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Emma Thompson

Books are like people

Ennan was born in Guangzhou, China, and lived in Singapore for a year before moving to Hong Kong when he was 4 years old. He and his friends protest most weeks, and have been interviewed by Greenpeace, the SCMP Young Post, and French magazine Le Petit Journal.

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Ennan Qiu

<h4>ENNAN QIU is a 15-year-old climate activist. Of Chinese and British descent, he has been living in Hong Kong for 11 years. In conversation with RACHEL NELSON of the Heartfulness Institute, he explains more about himself, his climate activism, and his hopes for the future.</h4><hr>Q: Hello Ennan, thanks for joining me. Can you tell me a bit more about yourself?&nbsp;EQ: My favorite thing to do is cycling, and I’m an advocate of plant-based eating. I’ve been involved in activism since August last year when my friend and I joined another young local climate activist who’s now left Hong Kong.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: What prompted you to become a climate activist?&nbsp;EQ: I’ve cared about the environment since I was very young. In primary school, I wrote letters to the government and our parliament about Hong Kong’s waste problem and the incinerator they were building on a porpoise breeding ground. I’ve been vegan since I was 12 years old. Around that time I also went to the “Fridays For Future” Climate Strike here in Hong Kong in March 2019, which drew thousands of students.What prompted me to become an activist was a feeling of helplessness about the lack of climate action here. Our government has a very low emission reduction target, and people eat 5.5 times as much meat as the international average. I have also felt despair and anger about how fishmongers in the markets break the law in plain sight and face no consequences. It’s a very common practice to throw fish on the dry counters to flop around violently, as some people consider that when they’re writhing in pain and moving so much they’re fresh and tasty.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You’ve been an activist longer than you think if you’ve been doing things since primary school.&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: Yes, although I wasn’t drawn to any movements, really.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: It’s clearly been something you’ve been thinking about for a while. So why is it important to help the climate?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: As the UN Secretary General and former Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, said, “The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable that greenhouse gas emissions are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. We are still very much careering toward climate catastrophe.”&nbsp;Government emission reduction plans are nothing more than weak, undelivered, empty promises. The United Nations says that despite pledging to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world is on track for almost a 3-degree temperature rise by the end of the century, which would be nothing short of cataclysmic. This is an abdication of responsibility, and a betrayal of younger generations and all life on Earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Yes, we’re seeing the effects everywhere in the world. You mentioned some of the issues you have around veganism in Hong Kong; is there anything else specific to your region, which you are interested in changing?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: Earlier, I mentioned the barbaric abuse of animals in wet markets, but right now my fellow activists and I have started a campaign targeting McDonald’s, whose animal welfare policies have been rated as poor to very poor by the animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection. Our aim is to get McDonald’s to start serving vegan burgers and plant-based milk at every restaurant. Unbelievably, they still don’t do this, even though the vegan McPlant burger has been launched in the UK and oat milk is available at McDonald’s in Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another aim is to get them to reduce their waste by providing reusable cutlery instead of takeaway cutlery and ketchup bottles for dining use. Greenpeace Hong Kong has found that McDonald’s gives out over 200,000 pieces of single-use plastic every day during a two-hour lunch span.&nbsp;Q: I didn’t know that. It’s another good reason to have these conversations with people from different places in the world.&nbsp;EQ: Most McDonald’s don’t have it. They really need to work on that.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ennan_Qui_HK_14a3498463.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:12:42.317Z" alt="">Q: Can you tell us about Fridays For Future?&nbsp;EQ: Fridays For Future is a youth-led climate protest movement with local chapters all over the world. It started in 2018, when Greta Thunberg (who was 15 at the time) began her first school strike for climate action outside the Swedish parliament. She was fed up with the international community’s failure to treat the climate crisis as a crisis, and demanded urgent action to stop it’s catastrophic impacts.&nbsp;Fridays For Future is part of a new wave of change, along with a coalition of other groups around the world, inspiring millions of people to take action on the climate. Actually, our group isn’t officially affiliated with Fridays For Future, because the original Hong Kong group disbanded. We’re interested in reviving it, but we’re not yet registered with the official organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You mentioned that you have a few friends who work with you as climate activists. Does that help you stay more positive? Does it help you feel like you have more support?&nbsp;EQ: Definitely. I don’t think I could do much on my own. Together our voices are amplified and it’s harder for corporations and leaders to ignore us when we are more people. It’s also reassuring to know that there are other people who care, and we help each other stay on the same page.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You seem motivated and positive. Where do you think that comes from? Is it a result of working as a group or are you a motivated and positive person anyway?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I’ve been motivated by all the information about the climate catastrophe, the suffering of animals, and factory farms, that compels me to act. To be honest, it’s not always easy to stay positive in the face of these problems. I guess we just have to remind ourselves that we’re doing the best we can with what we have, and feeling down or sad will not change anything or help in any way.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Do you feel like the burden of activism has fallen on the younger generations, while the older ones have caused many of the problems?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I don’t blame everyone from the older generations, because I know that not all older people are responsible, and there are a lot of adults in the environmental movement. But I feel that we young people have a lot more to lose, and that is one of the main reasons why most activists are young.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You mentioned Greta Thunberg, and in the last few years many other young activists have stepped up to take ownership of their future. What would you like to see the people in power doing, and what are your hopes for the future?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: My main hope is for world leaders and the international community to wake up, put their differences aside, and formulate solid plans to tackle climate change.I also hope that governments will take action on animal agriculture as well. It contributes as much to climate change as cars, planes, trains, buses, and ships combined. There’s been almost no action on this front, even though efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees are impossible without a drastic fall in meat consumption. We can all play a role by choosing to eat more plants and less meat.&nbsp;Q: Do you think the animal perspective pushed you into activism, leading to other environmental issues, or do you think it was a bit of both?&nbsp;EQ: I think it was a bit of both. Originally I was more interested in the environment, which is why I wrote letters to the government. Then, around 12 years old I became a vegan. One day we were walking at night-time and we heard a cow mooing continuously in pain, so we thought it was giving birth.&nbsp;My mom told me that dairy cows are forced to breed continuously to ensure a steady supply of milk. That’s when I started to learn about the connection between animal welfare and the environment. I learned how animal agriculture contributes to climate change, the pollution that’s caused by manure, and the cutting down of rainforests to make space for growing crops to feed the animals. So, I would say it’s a mixture of both. I care equally about both issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Did you get a reply from the government to your letters?&nbsp;EQ: Yes, I did. They wrote a long letter justifying all the reasons for the incinerator. I still have it somewhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: What do the adults in your life think about your activism?EQ: I would say most are supportive. Actually, one of our activists is an adult. Most adults know about the climate crisis and see the urgency in solving it. Most don’t like factory farming, which is the cramming of animals into cages and tiny pens to maximize efficiency, even if they aren’t vegan or vegetarian themselves. Some, like my parents, worry that I’ll get into trouble or offend people. That helps guide me away from doing things that a lot of people won’t like.&nbsp;Q: What would you like to do in future? Do you think you’ll go down the environmental activism route, or will it be something that you do on the side throughout your life?&nbsp;EQ: I’m not sure, but I am considering going into climate science or environmental science. I plan to study geography and biology when I start my IB Diploma next year, but aside from that I’m not sure what specific job I want to have.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You’re still young, and there’s a lot that can change, it’s just that you’re clearly very informed. Do you do a lot of research?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I did a lot of research before my activism. I wrote articles for my school newspaper, and I did a few speeches. We had to do a speech in class so I chose this as my topic.&nbsp;Q: It’s a good topic. Do you have a message for young activists, climate activists in general, and everyone?&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><hr><h4>My main message is not to feel sad.&nbsp; And don’t give up hope,&nbsp; because history has shown that we&nbsp; are capable of surmounting big challenges.</h4><hr><hr>EQ: My main message is not to feel sad. It’s good to be worried, but don’t let it take you over. And don’t give up hope, because history has shown that we are capable of surmounting big challenges. We created the United Nations, we adopted the Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Montreal Protocol that helped save the ozone layer, but averting this climate catastrophe will require more effort. It requires everyone to play their part.Some things you can do are eat plant-based foods, even if it’s just one day a week or one meal a day, and drive and fly less. It’s better to stay local more often. Use less energy, and waste less.&nbsp;Q: That sounds good. As you say, everyone is living in different environments, but it’s hopefully something governments will look at and start to create better spaces for people. It’s not all on the individual. There are higher levels at work that can do more.&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I think it needs a coordinated effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Yes, definitely a coordinated effort. Thank you.<hr><hr><h4>Interview by RACHEL NELSON</h4><hr>

