Daily Inspiration

Thank you.... :)

2008-09-22T15:21:00.019+02:00

Dear friends,

It has been quite a while since my last post. A lot of things happened this past month and looking back it was an important period for me personal. It has brought me new insights and closer to myself and the people I love.

It was also a period of letting go, as I said goodbye to one of my oldest and dearest friends, my seventeen year's old little dog Pork. For a while I did not want to take pictures or make my blog. It was something we always did together and it was painful to me to pick it up again. This week for the first time I felt the need to take pictures again and I decided to create a new blog as it feels like a new period to me. It feels good and the loving memory of Pork keeps me warm and grateful for such a special friendship :)

I want to thank all the lovely people who shared their thoughts and comments with me these past months. I wish you lots of love and take care, big kiss to all of you,
Sas

My new blog; a peaceful moment

Emily Dickinson

2008-07-25T20:47:00.005+02:00

My Garden
I.

New feet within my garden go,
New fingers stir the sod;A troubadour upon the elm
Betrays the solitude.New children play upon the green,
New weary sleep below; And still the pensive spring returns,
And still the punctual snow!

-Emily Dickinson

Sara Teasdale

2008-07-22T16:48:00.005+02:00

Let it Be Forgotten

Let it be forgotten,
as a flower is forgotten,
Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold,Let it be forgotten forever and ever,
Time is a kind friend,
he will make us old.If anyone asks,
say it was forgotten
Long and long ago,As a flower, as a fire,
as a hushed footfall
In a long-forgotten snow.

by - Sara Teasdale

William Blake

2008-07-18T20:47:00.008+02:00

'Ah, Sunflower'
Ah, sunflower,
weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done;Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!

by William Blake

Rumi

2008-07-14T18:09:00.004+02:00

A Star Without a Name

When a baby is taken from the wet nurse,
it easily forgets her
and starts eating solid food.

Seeds feed awhile on ground,
then lift up into the sun. So you should taste the filtered light
and work your way toward wisdom
with no personal covering. That's how you came here,
like a star without a name.
Move across the night sky
with those anonymous lights.

(Mathnawi III)

Haiku

2008-07-11T17:41:00.009+02:00

by ~Basho

The temple bell stops
but I still hear the sound
coming out of the flowers.

Food for thought

2008-07-09T16:03:00.004+02:00

by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Never lose
an opportunity of seeing
anything beautiful, for beauty
is God's handwriting.

For Toek

2008-07-07T21:23:00.002+02:00

Whatever our souls are made of,
his and mine are the same.

Emily Bronte

Food for thought

2008-07-04T20:13:00.005+02:00

by Dogen
When we discover
that the truth is already in us, we are all at once
our original selves.

Moments of silence

2008-07-03T21:24:00.006+02:00

Man invents war.
Man discovers peace.He invents war from without.
He discovers peace from within.War man throws.
Peace man sows.The smile of war
is the flood of human blood.The smile of peace
is the love,
below, above.

by Sri Chinmoy

Food for thought

2008-07-01T22:49:00.002+02:00

Flowers... are a proud assertion
that a ray of beauty outvalues
all the utilities of the world.by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Zen

2008-06-30T20:35:00.004+02:00

The wind has settled,
the blossoms have fallen;

Birds sing,
the mountains grow dark -- This is the wondrous power
of Buddhism.

- Ryokan

Food for thought

2008-06-27T19:48:00.002+02:00

by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

It is always the false that makes you suffer,the false desires and fears,
the false values and ideas,
the false relationships between people. Abandon the false and you are free of pain;
truth makes happy,
truth liberates.

Inspiration Stories

2008-06-25T17:03:00.007+02:00

It All Seems So Obvious
by Paulo CoelhoRabbi Ben Zoma was asked: "Who is wise?"
"He who always finds something to learn from others,"
said the Rabbi."Who is strong?"
"The man who is capable of dominating himself,"
responded the Rabbi."Who is wealthy?"
"He who knows the treasure he has:
his days and hours of life,
which can change everything which goes on around him.""Who deserves respect?"
"He who respects himself and his neighbor.""These things are all so obvious," commented one of those present.

The Rabbi concluded by saying:
"That is why they are so difficult to observe."

Inspiration Stories

2008-06-23T15:30:00.008+02:00

Heaven and Hell
by Paulo Coelho

A violent samurai who was known for picking fights for no reason at all arrived at the door of a Zen monastery and asked to speak to the master. Without a moment's hesitation, Ryokan came out to meet him."They say that intelligence is more powerful than strength," said the samurai. "I wonder if you could explain to me the meaning of heaven and hell." Riokan remained silent."You see" roared the samurai."I could explain that very easily: to show what hell is, all I need to do is beat someone up. To show what heaven is, just let a person go free after menacing him a lot.""I don't argue with stupid people like you," said the Zen master. This made the samurai's blood boil. His mind was filled with hatred. "Now, that is hell," said Ryokan, smiling."Letting yourself be angered by silly things."
The monk's courage disconcerted the warrior, and he relaxed."And that is heaven," added Ryokan, inviting him in.
"Not reacting to silly provocations."

Food for thought

2008-06-19T20:23:00.003+02:00

'Tis the good reader
that makes the good book;in every book he finds passages
which seem confidences
or asides hidden from all else
and unmistakenly meant for his ear; the profit of books is according
to the sensibility of the reader; the profoundest thought
or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered
by an equal mind and heart.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Zen

2008-06-16T20:16:00.004+02:00

The Great Way has no gate;
there are a thousand paths to it.

If you pass through the barrier,
you walk the universe alone.

- Wu-Men

Food for thought

2008-06-15T20:06:00.006+02:00

In the End, we will remember
not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Inspiration quote

2008-06-14T20:29:00.004+02:00

In the final analysis,

the hope of every person

is simply peace of mind.

Dalai Lama

Have a lovely weekend and take care :)

Daily practice

2008-06-13T15:35:00.009+02:00

from the Dalai Lama

1- Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and to be loved) and we are all connected to one another. 2- Spend 5 minutes breathing in cherishing yourself, and breathing out cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing, extend your cherishing to them anyway. 3- During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet. Practice cherishing the "simplest" person as well as the "important" people in your life, cherish the people you love and the people you dislike. 4- Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you. These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful. The practice of cherishing can be taken very deep if done wordlessly, allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that already exists in your heart.

Inspiration quote

2008-06-12T15:05:00.007+02:00

Happiness comes
when your work and words
are of benefit to yourself and others.

- Buddha

Food for thought

2008-06-11T16:19:00.002+02:00

as a flower blown out by the wind
goes to rest and cannot be definedso the wise man freed from individuality
goes to rest and cannot be defined.gone beyond all images-
gone beyond the power of words

From: Sutta Nipata

Food for thought

2008-06-10T20:51:00.004+02:00

by Antoine de Saint-ExuperyAnd now here is my secret,
a very simple secret;it is only with the heart
that one can see rightly, what is essential
is invisible to the eye.

Moments of silence

2008-06-09T19:51:00.003+02:00

Celestial

If

You

Had

Known

How we

Would

Have

GrownHad you

Still wandered

All those years alone

And left me here on my ownFor when i looked into your eyes

It was so apparent that we were home

And together as bright as celestial skies

Yet you took a travelers path to find

Silence which remained behind

Was nothing other than

This love which

Is divine

by Silent Lotus

Moments of silence

2008-06-08T21:41:00.006+02:00

Looking at my life
I see that only
Love
Has been my soul’s companionFrom deep inside
My soul cries out: Do not wait, surrender
For the sake of
Love.

By Rumi

Food for thought

2008-06-07T23:31:00.003+02:00

The butterfly counts not months
but moments,
and has time enough.

Rabindranath Tagore

A sunny day in my garden,
surrounded by it's beautiful inhabitants,
always makes me feel quiet and peaceful.

