記 Blog

Beauty

Grace Kishino

The flower is itself. The light is itself. The silence is itself. I am myself. All perhaps illusion, but no matter. For illusion is the shadow of reality
[Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander]

A few months ago I had a dream that I was standing on a cliff next to my home and I could see a tsunami approaching that was so high it would engulf me and my home, yet I was struck still by the beauty of the frothy bits on the top of the wave.

It felt like becoming nothing in the presence of perfect beauty – like this poem by Sappho –

The Unseen

Grace Kishino

While walking along Hastings beachfront with my nephew, I asked him “How do you know if the past and future exist if you can’t see them? Where are they?” and he replied “Don’t be such an idiot, Grace!! just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there!”

D’ye see, after allowing a little space for the light to spread, nothing resting?

Day into night, and through night into day the remote, Unseen

Eventually to be visited:

After being chased, through night, through darkness, successful in the end, the wind and sea allies;

Touching the heart

worked anew.

Made this poem using an exercise in a journal/ notebook called “THE STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST JOURNAL” by Austin Kleon. I love it! It seems to inspire and release creativity 🙂
#stealjournal

15min Yoga Sequence

Grace Kishino

Yoga can make you happy and healthy!

Here’s a quick and simple yoga sequence you can hopefully fit in however busy your day. If you only have a few minutes just do one sun salutation and add on a few of the other poses if you have time!

Surya Namaskara - Sun Salutation A

Warm your body up with sun salutations!

Here’s an excellent and easy to follow video demonstration with Sharath Jois if you haven’t tried this before

Anjaneyasana - Lunge Pose
Stretch out your legs and body with a lunge – remember to do it on both sides! Keep your back straight and hands down on your front knee if it’s uncomfortable to reach up.

Utthita Parsvakonasana - Extended Side Angle Pose

Stretch your sides from top to bottom! Repeat on both sides and bring your feet slightly closer together if it’s difficult with them wide apart.

Ardha Matsyendrasana - Spinal Twist

Twist away tension! While doing this twist, on each inhale extend your spine upwards, on each exhale try to gently deepen the twist. If it feels better, hold your bent knee with your hand rather than levering with the elbow. Do on both sides.

Dhanurasana - Bow Pose

Wake up and open the front of your body with a back bend! If you can’t reach your feet, you can try using a strap or just lift and reach back your hands and feet off the floor – remember to keep breathing while holding the pose.

Paschimottanasana - Seated Forward Bend

Stretch your back out and relax in a seated forward bend, you can use a strap or bend your knees if needed.

Open your hips and stretch your lower back. If you can’t reach around your leg, try using a strap or rest your arms on the floor and just use your legs. Breath into any tight places!

Viparita Karani - Legs Up The Wall Pose / Savasana - Corpse Pose

Relax and restore – try to take 5-10mins for this if you can!

Kirigami

Grace Kishino

Kirigami means cutting paper in Japanese (kiri = cut, gami = paper).

It’s a fun and easy activity to do with children and you use them for decoration or glue them on to paper or card, etc.

You can also use the cut out pieces for something!

Sometimes I like to make one where the kirigami is based on, for example, my whole life and each cut represents an event or relationship. Then the folded part represents your life in time and the opened pattern represents your life in eternity. Other ideas to try are things like just one day, a relationship or an idea!