Meet a young climate activist

Epicurus

Taste the joys in life

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Erich Fromm

Letting Go to Create

From a young age, passions for the ocean, science, and community have defined Erin’s path. In 2021, she was acknowledged by the North American Association for Environmental Education in their EE 30 Under 30 program, recognizing outstanding young environmental educators around the world.&nbsp;

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Erin Shultz 

<h4>ERIN SHULTZ shares the experiment she has been doing to create a more sustainable lifestyle. It involves small, manageable changes that still make a difference, especially once they become everyday habits.&nbsp;</h4>With so much information at our fingertips, it is hard to decide what to do, what to believe, and how to make an impact. Sustainable actions to help combat the climate crisis definitely fit into this arena of information overload. Many of us feel that it is pointless to do anything, because how can one person make a difference?&nbsp;I have found peace and solace in the idea that making my life and choices more sustainable can be as individual as the way I take my morning tea (or coffee, if you prefer). The idea that social media influencers, authors, documentary hosts, or even me have the single right answer is both limiting and detrimental to our progress.&nbsp;So, take what works for you from all that you see (including me), and leave the rest. Maybe it will fit into another time or way, but the best sustainable action is the one you are willing to take right now, and hopefully more often in the future.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The best sustainable action is the one&nbsp; you are willing to take right now,&nbsp; and hopefully more often in the future.&nbsp;</h4><hr>First, take stock of your life. What habits do you already have in your day? What is your morning routine? When and how do you get your groceries? Where do you shop most frequently? Consider if any of these habits could be just one bit more sustainable, while still fitting into your life and routine.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:25%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp 159w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp 159w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4>Tea and coffee drinkers&nbsp;</h4>Ask your favorite caffeine shop to put your drink in your reusable mug. Across a year (with 3 drinks per week), this will save 156 plastic cups, lids, and straws.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp 450w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Walkers&nbsp;</h4>Carry a bag (and maybe a glove) when you walk, and grab some trash along your way. You may just save a bird or another critter, and you are definitely making your neighborhood more beautiful.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Clothing&nbsp;</h4>Commit to checking out a thrift store or secondhand store before heading to the mall or Amazon to grab a new pair of jeans. Reusing clothes reduces the resources consumed to make new products.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Cleaning&nbsp;</h4>Buy cleaning products that come in glass or metal containers. These are infinitely recyclable, unlike plastics.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp 450w," sizes="100vw">Whatever you choose, make sure it fits into your day, and make sure you are committed to doing it for a month. Then, add another activity in the following month. Sooner than you know, you will start seeing simple, sustainable swaps all around you, and the changes will not be daunting after some early wins.&nbsp;When I began this process of simple shifts, the people in my life noticed. They saw me constantly toting around my favorite sticker-covered water bottle (one friend even named it my “emotional support water bottle”), they saw fewer products lining my shower, they saw reusable cloths in my kitchen instead of paper towels, and they definitely saw the five different recycling bins!&nbsp;They had questions. So I shared with them the changes I had made and explained my perspective of seeing a better future when we lower the demand on the resources that are essential to keep our Earth happy and healthy.&nbsp;Today, I hope you’ll find a minute to take one small sustainable step. Nurture it, and watch it grow into a habit. Whether you realize it or not, that habit could actually help save the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How can one person make a difference?

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Esther Perel

Commitment

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Eva Du

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>EVA DU shares her passion of connection, and her celebration of the joy of life.</h4>
Reading and writing are some of my greatest passions besides dancing and moving my body. Connecting with whatever is
 around – whether it is my own body or the natural and human world – is my constant passion. In spite of my frequent
 changing focus and interests in the world, the one thing that stays the same is making connections.
I love to be out in nature, in the sea and in the woods, smelling and talking to the plants and animals around. I
 also love to be with friends and other people, bringing unlikely groups of people together in exploration of
 themselves and the world around. I love engaging in fun, meaningful experiences in nature that connect people both
 inwards and outwards.
I make sure to take time to practice first for myself, whatever the hobby or passion. Often I find they are the
 things I do anyway, without needing to think, the things that soothe and bring me joy. Recently, and reluctantly, I
 started swimming first in a swimming pool and then in the freezing cold Irish sea. It helps me to release all my
 stresses and worries and returns me to the present moment, happy to be alive, well and breathing. It fills me with
 life again, reminding of what is important and why: Nature.
While I am still trying to work out my potential, all I have to say is to follow your heart’s calling from the
 beginning, not after you’ve graduated, not after school, not after you’re married. Start today!
<img alt="the-gift-of-today" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/gift_of_today2_4e1d8f773e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-17T07:53:20.659Z">
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by EVA DU</h4>
<hr>