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Inspiration stories

2008-06-06T14:32:00.003+02:00

One day, in ancient India, the Buddha was giving a teaching to his followers.
On this day however, instead of a verbal teaching,
he simply held up a flower.

One of his disciples, Mahakasyapa, smiled.

The Buddha said: "Today, I gave a silent teaching and Mahakasyapa alone understood it."This was the birth of Zen.

Since that time, the Buddha's message has been transmitted from person to person right up to today's modern Zen masters.

Inspiration stories

2008-06-05T13:34:00.006+02:00

“ A student asked master Bankei
“ How can I cure my terrible temper?”
“Show it to me,” demanded Bankei,“ I can’t just show it to you like that
because it comes on unexpectedly.”
Explained the student.

Bankei replied
“It is not your true nature, then.
If it were it would be with you at all time.”

From: The Wisdom of the Zen Masters

Thank you.... :)

2008-06-04T14:35:00.003+02:00

Don't walk in front of me,
I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me,
I may not lead.Just walk beside me
and be my friend

- Albert Camus

Moments of silence

2008-06-04T12:42:00.007+02:00

One Vast Garden
By: Sri Ananandamayi Ma

"I find one vast garden spread
out all over the universe.

All plants, all human beings,
all higher mind bodies
are about in this garden
in various ways,

each has his own
uniqueness and beauty.
Their presence and variety
give me great delight.

Every one of you adds
his special feature
to the glory of the garden."

Moments of silence

2008-06-03T19:54:00.003+02:00

All The Faces
by Silent Lotus

One
Day
All the faces

I have worn

Shall be painted upon the pages
The biographer has drawn Yet my image
You shall
Not find there For my souls reflection
Is a vibrance
Of silence
Thin
Air

Food for thought

2008-06-02T07:32:00.003+02:00

You Are Me

You are me and I am you.
It is obvious that we are inter-are. You cultivate the flower in yourself
so that I will be beautiful.
I transform the garbage in myself
so that you do not have to suffer. I support you you support me.
I am here to bring you peace
you are here to bring me joy.

- Thich Naht Hahn

Moments of silence

2008-06-01T19:16:00.006+02:00

The past is already past.
Don’t try to regain it.

The present does not stay.
Don’t try to touch it.

From moment to moment.
The future has not come;
Don’t think about it
Beforehand.Whatever comes to the eye,
Leave it be. There are no commandments
To be kept;
There’s no filth to be cleansed. With empty mind really
Penetrated, the dharmas
Have no life. When you can be like this,
You’ve completed
The ultimate attainment.

by Layman P’ang

Moments of silence

2008-05-31T07:00:00.002+02:00

The Key
by Silent Lotus

While
We waited
For freedomTo take us away
From our fearWe searched
The earth
For loveAs we
Knew
The
Key To be
Is the
SilenceWhich
Led us
Here

Food for thought

2008-05-30T16:47:00.005+02:00

By Marianne Williamson

Personal transformation can
and does have global effects.As we go,
so goes the world,
for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world
is ultimately a personal one.

Food for thought

2008-05-29T23:05:00.003+02:00

By Kahlil Gibran
Out of suffering
have emerged
the strongest souls; the most massive characters
are seared with scars.

Food for thought

2008-05-28T16:27:00.004+02:00

By letting it go
it all gets done.

The world is won
by those who let it go. But when you try and try.
The world is beyond the winning.

by Lao Tzu

Moments of silence

2008-05-27T21:26:00.003+02:00

Hurdles
by - Silent Lotus
When There are
No longer
Any crowds
To cheer you onFor it seems that
All the hurdles
Are behind Rather
Than
BeyondYou shall find
The sweet silence of divine love
To guide you on

Food for thought

2008-05-26T22:40:00.006+02:00

To know even one life has breathed easier

because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded. by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Moments of silence

2008-05-25T19:42:00.003+02:00

Violence
By: Silent Lotus
One
Day
TooYour
Inner
ViolenceShall listen
To loves wisdomAnd bow to
Silence

Food for thought

2008-05-24T19:16:00.003+02:00

by Paulo Coelho

Tell your heart that the fear of suffering
is worse than the suffering itself.

And no heart has ever suffered
when it goes in search of its dream.

Have a lovely weekend my friends
and take care :)

Moments of silence

2008-05-23T19:22:00.006+02:00

Wings

By: Sri Chinmoy

My heart longs to be dissolved
In wings of air
And fly in the unhorizoned sky.I long to open up
All my heart doors
In the delight of my liberation - life.
May my life begin
With the breath of a new hope

Food for thought

2008-05-22T09:36:00.006+02:00

Don't look at your form, however ugly or beautiful.
Look at love and at the aim of your quest. ...

O you whose lips are parched,
keep looking for water. Those parched lips are proof
that eventually you will reach the source.

by: Rumi

Moments of silence

2008-05-21T20:28:00.004+02:00

Poem about Meditation
by Thich Nhat Hahn

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem.
To meditate means to observe.Your smile proves it.
It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you,
that you have control of your situation.You are yourself,
and you have acquired some peace.

Moments of silence

2008-05-20T20:34:00.010+02:00

Home
by Silent Lotus

Like Cracks
In the stone There are places
That are spaces Of pure silence
That let Us know

We are home
~~~

Moments of silence

2008-05-19T20:00:00.007+02:00

The Hush
by Silent Lotus The Nature of being
Leaves out
Nothing At allAnd As I
Sit here
In silence The Beauty
And strength
Of the hush
Is
Like the
Powerful
Rush

Of
The
Greatest
Waterfall
~~~

Inspiration Stories

2008-05-18T18:36:00.004+02:00

Two Raindrops by Joseph Morris

Two little raindrops were born in a shower,

And one was so pompously proud of his power,

He got in his head an extravagant notion,

He'd hustle right off and swallow the ocean.A blade of grass that grew by the brook
Called for a drink, but no notice he took
Of such trifling things.
He must hurry to be
Not a mere raindrop, but the whole sea.

A stranded ship needed water to float,
But he could not bother to help a boat.
He leaped in the sea with a puff and a blare--
And nobody even knew he was there!

But the other drop as along it went
Found the work to do for which it was sent:
It refreshed the lily that drooped its head,
And bathed the grass that was almost dead.

It got under the ships and helped them along,
And all the while sang a cheerful song.
It worked every step of the way it went,
Bringing joy to others, to itself content.

At last it came to its journey's end,
And welcomed the sea as an old-time friend.
"An ocean," it said, "there could not be
Except for the millions of drops like me."

Food for thought

2008-05-16T20:14:00.006+02:00

Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love.

The real miracle is the love that inspires them.

In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.

Marianne Williamson

I hope your weekends will be as light and lovely as these flowers :)

The spiritual path -
is simply the journey of living our lives.
Everyone is on a spiritual path;
most people just don't know it.

Marianne Williamson

Forgiveness

2008-05-15T21:33:00.009+02:00

Maya Angelou;

I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live,
you will make mistakes- it is inevitable.
But once you do and you see the mistake,
then you forgive yourself and say,
well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all. So you say to people who you think you may have injured, 'I'm sorry,' and then you say to yourself, 'I'm sorry.'
If we all hold on to the mistake,
we can't see our own glory in the mirror
because we have the mistake between our faces and the mirror;
we can't see what we're capable of being.
You can ask forgiveness of others,
but in the end the real forgiveness is in one's own self.

I think that young men and women are so caught by the way they see themselves. Now mind you. When a larger society sees them as unattractive, as threats, as too black or too white or too poor or too fat or too thin or too sexual or too asexual, that's rough. But you can overcome that. The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.”

I just started my new job this week. And being around different new people again brings a lot of new lessons. It provides me with the chance to look at myself in a new frame. It made me happy to discover this week that I am able now to look at my behaviour in a loving way instead of judging myself immediately. This quote of Maya Angelou is therefore a constant reminder for me. Take care my friends and have a lovely day :)

Food for thought

2008-05-14T20:56:00.008+02:00

Old friends pass away, new friends appear.

