to up that analogy to a minefield. Why? Well, as I attempted to convey the other day, Indian society itself has taken the written word out of context and built around it a doctrine with which to build a society in favour of those who consider themselves elite. Over centuries the four inherent qualities were removed from being the natural talents that show in each of us from our karma 'bank' and were made into a case of inheritance by birth. Further, many other levels within those four castes developed;  there are thought to be around 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, often ascribed to a single occupation. 

Now, the thing is that much of this reinforcement of status by birth only became fully embedded once the British got a foothold in India. Before the 18th century, records would indicate that there was not the state of distaste that can sometimes be observed in more recent history between the different strata of the society. Simply put, due to the Raj having to keep records familiar to the British, meaning that the castes became fully integrated with the occupations generally held by them, social status became political. It was apartheid before that word became known from the Boer's and their separation of society according to birth status.

source

Unfortunately, even before the fight for independence flourished in the subcontinent, this also engendered a politicised view of what it is to be Hindu. Thus arose Hindutva, a political philosophy styled after European fascism of the early twentieth century, an ideology that privileges a cult of personality and authoritarian leadership. It gave rise to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - "National Volunteer Organisation." The key difference between Hinduism and Hindutva is that the first is a mobile, adaptable, adoptive faith which seeks growth and interaction, while the second seeks unquestioned allegiance to a myth-oriented, hate-mongering dogma that reifies and sanctions its violent modes of operation. The currently ruling party is politically affiliated with the RSS, and Narendra Modi has been a life-long member. Not only does Hindutva advocate hatred against all non-Hindus, (although it does allow that Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists are at least native to India), it reinforces all the tropes of casteism and superstition that the fundamental philosophy (Advaita Vedanta) deplores. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a Hindu who fought not just for independence but also for equalities within India; his assassin, Nathuram Vinayak Godse, was a Hindutva member of the RSS.

Thus, in direct response to Gail's question, has casteism strengthened or weakened since independence? I am inclined to say neither, as it was already quite entrenched from Victorian times but is now very much to the fore again due to the political state of India at the moment. Given the size of the population, RSS constitutes a comparatively small percentage in terms of member numbers - but due to the elitist nature and that BJP currently has control, there have been some terrible outrages against fellow Indians in recent years. 

The reservation system (which had its seeds as early as the 1930s but was formalised after independence) attempted to secure better opportunities for the lower castes. Interestingly, the RSS relies upon the lower-registered castes for its muscle and does not openly oppose reservation. (A cynic might see this as the Brahmin-founded organisation tolerating other castes in order not to get their hands dirty...) Modi himself claims to be of OBC (Other Backward Caste) classification and, therefore, a beneficiary of the reservation system. No doubt there has been a good deal of positive progress from reservation, but it has only served to further politicise social classification in the form of caste.

On the personal level, when I was not permitted to touch the upacharya's feet, he saw me as OBC. When I was out shopping, the auto drivers might have seen me as OBC also and therefore 'fair game,' but the white sari assigned me Brahmin status and thus be respected and have my own feet touched.

Them and us. Society everywhere has this. It has ever been thus and shall ever be. I share with you another pertinent comment from Monday...

Further, let me share some links to reading that adds to the scope of this post and show that it is not just in India that the PLU sentiment arises - and that there seems to be no escaping a particular band of folk who are determined to claim superiority. Thank you for taking the time to read this far, if you have. It's not easy, it's not light, but it should not be ignored.

The RSS factsheet

Article on a current matter of reservation and RSS view

"Boyscouts running the country"

Fascism - older than you think

Whites-Only Church

Menopolyxinaemia - The Thing That Turned Tail

Okay, peeps - and particularly those of you who have either not yet reached this point in life - or who have wives and daughters that you love - YES, YOU MEN TOO!!! - today's post is part of raising awareness around that thing which I have never been able to name, so I made up my own lexicon around it - but today, it will be faced head-on... 

"If men had to undergo menopause, 

it would have been 'fixed' by now!" 

(Baroness Sayeeda Warsi)

Kate Muir in The Guardian.