The gift of today

Eva is Group Head of Public Affairs at Amarenco, a European Solar IPP. As chair of an agrisolar workstream in Europe, she promotes synergies between agricultural and solar sectors to tackle climate change adaptation. She stands for ecological transition, promoting regenerative agricultural solutions combined with solar energy production in rural areas. Eva has a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Paris Pantheon Sorbonne, specializing in public law and political science. She is also certified in Public Affairs, Strategy and Influence, by the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

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Eva Vandest

<h4>
 EVA VANDEST is
 Group Head of Public Affairs&nbsp;for independent solar power producer, the
 Amarenco Group, and chair of a European agrisolar workstream. She promotes
 synergies between agricultural and solar sectors, to bring regenerative
 agriculture and solar production to rural areas. Here she describes the work
 of “The International 4 per 1000 Initiative: Soils for Food Security and
 Climate” in uniting individuals, communities, and organizations to improve the
 quality of the Earth’s soils.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 We are all concerned by Climate Change, the loss of biodiversity, as well as
 water and food security. Unfortunately, indicators do not lead to optimism.
 75% of the world’s soils are already degraded to varying degrees due to human
 activity – they are either degraded or highly degraded.



 The Food and Agricultural Organization of the U.N. (FAO) states that if we do
 not act now, more than 90% of the Earth’s surface soils could be degraded by
 2050. The death of soils has disastrous consequences for their capacity to
 capture and store carbon emissions, for water and food security, and for the
 prosperity of farmers and their families. Our capacity to feed the human
 population of the Earth in 2050 will depend greatly on our ability to keep our
 soils alive.



 The health of soils, which is mainly indicated by sufficient organic matter,
 is closely correlated with agricultural production and practices. Stable and
 productive soils directly foster the resilience of farms to cope with the
 effects of climate disruption, and help maintaining biodiversity.



 “The International 4 per 1000 Initiative: Soils for Food Security and Climate”
 aims to demonstrate that agriculture and forestry, in particular agricultural
 and forestry soils via natural carbon storage through photosynthesis, can play
 a crucial role in food security and climate change.



 Launched by France in December 2015 during COP 21, 4p1000 confederates all
 voluntary, public, and private stakeholders, including national, local, and
 regional governments and authorities, companies, professional organizations,
 NGOs, research establishments, etc., within the framework of the Global
 Climate Action Plan (GCAP). Based on solid science, it invites all partners to
 promote and implement concrete action for soil carbon storage.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="700" height="466" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Soil_Health2_52d94c7f73.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T17:49:41.122Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 With 700 members together engaged in the regeneration of soils, 4p1000 also
 communicates the seriousness and the emergency of the situation, bringing
 awareness that each individual, each community, each organization, private or
 public, can join together to bring radical changes in practices, to restore
 the balance essential for our Earth system.



 Governments and large organizations have the greatest power to make a
 difference, and can have the most impact. However, each one of us can and must
 act. Living a more harmonious life not only guarantees the resources essential
 to our survival as a human species, it also makes us happier. For too long
 happiness has been associated with a lifestyle of overconsumption, creating
 more and more unattainable desires.



 Noise, light, and electrical pollution excite our nervous systems to the point
 where we can no longer sleep, and suffer from depression and burn out.
 Overcrowded and isolated in ever larger and more complex cities, the loss of
 simplicity and the direct link with nature makes us unhappy. Sometimes we go
 so far that we “crack.” One day, we wake up and want to change our lives,
 little by little.



 We quickly discover that the right people are there to accompany us. The world
 is full of ideas and solutions that allow us to rediscover ourselves and
 design our individual and collective destiny. Absolute confidence and a firm
 will lead us inexorably to success.



 4p1000 is an official supporting partner of the United Nations Decade on
 Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.


<h5>
 To learn more and be involved:
</h5>

<ol type="1" style="
 word-wrap: break-word;
">
 <li>
 <a href="http://www.4p1000.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.4p1000.org</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 Understanding the 4 per 1000 Initiative in 3’30
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xohnOdgz-C4" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/embed/xohnOdgz-C4</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 Why are soils important for the climate?
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORncZnlKOZg" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORncZnlKOZg</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 The Strategic Plan of the 4 per 1000 Initiative
 <a href="https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/english/en_strategic_plan.pdf" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/english/en_strategic_plan.pdf</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 4 per 1000 at a glance
 <a href="https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/ok_4pour1000_gb_v2.jpg" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/ok_4pour1000_gb_v2.jpg</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 List of the consortium members and forum partners:
 <a href="https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/original_partenaires_membres.pdf" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/original_partenaires_membres.pdf</a>
 </li>
</ol>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Soil Health: 4p1000

Fabio is an artist and musician. He grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, graduating in stage design from UNIRIO. Currently living in Freiburg, Germany, he teaches drawing and percussion in learning institutions and works as a freelancer artist, receiving orders from around the world.