It is just like the days.

An old day passes, a new day arrives.

The important thing is to make it meaningful:

a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.

Dalai Lama

I have had a meaningful day personally thanks to an insight. Since I started trying to see every day as a new chance without dragging along shame about old mistakes and bad habits; I feel free and full of energy again. What a releave hihi :)

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability,
one can build a better world.

Dalai Lama

Food for thought

2008-05-13T20:40:00.002+02:00

With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony,

and the deep power of joy,

we see into the life of things.

William Wordsworth

Birthday

2008-05-12T13:53:00.006+02:00

If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to,

no one with which to share the beauty of the stars,

to laugh with, to touch,

what would be your purpose in life?

It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning.

This is harmony.

We must discover the joy of each other,

the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.

Mitsugi Saotome

Today it is my birthday and I am now 36 years old :) Toek surprised me with a beautiful song he composed for me and it is the most beautiful gift someone ever gave me.

Now we are going to meet my family for a small gathering in the sun..... I am so happy.....
I wish you all a lovely, shared day and when you press the pink button you can hear the song :)

For my mother

2008-05-11T12:11:00.004+02:00

In everyone's life,

at some time,

our inner fire goes out.

It is then burst into flame by an encounter

with another human being.

We should all be thankful for those people

who rekindle the inner spirit.

~Albert Schweitzer

This post I want to dedicate to my mother :) She is my mentor and best friend and I am always save and wanted in her presence. To me she is the ultimate form of love and understanding.

Today for Mother's day my sister, Toek and I are going to visit her and bring her some presents. But in fact the real gift we receive from her. Just to be in her presence and laugh and talk together surrounded by her warm loving energy.I wish you all a beautiful day to share with your mothers. And if she is not near anymore, I wish you can enjoy the warm memory of her and feel her in your heart.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy,
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

~Marcel Proust

Have a lovely weekend

2008-05-09T21:25:00.003+02:00

In the hope of reaching the moon

men fail to see the flowers

that blossom at their feet.-

Albert Schweitzer

Food for thought

2008-05-08T21:35:00.007+02:00

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves -

slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.

- Thich Nat Hahn

Truthful sharing

2008-05-07T11:50:00.007+02:00

Within the framework of the Buddhist Path,
reflecting on suffering has tremendous importance
because by realizing the nature of suffering,
you will develop greater resolve to put an end
to the causes of suffering
and the unwholesome deeds which lead to suffering.
And it will increase your enthusiasm for engaging
in the wholesome actions and deeds
which lead to happiness and joy.

Dalai Lama

Today my dear friends I wanted to share this saying with you because I got the feeling that my sharing of personal lessons somehow leads to concern with some of you, in spite of the very positive message underneath that I was trying to share with you. Most of my insights spring from situations in which I recognize my suffering and the way I have caused it myself. At some point I get insight in a situation and learn from my mistakes. To me that is a very positive experience that comes after an often self caused suffering.
If I want to share my journey with you in an honest way I cannot merely show you the insights but I will have to show you the lessons too. Otherwise I would be writing my posts with hollow words pretending to be happy and peaceful every day, even when sometimes I am not. Everyone of us has her or his way of learning the lessons of life. Some read books and succeed to practise it right away while others (like me) have to learn from their mistakes in daily life. But the beauty of it all is that we are on our way, all of us in our own tempo and in our own way.To me every moment of self conflicted suffering is a chance to learn my lessons. A chance to get an insight in the situation that causes this suffering. Like my disappointment this week first lead to suffering but later on to a very important personal insight. So let us not be afraid of sharing any form of suffering and negative experiences, but let us try to see these moments in our lives as chances to grow.

I hope this blog will become a place to share our (daily) lessons too, rather than only displaying the insights these lessons have given us . This way perhaps it can contribute something to our journey instead of a place where we are pointing out to eachother where we already are. Big hug to all of you and I am very interested in your view on this matter :)

My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God
as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.

Gandhi

A lovely day

2008-05-06T20:47:00.005+02:00

Just like a sunbeam can't separate itself from the sun,

and a wave can't separate itself from the ocean,

we can't separate ourselves from one another.

We are all part of a vast sea of love,

one indivisible divine mind.

Marianne Williamson

Today was such a lovely and wonderful day and I feel as light and pink as my pictures today :) I spend the whole afternoon reading in the sun while Toek was working outside too on his laptop. It was lovely and I absorbed every moment of it. I love the work of Marianne Williamson and it felt so good to read a few lines now and then while the sunbeams tickled my skin.

Love is what we are born with.
Fear is what we have learned here.
The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear
and the acceptance of love back into our hearts.

Marianne Williamson

It was a healing afternoon and I must take the time to do that more often. I can feel how peaceful I became just to sit and watch the life in my garden. To watch two little birds make their nest in a tree. So pure and lovely......it felt like a privilege to witness it :)Now I am going to take a long shower as I can feel the sun still burning on my skin, I love that summer feeling. I wish you a peaceful evening my friends and take care :))

Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves
to recognize how good things really are.

Marianne Williamson

Food for thought

2008-05-05T10:37:00.006+02:00

Let yourself be silently drawn
by the stronger pull
of what you really love.

Rumi

I wish you a lovely day :)

Something opens our wings.
Something makes boredom and hurt disappear.
Someone fills the cup in front of us:
We taste only sacredness.

Rumi

Disappointment

2008-05-04T15:33:00.004+02:00

Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth:

Awakening to your life's purpose

When you say, I enjoy doing this or that, it is really a misperception.
It makes it appear that the joy comes from what you do,
but that is not the case.
Joy does not come from what you do,
it flows into what you do
and thus into this world from deep within you.

The misperception that joy comes from what you do is normal,
and it is also dangerous,
because it creates the belief that joy is something
that can be derived from something else,
such as an activity or thing. You then look to the world to bring you joy, happiness.
But it cannot do that.
This is why many people live in constant frustration.
The world is not giving them what they think they need.

Today I was reading this passage from Eckhart Tolle again in the sun. I have had a disappointment yesterday due to myself because I was having expectations again. And as always expectations lead to disappointments. Toek gave me a kiss on my forehead and said, don't be disappointed in yourself, just try again tomorrow without the expectations. Simple, true and lovely...the sun was shining even brighter after that :)

Big hug to you all and have a lovely Sunday :))

Read here how this story ends

Food for thought

2008-05-03T08:00:00.002+02:00

MarrianneWilliamson
from the book, A Return To Love:

-"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child
of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to
make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."-

I wish you a lovely and warm weekend,
take care my dear friends and thank you for sharing this tea with me :))

True love

2008-05-02T17:36:00.008+02:00

Training is needed in order to love properly;
and to be able to give happiness and joy,
you must practice DEEP LOOKING
directed toward the other person you love.
Because if you do not understand this person,
you cannot love properly.
Understanding is the essence of love.
If you cannot understand, you cannot love.
That is the message of the Buddha.

Thich Nath Hanh

When I read this quote it brought tears to my eyes because I realized that although I claim to love there is still a deeper layer. To really being able to love someone we have to leave that safe haven of self-reflection and recognizing, and allow ourselves to really look at the one we love. I am trying to practise that now......because I know now that without truly understanding the one I love there can never be that deeper layer.

It is strange but although most people used to say that I was a warm and loving person, there have been many years in which I could not give myself the same amount of love that I would give to others. Only recently I came to that point and now I feel how my love, my true love can flow. And how much more love I have to give....

