Welcome beautiful readers,
What a stunning Friday morning in Cape Town, the chill is in the air, but the sun is out! It is totally reflective of the week I have had. There are moments of complete peace and serenity and then I had moments of panic and overwhelm. The preparation for my journey has taken over life and my daily routine.
In fact, apart from my set times for working, the routine is completely off kilter, and I suppose the timing is perfect since it is school holidays. The moments of peace and serenity is usually when I contemplate what this journey holds for me, the places I'll visit and what I am hopeful to accomplish. The moments of panic ensues when I am asked what I still need ( I have no idea!) and what still needs to be done. It is then followed by me consulting my lists.
I have several lists to help keep me sane: A greeting list (ie the list of friends and family I need to visit personally), a list of specific toiletries and meds needed, a list of things to get ready at home, a list of things to pack for Arafah and so on and so on.... And whilst I don't need to pack much in the way of clothing, as this is very simple and easy, there are so many other things to concentrate on! This should give you a pretty good idea of where the panic stems from, and then I actually just throw up my hands and say, "whatever must be must be..."
I have just under 3 weeks to go before I depart, and I would like to focus on a spiritual programme I'd like to put together, but the To-Do list beckons ominously. We have had the most precious little girl welcomed into the family this week, and that too has been so amazing and a very welcome distraction. (I am so in love with this little human ❤️).
I know that nothing will prepare me for what I am to experience, hence I am consciously working at leaving with no expectations, at just arriving and soaking up all that I can. I am cognisant that this trip is like no other, one cannot plan for the emotional and spiritual overwhelm that will certainly arise. So I fully intend to open myself up to just being in the moment- from the minute I set foot on Arabian soil.
In preparation for this trip, I have found that I have very little time, or very little inclination to shoot fashion posts, and stick to my usual schedule on social media posting. This too is another aspect of my preparation, there is an unconscious distancing from the material world, a movement towards the inner spectrum where I'll need to communicate from. I am having to spend time on preparing my inner self for this monumental journey, and as so many have said - to aim to be fully present on the plains of Arafah and Wuqoof. It is at this time that my most scared dialogue will take place, where the material world will blur into the background and nothing else but my prayers, and my Creator will matter. I cannot possibly imagine what it will be like and I do not wish to hazard a guess, so I can only work to strengthen myself for this intensive spiritual journey.
This will therefore will be my last lookpost, (luckily I had this shoot in the archives) for a while- I may or may not do an update on where I am in my preparation for my journey. It is so difficult to say where I'll be in the headspace, and whether I'd even be able to journal the progress leading up to my Hajj. I fully intend to keep a journal, and may do a written one, with titbits to share with my beautiful readers at a later stage. But for now, my focus has shifted from this little space of mine to the beautiful lands of Medina and Mecca. I am filled with a nugget of excitement and also trepidation at the same time- but forever grateful to have been chosen as a guest this year, Algamudililah!
I found this look in my files, and it is so serene and tranquil, I felt it would be the perfect outfit post to see the blog out on hiatus. All pieces are from my travels, and each has a very special memory and story attached to it. So while I am in this process of preparation for intense supplication, please keep me in your prayers and I will keep you in mine. I am so thankful for the beautiful messages, inspiration and assistance I have received from readers!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️
And I'll be back in a few months time (at the very latest) to touch base!
Outfit details:
Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply dress from Asos (Old)
Urban leather jacket from Asos (Old)
Adidas sneakers (Footlocker UK)
Ted Baker bag
Scarf purchased in UK
Sunglasses gifted
Various bracelets
Caio for now,
RuBe xoxo
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