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Fabio Kohler

<h4>FABIO KOHLER is an artist and musician. Here he explores the mystical aspect of creativity, and how meditation helps him to engage more deeply with the subjects of his artwork.&nbsp;</h4>Doing a portrait is a challenging task. The face proportion has to be precise to within millimeters. Otherwise, the person will not be recognized or something will feel wrong. But this covers only the visual part. The next challenge is to catch the particularity of the person. This is similar to the process, “from thinking to feeling,” or in this case, “from seeing to perceiving.”One fine day, my Chinese teacher commissioned me to paint a portrait of herself. Our student and teacher relationship was based on artistic exchange and mutual admiration. During her classes she would sing Chinese songs or demonstrate Chinese traditional dances to the students. I went several times to see her flamenco dance performances, in the same way she attended my musical concerts where I played percussion. This interaction definitely had an impact on the final drawing.When I personally handed her the portrait, I asked her to show it to her husband. The moment he saw the drawing, he said, “非常好!”(meaning “very good” in Chinese). But what I could read in his eyes was, “What an amazing person I’m married to.”&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp" alt="portrait-painting2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;This episode reinforced my belief that on a conscious level the mind of the artist is occupied in formal principals (shape, proportion, light and shadow, texture, etc.), while their inner being is accessing the energy field of the person portrayed.The same process happened while drawing any spiritual person. Once you draw the human form of those souls, you start feeling the vibrational field of the person portrayed. And those vibrations are reflected through the portrait. When I showed a drawing of Jesus that I had made to Daaji, he said, “Look how compassionate these eyes are!”If you look carefully at this drawing of Jesus, you may notice that it was based on a photo of Babuji. Babuji’s eyes were strabismic. He himself used to say that while one eye was looking outside the other was always looking inside.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp" alt="portrait-painting3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">While the artistic process is flowing outwards, culminating in works of art, the practice of meditation leads inwards. Both activities combined may be very complementary.</h4><hr>This can also be applied in the process of art. While the artistic process is flowing outwards, culminating in works of art, the practice of meditation leads inwards. Both activities combined may be very complementary. Personally, I feel deeply absorbed when I’m doing an artwork. At the same time, the practice of meditation itself helps me to access a subtler and deeper level of artistic expression. It’s like the material wing and spiritual wing; in this case the artistic and spiritual wing combined make the bird of creativity fly high.For me, the mystical experience is the greatest reward of being an artist.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp" alt="portrait-painting4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp" alt="portrait-painting5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp" alt="portrait-painting6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp" alt="portrait-painting7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp" alt="portrait-painting8.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp" alt="portrait-painting9.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;For more artworks and to commission a work of art, visit: <a href="www.fabiokohler.com">www.fabiokohler.com</a><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Artwork by FABIO KOHLER</h4><hr>

Portrait painting

<h4 style="text-align:center;">FABIO KOHLER explores the creative process of an artist, and the interface between creativity and spirituality through consciousness and inspiration.</h4><hr>In our daily life we naturally meditate to perform our worldly duties. For instance, if an artist is creating a painting his mind will be continuously thinking about the work in progress while choosing the object, the theme, the best material, the technical solutions, and so on. It’s seems quite easy and natural to meditate on a worldly activity. On the other hand, when it comes to accessing higher states of consciousness in the spiritual realm, it’s seem quite difficult as we don’t have an object or external reference point to start with.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio1_img_e918eba995.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:20:07.128Z" alt="fabio1_img"><hr>So here I will look into the artistic process of creativity, to see how a worldly activity may culminate in a spiritual experience.Before even starting any creative process, it is important to prepare some ideal circumstances. First of all, time is needed to make room for creativity. A person whose plate is full is often not able to feel or receive inspiration. The second requirement is a clean, pure heart. Third, it is helpful to create a space – an environment dedicated exclusively to artistic creation.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio6_img_3be81c3325.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:21:46.441Z" alt="fabio6_img"><hr>In that first moment, the artist is inspired by something that touches him or her from inside, that develops into a feeling of enchantment. We train the eye to be like a newborn baby observing the entire world with a sense of wonder. Then, we give enough time to observe the subject, slowly and with patience. It’s like reading a 300-page novel and telling the entire story later on. If we don’t take the proper time to read the novel fully, we will not get the whole picture.Later on, we start drafting lightly on the paper or canvas. At this step we are repeating what the eyes have seen, and what we have felt, with the hands. When we observe something continuously, the eyes travel around the object. In the same way&nbsp;the hand repeats this eye movement. Initially the whole picture is drafted on the paper, defining the page setting. Later on we get into the details. It’s very important not to be lost in details at this initial stage. Like the old Chinese saying: “If you are seeing the leaf, you are not seeing the tree. If you are seeing the tree, you are not seeing the forest.”<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio3_img_2762fa381a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:23:00.806Z" alt="fabio3_img"><hr>After a while, when there is enough visual information on the paper or canvas, we can start analyzing proportion, identifying geometrical abstractions in figures and making necessary corrections. Here enters the analytical mind, but even still it has to be balanced and integrated with the natural flow of the figure. Later on we observe&nbsp;light and dark, adding deep and intermediate grades of shadow, leaving blank spaces in those spots where the light is hitting most. If it is a painting, the next step would then be to add colors, observing the nuances.At a certain point the external object is not required anymore. Now we explore in depth the graphic or pictorial universe, which turns out to be a new reality. At this stage we express our innermost feelings, enjoying the total liberty of contemplating the inner world. This stage may take hours, days, weeks, months or even years. And even when an artwork is finished, we can easily keep on ‘cooking on a low fire’, making continuous small perfections and refinements.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio4_img_b021020a04.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:24:04.422Z" alt="fabio4_img"><hr>There is a saying that an artwork is never finished, it’s only an abandoned process that others perceive as finished. A famous example is the unfinished painting, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, which he painted over 3 years and continued refining for another 11 years until he separated himself from the work.I find that it’s preferable to spend more time on one or just a few drawings, going deep into each one, rather than working on many at once and finishing them too fast. There is an importance to the depth we achieve in each work. This depth continues to deepen, and each previous work leads to greater depth in the next one. It’s a vertical journey.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio5_img_be4b9c5e83.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:24:57.120Z" alt="fabio5_img"><hr>At the end, stepping out of the artistic process and contemplating the work, all sorts of feelings arise, like “How was this done?” and “Who did this?” At the same time, all the effort and feeling of doing the work is still very much alive and leads to future work. We have no choice but to keep on excelling, because the previous artwork, yesterday’s effort, no longer satisfies the soul. This will continue until our final breath on Earth marks the end of this process.So the ultimate beauty of artistic creation is to refine the tool to such an extent, that we become a channel of creation coming from the deepest inspirations of the heart. Then we are able to completely integrate the artistic process with spirituality.To see more of Fabio’s work, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/fabiokohler">https://www.patreon.com/fabiokohler</a><hr><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Art and article by FABIO KOHLER</h4><hr>

Art and meditation

<h4>
FABIO KOEHLER
 is an artist and a musician who has been living away from his native
 Brazil for over six years. Here he shares the joy of samba, and
 describes how people from all cultures have danced and made music to
 connect with life, transform pain into happiness, and come together in
 community.
</h4>

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<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
EMBRACING DIFFERENCE
</h2>

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Vejam essa maravilha de cenário É um episódio relicário Que
 o artista, num sonho genial Escolheu para este carnaval E o
 asfalto como passarela Será a tela Do Brasil em forma de
 aquarela



Look at this wonderful scenario It’s a reliquary episode That
the artist, in a brilliant dream, Chose for this carnival And
the asphalt as a catwalk Will be the canvas Of Brazil in the
form of a watercolor



Aquarela Brasileira by Silas de Oliveira https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHN2TVwNhEo


