Jan 21- Celebrate health

A few years ago I had a serious health problem from which I managed to recover. It is difficult to describe the amount of gratefulness that I felt afterwards every time I was walking on the street and I felt normal again.

Of course, this gratefulness still exists now; however as time passed it got more difficult to feel it spontaneously as there seem to be so many “important” things like work and daily chores..

Wishing health for Christmas and on someone’s birthday is the most trivial thing. But we all have a tendency to be forgetful and think about certain things only if and when they actually happen. Health is one of these things. The interesting part is that it is also the most valuable thing.

Today I am going to remember that I am here, I am alive and have the great privilege of being able to see, walk and do freely everything do that I want to do. And that`s a super big deal. Can you feel it too? J

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Jan 18- Remember the good times

During my yoga class today the teacher spoke of the Flower of Life -the creation pattern that holds mystical symbols through which one can discover the most important and sacred pattern in the universe.

The Flower of Life can mostly be seen in a hexagonal pattern (where the center of each circle is on the circumference of six surrounding circles of the same diameter), made up of 19 complete circles and 36 partial circular arcs, enclosed by a large circle. It is considered by some to be a symbol of sacred geometry, said to contain ancient, religious value depicting the fundamental forms of space and time. Drawings of it the can be found in Phoenician, Assyrian, Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, and medieval art and there are many analyses of its symbolism.

Hearing the story of the Flower of Life reminded me of my beautiful summer holiday in Ibiza In Ibiza I was staying in the House Life- Blossoms owned by the charismatic Elke and Michael, former models who lived all over the world and at one point embarked on a spiritual journey that brought them to Ibiza. Their house had a wonderful artistic vibe that was greatly enhanced by Michael`s creations-paintings of the Flower of Life that were displayed in every room in the house. I hadn`t heard of them before, so he was telling me about their symbolism and importance. Today was the second time I heard about it.

The talk about the flower of life brought me back to Ibiza and its incredible nature; the beautiful spiritual place where I stayed and the great people whom I met there. It made me think how experiences enrich us in an unforgettable way long after they are over. Experiences get imprinted in ourselves and we can access them any time by remembering. So they can brighten up the rainy days. And remind us that there will be many more to come. J

More about the Flower of Life: http://blog.world-mysteries.com/science/the-flower-of-life/

And about the House Life-Blossoms: https://www.facebook.com/houselifeblossoms/?hc_ref=SEARCH

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Jan 10- Let go of what you can`t control

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When starting the series I was energized to build momentum and also to discipline myself to post every day. My frustration with the server crash that has made the webpage inaccessible for the last few days was beyond words! “Nothing like this has happened since I started the blog (which was two years ago)! Why now!?”

Well. It happens. And experiencing it made me realize the following- it just doesn’t make any sense to brag about it and to let it stop me from following my plan. What makes sense is to think of solutions. And here it is – sharing my posts in Facebook works perfectly fine for the time being.

There are things to worry about and things to let go. The ones which we can`t control belong to the second category. It`s like a mental garbage bin where you through your paper trash. Practice cleaning the trash from your mind 😉

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Jan 9- Stay connected

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Today a very dear friend of mine reminded me of an important truth- that distance doesn’t matter when the roots of the relationship are strong enough. Sometimes keeping the roots strong happens more naturally than other times. It is up to us to stay connected to our dear ones so our friendships grow strong and sustain the challenges of distance and time zones!

 

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30 Day Photo Diary: Day 13 – A story about temples

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Experience of Indian temples is difficult to explain and describe- they need to be seen and felt. The richness of the culture and spiritual life and the symbolism of the rituals evoke a unique mix of peace and fascination. For me it started as a sort of a fairytale-ish experience and with time evolved into something that goes beyond words- a special feeling of going back home, feeling safe and becoming very very still.

There are different types of temples and deities that are being honored and with time I discovered the ones closest to my heart. Without a doubt, these are the temples in remote villages in Kerala.

They are small, intimate and strikingly different than the mega-temples in the big cities. Very often they are not located in the heart of the village, but in outskirts, where you feel inexplicably united with nature.

The rituals (pujas) take place early in the morning or in the evening. The evenings are special for me. First it’s the preparation- the temple rules are that you are clean, presentable and decently dressed. Then it`s the ritual- the candles, bells, music, the richly decorated deities.. it`s a symphony for the senses, a story told without words, rich food for your imagination.

