Emilie is a regenerative leader and practitioner of planetary design thinking, deeply committed&nbsp;to&nbsp;advancing&nbsp;education&nbsp;that&nbsp;integrates&nbsp;inner&nbsp;and&nbsp;outer&nbsp;development.&nbsp;She&nbsp;leads a regenerative educational project within business colleges, where the focus is on helping future leaders embrace systems that prioritize personal growth and ecological responsibility equally.&nbsp;Through her work, Emilie fosters a shift from ego-driven ambition to ecosystemic co-creation, inspiring resilient, transparent, and collaborative approaches to leadership and innovation.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/image_7413c49c52.png"> #regenerativeleadership

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Emilie Mogensen

<h4>MICHAEL STAUSHOLM has been working with sustainability in the business world for more than 20 years. He is the founder and CEO of Sprout World, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with an office in Boston, USA. Sprout World was named the second most sustainable company in Europe in 2020 by Fast Company, and Michael was included in the Worthy 100 list of entrepreneurs who use their businesses to do good in 2021 by Worth Media. EMILIE MOGENSEN writes about the interview she did with him recently on his company and his values.</h4><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/planting_hope1_700x128_ff3fecf8a2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:51:56.263Z" alt="planting-hope1">As a European entrepreneur, with a Masters in Conscious Business and Entrepreneurship from NYU, I recently gave myself a challenge as a freelance writer for the Heartfulness Magazine. So far, I have spoken to North American conscious entrepreneurs. Next was to approach some European companies that excel in their values and integrity around sustainability and eco-ethics.Sprout is a company that fits this category of pioneers and early adaptors to a world where business owners take more responsibility for the planet and people than we have seen before in history. Michael Stausholm founded Sprout in 2013.I am really curious to hear if Michael has a contemplative practice, so it makes me smile when the very first thing we talk about is how Sprout is aligned with Mindfulness and a conscious approach to the inner environment of people. Michael explains that the simple thing of writing with a pencil is a value that speaks to him. It symbolizes the values he has managed to cultivate in the organization. The company created the first pencil that can be planted, growing herbs, vegetables and flowers from the little seeds inside.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Michael_Stausholm_1_d0effdc5a6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:52:30.422Z" alt="Michael-Stausholm-1"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Sprout is a company that fits this category of pioneers and&nbsp; early adaptors to a world where businessowners&nbsp; take more responsibility for the planet and people.</h4><hr>There is something so simple and innocent about this idea, which makes it a captivating story; maybe because the world lacks the simplicity and authenticity of planting a simple seed and seeing it sprout. I feel a resonance with something honorable when I talk to Michael, and that makes me curious how he can stay centered in himself.He shares with me that he started a meditation practice during the lockdown, but it didn’t become his thing as much as taking long walks in silence, while clearing his head. I ask him if walking brings him into the present moment, and he seems to really agree with this way of stating it.There is something private around him, and I become curious because of this privacy. During our talk, I write notes about integrity, self-respect, and an inability to be flattered. On the Internet, many platforms write about Sprout and its impressive achievements. I can only imagine a person in Michael’s shoes is all the time meeting people who want something from him.I feel that his ability to stay so focused on a simple business model requires a lot of integrity, and it is what I notice about his private appearance. I know how easy it can be in the business world to fall out of the inner center, and it speaks to me that Michael keeps a distance while being able to express very profound values, going deeper into the human heart than a business adventure.When I ask him what makes him get out of bed every morning, his answer surprises me. He says it’s about being “proper,” and doing things properly. We speak Danish, and the word he uses is a very typical Danish word, so we become a bit word-nerdy when I ask him what the right word would be in English. I suggest “kind,” but we both agree that it is something else. The very fact that Michael takes the time to ponder over the word shows me how he really wants to live. He wants to do things properly, treat the planet and people in a genuine way, and this reflects in his organization.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/planting_hope2_1_700x443_d71933b0a0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:53:08.853Z" alt="planting-hope2"><hr>Very few employees leave once they check in with Sprout, and most of the leaders have been with him from the start. I want to know how he cultivated this kind of loyalty in his Sprout community, and he is super clear in his answer: it’s all due to one simple truth, a really strong team of very skilled leaders. The organization is built on mutual trust, and nobody minds each other’s business. If someone needs to leave at 3 p.m., there are no questions asked. He emphasizes that the team consists of equal numbers of women and men.A part of me wants to ask why he is not totally into meditation, but I feel the need to withhold and be proper myself, as the conversation is not about my agenda of wanting to see the entire world meditating together. It is about Michael and Sprout, and how his business adventure is impacting the world, with its proper and compassionate eco-values.I ask Michael if he feels sustainable inside, and I love his answer. He says it’s not always easy to be conscious, because we need to change things in our lives, and it can seem a big task to change the world into a sustainable place. His suggestion is to start with small things, like moving closer to work, being able to leave the car at home and take his bicycle to work every day. He suggests that we look for ways to frame the difficulties in life into positive challenges. We laugh at the idea of an angry environmentalist being aggressive in their communication; it somehow seems counter-productive to the whole.“It’s really about being able to do those little things we do in Sprout,” he says. “We might not be saving the world by selling pencils, but surely we are contributing by planting seeds and giving people the opportunity to experience the sprouting process of a plant. It’s like we are planting little hopes in people’s lives.”<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM</h4><hr>