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Whenever the word happiness comes to my mind I think of samba! I grew up
in Rio de Janeiro, which is a postcard city due to its natural beauty
and its Carnival. When I was fifteen years old, a musician taught me to
play the main beat of samba on the pandeiro, an instrument
similar to the tambourine, during a moonlit party on the beach. Since
then, I have not stopped playing that instrument! I left Brazil in 2015
and the feeling of homesickness increases day by day. Since I left, the
need to play the pandeiro, especially Brazilian music, has
grown greater and greater. Nowadays, it is easier to count the days I
don’t play the pandeiro. For me, playing samba is directly
related to happiness. There is a famous song which says:



O samba é pai do prazer O samba é filho da dor Um grande poder transformador



Samba is the father of pleasure Samba is the child of pain A
great transforming power



Desde Que O Samba É Samba by Caetano Veloso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB-iGuBVclo


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<div class="block-image">
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 decoding="async"
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And another one says:


Minha beleza encontro no samba que faço Minha tristeza se torna num alegra cantar



My beauty I find in the samba I make My sadness becomes a joyful
song



Esperanças Perdidas by Os Originais do Samba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLj9AK0edCY


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Samba has a joyful feel, and wherever I play in the world I feel this
joy is perceived by people, especially children. They are immediately
receptive to the happy vibrations and start smiling and moving their
bodies. The pandeiro (and other frame drums with jingles) was
used in diverse cultures during dances and festivities. It is known as
the bringer of joy. Whenever there is a pandeiro, the music is
filled with happiness. It is generally represented as a heart or, more
precisely, as the “heart of the musician.”



Meu coração é um pandeiro Gingando ao compasso de um samba
 feiticeiro



My heart is a pandeiro Swaying to the beat of a sorcerer’s samba



Morena Boca de Ouro by João Gilberto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umbS_GJ0S50


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<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="700"
 height="482"
 alt="samba3-700x482"
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba3_700x482_efcbf4df24.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:36:32.697Z"
 />
</figure>
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Samba had its origins in the African continent and developed in Brazil
in different areas and in diverse ways. Samba today is associated with
the city of Rio de Janeiro, because Rio was the entrance for the slave
trade coming from the African continent. There were an estimated one
million slaves in fifty years alone, which is an astonishing number.
Brazil is recognized as having the greatest number of slaves during the
colonial period.



Babuji used to say, “If you cannot leave the toilet better than before,
at least leave it like it was before you used it.” That’s why I’m deeply
grateful for the enormous work our forefathers did for humanity. During
their conditions of slavery, they transformed that pain into joy and
left us the samba! Lalaji used to sing to alleviate his stomach pains.
His sorrow would be transfigured into sweet sounds for the listeners,
just like samba music. It’s a great lesson on how to deal with sorrow
and pain. I feel very grateful to be able to play such music.



There is a song I encourage you to listen to, because the singer
Martinho da Vila is known for singing while he is smiling. You can hear
it in his voice:



Canta, canta minha gente Deixa a tristeza pra lá Canta
 forte, canta alto Que a vida vai melhorar



Sing, sing my people Leave sadness behind Sing strong, sing
loud That life will get better



Canta Canta, Minha Gente by Martinho da Vila https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxQB1FYLu5k


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This song contains the popular saying, “Quem canta seus males espanta,” which means, “One who sings, sings his woes away.”


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<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="400"
 height="588"
 alt="samba4"
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba4_871a8120fe.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:37:28.967Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

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What has this all to do with my life? These are the tools I use. Besides
playing pandeiro every day, I also sing the rhythm. I sing in
the corridor, I sing on the streets, while working, and even in the
bathroom. My acquaintances know me for this, and recognize me from afar,
even making jokes about the percussive sounds I make with my mouth. And
when I walk, I dance to the rhythm of samba. Samba dancing is normally
taught first as walking and then the characteristic movements are added.



This is the way I have found to express happiness. I’m sure each of you
has your own way. If you do not know it yet, I encourage you to find it.



The pandemic has deeply affected the artistic sector, especially live
performances. This break in live performances gave me an empty feeling
at first, and a craving to play with and for others, but it also
permitted me to develop the art of percussion. During the pandemic, I
took care of a multiple sclerosis patient. When I started to work with
her, she could not move her fingers, but she was completely conscious,
with no brain damage. During my job interview, she showed me her drum,
and when I told her that I was a percussionist she asked me to play. At
that moment she smiled like anything. On the days I forgot to play she
would tell me, “Today you did not play for me.” She was an antenna:
Whenever I played with too much mind, she would say “Today it was not
good.” Whenever I played from the heart, she would smile joyfully.



This went on for three months, until one morning she passed away in my
presence. That night, I informed her family about the moment of her
passing and the family presented me with her drum. They asked me to play
it at her burial, which was an unprecedented episode in my life. It
changed my approach to music, art, and life itself. I could understand
how the drum connects us to the other world. It shaped my soul to such
an extent that my way of playing was deeply transformed.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="400"
 height="552"
 alt="samba5"
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba5_558995a7c9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:38:39.801Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

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Even though samba music is transient, the approach to life remains. I
have witnessed many times how hard-working people, living in harsh
circumstances, are able to find joy in their music. They dance through
life. Their daily duties do not always permit them to sing or dance, but
samba-like activities can serve as the oil to our daily routine. No
wonder people feel the need to go out to bars, discos, and concerts to
relax, meet people, listen, and dance to music. All indigenous people
have used dance and music in their group activities. A lot of their
dances came out of work, like hunting, planting, and harvesting. So,
they were able to integrate work itself with dance and music!



I think joyful vibrations from music like samba make the world a happier
place. That’s why I feel like playing music until my final breath. I
would even say samba itself is my breath. There is a final song I would
like to share with you:



Vem que passa Teu sofrer Se todo mundo sambasse Seria
 tão fácil viver



Come that it passes Your suffering If everyone could samba It
would be so easy to live



Tem Mais Samba by Chico Buarque https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5B8n0DyRtA


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 href="mailto:fabiokohlerart@gmail.com"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >fabiokohlerart@gmail.com</a
 > <a
 href="https://fabiokohler.de"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >https://fabiokohler.de</a
 > <a
 href="https://www.instagram.com/fabio_kohler/"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >https://www.instagram.com/fabio_kohler/</a
 >


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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Art by FABIO KOHLER</h4>

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Samba

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Filiz EmmaSoyak

Finn is a professional counsellor specialising in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), clinical hypnotherapist, stress management consultant, ordained Buddhist dharma teacher, and HeartMath facilitator. Specializing in men’s counselling and coaching, he has devised and facilitates a series of workshops and meditations for men, “The Heart Of The Master” program.