DO NOT RUN AWAY!!! Those of you who have been around long enough know the origin of this blog as a release valve for the pressure from menopolyxinaemia (I know, I know, but the menoctionary is my baby now...) I was deep in menosoup and having menoloopals and menodropsicals and aarrrrggggggggggghhhhh.

GENTLEMEN, I IMPLORE YOU, STICK AROUND... IF YOU WORK WHERE WOMEN WORK, ESPECIALLY IN MANAGEMENT, THIS IS ULTRA IMPORTANT!!!

The start of this blog was almost precisely at the point of menopause. However, that term is used almost exclusively, and the concept of perimenopause is rarely mentioned. Menopause is described as when blood flow ceases, and no further flow appears for at least twelve months. There can, occasionally, be a 'show' on or around the year, just to - you know - keep things fretting, but it is usually just a one-off. The last hurrah, so to speak. I was 52. The time generally accepted as appropriate for menopause. 

However, there had been an excruciating twelve-year lead-up... and an equally befuddling eight or nine years after, which count as perimenopause. That's the place where the majority of the multifarious symptoms reside and it is these symptoms that mainly require treatment - not the actual cessation of flow. A lucky few women truly do not have trouble over this time - or at least very minimal. A whopping <>80% of the world's female population, though, do suffer and some 25%, like myself, undergo every possible variation and manifestation that is written about and even a couple that aren't. 

From "Sex, Myths and The Menopause". If at all you can obtain access
to this excellent documentary, I highly recommend it.

I want to tell you that I was prompted to this post due to an email from blogpal Hilary Melton-Butcher, who kindly forwarded the link to this short TED talk. Go on - it's only eight minutes.

It 

The Guardian

is a matter that is starting to be recognised globally. I do take issue with the bracketing of time that is so often presented, though. A recent article in my newspaper of choice (clip to the right) has a statement that symptoms can last one year to eight years - where the heck did they get that from??? There is also a presumption (and this can be among doctors too, who have no specialist knowledge) that meno can only occur in a woman's fifties. There are plenty much younger women who can hotly debate that one!

What is more, bad enough that the other half of the planet's population is ignorant of what goes on for a woman in her 'change'... many women are equally ignorant. A case in point is the statement by a woman senior manager in that same newspaper excerpt. That article is about the same subject as discussed in the video above. Similarly, last year, concern was raised about the loss of medical expertise due to older female doctors having to step back from their roles as a result of the ravages and misunderstandings around menopause. If such Victorian standards are held even within the profession that ought to be sorting things out, what hope is there?! Even treatments can be a problem and although largely proven otherwise now, the 2001 report about the connection of HRT with breast cancer continues to haunt matters. Nowadays, HRT includes body-identical hormones produced from soy and.... yes, oh yes!... Wild Yam!!! (See the bottom of my bio/contacts page.)

I am no longer in the workforce. I took early retirement due to a turn of events in life that have been largely responsible for keeping me sane. I am sure that I would not be sitting here typing to you about this now if I remained fighting to keep my health practice running. There were some very, very dark days.

I hope that there is a genuine opening up to discussion and changes in workplace management around menopause for all current and upcoming women with ambitions for their careers. Or even if they simply wish - or need to - keep working, albeit at the supermarket. A new charity has been set up (although UK-based, has global intention) to help educate and support anyone and everyone who cares. YES, BLOKES, THAT INCLUDES YOU. As partners, as bosses, as colleagues, as friends and brothers... you too have a role to play in supporting your womenfolk. 

So my dears, I ask that you reference this post in a post on your own blogs, that you spread the word about the charity and share that TED talk widely. 

SECRET WOMEN'S BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE CRACKED OPEN - MUCH AS THE PEGASUS PROJECT IS UNVEILING ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE... thanks for lending me your 'ears.'

Menocyclical; Sharing Posts Around

These two posts - one yesterday, one today - felt universal, so appeared on AVbloggy first and now here.