Planting hope

<h4
 id="h-melissa-bernstein-is-the-co-founder-of-melissa-doug-a-toy-company-with-a-mission-to-provide-a-launch-pad-to-ignite-imagination-and-a-sense-of-wonder-in-all-children-so-they-can-discover-themselves-their-passions-and-their-purpose-in-this-article-emilie-mogensen-starts-with-a-simple-interview-approach-with-melissa-which-blossoms-into-much-more-a-meeting-of-kindred-spirits">
 MELISSA BERNSTEIN is the co-founder of <a
 href="https://www.melissaanddoug.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melissa &amp; Doug</a>, a
 toy company with a mission to “provide a launch pad to ignite imagination and a sense of wonder in all children
 so they can discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose.” In this article, EMILIE MOGENSEN starts with a simple interview
 approach with Melissa, which blossoms into much more – a meeting of kindred spirits!
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



“I am fearful, oh, so fearful, that if you do not show me light I will lose the will to live, and choose to
 end this futile fight.”



Back in 1970, this verse was written by a 5-year-old girl, who learned early in life that expressing her innermost
 vulnerable feelings in creative writing was not merely an expression of words, it was a way to survive.



Originally, the intention of this article was to write a portrait of a very successful and conscious entrepreneur.
 But that seemed too linear for her. It feels true to the essence of her lively, ethereal, and delicate being, to
 instead share a mystical and most rewarding story of how a meeting on Zoom turned into a sweet connection between
 two creative souls.



When I first experienced Melissa Bernstein, she was a guest speaker at The Inner MBA, which I am currently
 doing through Mindful NYU, Sounds True and LinkedIn. I was unaware that I had been buying her designs over the years
 as toys for my kids. I discovered that when I looked her up and recognized the online red logo of “Melissa &amp;
 Doug.”



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="322" height="485" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits2_f2ac9deec6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:29:57.723Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



I was taken by storm from the moment I saw her. She was free and fun, loving and sharing. Melissa has created more
 than 10,000 toys and made millions of children happy around the world. I was especially inspired when Melissa spoke
 about being a “white space creative.” I could relate to that frame of mind, or should I say lack of frame of mind:
 an ability to see the entire universe of a certain project, long before the first drawing is even made; an
 intuitive, delicate, and very sensitive ability to open up and allow the stream of creative inspiration to come
 through the body, in order to manifest into a product or artistic expression. I found myself tearing up several
 times during the one hour gathering we had with her. That inspired me to reach out to her – I wanted more!