Finn-McMillan-web.jpg

Finn McMillan

<h4>FINN McMILLAN is a relationship counselor who has used his experience of heartbreak, with his clients and himself, to learn an important lesson: the heart is a repository of strength, courage, and love.&nbsp;</h4><hr>“A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are made for.” – John A. Shedd.“Be not afraid.” – GodMany of us have seen the exquisite images of Japanese pottery marked and scarred with gold or silver where breaks and cracks have been repaired, rejoining the shattered pieces to manifest beauty where once was brokenness. The art is known as Kintsugi, and is the bold embrace of this brokenness to create something new and wonderful, where nothing is hidden, shamed or denied, but rather made more perfect by the very process of fracturing. As a relationship counsellor and mediator, I have spent many years holding space for men and women in the bleak depths of agony as relationships died and they endured the worst wounds of heartbreak. And sometimes, I would show pictures of these beautiful examples of kintsugi to help them find a healing context to make sense of their pain in the gradual unfolding of their lives. However, as the years have passed, and I have explored my own experience of deep heartbreak, I have learned something new, vital, and even more hopeful.The heart never breaks.The heart can never break. The heart is the very source of healing, of openness, of trust and faith, of ever-renewing. The heart is never diminished, nor wounded. Indeed in ancient Celtic teachings on the “Three Cauldrons,” the heart centre (Coire Emmae, or the Cauldron of Vocation) is seen as becoming ever more abundant through a lifetime of both joy and sorrow. It is in the open hearted embrace of both joy and pain, love and sorrow, that the heart matures and strengthens. And it is in the denial of these emotional depths that we lose our connection with the heart’s messages and prompts. But the heart never breaks.There may indeed be pain; the pain of growth, the pain of new birth, is often required for the heart to thrive and grow. The deepest wounds can nurture the deepest and the best in us; the greater betrayals the greater resurrections. This is all in the process of the heart that never breaks. Two dichotomies are at work when we try to understand “heartbreak” and to process the pain of it. The first is that between love and fear; the second is between ego and the heart.Reflecting on this, we can begin to understand ancient teachings which have always seen that the opposite of love is not hate, but fear. “Perfect love casts out all fear,” it has been wisely observed. Where the one exists, there can be scant room for the other. It is also often thought that the opposite of fear is courage. But this is not the case. Fear is the precise condition required for courage to exist. And we know that courage itself is one of the core values of the heart. Indeed, we get the word itself from the French word for heart, coeur.This is the challenge of living a life in divine alignment with the heart; to recognise that it takes courage to love, and to live whole-heartedly in the face of fear. The evolutionary challenge here is to recognise that which we fear, and to trust that the heart is resilient and all-embracing enough to hold and embrace that. Living heartfully is to risk, explore, gamble, trust and leap.<hr><hr><h4>This is the challenge of living a life&nbsp; in divine alignment with the heart; to recognise that it takes courage to love,&nbsp; and to live whole-heartedly in the face of fear.</h4><hr><hr>From philosophers to saints, from psychologists to neurologists and biologists, the primary quest for safety (always the prerogative of the ego that wants to maintain control of external factors and environment, or the primary signalling of the brain’s amygdala to the physiological system) has been identified as the greatest impediment to any psychological, social, emotional or spiritual growth. Even Ben Franklin’s famous observation, that “those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety,” demonstrates the principle in political philosophy.With experience and mistakes, options taken and opportunities lost, one increasingly comes to look over the course of one’s life and realises that, in the end, it was the lack of courage that caused the greater losses. To gain anything means to lose what was had before, and what was had before was safe. To do anything of meaning means to risk losing in the attempt. To love means to risk hurt. To gamble means to often lose.A wise woman once taught me the vast difference between playing life to win, as opposed to playing it simply not to lose. Living to win means to risk losing, and those that do live this way both win and lose often. But to live simply not to lose, in fear of hurt and loss, ensures one is likely protected from grief and hurt, but at the cost of never truly winning. Living this life keeps one merely safe and cocooned, fragile, ever-protective of that fragility, ever-fearful to lose.Living bruise-free and risk-averse is easy, as is living without passion. But where is the life in that? Where can the love ever be?<h4>Where is the heart?</h4>Of all the virtues of the heart, it is courage that opens the gate to the joys of the others. I used to wonder why in the Bible every time an angel appears, the first thing s/he says is “Be not afraid.” When something wonderful and new comes into a life, it cannot come to fruition unless one can overcome the fear of the challenging and frightening new unmaking it brings with it.“Be not afraid.” The motto of a true life, lived beautifully and heartfully.As to the other dichotomy that often turns us from the wisdom of the heart is the contrasting imperatives of the ego/brain and its stories on one hand, as opposed to the heart’s deeper understandings on the other. It is our brain and the voice of our isolated self (ego) that tells us to protect our heart from damage. But the heart never breaks, it is only the ego that may. The heart can feel pain and grow from it, whereas the ego sees impending pain and fearfully shrinks away. And so, the ego tells us – in the face of heartbreak, betrayal, lies and hurt – to never risk again. To only ever approach new love or experience from a place of hurt and mistrust. It does so, because its entire self-creation is put at risk. Am I good enough? Am I enough? What’s wrong with me? Will I be hurt? Will I survive? This is all the language of ego, not heart.And so, as we identify with the ego and the processes, analysis and questions of the brain, we move away from the direct experience of heart expansion and believe our dysfunctional beliefs. And the ego is conniving in how it offers us its clever narratives.The ego, particularly one that has been traumatised by hurt and betrayal, pretends that the inclination to close down, run away, not risk love again, is to “protect” the heart. It will proclaim great and often noble-sounding assertions that the greater virtues are “independence,” “sovereignty,” “self-sufficiency,” and remove itself from the risk, messiness and reality of love, humanity and the work of the heart. But it is, invariably, simply the voice of fear. The brain lives in linear time and provides the ego with fears of past experience, projected into anxieties of future realities. The heart, not needing any such protection, lives in the now of experience. Trauma holds no place in the heart, this abundant and bottomless well of self-healing.A healthy brain and heart will naturally operate together in cohesion, but each individual needs to understand where the executive power in this relationship lies. As the Heart Math Institute’s research has shown, the heart’s intelligence and information networks exceed even those of the brain. It is not the brain that controls the heart (the heart only variably heeds the instructions of the brain), but rather the heart that invariably determines how the brain functions, thinks, perceives, and determines the signals it provides to the body’s various electrical, hormonal and biochemical functions. The information network that connects the brain and the heart runs predominantly from heart to brain, not brain to heart.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/heart_never_breaks2_7fe69abd7d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T09:45:21.229Z" alt="heart-never-breaks2">&nbsp;<hr>Returning to the ancient Celtic model of the Three Cauldrons, one cauldron is in the head, one is in the heart, and one is in the loins. The head controls ego and thought, the realms of past and future in time and space. The cauldron in the loins manages bodily energy, sensations and instinctive needs. Both are important, but a weighting in either will cause us to live cut off from the font of our deepest wisdom. Either can draw us into cold and passionless lives, without courage, distant from the touch of love and the voice of intuitive wisdom.The heart is our home, our destination, our greatest joy and most sacred guide. It continually blesses us, and the world around us. It opens us to the mystery of Love. And it never breaks.<hr>