Take care my dear friends and have a lovely weekend :))

Love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish.
If you are not capable of generating that
kind of energy toward yourself-
if you are not capable of taking care of yourself,
of nourishing yourself, of protecting yourself-
it is very difficult to take care of another person.
In the Buddhist teaching, it's clear that to love oneself
is the foundation of the love of other people.
Love is a practice. Love is truly a practice.

Thich Nath Hanh

Needful

2008-05-01T16:20:00.006+02:00

Be content with what you have;

rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking,

the whole world belongs to you.

Lao Tzu

This quote is quite confronting to me, because when I am real honest my mind often tells me that there is something lacking. It gives me a feeling of stress, like there is something I have to do or get somehow to make me feel at peace and satisfied.

While in fact the true lack is inside of me......there is something deep inside which wants to be fulfilled, wants to be satisfied and entertained. Which gives me a thrill when I buy something new and makes me watch the TV all evening to entertain me and distract my mind from thinking.

But lately there has been a change....every time when my mind is giving me stressful thoughts again I just sit down with a cup of tea and reflect on the situation. Why am I feeling the urge to do or want something....what is the real reason?!

I found out that I was giving myself different tasks to feel satisfied. Sometimes I would plan a whole day in advance. But the happiness after fulfilling them always lasted for a short while. Very soon a new need came up and I could start all over again.

Now I try to focus on where the need is coming from instead of fulfilling it right away. And the more I practise it the more I see that I am actually in need of nothing.....

At the center of your being you have the answer;
you know who you are and you know what you want.

Lao Tzu

Exposed...

2008-04-30T19:35:00.005+02:00

Exposed to violence...

Thich Nhat Hanh;

“We are often exposed, if not first hand, then through films, reading material, and conversations, to violence, fear, hatred, meaningless infatuations. Society is full of violence and hatred, which accumulates in the collective consciousness.

If in our daily lives we do not know now to abstain from damaging materials and attitudes, the seeds of violence, hatred and suffering in us will continue to be watered. We need to be aware of what we hear, see, and read every day… Do our associations and consumptions poison us?”

The last weeks I have had troubles with sleeping. I just could not fall asleep even though I was really tired. I tried a lot of different things but nothing helped. Then I remembered that very often before I went to sleep I watched a movie or spend time on the internet.

Now I don't watch TV or at images at my computer anymore at least one hour before I go to bed. Instead I listen to relaxing music and burn some incense or look at something that I find very beautiful. Like a burning candle or a beautiful flower. And it really works....my mind is more at ease and I don't have troubles falling asleep anymore. Above that I can feel how I get more inner peace..... There is still so much positive beauty in the world why focus on the negativity?
Take care and I hope you will see a lot of beauty today :)

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.
But I think the real miracle is not to walk either
on water or in thin air,
but to walk on earth.
Every day we are engaged in a miracle
which we don't even recognize;
a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves,
the black curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes.
All is a miracle.

Thich Nath Hahn

A change

2008-04-29T12:26:00.005+02:00

Ten thousand flowers in spring

the moon in autumn,

a cool breeze in summer,

snow in winter.

If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things,

this is the best season of your life.

Wu-men

My dear friends there is something I would like to change about my blog. I have been reading my last posts and I think the last one about letting go is a beautiful post to start with a new way of writing a post. To let go of the habit of making one with my head. Making a post and taking pictures should be a moment for me of peaceful sharing from the heart, not the mind (ego).

I don't now if you will notice a great change but to me it feels like I can share on another level with you now. There is more peace in my heart and my mind and ego are more at ease :)

So let us continue our journey and let's try to make it a bright and clear day.....

Since it is all too clear
It takes time to grasp it.
When you understand that it’s foolish to look for fire with fire,
The meal is already cooked.

Wu-men

Letting go

2008-04-28T15:35:00.005+02:00

If you love somebody,
let them go, for if they return,
they were always yours.
And if they don't,
they never were.

Kahlil Gibran

Even as a child I have had troubles with letting things go. I wanted to keep everyone and everything close by so I could touch and defend them. In fact... to keep control. Later on I learned that those things in life that are worth fighting for come in complete freedom to you. And in complete freedom they should stay. It is impossible to hold on to someone or something that is not meant to be with you. It needs trust to let go....
Today I reached that point again... to let go even for a short while always has filled me with an incredible fear. But today it felt different, it felt peaceful. It felt like a saw myself from above and saw how I was trying to hold on, affraid of loosing a loved one. But deep down inside I already knew that in true love there is no holding on.... just letting go...

It feels so good to let that convulsive retaining go, and to feel how so much fear went away along with it. It feels like I can breathe again and feel the true essence of love. When there is fear there is no room for love and now love has the space to blossom and grow :)

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength;
loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Lao Tzu

Thoughts over tea

2008-04-27T13:58:00.009+02:00

We can live without religion and meditation,

but we cannot survive without human affection.

Dalai Lama

Today I was drinking my tea while reading the comments on my blog. It felt heart warming to share thoughts like this. It made me realize how important it is to be able to share and feel a connection with other people.

The more I see how many of my actions are conducted by the need to be loved and acknowledged, the more I understand these actions. Isn't it so that the most of our feelings of anger, fear and jealousy find their roots in the fact that we feel denied in our need for love and affection?

I am often amazed by the power of this need and it gives me a feeling of peace when I look around me and see that in fact we are all in need. And how this want for love and affection connects us all. So while I am drinking my tea I think of all the lovely people from all over the world who are drinking tea at this moment too.

We look completely different, have different backgrounds and maybe can't communicate because we speak different languages. But our deepest inner layer is the same, we all need love and affection and as long as we use love to communicate we all can touch and understand each other. Take care and thank you for sharing this Sunday tea :))

There is more hunger in the world
for love and appreciation in this world
than for bread.

Mother Teresa

Food for thought

2008-04-26T21:09:00.010+02:00

dry seeds scatter
from my hand into the wind
one clings
as if to say there is in me
something yet to be-

Jeanne Emrich

A candle

2008-04-25T20:03:00.009+02:00

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,

and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Buddha

Today I made this tiny candle arrangement with one Ivy leaf, grass and a little flower. I made it to underline this saying of the Buddha, which I wanted to share because I was feeling happy. The sun was shining and my sister came to join me to for a cup of tea. While drinking our tea we talked about our lives and our struggles, and about the different insights we have had. It felt lovely and warm to talk so openly about our experiences in life.

I wish us all a lovely weekend, with open conversations and tea, take care :))

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire,

men cannot live without a spiritual life.

Buddha

On our way

2008-04-24T18:49:00.014+02:00

If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out.

To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.

Mother Teresa

Today while reading the comments of the past days and I suddenly felt tears in my eyes. I realized that since I started my blog there have been quite a few changes in my life. I feel how I came closer to myself by sharing my thoughts with you. These daily posts are a moment for me to reflect on my own daily life.

While preparing a post I place things in a new perspective. Like looking at it from a different angle. Sometimes it is very confronting and sometimes it gives me a new insight, but it is always very constructive to me. Today when I read the comments I noticed how we are all on the same road, although we are coming from different directions. I recognize so much in the comments and feel such a connection when I read them. It gives me a warm feeling inside. I am on my way, learning step by step, doing my best. To read that others have similar experiences and are working on themselves too is so encouraging. Yes, we are on our way, walking in our own speed, sharing our thoughts and insights.... So let us continue our journey my dear friends, while supporting each other by sharing the road :)

To understand the heart and mind of a person,
look not at what he has already achieved,
but at what he aspires to do.

Kahlil Gibran

Dandelions

2008-04-23T18:41:00.007+02:00

Krishnamurti;

-Have you ever sat very quietly with closed eyes
and watched the movement of your own thinking?
Have you watched your mind working?

or rather, has your mind watched itself in operation,
just to see what your thoughts are, what your feelings are,
how you look at the trees, at the flowers, at the birds, at people,
how you respond to a suggestion or react to a new idea?

