Weekend reflections

"Love is the sea where intellect drowns." --Rumi

"The reward of our work is not what we get, but what we become." -- paolo coehlo

Oh, I love mails!

Kathleen Kelly: Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one! It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake, as almost all hats are. [You've got mail, 1998, Nora Ephron]


* * *
KATHLEEN: Noel Streatfeild. Noel Streatfeild wrote Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes and Theater Shoes and Movie Shoes... (she starts crying as she tells a lady shopper) I'd start with Skating Shoes, it's my favorite, although Ballet Shoes is completely wonderful.

SALESPERSON: Streatfeild.  How do you spell that?
KATHLEEN: S-T-R-E-A-T-F-E-I-L-D.

*Thank you Nora Ephron for this awesome romcom! 
It's one of my favorites, I watched this movie at least ten times. 
Especially I love the scene when Kathleen imagines herself and her mom twirling before closing down her shop... 
Thanks, I will always remember your humor and story telling whenever I see someone twirling and 
whenever I read shoes books!

Sustainability

Food is our source of energy, so we must always
eat right and eat healthy.

Up, down, in, out of the great wave

*I am not a skillful water carrier, but I learn to carry love ♥♪

I remember writing days ago that I plead to the waves that they be gentler, but I guess that wish requires more than just casual asking, we must pray harder for it. The elements composing waves: water and wind, are both forces of nature that humans cannot control. When these two forces collide, we can only watch in awe how they disrupt human structures/communities. Which brings to mind the discussion this morning in my Kasaysayan 101 class (History) about the Minoan Civilisation. Historians placed this civilisation as the basis for European Civilisation, I can just imagine how these Minoan subjects would feel today if they learn that they are looked upon by the European population as their heritage, the fragile root in which the Western Civilisation bloomed.

Of course King Minos, the priest king, is the leader -- said to be the son of Europa and Zeus. The civilisation thrived for thousands of years, mmm, need to do some background check though. But what I am driving at is that the GREAT Minoan Civilisation fell, in part, because of the explosion of a volcano called Thera, great waves upon waves swallowed the expanding civilisation, quakes shook the very foundation of their community, chaos and confusion reigned. Also there were some human unrest and rebellion happening inside the kingdom, so aside from natural calamities, the fall was caused by revolution and internal struggles as well.

Now I connect this to the great big wave that I am feeling internally. Maybe revolution from the inside. Maybe conflict. Maybe personal struggle. I thought it was easy to contain inner struggles, but it is really REALLY difficult. So this is a form of release for me, writing, telling you guys about how I visualise things and how I tend to connect outside realities from my inner reflections. Just like with the Minoan Civilisation, it collapsed and it fell apart, but it made way for the rise of the Classical Western Civilisation, a testament that after the pain, after the deluge, after the confusion, disruption and chaos, there is new life -- a better life -- a better tomorrow waiting.

Who knows, maybe the great classical phase is just waiting around the corner ^^

*Line from the song Aquarius by Regina Spektor

**for those interested, further reading on Fall of Minoan Civilisation can be found here on BBC report.

Embracing peace

Beginners

Denise Levertov

Dedicated to the memory of Karen Silkwood and Eliot Gralla

“From too much love of living,
Hope and desire set free,
Even the weariest river
Winds somewhere to the sea--“


But we have only begun
To love the earth.

We have only begun
To imagine the fullness of life.

How could we tire of hope?
-- so much is in bud.

How can desire fail?
-- we have only begun

to imagine justice and mercy,
only begun to envision

how it might be
to live as siblings with beast and flower,
not as oppressors.

Surely our river
cannot already be hastening
into the sea of nonbeing?

Surely it cannot
drag, in the silt,
all that is innocent?

Not yet, not yet--
there is too much broken
that must be mended,

too much hurt we have done to each other
that cannot yet be forgiven.

We have only begun to know
the power that is in us if we would join
our solitudes in the communion of struggle.

So much is unfolding that must
complete its gesture,

so much is in bud.

OWF* Isolation

Isolation.

Sculpture/installation art atop the door at Instituto Cervantes | event: Dia del Libro Manila 20120421



*OWF ---> one word friday.
This is going to be my regular Friday post: I will have a word and then pick the most appropriate representation of the word in photo snapped from various places and events that I visited.

Journey essentials (cuatro) Love the earth campaign

I am planting this idea for so long ~ to promote awareness about our environment ~ I am making good progress with the conceptualisation but it is still a vulnerable tiny bud, it needs to wait for a little bit before launching it out in the big world.

But I am excited to share the possible topics of this campaign

(1) Recycling
(2) Permaculture
(3) Living simple
(4) Conservation
(5) Alternative lifestyle

I do hope dear readers that you will read posts regarding this idea of mine and of course apply some ideas in your daily lives. So drumroll,  love the earth campaign coming very soon . . .  I have yet to create a better name for it so it's easier to recall.

night dears, have sweet dreams