The heart never breaks

Fiona studied Fine Arts and Spanish at the University at Albany in New York. She is a Heartfulness trainer and a certified Yoga instructor. Fiona is inspired by nature and is passionate about creating introspective spaces to share with others through her landscape paintings, photography, music, and conversation.

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Fiona Neary

<h4>FIONA NEARY celebrates diversity as a way to create communities that are vibrant, dynamic, and interesting. She finds ways to overcome language barriers, and discover common experience and ways of communication that are uplifting and allow us all to flourish.</h4><hr>In nature, there is a tendency for plants of many species to grow in diverse communities; climbing, crawling, fruiting, sturdy vegetation that support one another like a symphony. There is beauty and harmony in the offerings of each plant and flower, and every bug and animal living nearby also benefit from this array of sustenance. They are all different colors and shapes. But despite the variety, all plant life is working toward a simple goal: to thrive, rise to the sun, and let life blossom into future generations.I think we are very similar to our green-leafed friends. We have the inherent desire to help each other grow and reach our full potential. This beautiful spark of humanity is easily seen when we have a common goal centered around community, caring for one another, with a focus bigger than ourselves.Any perceived differences naturally fall away. At the same time, we are all unique, and the many cultural and demographic distinctions make the human experience so fascinating.I have felt the greatest sense of unity amongst large groups of people, sharing a common goal and direction, or the appreciation for something beautiful. I have traveled overseas a few times and experienced deep connections with people in airports; people I would probably never encounter otherwise. Sometimes, there is a feeling of overwhelm and vulnerability. But when you share this duality of emotion with another traveler, there is a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork when heading to the destination together.This in-between space can foster the most wonderful synchronicity. I think it is the magic in travel. Being in an unfamiliar place can strip away the conditioned behaviors we follow daily, and enables us to step away from our differences and embrace each other’s humanness.&nbsp;I think experiencing different cultures is an essential part of life. Even with language barriers we find other ways to communicate. Smiles are a universal form of body language! Our human hearts are always connected to each other, just like tree roots are connected to each other through the soil.<hr><hr><h4>Smiles are a universal form of body language!&nbsp; Our human hearts are always connected to each other,&nbsp; just like tree roots are connected to each other through the soil.</h4><hr><hr>Music can unite people of all backgrounds. Its sweet sounds are heard floating through the subways, buskers on the street, and from children’s mouths. In a large, bustling metropolis like New York City, I have seen musicians draw a crowd. People appreciate the beautiful melodies. A feeling of unity and togetherness is apparent, and no one cares what class, status, age, or race the other people are. There is just music!&nbsp;In difficult times, music is one thing that can soften hearts and let us breathe in the light of comfort and community in the gravity of it all.&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/unity_in_diversity2_700x466_6c9d824c0d.jpg" alt=""><hr>In modern times, social media is one of the primary methods of communication and knowledge-sharing. I believe it is so important to be conscious of what we are allowing into our minds from the cyber world. In the beginning of the year, I decided to follow people and social media accounts that fill my heart and show the best side of humanity, for example, accounts on Instagram that share only good news.There are people greeting family members for the first time in years, surprising grandparents on their birthdays, doing something simple and meaningful. These videos and stories are sent in from all over the world, people from every culture and background, and you can feel the beauty in human connection.It is so easy to have empathy when we see someone overcome with joy and tears in their eyes. When I am down, I sometimes watch one of these videos, and become filled with love.I am also very interested in stories of strangers or friends sharing openly about life and healing together through a common understanding. Thoraya Maronesey is a filmmaker who interviews strangers in different cities to find out their secrets. They choose to stay anonymous or show their faces. Something about this casual invitation allows them to feel seen and heard. Hearing the struggles of others helps us feel a little less alone in whatever we are going through.&nbsp;There is so much in the news that can make us feel divided. Sometimes we feel lonely or unheard, or brought down in sadness. But there is so much good happening also! We can live and flourish like the many plants in a garden and lift each other up. By getting curious about different cultures, we see that we are all part of the same small, vibrant globe.<hr>

Unity in diversity

<h4>A Taste of Kanha Shanti Vanam</h4><h5>A regenerative community sharing innovation and ideas to nurture people and the planet.</h5><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green15_11e4837d52.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:07:09.241Z" alt=""><hr><hr><ul><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green2_5d8cdf7f2c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:09:46.263Z" alt=""></li><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green3_1a747b7e89.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:26:05.558Z" alt=""></li></ul><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green4_535522dd11.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:27:10.834Z" alt=""><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green45_385e9ccc31.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:28:04.062Z" alt=""><h4>Green Education</h4><ul><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green6_1_750b84dec1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:29:04.872Z" alt=""></li><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green7_1_e4a1a3fc4e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:30:01.307Z" alt=""></li></ul>Explore and discover the gifts of Nature<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green8_d6f9497874.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:30:56.468Z" alt="">Women and Saplings<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green1_aed08564bc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:32:34.791Z" alt="Heartfulness-Green1">Come to Kanha. Learn. Grow. Share. Spread.<ul><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green9_4f1c70f008.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:33:32.593Z" alt=""></li><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green10_89008571a0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:34:28.419Z" alt=""></li><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green12_15e39167df.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:35:21.473Z" alt=""></li><li><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green11_7136e4d281.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:36:13.233Z" alt=""></li></ul><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green13_ff8123c8b1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:37:06.545Z" alt=""><hr><hr><h5>“Knowing that you love the Earth changes you,&nbsp; activates you to defend and protect and celebrate.&nbsp; But when you feel that the Earth loves you in return,&nbsp; that relationship transforms from a one-way street to a sacred bond.”</h5><h5>Robin Wall Kimmerer</h5><hr><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Heartfulness_Green14_4437f7f58e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:59:12.726Z" alt=""><hr>