Have you ever done this?-

From time to time I get carried away, like this week. It was a lovely week but a very busy one too. I came home late, nearly had time to make my blog and I didn't had enough time to respond to the comments. So today suddenly I felt how my thoughts were taking over again instead of listening to my inner voice.When I reach that point I really need to sit down and look inside. Why am I acting like this...what is the real reason for my actions. It has always been very helpful to me and today it worked again. By looking inside I could let the stress go and focus again, instead of letting hasty thoughts take control.And as I sat quiet in my garden later on with a cup of tea I noticed some new Dandelions. They were so lovely that I wanted to share them with you. They had grown this week while I was so "busy" and now they were standing there proudly with their beautiful yellow heads facing the sun. They felt like a lovely present and I wanted to share them with you :)

Take care my friends and I hope you feel the lovely glow from the Dandelions :)

Awake.
Be the witness of your thoughts.
You are what observes,
not what you observe.

Buddha

Inner child

2008-04-22T14:21:00.005+02:00

To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature.
Most persons do not see the sun.
At least they have a very superficial seeing.
The sun illuminates only the eye of the man,
but shines into the eye and heart of the child.
The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward
senses are still truly adjusted to each other;
who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today I am quite dreamy and although I have to leave for an appointment in about half an hour I am still in my house-suit sipping from my tea. I found these marbles in the cellar which I have had since I was a child. It gave me a strange feeling when I saw them again after so many years. Like they belonged to a distance past but at the same time I could feel that child vividly inside me.

It is good to treasure our inner child I guess....to keep that open pure view. Today I felt her deep inside and I promised myself to take good care of her. Have a playful day and take care :)

A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful,
full of wonder and excitement.
It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision,
that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring,
is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood.

~Rachel Carson

Smiling

2008-04-21T21:11:00.008+02:00

Smiling is very important.

If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace.

It is not by going out for a demonstration against

nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace.

It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing,

and being peace that we can make peace.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Ladybugs always make me smile and it feels like a little present when I see one. Today the sun was shining while we finished my mother's cat playground. (As I write this post I still can feel my head glowing from the sunbeams). My mother was so happy today that it brought tears to my eyes to see her smile so lovely.

I am going to bed now as I am very tired but very satisfied. I just wanted to share this lovely romantic scene with you that I witnessed today in my mother's garden. I hope these little ones will bring a smile to your face too. Big hugs and take care........ :)

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,
but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Thoughts over tea

2008-04-20T09:00:00.009+02:00

Have patience with everything that
remains unsolved in your heart.

Try to love the questions themselves,

like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.

Do not now look for the answers.

They cannot now be given to you
because you could not live them.

It is a question of experiencing everything.

At present you need to live the question.

Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it,

find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke is one of my favourite poets and this is one of my dearest poems by him. I often read his work during a cup of tea. But this morning I just have time for one cup because in about half an hour a friend is picking us up. Today we are making a cat house for my mother, so she can sit outside with her cats in the sun.
I really love it to work with my hands and to create something. Today the three of us are working outside while my mother cooks for us during the day. It is so lovely to work together with love on a project each one doing his part and to finally create something new together.

The idea of my mother sitting happily outside with her cats in the new cat house makes me smile and is worth all the effort. Take care today and enjoy your tea with love :))

This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love:

the more they give, the more they possess.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Weekend

2008-04-19T16:46:00.004+02:00

We have to try to get rid of the notion of time.

And when you have an intense contact of love

with nature or another human being, like a spark,

then you understand that there is no time

and that everything is eternal.

Paulo Coelho

I am definitely in the weekend mood. Saturday always reminds me of my youth when the Saturday evening meal contained bread rolls with all kinds of sandwich fillings. We used to talk about the week and enjoyed being together. It is a lovely gift from my parents because I still get a warm feeling when I think about it. A lovely memory for life :)) Take care this weekend my dear friends and let us try to make it a peaceful one. I am slowly beginning to prepare our Saturday evening meal now, and I can feel the same love my mother felt when she prepared the dinner for us at my parental house.

Come out of the circle of time

And into the circle of love.

Rumi

Positive

2008-04-18T13:43:00.009+02:00

Keep your thoughts positive

because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive

because your words become your behaviors.

Keep your behaviors positive

because your behaviors become your habits.

Keep your habits positive

because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive

because your values become your destiny.

Gandhi

Today I wanted to share some sayings by Gandhi which have been a great help to me and still are. Whenever I feel hurt or scared I read these lines again and I can feel my heart taking over from my emotions again. Slowly and gently loving energy flows in and my defence system lets go and I can see things clearly again.

To me it has been very helpful not to let my emotions take over but to take a step back and to reflect on a situation first. It prevented me a lot of times from stepping into an argument or feeling rejected. I am still working on it but it gets a little bit easier every time I practice it. It makes me so happy to feel the progress inside and to see the effect is has on my personal life.I hope you will have a lovely weekend with some quiet moments to share a cup of tea together. Take care and big weekend hugs to all of you :))

It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that"s important.

You have to do the right thing.

It may not be in your power, may not be in your time,

that there'll be any fruit.

But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing.

You may never know what results come from you action.

But if you do nothing, there will be no result.

Gandhi

A walk

2008-04-17T20:25:00.008+02:00

You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one.

Each day is a different one,

each day brings a miracle of its own.

It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.

Paulo Coelho

I have had a wonderful lovely day. My sister came to visit me and I told her about my plans to spend less time behind the computer and the TV. The sun was shining outside and I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. Toek also needed a break from his work and the three of us went on our way.

The city where I life is quite sober. Nobody paints their houses in bright colours and when you walk the streets you don't get to see many colours. But it didn't matter because the sun was shining and every little flower seemed to have much brighter colours. Beauty is everywhere when you want to see it.

These flower shots are taken in a small garden-centre we visited during our walk. The owner was very friendly and while I was taking my pictures, he was watering the plants while my sister and Toek sat in the sun on a bench. It made me completely happy.

There were just a few flowers and some seemed a bit withered already. But when I looked more closely I could see that they all had beautiful flower centres. It suddenly occurred to me that we humans are exactly the same, in our centres, our souls we are all beautiful and connected.While I am writing this post I still feel calm and warm inside. Normally I would watch TV for two hours before going to bed, but I have new plans. I have bought a natural shower cream with Jasmine oil and a body cream with Lavender oil to relax. So after my shower I will go to bed and read a while. A peaceful ending to a beautiful lovely day...... big hug to you and take care :)

The appearance of things change according to the emotions,
and thus we see magic and beauty in them,
while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves.

Kahlil Gibran

Peaceful

2008-04-16T16:01:00.007+02:00

"If in our daily life we can smile,

if we can be peaceful and happy,

not only we, but everyone will profit from it.

This is the most basic kind of peace work."

Thich Naht Hanh

I was reading the lovely blog by Peggy from Creative Influences and she mentioned Thich Nath Hahn. I realized I had a book by him and decided to spend my afternoon reading it. It is truly beautiful to feel the warm glow inside when you read these words that are written with so much love.

Peace is every step.
The shining red sun is my heart.
Each flower smiles with me.
How green, how fresh all that grows.
How cool the wind blows.
Peace is every step. It turns the endless path to joy.

Thich Nhat-Hanh

It is lovely to read again in silence. To let the words come in and warm my heart. I really notice how important it is for me not to spend too much time just watching TV or sitting behind the computer. Reading a book, doing some gardening or taking a walk are activities much more constructive for me.

Beautiful how one decision to read a book can lead to an insight like this :)
Take care my friends and I leave you with one more beautiful poem;

Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe when we feel safe in ourselves.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Balance

2008-04-15T14:19:00.010+02:00

Life is like an onion.

you peel it off one layer at a time,
and sometimes you weep.

