The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – sakura (spring). 

Each season has its perks – the summer sea, fall’s foliage & the winter snow. But, spring is special. After the snow melts, the spring arrives with beautiful buds & birds chirping. Everything shines with an exuberant & colourful glow. When nature resumes its loveliness, it nurtures, inspires & revitalises us. Spring is synonymous with re-birth, revival, rejuvenation & renewal. Just the promise of spring’s arrival is enough to get us through the bitter winter.

Happiness? The colour of it must be spring green. The flowers of spring hold a special place in our hearts, especially the first blooms of the season. Can words describe the fragrance of spring? In the spring, the earth is like a child again. Innocent & effervescent. Spring brings new life, fresh energy, an incredible beauty & immense joy to all that is. 

Spring flowers are defined by their unique beauty & an incredible allure. No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers still spring up in the middle of nowhere. Spring flowers represent an entire spectrum of emotions – love, hope, vulnerability & joy. Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds us what a blessing & a privilege it is to be alive. Spring is so captivating & enchanting.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – sakura (spring). 

The philosophy of spring is a meditation on renewal, impermanence & becoming. Spring does not argue its way into existence. It arrives as a quiet correction, reminding us that evolution or change is not an interruption of life, but its fundamental rhythm. “The earth laughs in flowers” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Vibrant colours & new life returns. Re-birth happens, full of beautiful surprises & possibilities.

In the winter, our world feels quite fixed & constrained. Spring dissolves that illusion. No matter how long the winter, the spring is sure to follow. Beneath the frozen soil, the intent & movement never stopped. The seeds waited, roots expanded & life gathered itself. “The deep roots never doubted that spring will come” – Marty Rubin. Spring inspires patience, that transformation often happens invisibly. What appears sudden is usually the result of a long, resilient & silent preparation.

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope” – Bird Johnson. Spring embodies hope without certainty. New growth is fragile. Blossoms are vulnerable to late frost or storms. Yet, they emerge anyway. This reflects a central human truth that growth always involves risk & resilience. To begin again is to accept uncertainty, but stagnation carries a deeper cost. Spring reminds us that courage is not fearlessness, but the willingness to open oneself up despite challenges. “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature, the assurance that dawn comes after night & spring after winter” – Rachel Carson.

There is also an ethical dimension to spring. It models grace & generosity. Trees offer blossoms, fields offer shoots, the air offers warmth. Life expands outwards. In this sense, spring suggests that flourishing is not merely personal but relational, that growth that does not contribute to the wider world is incomplete. Renewal naturally overflows.

The flowers open knowing they will fall. Yet, this impermanence does not diminish their beauty, it intensifies it. Spring shares that meaning is not found in duration, but in presence. What matters is not how long something lasts, but how fully it exists while it does. Ultimately, spring is an invitation to trust the process, to risk new beginnings, to grow again after stillness. Spring is a commitment to life itself. “I must have flowers, always, always” – Monet.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – eau (water). 

There’s nothing quite like our oceans when it comes to sources of peace, happiness & inspiration. An international team of scientists have determined that the average temperature of our world’s oceans in 2025 was .075 degrees celsius higher than the 2010 average. Given the massive volume of oceans, an increase even this small would require a staggering influx of heat – 228 sextillion joules worth. A hard number to contextualise, so scientists compared it to the amount of energy released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan.

Hiroshima atom bomb exploded with an energy of 63,000,000,000,000 joules. The amount of heat we have put in our world’s oceans in the past 25 years equals to 3.6 billion Hiroshima atom bomb explosions. Averages to 4 Hiroshima bombs worth of energy entering our oceans each second for the past 25 years. By 2025, ocean warming was equivalent to hurling 5 Hiroshima bombs of heat per second, per day into our oceans. 

Ice is melting fast causing sea levels to rise. Marine life is dying. Heat makes hurricanes, typhoons more powerful & rainfall more intense. Real compassion, fresh innovation & focused action can still bring our oceans back to life. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination & brings eternal joy to the soul” – Robert Wyland.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – eau (water). 

Water Views: Rivers, Lakes & Oceans is a breathtaking overview of the most striking bodies of water from around the world. Photographed with state-of-the-art drone technology by David Ondaatje. The surreal aerial images capture the picturesque beaches of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Gaviota Beach, the wild coasts of Oregon, the placid lakes from Tahoe to Como, the emerald waters of the Bahamas & Belize, the meandering fishing rivers of British Columbia & Montana. Incredibly creative & awe-inspiring.

Ondaatje’s personal affection for solitude, for the unspoiled beauty of nature leads to a masterpiece. Stunning photographs take us on a spectacular journey to some of the most beautiful places in our world, all tied to the charming, compelling & blissful power of water.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – eau (water). 