At one point it comes to an end- and only the silence is left. You`ve just participated in the ritual and paid your respects to the deity – not just to the idol – Ganesa, Krishna, Shiva, Karthikeyan or whichever it is but most importantly – to the deity in yourself. You`ve felt the connection with the light, sound and nature. And you know that everything will be just fine.

It`s not just a temple that you`ve visited. It is a visit to your soul.

 

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Before the flood

Climate change is a fact. But do we know enough about it? In my view not.

This documentary gives a synthesized view of the enormous threats that the humankind is facing as a result of Climate Change  and even though I cannot say I agree 100% with all the reasons for it that are being mentioned, what I find supremely valuable is that they are clearly stating the facts:

  • Global Warming is a problem which has started impacting us and is likely to impact even more the future generations
  • If things continue the way they are, the outlook is extremely gloomy
  • It is in our hands to solve this problem
  • We can do this by consuming differently – what we buy, what we eat and how we get our power.

I really think that this is something that children should study at school, so future generations of leaders and decision makers have it embedded in their thinking.

Be mindful and informed. It is our planet and our responsibility.

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The hidden Wetlands of The Netherlands

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Netherlands is a country of bikes- the number of bikes is higher than the population of the country!

Closely linked to this is one of the not so known charms of the country- the bike routes that it has. And one of the most picturesque from them happens to start from Amsterdam.

The route goes through the Dutch Wetlands- . It takes about 45 km which can be easily done in 3.5 -5 hours.

Start from Amsterdam by getting on the Buikslotterweg ferry behind Amsterdam Central Station and go on the other side of the IJ river and then go direction Durgerdam.  On the way pass the villages of Niuwedammerwijk and Scheillingouderdijk. You`ll be super surprised to see how the landscape changes so dramatically just a few kilometers away from Amsterdam! Make sure you stop for a break at the Oude Taveerne in Durgerdam which offers beautiful views of the water, authentic sailor atmosphere and great mussles.

After you reach Durgerdam go direction Monnickendam through the road called Uitdammerdijk. Here you will be on a dike road right next to the water, will pass through bird breeding areas and will enjoy beautiful water views. You will be ciclying right along the water watching the seagulls and the boats- it`s a beautfull trip which you won`t forget.

If you need a break once you reach Monnickendam make a stop at the beach pavilion – another nice place to take a break and enjoy the Dutch coutry side.

From Monnickendam go to Zuiderwoude and then continue to Broek inWaterland then cycle along the south bank of the Broekervaart canal towards Het Schouw from where head can back to the ferry.

And some useful tips for your trip:

  • If you don`t have a bike you can rent one from Central Station Amsterdam. A good option is the OV fiets- http://www.ns.nl/en/door-to-door/ov-fiets
    • Make sure you bring a scarf/body warmer/umbrella- Dutch weather can be quite unpredictable
    • Don`t forget your camera- there will be plenty of opportunities to take great pictures!

And now- enjoy the gallery! 🙂

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The one who left traces

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Today is the birthday of a truly remarkable individual- one of those noble souls who left deep traces and inspired humanity.

Gandhi is still supremely inspirational – starting from his impressive humbleness, going through his hard work and dedication in the quest of following his heart and ending with his profound teachings of non violence and collaboration.
His autobiography is therefore a must for all of us who want to learn and expand their outlook. Because,  as Gandhi himself said once-  “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

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The colors of Ibiza

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At first sight Ibiza is easy going and very playful.  But she can also offer wonder and mystery for those who are looking for it. More about this versatile and colorful beauty –  coming soon in a three part photo essay  that will show the beaches, places and my personal favorite- the off beaten tracks.

The Amsterdamse Bos

I live in the city, but love spending time in nature and try to get closer to it whenever I can.

Engaging in activities outdoors gives me a boost, wakes up my senses and makes me feel more alive. It brings me to the present where I am fully aware of the sounds, smells and colors around me. In such moments I realize that it is the simplicity of life that really matters and beauty is all around us for those who can see it. That we are here to enjoy what we have – and nature is one of the most generous givers in this world.

Canoeing is one of my favorite outdoors activities because it brings me even closer to all this. When I was in India I stayed on the bank of a river and could do it almost every day. I was greatly missing it in The Netherlands until last week when a friend took me to the Amsterdamse Bos.

The park is a definite must see for all who want to escape the city hassle and just relax. You can rent canoes or water bikes, swim in the lake or just cycle or walk around. What makes it special is also its size (1,000 hectares) and the unruliness of its nature- something untypical for the tidy and super organized Netherlands.

More about the park – http://www.amsterdamsebos.nl/English

 

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