Carl Sandberg

When I read the comments on my last posts I realized that some people got the feeling that I am sad or down in some way, and some of them even seemed concerned. It made me smile because in fact I am happier then ever before. But sometimes you have to experience pain or sorrow before you get at a higher level of happiness.

I am making my daily posts for about three months now. And it has changed from a purely interior related blog to a more personal one. I needed that change because I had the feeling that I got stuck in a frame and because I wanted to share much more. A few days ago I got the same feeling while I was reading some of my elder posts. The past months I have experienced a great personal growth. I got insight in some things I was struggling with for quite a while. It doesn't feels true to me to just share the insight with you without sharing also the journey to get there. And almost every journey has its dark sides too, before reaching the light. There is no point in just showing you my virtues while pretending not to have vices. For me there has to be a balance between those two.

There is no end to education.

It is not that you read a book, pass an examination,

and finish with education.

The whole of life,

from the moment you are born to the moment you die,

is a process of learning.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

I always love to read the books of Krishnamurti, because he describes the journey of life and its lessons in such a calm and clear way. To me his writings are very helpful to stay focussed and not to let myself get carried away by my emotions. So hopefully by writing this post I cleared up some misunderstandings about my state of mind. And I hope we can share our journey with all its ups and downs, take care and be well :))

“You must understand the whole of life,

not just one little part of it.
That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies,
that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poems,
and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Thank you

2008-04-14T20:22:00.008+02:00

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

Kahlil Gibran

When I read the comments on my blog this afternoon they made me very grateful. To be able to share thoughts with one another and to receive the open responds of other people is truly beautiful to me. At times like these I can feel the string that connects us all :))

So this little angel is for you :) It is a very old angel with only one wing and one food, but it is still one of the dearest sculptures I have. To me it is very symbolic because by sharing not only our virtues but also our vices we truly share from the heart.

So I want to thank all of you for your open and lovely responds and inspiration.
Big hug and take care :))

A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer
than one who is at hand.
Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more
clearly visible to one passing through the valley
than to those who inhabit the mountain?

Kahlil Gibran

Thoughts over tea

2008-04-13T18:32:00.005+02:00

You can search throughout the entire universe
for someone who is more deserving

of your love and affection than you are yourself,

and that person is not to be found anywhere.

You yourself,

as much as anybody in the entire universe

deserve your love and affection.

Buddha

Today I am feeling much better again, it is always a relieve to share the dark moments of personal failure with someone or to write it down. This way you can place them in the light and in the light everything seems less intimidating then in the shadow.

I read this saying of the Buddha this morning and it made me smile. I can look at the mistakes of others with love but despite myself when I am struggling with my own lessons. By reading this I realized that I should treat my self with the same amount of love that I can feel for others. This saying really moved me and while drinking a cup of tea in the sun I felt tears in my eyes but I didn't felt sad at all anymore :)

Every time when I have the feeling that I have learnt another lesson I feel the happy need to clean myself and my house hihi. So today I am cleaning my home and I have all the windows open to let the fresh air come in. The sun even shines and while listening to Mozart I am washing my hair and clothes. It feels like a lovely new beginning, two steps forward.... :)

The burden of the self is lightened with I laugh at myself.

Rabindranath Tagore

Blue...

2008-04-11T19:29:00.008+02:00

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart

and you shall find it is only that which has given

you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart,

and you shall see that in truth you are weeping

for that which has been your delight.

Kahlil Gibran

Funny how we seem to surprise ourselves with the most strange reactions and emotions. Every time when I start to think I am really on my way, I see myself at the beginning of the road again. It feels like I have made one wrong turn and have to start all over again :)

When I feel blue I often call my mother to tell her about my stupid actions and wrong choices. She listens in silence and I know she is smiling gently when I complain about my life and its lessons. When I am done she often asks me; do you see at what point you have lost yourself?

And yes I do see it; just like all the times before and that's what is so depressing hihi. But my mother always puts me back on track with her calm words; Life's lessons are one big repetition, you have to do them over and over again...and then you go through it. Just remember Sas two steps forward and one step back. But forward you will go anyway......

Well thanks to my always patience mother I feel less blue already. I will make myself a cup of tea and cuddle up with a book. Tomorrow I will try to take two steps again :) Have yourself a lovely weekend and take care :)

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you
as by the attitude you bring to life;
not so much by what happens to you
as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

Kahlil Gibran

Thoughts

2008-04-10T19:24:00.008+02:00

We are shaped by our thoughts;
we become what we think.
When the mind is pure,
joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

Buddha

Today I had to see the doctor (don't worry, nothing serious :) and as I walked home thinking about the doctors appointment, I saw these beautiful flowers. I took one branch home with me and was happy that I had found such a lovely flower just beside the sidewalk. My mood cleared and at that point my mind was clear and open. No negative thoughts, just the joy I felt looking at this flower. It reminded me of this saying of the Buddha as I noticed that my mood was positive again.

Hopefully these pictures of the flowers and the little red Buddha will have a positive influence on your mood too. He surely always brings a smile to my face. Take care and I hope your day will be warm and yellow :))

When you realize how perfect everything is
you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.

Buddha

Flowers; Grape Hyacinths

2008-04-09T16:22:00.010+02:00

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun.

- Kahlil Gibran

Last year I gave my mother some Grape Hyacinths in a basket for present. We both love their incredible blue and the lovely little grape shaped flowers. This week when I was visiting her she smiled and gave me a small Hyacinth bouquet.

She proudly told me that she had planted last year's bulbs in her garden and that they bloomed beautiful this spring. So lovely when a gift comes back to you with the same love you gave it away with.

I like tiny little flowers arrangements. They are easy to make and you don't have to pluck a lot of flowers. Everywhere you look around my house there are small still life scenes with different flowers. This yellow beauty below is a Dandelion:))

Even the most common flower will show her beauty when you put one or two of them in a small vase. Strange actually; we buy the most expensive flowers while there are beautiful ones growing besides the sidewalk. Guess when we get used to things we don't see their beauty anymore.

My mother also gave me this Buddha statue and now it has become a small corner in my little hallway together with her lovely Grape Hyacinths. Sometimes love becomes visible. Take care and have a warm and lovely day :))

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly,

our whole life would change.

Buddha

Sisters

2008-04-08T20:35:00.009+02:00

To the outside world we all grow old.

But not to brothers and sisters.

We know each other as we always were.

We know each other's hearts.

We share private family jokes.

We remember family feuds and secrets,

family griefs and joys.

We live outside the touch of time.

~Clara Ortega

Today I came home late and talked with my younger sister on the phone for a while. As I hung up the phone I suddenly realized how much I love her and how our relationship has changed. We used to argue a lot, driving our mother mad with our rows. But there was always love between us and in the past years she has become my closest and truest friend. I guess all that duality was necessary to get to the beautiful point we are now :))

I don't believe an accident of birth
makes people sisters or brothers.
It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage.
Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition
people have to work at.

~Maya Angelou

Flowers; Anthurium

2008-04-07T14:03:00.009+02:00

Silently a flower blooms,

In silence it falls away;

Yet here now, at this moment, at this place,

The world of the flower,

the whole of the world is blooming.

This is the talk of the flower,

the truth of the blossom:

The glory of eternal life is fully shining here.

- Zenkei Shibayama..

Someone kindly asked me in a comment where I bought my flowers. I used to go to the market to buy them, but since I started taking pictures of flowers I get them for present from people. I haven't been to the market in weeks hihi. It is so lovely that everybody is so supporting and brings me flowers.Two days ago my mother brought me this beautiful green coloured Anthurium. Although she doesn't have a computer and can't see the pictures she knows how much I enjoy photographing them. To me a gift like that is truly from the heart.... :) Every time my mother, sister or Toek see a beautiful flower they bring it home to me.
To me it is so lovely to make a still life of flowers which are brought to me with so much love. I hope it shows in the pictures, because I always have a very lovely and warm feeling while photographing them. And it would be beautiful to share that feeling with you :))

Today I am going to visit my mother and she has already told me that she discovered two new flowers in her garden for me. You will see them too in a short while my friends, take care ;)

It is at the edge of a petal that love waits.