“There’s something beautiful about water, that solitary kind of peaceful feeling. You’re on earth but not quite” – John C. Reilly

“I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding” – John O’Donohue

“I have seen the sea when it is stormy & wild, when it is quiet & serene, when it is dark & moody. And, in all these moods, I see myself” – Martin Buxbaum

“I understand that everything is connected, that all roads meet & that all rivers flow into the same sea” – Paulo Coelho

“When we do things from our soul, we feel a river moving within us, a joy” – Rumi

“When I sit here by the sea & listen to the sound of the waves, I feel free from all the pain & the obligations of this world” – Henry Thoreau

“In order to reflect, think & plan, we must quiet ourself. We can’t see our reflection in churning waters. Water must be still to see our reflection”- Karen Susman

“Always be like water. Float in the times of pain or dance like the waves along the wind which touches its surface” – Santosh Kalwar

“Let the mind flow like water. Face life with a calm, free & quiet mind – Thich Thien An

“A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence” – Jim Watkins

“Going with the flow is responding to the cues from the universe. When we go with the flow, we’re surfing life force. It’s about wakeful trust & total collaboration with what’s showing up for us” – Danielle LaPorte

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When we plunge our hands into it, all we feel is a gentle caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop us” – Lao Tzu

“Water is critical for sustainable development, environmental integrity, the alleviation of poverty & hunger. It is indispensable for human health & well-being” – United Nations

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – eau (water).

“Water is the driving force of all nature” – Leonardo da Vinci. Across cultures, water has carried a deep philosophical meaning. Water as a source of evolution, generosity & excitement is a major theme. In ancient Greek thought, water represents a constant flow & transformation, expressing the idea that our reality is ever-changing, created by a continuity of motion.

In Taoist philosophy, especially in the Tao Te Ching, water symbolises the highest virtue. It is soft yet powerful. It yields, yet over time it shapes mountains. Water flows gracefully without resistance illustrating wu wei (effortless action), symbolising humility & nurturance. It becomes a model for wise living – fluid, flexible, compassionate & resilient. “Nothing is softer than water, yet nothing can resist it” – Lao Tzu. “Let your mind be like water” – Zen proverb. It signifies hope & healing.

“I am the river & the river is me” – Maori proverb. Water reflects the Buddhist ideas of flow, inter-dependence & non-self. A wave appears alone, but it is never separate from the ocean. This mirrors the teaching that individuality is real, yet inseparable from the whole. Water is the source of life & rejuvenation. In Hindu thought, cosmic waters represent infinite potential & possibilities. In indigenous traditions, water is sacred with a living presence, rather than just a resource. We hold a responsibility towards our rivers, seas & oceans. “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans” – Khalil Gibran.

In psychology & philosophy of the mind, water represents awareness itself. Water is the mirror & the mystery of our soul. Calm waters are synonymous with peace, clarity & clear insight. Turbulent waters depict an emotional turmoil. Depths of water equals the unconscious layers of our mind. In essence, water is flow, humility, resilience, joy, passion & inter-connectedness. It shares that softness can overcome stress, patience can conquer force & flexibility is a form of strength.

Water shares that our reality is dynamic, relational, emergent & deeply inter-connected. “No water, no life. No blue, no green” – Sylvia Earle. “Water is the blood of the land” – Aboriginal Australian teaching. “Be like water” – Bruce Lee.

We thank you, water, for life
we promise to walk gently
to take only what we need
and to protect you for those yet to come. (an indigenous prayer)

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – tribes (Africa).

The Maasai. Essays on the culture & conservation of the pastoral Maasai, based on the author’s fieldwork in Ngorongoro, Tanzania. The Ngorongoro conservation area, world-famous for its exceptionally rich wildlife, is also the home of a large population of Maasai livestock herders. The essays provide a penetrating portrait of the age-old Maasai culture, their pristine & pastoral way of life. The beautiful book is lavishly produced & richly illustrated with spectacular photos & incredible insights.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – tribes (Africa).

Ashanti To Zulu: African Traditions. This is Africa – an enormous, vibrant & varied continent inhabited by hundreds of different peoples whose array of customs or traditions are as diverse as the land itself. It would take volumes to describe the cultures of all the African tribes, but here are some brilliant insights about twenty-six of them, from the Ashanti to the Zulu. Margaret Musgrove has described their wonderful ceremonies, celebrations & day-to-day customs with remarkable artistic insight. The artworks capture the incredible beauty & dignity of each of the twenty-six tribes. Super special.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – tribes (Africa).

Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration From Africa. Ethiopia’s Omo Valley is home to fascinating tribal rites & traditions that have survived for thousands of years. The nomadic people who inhabit the vibrant valley share a gift for body painting & elaborate adornments, borrowed from nature. Hans Silvester has captured the beautiful results in a series of gorgeous photographs. 160 incredible images to celebrate the Ethiopian tribal culture & identity. Beauty beyond words.

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The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – tribes (Africa).

Faces Of Africa. Award-winning photographers Carol Beckwith, Angela Fisher present an unparalleled collection of 250 photographs revealing an inclusive look at the people & cultures of Africa. This astounding collection of rare photographs depict a lifetime of events or experiences from birth to marriage from every part of Africa. These varied cultural faces are expressed in the rolling eyes or the flashing teeth of the Wodaabe charm dancers of Niger, the colourful beaded bodices of the Dinka of Sudan, the striking painted faces of the Karo of Ethiopia or the countless people beaded, draped in beautiful cloth & veiled to honour a special moment in their life. An emotionally moving, personal tribute to some of the most beautiful people on Earth.

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