Heartfulness Green

<h4>FIONA NEARY is passionate about creating introspective spaces to share with others through painting, photography, music, and conversation. She and her mother DEBORAH NEARY have created a fun exercise for us. It is both creative and enlightening.</h4><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life1_98c1721188.jpg" alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life">&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life2_c875e07ca2.jpg" alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life">&nbsp;<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life3_18d5d10b06.jpg" alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life">&nbsp;<hr>Trees are foundational in Nature. They grow from the smallest seed, but have the potential to create an entire forest. Trees are structured to withstand the strongest storms and the most severe weather. Their roots keep them steady in the ground, they grow trunks that carry water to the treetops. Then in spring and summer, flowers and leaves color their branches, give protection to the birds and nourishment to our atmosphere. We, as humans also have relationships and habits in our lives that give us strong foundations to flourish and grow as people. As a metaphor, we can compare ourselves to the parts of a tree.<hr><hr><h4>We, as humans also have relationships and habits in our lives&nbsp; that give us strong foundations to flourish and grow as people.&nbsp; As a metaphor, we can compare ourselves to the parts of a tree.</h4><hr><hr>In this exercise, you draw a tree that represents YOU! There are so many trees in the world. Do you have a favorite? Are there any you can see outside your window or in a local park? Maybe a tree that exists far away… like the Baobab in Africa, a tropical palm, or an alpine spruce.&nbsp;Don’t worry about drawing it correctly, express from the heart. And then think about some things in your life that have positively shaped you… who, or what may be in your roots, your trunk, branches, and leaves.The roots represent your history – the family you come from, your heritage, strong influences which shaped your beliefs.The trunk represents your life today – what is your career? Your “chosen” family, the organizations and communities in which you belong.The branches represent places in your life that are stable and supportive – where you can jump and always know you will land safely, no matter how hard you fall.&nbsp;<hr><hr><h4>We hoped to show the various ways the “tree of life” can be drawn,&nbsp; and the ways each of our lives are all unique.</h4><hr><hr>The leaves represent your passions, hobbies, and other influences – friends, books, music, sports, ways you spend your free time.The fruits represent the result of action – has acting on your creativity and talents resulted in something wonderful? Have you created something new for the world to see? Have you started a new group or program?Other parts of the tree – for example, buds could represent new hopes and dreams for the future, thorns could be difficulties in life or protection from harm.My mother and I created these drawings as we were traveling and it was a breath of fresh air to create amidst the travel stress. We hoped to show the various ways the “tree of life” can be drawn, and the ways each of our lives are all unique. Yours will probably be completely different!Draw for 20 to 30 minutes, or continue for however long you wish. Feel free to share this exercise with family and friends, present them with your experience and what you’ve learned during the process! How did this feel to you?<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life4_b48976bb6a.jpg" alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life">&nbsp;<hr><hr><h4>Illustrations by FIONA AND DEBORAH NEARY</h4><hr><hr>

A fun exercise: Tree of life

<h4>Under the Trees&nbsp; Saratoga Springs, New York, 2024 FIONA NEARY</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace2_eef369b889.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Finding Joy Saratoga Springs, New York, 2024 FIONA NEARY</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace3_7881dcc714.webp 800w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;<hr><h4>May Their Innocence and Joy Continue to Flower South Africa, 2015 HETTY ZANTMAN</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace4_9fb2448418.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;<hr><h4>Tree RAMYA SRIRAM</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace5_4e2b2479bb.webp 800w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;<hr><h4>In Tune with Nature 2007 BRIGITTE SMITH</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace6_b40f508c95.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><hr><h4>Expressions of Love 2023 SANTANU CHATTERJEE</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp" alt="expressions-of-peace7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/expressions_of_peace7_dc37aae479.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;

Expressions of peace from around the world

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Fiona Neary describes a dinner at Daaji’s home in India, where meditation under the stars and stories in the garden create a lasting memory that continues to inspire her approach to life.</h4>I had the joy of being invited to dinner at Daaji’s home during my visit to Kanha Shanti Vanum, the Heartfulness Institute’s headquarters, in January 2023. I travelled to India with my mother for the first time, and we joined a small group from New York that gathered inside his living room. It had big round windows looking into the garden and natural boulders emerging from the floor, as if there weren’t a clear boundary between nature and the building’s elegant structure.When Daaji arrived in his white car, he greeted me happily through the window with “the Neary girl!” (my parents have practiced with him for years), only adding to the warm feeling in my heart. We were guided outside to the patio under the night sky for meditation, sitting in blue chairs in a crescent around our spiritual guide. My new friend, Ishaa, was sitting next to me. Something about the atmosphere changes when you’re in the presence of a spiritual personality. Observing my thoughts, I noticed a spaciousness and peace inside, with love filling my heart.In the system of Heartfulness Meditation, there is always a living guide, or Master—someone who has attained a very high level of consciousness and can guide others to master their own inner world, assisting them energetically on the spiritual journey. They transmit directly to the hearts of those who practice, silently passing down the wisdom of the teachers before them. It is beautiful that a living Master is available to us now, offering guidance we can receive directly—guidance tailored for us and our time.Feeling the lightness of my heart, my awareness expanded into the vastness of the starry sky above, and I felt it was connected to all the cells in my body. Silence became a sound, and the quiet presence of people around drew us further into introspection.After a while, we moved into the garden and were served the most delicious Indian food while Daaji told stories and guests asked him questions about life. Events create memories and carry emotional signatures within our hearts. It’s essential to have positive moments stored in our hearts as we travel through life, because difficult experiences often stand out more. Whenever I recall this memory, I immediately feel connected within, as if I were still there in that moment.When I think of Daaji, I see the majestic tree-lined paths, palm trees illuminated after sunset with string lights, the misty air rising above the Yatra Garden at sunrise, the thriving rainforest, and the sound of birds’ wings flapping above the meditation hall, while others flock around the canopied rooftops at a distance. All of this was once a beautiful dream—just ten years ago, Kanha was only arid land. I intend to embody these same qualities, creating similar spaces of peace in the way I observe the wildflowers I paint and connect with strangers around me. Like the boulder inside his living room, like the stars I felt within my heart, simple and always a part of nature’s web.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustration: On the Path, by FIONA NEARY</h4><hr> &nbsp;

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