- William Carlos Williams

A cold

2008-04-06T16:59:00.005+02:00

Let us rise up and be thankful,

for if we didn't learn a lot today,

at least we learned a little,

and if we didn't learn a little,

at least we didn't get sick,

and if we got sick,

at least we didn't die;

so, let us all be thankful.

Buddha

I am having a cold snif :) It suddenly hit me at breakfast this morning and I have been sniffing since then. The plan was to take my time to answer the blog comments of the past days and visit my mother later on, but it all went differently. Instead of being busy I just stared at the beautiful clouds floating by while Toek and Pork were muddling in the garden. And yes...it felt lovely after all :)

After a while it was to cold outside and once inside again I wanted to catch the lovely blue tones of the clouds in a still life. It became this simple scene, but it perfectly represents this soft and lovely Sunday mood. I guess sometimes life just put us on hold for a moment, like saying; slow down and just relax for a while.

Have yourself a relaxed Sunday evening and take care :))

Glass room

2008-04-05T16:33:00.010+02:00

Each day I live in a glass room

unless I break it with the thrusting of my senses
and pass through the splintered walls

to the great landscape.

Mervyn Peake

I really don't like changes and when I have the choice I will stretch things as long as possible hihi. But yesterday I read this quote and I decided to step out of my glass room, and do the things I have been delaying for a long time. And now it feels so good pfffff :)

What a lovely way to start the weekend. Strange don't you think, now that I have handled it and put it through, it doesn't feel that big anymore. I even wonder what took me so long hihi ;)

I wish you all a nice weekend,
enjoy it and take care :))

Flowers; Tulips

2008-04-04T11:56:00.011+02:00

I love tulips with their bright colours and fleshy petals. The loveliest about tulips is that they keep on growing in the vase. To me it is such an expression of life and it always moves me.The only thing I don't like when I see a flower in a vase is the feeling that it would have lasted much longer in the field. For that reason I decided not to pick flowers from my garden. Sometimes I just can't resist but there is always a bit of guild when I put them in a vase :)These beautiful tulips lasted more then a week before they began to wither. Their petals began to curl and their colour became even more intense. In their swansong they seemed even more beautiful then before.Each day I collected the petals laying beneath the vase and wished I could paint them like the old masters did. Somehow I wanted to capture this moment of beauty and decline. For that reason I love it to take photos. This way I can preserve what I see and share it with others :))The tulips are all withered now and tomorrow I will search for new flowers on the market. But today I wanted to share them with you because they have brought me so much pleasure :)
I hope you will have a fine and lovely weekend my friends, take care :))

Reading; Tagore

2008-04-03T20:19:00.013+02:00

"When I stand before thee at the day's end,

thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds

and also my healing."

Rabindranath Tagore

Tonight I read this beautiful saying by Tagore again. It made me realize that a lot had changed since the last time I read it. The words have a completely different meaning to me now. And I want to share the reason why with you :)

Since six months I have a new relationship which is very warm and beautiful but also very confronting. In our relationships with family, friends and lovers we see ourselves confronted with things about ourselves that we don't notice when we are alone ;)

I suddenly felt my scars from the past itching again and old insecurities and fears suddenly were there again. It was a great disappointment because I thought that when I would find true love it would all go away, conquered by love hihi.

But then something beautiful happened, instead of hiding them away again like I have done for years, I showed them to my love. I was terrified for his reaction but he looked at my ignorance with the same loving eye as he looks at my abilities.At that moment I realized that by facing my fears and ignorance I released myself from a great weight that I have carried around for a long time. I was searching for certain answers in all kinds of books, but I had them within me all along :))

Tonight I read the words of Tagore again just like I have done years ago, but it feels different now. It feels like there is a tiny plant growing inside of me which is filled with love. It grows at the same spot where I once hided my fear and shame. There is room now for it to grow.... :))

So far this 'sharing' post :) I wish you a lovely day and leave you with another saying of Tagore which I dedicate to Toek; the gentle warm-hearted man I truly love :))

"Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
but to add color to my sunset sky."

A closer look

2008-04-02T01:28:00.007+02:00

What is a weed?
A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good morning :) I am writing this post in the middle of the night hihi, but I wanted to share this little weed I found. When I took a closer look at it I saw that it actually was a beautiful little plant. Guess everything in life becomes more beautiful when you take the time to really look at it.

Have a nice day with many close looks

(I am going to sleep now and dream of weeds :)

Flowers

2008-04-01T12:49:00.006+02:00

Let us open our leaves like a flower,

and be passive and receptive.

John Keats

To me nothing is more easy and lovely for a simple still life than a small vase on a coloured plate with one or two flowers. Choose a plate in the colours of the flowers and add a contrasting vase and you will get a lovely composition.

These round vases are ideal for simple still life decorations because they underline the shape and the colour of the flowers. Above that you can use just one or two beautiful flowers for a composition. When I go to the florist I never buy a bouquet but always a few beauties for my little vases :))

This is my mother's favourite; Fritillary. A fragile but incredible lovely flower. With a beautiful pattern on the petals and powdery colours. Just one or two in a small simple vase is enough for me. Here I have added sea shells and a plate with powdery colours and texture.

Beautiful little thing don't you think? Flowers keep amazing me with their appearance. Tomorrow there will be market again and I hope to discover some new beauties to share with you. Take care and I hope you will see a lot of flowers today :))

Floating

2008-03-31T21:07:00.008+02:00

'Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls'

Today when I was taking pictures of these fragile blue flowers in my garden, I remembered this quote of Kahlil Gibran again. It has helped me to let things flow freely instead of trying to control them. It feels like I am going through a new phase in my life in which I get new insights but also new challenges. And when I look around I see that a lot of people are going through the same process. That makes me happy because it gives me the feeling that we are on our way :)
There was a time when I wanted everybody to be exactly like me and a time I wanted to be completely different from the rest. Now a day those feelings have faded and I feel like we are all very different and at the same time very much alike. Just like the flowers above :))

Today was the first day without rain for a long time and it felt suddenly like spring. At one point the sun briefly shined while I watched these little flowers gently floating around. Sometimes life seems so easy hihihGuess we are all floating around in the same bowl, maybe you will see me floating by soon! Till that time take care and have a lovely day :))

Thoughts over tea..

2008-03-30T21:19:00.015+02:00

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,

as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves -

slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.

~Thich Nat Hahn

Today I was playing around with a lovely new vase I bought with my mother for only 1.99 Euro at Ikea. I love to make new arrangements which cost almost nothing hihi. Somehow they are so much more rewarding to me :)

When I finished my decorating I sat down with a cup of tea to look at my new corner. I was in the mood for peppermint tea and while preparing the tea I could see a wonderful reflection in the cup. As I looked longer I started to see a whole dream landscape.....

O' peppermint tea -
two delights per sip
as steamy hot as passion
cool as a wintry lake dip

~Astrid Alauda

Hihi this is such a lovely poem while drinking mint tea (I know I am a hopeless dreamer and romanticist). But on a cold a rainy day like this one nothing beats a good cup of peppermint tea.

It is almost half past eleven in the evening now and it is still raining. I guess I will go to bed early to read and take some camomile tea with me.

