Category Archives for "Nature Tapestry"
Nature Tapestry Notes
Lessons from the Chinese Bamboo Tree
Are you feeling impatient or dejected over the lack of any evidence of success?
Would the following situation be what you are currently experiencing?…You’ve put in the hard work with blood, sweat and tears and you’d like to see some “proof” of result. However, it’s been quite some time and you are still not observing any signs of progress. There is nothing or little feedback to indicate that you are moving in the right direction or that the Universe has been paying attention to your prayers.
If so, allow me to introduce to you lessons from the Chinese Bamboo Tree.
The parable is one of my favorites. It offers important lessons on faith, perseverance and patience. It’s one that I like to remind myself when I am still in the building or foundational phase of a venture or project.Continue reading
5 Everyday Tips for Creative Living
Creative living is to allow for inspiration, love and meaning. Creativity is a conscious state. It is more about being, and not just doing. Certainly, it does not solely entail using your fingers to paint or your body to dance. Thus, it is not just about engaging in an artistic pursuit for a couple of hours.
“We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.” – Julia Cameron
(Scrapbook picture: I am an artist. Photo: Min, my daughter.)
101 Ways to Love Your Life
When you love your life, everything works. You become happy. There is a skip in your walk, a song in your heart, a shine in your aura, a joy in your being. Others are attracted to you. You find yourself supported by the universe. Success, invariably, becomes easy.
(See Tip #100 below)
Just imagine if the opposite is true.
Life appears bleak and that there is nothing to live for. And you believe that you are right in holding on to the pessimistic view: your life sucks. You have enough evidence to prove that life has little or no meaning. Everything has been a struggle so far.
Continue reading
Inspirational Story: Song of the Little Bird
There lived a little bird in the forest. It had been singing songs ever since it was born. It learned how to sing from papa bird, mama bird and all the other birds in the vicinity. It would sing everyday.
(A collage made out of printed transparent plastic with photoshopped details against a wooden background).
One day, while the little bird was singing on the branch of a tree, it got interrupted by the sound of a little boy. The little bird looked down. A boy was pointing at it with his finger and saying “what a sad haunting melody!”
Slow Down To Experience More in 7 Ways
Do we ever consider slowing down for a fuller experience of life? Do we ever stop to take in the beauty of the moment before us? Do we make it a priority to connect – and truly connect – with someone else? Today’s post is about slowing down to experience more. Oddly enough, we will realize that in our fanatic rush to save time, we miss out on a lot of important things in life.
(Don’t just look straight ahead, notice the pretty flowers along the path)
“Slow down and enjoy life. It is not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” Eddie Cantor
Draw A Creative Mind Map for Self Analysis
Many personal development experts share about the benefits of using mind maps. My post today takes it one step further with how I have used the concept of mind mapping for self analysis. I also share illustrations from my personal art journal that I created some time ago. I drew them as part of my pre-vision board exercises.
The (above) mind map picture that I did for self-analysis was my first. It may look simplistic but it has helped launched a myriad of creative ideas. Regarding self-analysis, awareness of who I am is important to help bring me into alignment with the vision of my future self.
7 Daily Inspiration Messages To Kick Off Your Week
Do you enjoy reading daily inspiration messages? Well, I have the practice of doing this almost everyday. It is almost like a habit now. I have been reading positive sayings, quotes and affirmations from just about anywhere; books, sites and magazines. I also post them on my Facebook account as much as I can.
Not too long ago, I even started collecting some of my favorite ones in a folder and turning them into works of art in the form of art journals, craft work, collages and digital vision boards. If you have following my site, you would have already seen photos of projects I have made.
Daily Inspiration Project Inspired From My Walks at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Chinese Tale of the Hidden Treasure Chest
The enveloping air held a hint of ancient chinese mystique. A woman was sitting alone in a rickety wooden boat on a lake. While she would not be considered as beautiful by standards in those times, her features were pleasant enough. Fairly young, she was wearing simple grey robes. Her dressing indicated that she was a novice nun.
(The page from my art journal depicting the Chinese Woman at the Lake).
All was quiet. She had stopped rowing.
Cultivate The Power of Imagination
The power of imagination can bring us on exciting adventures, to fantasy playgrounds and rides on rainbows. Mine certainly did, one lazy afternoon while I was at the park. There was a tree that loomed above me (see picture). As I lay on the ground and turned my head upwards, I observed that the air that surrounded the crown of ferns sitting atop the tree carried a mystical charm. The day was hot. My eyes started to feel heavy. I closed my eyes.
“The Silver Shoes,” said the Good Witch, “have wonderful powers. And one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps, and each step will be made in the wink of an eye. All you have to do is to knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go.”
— Dorothy and the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz.
Christmas Greetings From Singapore Botanic Gardens
During my most recent trips, I was most enraptured by the Christmas tree decorations that have been put up by the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Each tree has been specially decorated by various embassies, schools, MNCs, local organizations and government bodies in Singapore. Today, I bring you a special feature for the holiday season with photos taken at the park.
Singapore Orchid Christmas Tree Decoration
The national flower of Singapore is the Vanda Miss Joaquim, a hybrid orchid cultivar. Here is a tree decorated with sprays of Vanda Miss Joaquim, blue lights, purple balls and gold ribbons….a beautiful creation that is truly Singaporean….