Hari OM

The purpose of any philosophy is to help us live our lives better by applying as detached a level of scrutiny as we can upon the big questions and the small. The majority of philosophy, when it gets to the heart of things, ends up having to address the spiritual nature of humankind. It also serves a social and political role insofar as it can bring to light matters of ethics, values, common interest, and such. In that vein, I was struck by a quote recently observed in a national newspaper of the UK;

Written in the 17th century, these are words by which many a government of today could live - yet so many do not. We are in a world that seems determined to remove freedoms (even under the guise of handing out freedom) and, in some places, to misuse, twist, misinterpret - I would go so far as to say (and do not do so lightly) 'bastardise' - the very philosophy that is claimed to being upheld. 

The majority of folk look to their leaders for establishing a path. How lost are we when that leadership is only interested in itself? Or, at best, only interested in making better things for a specific group of people and not for the whole of their nation-state? This is when all individuals who feel they are being dragged along by such a tide must find it in themselves to take a stand against it. The obvious opportunity, when it comes, is to use the privilege of voting and ensuring a power shift. Somewhere among such individuals, stronger ones must come forward and take up the banner of leadership themselves. 

Vedantically, it is understood that everything ultimately comes down to the individual and the choices they make for their lives. Vedanta also clarifies that no thought or deed takes place entirely discretely - that there is always a residual effect. Ripples in the pool of a dropped stone. Everything - everyone - is connected. Just as those leaders of negativity have dropped their stones into the pool of life, so too must those with a wider worldview, a more generic sense of nationhood and more open hearts and minds to the idea that 'variety is the spice of life.'

I truly believe it is possible to have a strong faith system to sustain oneself and yet govern a people in which others' beliefs and habits exist, without the need or permission of dissent or definitions of difference. That it is possible to govern for the whole and not the few. Our colour, creed, culture, gender orientation or origin of birth should not count against us if we pull together under a single flag - whichever flag we choose. That everyone has a right to reach for the Higher in whatever way they wish - provided they in their turn acknowledge that equal right.

In that last sentence lies the crux. This is no single path to the top of the mountain. To claim that any one path is the only path is to deny passage for so many and condemn them from rising. What is discovered, if one travels deeply - highly - enough, is that the paths actually draw together and travellers depend on each other all the more...

Menocyclical; Sharing Posts Around

These posts from Aatmaavrajanam bloggy felt like they needed to be shared - one today, one tomorrow. 

Hari OM

The word did not so much get whispered. It was more the prompting of an image. I took the photo some while ago, but sorting files last week, it kinda struck deep.

HEART. It has become something of a loose symbol, an emoji and a hand-shaping for all who show themselves to camera and crowds. Wearing their hearts upon their sleeves, as it were.

In Vedanta, heart is understood to be of the mind. That is to say, in the context of emotion. When a concept or occurrence affects us physically, via the limbic, triggering the parasympathetic system, we tend to talk about our heart leaping, or coming into our throats and other similar terms. It is not entirely imagined. The rush of adrenaline that will have been triggered by the systems mentioned in response is all part of the fight or flight technology in our body. Even a positive event can trigger this. Excitement has the same causative response as fear. 

However, it is all triggered in the brain and the thoughts we have around it are purely of the mind. Nothing of the physical as such at all. And nothing to do with the actual organ we call the heart. 

This is true also when we talk about taking heart as in, having courage. The organ is not going to supply anything but the circulation of blood. The lungs are going to do nothing but exchange the air. The brain is going to do nothing but be the processor. 

The data is written into that processor by chitta (the memory of our spiritual selves and logger of current experiences), the buddhi (the analytical section of our mental selves), the manas (the river of thoughts - the output of the programming), and the ahangkaara (the ego-self which is the interface with the world, the 'keyboard' upon which our individual program is written).

Events happen, good or bad. The animal being reacts according to the physical responses required to deal with those situations. What happens to us as humans, though, is that we formulate thoughts and give words to express the effect upon us - the general word being 'feelings.' Further to that, we assign much precedence to those feelings and permit them importance, governance, that can often cause a great deal of trouble. Not just for ourselves, but for others. It is this animal part of us, where the buddhi has somehow become disengaged or is over-ridden by the ahangkaara and manas, that stirs up, and allows to rule, such things as the hatred and cynicism that has become so prevalent.