For those of you who read this post in the morning; take a good look in your tea cup and who knows what you will see.
Take care and have a lovely dreamy day :)

Leafs

2008-03-28T20:38:00.014+01:00

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every morning when I look through my kitchen window I see leafs from the Ivy (Hedera) that grows around my window. It is such a lovely sight and I wanted to share their beauty with you :)When the sun shines the leafs become even more beautiful. The green is brighter and you can see the network of leaf veins. To me it always represents life.... pure fresh life :) Since years my Ivy has a colony of plant louse that life on the leafs. In the spring I hope the lady bugs will return as they are fond of louse. It is such a beautiful sight to see the shiny red lady bugs sunbathing on the green leafs:))From my window I can see all kinds of insects using the leafs as a shelter from rain and sunlight. Spiders being busy making their web and in a few weeks the soft and powdery caterpillars will show up again :)) Sometimes when I have watched all the life between the leafs for a while, I almost feel like a part of it too..... my secret leaf life hihi

Have a nice weekend and take care :))

Matryoshka dolls

2008-03-27T17:28:00.010+01:00

I was cleaning the attic today as I stumbled upon a Matryoshka doll from St. Petersburg. I got it for present from a friend years ago. What a lovely surprise to meet again on the attic :)

I decided to take her downstairs and to examine her while drinking a cup of tea. She has a lovely painted face and is made out of wood. When I saw her in the sunlight I could not remember why I had put her on the attic.I was forgotten that it is a doll with 10 pieces! How lovely to see all these Matryoshka dolls standing around in the room. All with diffrent lovely faces and beautiful details.

The smallest one is as big as a bean and looks so cute. It seems like she frowns a bit hihi And even this little one has beautiful gold details. I remember now why I tucked away the Matryoshka dolls on the attic at the time. They are addictive!! I have just spent my complete free afternoon playing with these dolls. Stacking them, displaying them and moving them around. It felt lovely though :)))Well I didn't clean the attic today but I ended up cleaning my head by playing as a young girl again. To just play from time to time, works like a fresh shower. I and the Matryoshka dolls wish you a lovely playful day :))

Flowers...

2008-03-26T20:10:00.027+01:00

With the flower

I hide myself within my flower,

That wearing on your breast,

You, unsuspecting, wear me too -

And angels know the rest.

I hide myself within my flower,

That, fading from your vase,

You, unsuspecting, feel for me

Almost a loneliness.

- Emily Dickinson

I have always loved this poem from Emily Dickinson and everytime I take pictures of flowers I think of it :) To me flowers represent the soft (female) side of life. Sensual and mystical, with their incredible colours and velvet petals.

There is a fairy tale called Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen and it was my favourite story as a child. Every time when I was scared or insecure I just pretended to step inside a giant flower. The petals would gentle close around me and I would be safe :) Even now thirty years later it still works hihi.

Here a part of this wonderful fairy tale of Andersen; "It is a beautiful flower,” said the woman, and she kissed the red and golden-colored leaves, and while she did so the flower opened, and she could see that it was a real tulip. Within the flower, upon the green velvet stamens, sat a very delicate and graceful little maiden. She was scarcely half as long as a thumb, and they gave her the name of “Thumbelina,” or Tiny, because she was so small."

After all these years I still can look in the centre of a flower and see a tiny person sleep between the stames. Take care and I wish you a beautiful day with lots of flowers to step into :)))

Kilim

2008-03-25T20:32:00.004+01:00

Since years I am in love with Kilim rugs, pillows and carpets. Their intriguing patterns with symbolic figures and their beautiful warm colour palettes always attract my eye. I have used Kilim pillows many times as a colour guide and they always lead me to beautiful new colour scenes. They mix well with teak and old wood as well with my beloved bright colours. Most of them I have had for years and they seem to become even more beautiful :))The motifs often are symbols like for example; Camel = Wealth and Fortune, Dog = Protector of the house, Dove = Peace, Fish = Happiness, Horse = Freedom, Peacock = Divinity, Rose = Love, “S” motif = divinity and wisdom, “Z” motif = Light, Zigzag motif = Water and eternity (source Caroun.com )
There is something about the colours and the patterns that attracts me. It seems to bring back a feeling from a distant past and I can't put my finger on it. I read this story about the language of Kilims and I wanted to share it with you; "Long ago in a Turkish village, a tribal chief happened to see a Kilim which moved him strangely. Looking at it, he sensed the terrible anguish of the person who’d made it. He told his men to find the father of the young girl who’d woven the Kilim (as her sentiments echoed in the Kilim’s motifs). When the father was brought to him, he asked him why he wanted his daughter to marry a man of his choice, when she’d set her heart on another. The father was stunned. How did the chief know all this, he asked? The chief pointed to the Kilim and said, “the Kilim your daughter wove spoke to me about her anguish!” He gave the father a horse and a camel, told him to allow his daughter to marry the man she loved and said, “tell her she wove it well!" (source Copperwiki) Well I must admit that I can't sense the feelings and thoughts of the craftsmen who made my beautiful Kilim pillows and rugs. But I know they were made with a loving eye for detail and colour. Although I look different at them ever since that story hihi :)))

Easter part 2

2008-03-24T13:18:00.004+01:00

Yesterday was a lovely day at my mother's home. We ate asparagus and talked for hours with a glass of wine and laughed a lot. I love it to spend time with my family and we are never out of topics to talk about.We were late out of bed this morning and started the day at the yellow decorated breakfast table with ginger tea and an egg. Pork got one too and loved it so much that he still is searching for more eggs across the room.
As I write this post I am nibbling from a chocolate Easter bunny. The sight of those colourful bunnies reminds me of Easter at my parent's house. My mother used to hide Easter eggs that my sister and I would search for. She always forgot some and in April we still could find some forgotten eggs hihiThis morning I got a beautiful surprise as I read the lovely blog by Peggy from Creative Influences. She mentioned me in her blog in such a lovely way that it really moved me. As I wrote yesterday how much I love it to share my thoughts and work with others today I got a great reward from her.
And how beautiful to receive such lovely positive feedback on a day like this. It makes me feel very happy and connected. Connected because I can share my thoughts and creativity on a daily base with people who are going through the same process in life. We are all learning and sometimes struggling. By sharing this process and sharing beauty we can inspire each other. It surely inspires me :)))
So I wish you a wonderful day. And a big hug to those who encourage and inspire me with their beautiful blogs and lovely comments. There is an invisible line that connects all of our souls :) Take care..... X!

Easter part 1

2008-03-22T20:33:00.006+01:00

What a lovely day it is :) The weather forecast predicted rain and even snow, but the sun is shining hihi. On our breakfast table the sunbeams made my Easter decorations look even more sunny and yellow. In a few hours we will visit my mother together with my sister. I don't have a religious background so I spend Easter together with the ones I love, eating a special meal and enjoying each others company. On days like this I always feel how lucky I am to be surrounded by people who love me for who I am. To live in a peaceful country and to be able to freely express my thoughts and feelings. Easter to me is a time to reflect on those things that seem so naturally but in fact are a true gift. It is wonderful to share this with my loved ones.This morning I looked at Flickr and I saw the lovely Easter greetings from people all over the world. It made me smile to consider that although we all have our different ways to celebrate Easter we feel the need to share it with others. That is also the reason I want to share this picture with you because to me it represents my warm mood on this day.

I wish you all a lovely and peaceful Easter. Big hugs and take care :))))))

Flowers; Violets

2008-03-21T20:48:00.007+01:00

I am already feeling better today after a few days of shamelessly being spoiled by Toek :) Pork pretended not to feel well also and got treats all day long too. We are trying to stretch it for one more day but I don't think he believes us anymore hihi

Love has many faces, the older I get the more faces I recognize. I recognized it today when Toek came back from the supermarket with these lovely Violets for me and a bag of treats for Pork. Violets always look like old paintings to me with their dark purple colour palette. Like flowers from a distant past still flourishing today with mystical colours and a magic scent :))

I always thought that real love was something big and extra ordinary but I know now that its true appearance lies in the small and simple things. And those who take the effort to see it can feel it's power.I felt it today through Violets from the supermarket and a bag with dog treats :)) I wish you a good weekend with lots of small faces to recognize. Take care :))