Let your spirit soar

‘When you do something, you should burn yourself up completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.’ ~Shunryu Suzuki-roshi

I love this quote. It reminds us to be passionate…to embrace whatever it is that we are doing and be completely and utterly consumed by it. To totally lose yourself in the moment allowing yourself to flow… to a place where time is nothing and thinking is superfluous. In these moments we are at one with the very core of our being. It is in these moments that our spirit soars…

From Here To There – March 2013

Hanami – Peace and happiness looking at flowers

Hanami – literally means “flower viewing” the traditional japanese custom of enjoying the cherry blossoms in bloom. The Japanese celebrate Hanami as it heralds the arrival of Spring. When you think about it, so few of us stop to marvel in the simplicity and wonder of flowers. I guess we can take from that many lessons. What an amazing experience to savour beauty as it evolves. From a distance, the trees appear as beautiful clouds, while the beauty of single blossoms can be also be enjoyed more intimately up close. So much like everything in life really, a different perspective reveals another view and they can all be enthralling and inspirational.

Branches of exquisite cherry blossoms heralding the arrival of Spring!

The transience of the blossoms, their extreme beauty and quick death make Cherry Blossoms an enduring metaphor to the Japanese. Their connection to ritual of Hanami has an almost buddhistic influence ‘Mono no aware’ or literally “an empathy toward things,” or a sensitivity for the awareness of the impermanence or transience of things, and a gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing.

I guess it is reflective of embracing the moment and respecting change because nothing is ever as it was. Like nature we are evolving from one moment to the next – everything is on its way to somewhere, we are all a part of the magical circle of life…