When we say of someone that they are permitting their hearts to rule their head, what we are really saying is that they are believing their ego and not their intellect. No matter how clever their words.

That requires of those who are faced with insult, abuse or any other negative, to 'find heart' and give voice to the effect upon them. 

In doing this, both sides need to rise into their buddhi. They need to be clear, analytical, truly above the animal responses. Sadly, this is something that appears to be lacking for many today. Too many are willing to sink into their lower selves and not seek to raise or put effort into improving themselves as human beings. To become the epitome of Love Universal that this symbol ought truly to represent.

Menostalgikkul; Featuring Particular Items

In his recent visit to Edinburgh, Mac3 helped with a little bit of decluttering of the attic. (To be fair, it didn't start out like that, but as a search for one particular item. We have a substantial floored attic and there are rather a lot of particular items up there...) 

Among lots of things that were cheerfully removed for relocation to the council tip, he rediscovered one of his own particular items. A 'bureau-style' desk our father had made for him, many of his 50+ years ago. He deliberated and decided that he could let it go. After all, he'd forgotten all about it. That is what attics are for, is it not? To place all those particular items of life to which attachments have been formed or which may one day spring back into use... and then out of sight out of mind and they become a voyage nostalgikkul when the door is dropped again.

Now, you need to know if you didn't already, the YAMster has a bit of a peeve about the keeping of things beyond their proper purpose. She has been desperate for the attic (and under-annexe and garage...) to be decluttered almost since ever she arrived back in the Bonny Land. If you have no immediate use for something but can see the need arising in, say 2-5 years (depending on the particular item), then okay. If, after that time period allotted, however, no use has been made and indeed the item itself has been forgotten about, then rid yourself of it!!! I do allow that ornaments from Africa and hand-made furniture may be exceptions to this time ruling.

I do my utmost not to collect more than is absolutely required for my own needs here at the Hutch (yes, still here at the time of writing, but actually travelling back east this weekend). When I do permit stuff to enter here, it is on the proviso that I actually need it for some specific task, or that it serves a healthy purpose in life. This is helped by the fact there is no attic and the one storage cupboard has no room for anything but useful stuff.

Included in this philosophy is the artwork I have mounted on the walls. If one accepts that ambience and intellectual pursuit may be gained from such, then each item hanging here serves a purpose; if it is my own work, then it has served as mental release and self-expression as well as memory; if it is the work of others, it is because it has sparked something deep within upon which to contemplate. (...hmmm... there could be an idea for a few posts... !!!) I like space in my living place. Proportion. As much as it is possible here, that is what I aim for. Occasionally it gets away from me, but I am also very adept at decluttering myself and do it on a regular basis. I can't wait to be back to the Hutch on a more full-time basis (next year sometime???) so that I can put into practice what I have just boasted...

All that said and done, when Mac3 said he was going to release the bureau from his own life I could immediately see it serving a purpose in the Hutch!  Yes, dear readers, I claimed it for my own life. I knew exactly where it was going to go. 

The Hutch has a generous entry hall - almost a room on its own, and in some ways a waste of living space. That's as maybe, but it does feel rather grand to come into. I do have my ghar-mandir (home temple) set up there. There is a chair behind the door to catch coats and bags etc. Until now, there was also a cardboard box covered in silk cloth serving as a stand for my potpourri bowl. 

Whilst I have not quite decided which of several uses to put the interior to work, I am more than delighted with the presence of this particular item in my life now. (Didn't photo that, but it has three pigeon holes on the upper back and a flat board at the level you see the hinges, which opens up to a 'secret compartment'.)

In that mythical time of longer residence, it will get stripped back and painted.

Menopticatering; Taking Part

Over at Molly's place, I spotted she'd participated in a little 'scavenger hunt', which originated from a blog called ''Hootin' Anni's Day Trippin''. I've seen that lady around on comments of other blogs, but have never connected there. However, my imagination was sparked and inspiration bloomed for a post to fill today. So whilst I am not actually participating fully, here is my interpretation of the ten 'clues'.

Anni's pointers were thus:

Okay... well, I have a habit of photographing signs, so my challenge was which to share with you. I figured a warning sign would be as good as any!

Something seasonal? Well, it's autumn, the time of harvest and when all the wild fruits provide the nourishment the wildlife need to store up for winter. Here are some crab apples, ripe and ready:

A yellow leaf? Here you are...

What's next? Oh yes, something miniature. This little moth in India was scarcely more than an inch from proboscis to wingtip!

Then comes the pumpkin...

This is followed by something containing a date or dates... how about a little glimpse at the family tree?

Now we have 'anything lighted'... well, I could have bucked out and said the pumpkin above doubles for this one. But I won't...

Then we have the decorated door to contend with. I realise only now that I have not shown the actual door of this old phonebox... but let me reassure you that all three glass sides (which includes the door) were decorated thusly.

Now for an author's name in print - I have chosen a museum article regarding the bouncing bomb and how it was tested in the loch up behind the Hutch... author, "Mark Smith".

Last, but far from least, the mystery image... clue; anti-bacterial and healing properties are purported... place your guesses in the comments below. I will reveal the answer on Monday!

Menonagramming; Playing With Words

❝Who is up for the challenge of trying to make 31 words from Stenographer❞

You have to blame Miss Cecilia for this one!!! I couldn't resist. I am a word fiend (you may have noticed. No..?) I try to do some word puzzles every day; crosswords, word searches, codewords (I REALLY love codewords)... I am particularly fond of anagrams. So here we go... just so you know, I am literally writing these down as I compose the post, will not be using plurals and will just keep going till I stop... will I hit the thirty-one???

ape

ate

arse

ash

ashen

art

aster

aeon

age

argon

atone

agree

arrest

arose

ear

eager

eat

eaten

earth

earthen

grape

graph

great

greater

grate

grater

groat

goat

goatee

gosh

ghost

greet

greeter

gear

got

gate

grant

gnash

gash

grasp

her

hear

here

hoar

heart

hearth

hearse

heap

harp

host

hot

hog

hen

hope

hang

hanger

no

north

near

not

note

nose

nosh

net

nest

on

one

oat

oar

organ

orate

open

opener

par

pet

pot

pore

pare

pear

peer

peat

parent

pant

preen

pate

reap

reaper

rope

rota

roster

rent

renter

rant

rate

rest

rang

range

rear

rose

song

sang

steer

soar

sop

sear

seer

sag

sharp

sharpener

sent

spar

spore

shop

share

stare

spare

stage

strong

stronger

soap

seen

sprang

tang

tense

tenser

tear

tare

trap

ton

tone

tong

toper

tape

tar

there

those

then

than

throng

...oh look, I could keep going. This took fifteen minutes just pulling the letters out and letting my fingers flap around the keys. 

Closer to 131, don't you think? (I lost count after 100...) Maybe if it was to be 31 words on only a certain amount of letters...but even if a minimum of five letters per word, I still have way more than 31. Did anyone else take up the challenge???

Menolialipistry; Lexical Semantics of Knitwear

After my post on Monday, Joanne commented in response to seeing the original garments of Mac2 and mentioned: "the gansey"... oh, there's a thing now - my Premium Grammarly just does not recognise that word. What does it make of "guernsey"? ... yup, that passed muster. Interesting. I wasn't expecting that as I started typing!

When I responded to Joanne, it was thusly:

Now, that response reflected my ingrained learning. I grew up with certain words in relation to knitwear that, I discovered, were not necessarily used in the same context throughout the UK, never mind the world. What is more, other words had to be accommodated.

Sweater, jumper, jersey, pullover... then my idea of a 'polo neck' was someone else's 'turtleneck'. I even discovered that cardigans might sometimes be called 'vests' - which to me is a cotton undergarment. Whatever. I do know that 'jersey' originated from the channel island of that name. In the middle ages when wool was the equivalent of oil for making moolah, that island excelled in both its knitting yarn and fabric yardage. It tends to be finer, tighter material and generally does not have fancy patterning.

The island of Guernsey, on the other hand, produced heavier wool and its yarn was used for cable-knits. Lanolin was left to some degree in the yarn as a natural weather-guard. Confusingly, much of the Guernsey yarn and jumper production was done on Jersey. Anyway, due to trade extending widely by sea, the 'guernsey' jumper became synonymous with being at sea, or at least coastal. These days, jerseys are considered to be machine-knitted garments while the guernseys are, almost always, hand-knitted.

The thing is, though, communities all over the coastlines of the East Atlantic and the North Sea were producing their versions of heavy-knit jumpers to protect sailors and farmers. The cable-style knitting was adopted because of its hardiness. At the height of the 'silver darlings' (herring) fishing era, the women who were experienced at processing the fish would travel from port to port up and down the coastline. When not gutting fish, they were knitting. Patterns tended not to be written but learned from elder to younger. Not all women, either. A lot of the sailors themselves knitted.

You can own one!!! Click HERE.

What about this slightly problematic word, though? Until thinking about this fully during the week, I had accepted the given knowledge that guernseys were called that because of their origin and that 'gansey' was a corruption of that word.

SO... (d-d-d-dduuuuuh)... I have learned in my researches that the Norwegian word for these fisherman jumpers is 'ganser'. Here's the real kicker, though - and I am astounded that it took till now for me to discover this (or was it lost in the menosoup???) - the Gaelic word for a jumper is 'geansaidh'. This would be pronounced, you will not be surprised to learn, as 'gansey'! That is to say - the words did not exist in those languages for the jumpers being produced, so they were called by the nearest approximation of the sound for the place of origin. Ganseys, therefore, ARE guernseys. Including those produced on the isle of Aran. In strictest terms, arans can only be called that if the wool being used is produced from sheep grown there. The patterns are actually just the adapted guernsey style.

The other Scandi-ports took on the knitting later, but the words in Swedish, Danish, Dutch all reflect more literal translations as 'fisherman's jumper', (fiskarbygel, fiskerjumper, visserstrui).

Here ends my little introspection regarding the semantics of knitwear! Whatever you choose to call yours, I think you will agree, that the traditional cable patterns are quite delightful to the eye.

NEXT WEEK!

Me-not-kerazy, but still...

It's the M letter today - and I would like you to think a little more about mental health and wellbeing.

Our mental state is something that we can take a bit for granted. It is - as had been highlighted quite a bit in recent times on media platforms - also one of the most insidious and difficult health issues to 'get our heads around' (forgive me that, please!)

For those who may have missed the fact, I spent a significant part of my life in the health profession in counselling mode. People were often amazed; they would come along for a little skin condition or a headache or whatever, and through the process of homoeopathic interview, it would soon become apparent that the rash or temple pain were only the surface of deeper things. There were several cases in which no actual medicine was prescribed because the counselling was helping the healing.

Of course, not everyone can afford to attend such sessions. How does one obtain solid information about mental health without getting lost in a mire of self-help pseudo-psych pages, maudlin chatrooms or even downright dangerous bulletin boards?

Well, it would always be my recommendation that you pull together the funds to at least attend one session with a counsellor or related therapist and make it clear that it is beyond you financially and request that part of the outcome of the session you would like is advice on free or discounted services and groups recommended by that practitioner. If they are worth their dosh, this will be no problem for them. (You can establish this at time of making the appointment so that the practitioner also has the ability to say 'no' if they cannot accommodate you in this manner and you are then not out of pocket.)

There ARE all sorts of valid and useful information facilities and free services available in most places. I am particularly impressed with MedCircle in their approach to those who have bipolar and other more complex issues of this kind.

If you live in the UK, there is a good starter level of support via the NHS.

In Australia, MindSpot is the place to begin if you are feeling low. For more advanced mental health issues, SANE Australia is the place to go.

If you live in the USA, this page has some useful links. I found this MHA site also worth having a look around.

Wherever you live in the world, there will be resources - at the very least your personal doctor ought to be able to point you in the right direction. Do not ignore constant low moods or ongoing anger. They WILL make you ill in all sorts of ways.

Be good to yourselves!