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="495" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits3_06376fdc58.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:32:30.712Z">
</figure>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



So I am meeting Melissa on Zoom and we bond immediately in a very natural way. We dive into a very personal and
 vulnerable conversation about my journey as an entrepreneur. I share with her how I had to close down my company
 after two years with a wrongly-matched investor on board. She listens and asks questions, is compassionate, caring,
 and very intriguing.



So, here I am, having forgotten all my planned interview questions, in a fruitful and connecting conversation about
 life and death, heart-centered entrepreneurship, and how draining it can be to insist on cultivating intuition and
 sensitivity in a harsh business world.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">She has transformed
 these tormenting shadows through intense therapy, heart centering, and her never-ending need to express herself creatively, through toys and writing verses.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Her joyful spirit makes me feel seen and appreciated, for what and who I am, in my innermost real place. In her
 presence, I unfold and expand my intuitive and creative wings in a free and relaxed way.



Later in our conversation, I discover that this happy spirit of hers was not always so happy. Melissa suffered from
 severe depression over more than two decades. Design and creativity were literally a lifeline for her. She needed to
 express herself creatively in order to transform what she calls her inner darkness. Inner despair, suicidal thoughts
 at the age of 19, and profound inner shadows, were part of Melissa’s journey.



She has transformed these tormenting shadows through intense therapy, heart centering, and her never-ending need to
 express herself creatively, through toys and writing verses.



She now helps many people through her newly-established entrepreneur adventure, Lifelines, which assists people to
 transform their inner darkness.



I don’t want to go into details about the achievements of Melissa and her husband Doug. You can Google their
 extraordinary journey – two entrepreneurs, who have been happily married for more than 35 years, with six kids.
 Today, Melissa &amp; Doug has a net worth of nearly 1 billion USD. Seen through the eyes of an average person like
 myself, this seems like the classic, slightly overwhelming, and maybe even intimidating fairy tale of the American
 dream.



But there is no such energy around her; she is not overwhelming and intimidating. She shows up as a very authentic,
 present, and feminine person, with wet hair after her morning shower, open-hearted, curious, and joyful.



I know that we can trust each other, and so does she. We laugh, skip all the surface talk, and jump right into the
 deepest and most painful parts of ourselves, sharing them in a space of mutual trust and empathy.



My intuitive feeling of a new world dawning, where like-minded people from different communities meet and connect,
 despite sitting on different continents with different backgrounds and nationalities, is unfolding in front of me.
 Feelings of deep meaning, gratitude, and connection bring me great joy in the two hours we talk, laugh, share, and
 connect.



We talk about how it has taken her many years to truly believe in herself, when surrounded by commercial people who
 use the left side of the brain in their work. It is a personal coaching session for me. I take it all. It resonates
 profoundly with my own journey as an intuitive creative in the business world.



She clearly feels in her body how the powerful urge to create can feel like a blessing in disguise. She even has a
 word for it, “Blurse” (blessing-curse). Coming from a family with a lot of creative entrepreneurs, I can relate to
 this rather exhausting paradox.



When Melissa starts sharing with me, she always checks in with her heart before taking any decision. I mention to her
 that I am a trainer of Heartfulness meditation. She immediately feels inclined to meditate together, and we clear
 three days during the following week to dive deep and transform together.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="461" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits4_1a7e557ce7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:33:59.269Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



A part of me is soothed by her presence. Something about her having gone through inner pain, questioning her reason
 to stay alive, yet creating a company with more than 800 employees, fascinates me. There is a hidden power in her,
 behind the down-to-earth, smiling, and curious personality.



She shares how hard she has worked with her therapist to transform her anxiety and need to control the outer world. I
 resonate with this constant need to manage and balance feelings, as they are the main drivers toward the best ideas.
 Shutting down feelings, which we feel forced to do when dealing with business people, can be counter-productive. We
 stop getting ideas. Nevertheless, it is crucial for mental stability to learn emotional management.



Some of the best artists throughout history are known for their mood swings and difficult lives. Creativity often
 goes hand in hand with emotional challenges, in my experience, and Melissa certainly seems to fit this category. Her
 courage to transform this sensitivity into her superpower is inspiring, and I feel it comes from a very authentic
 place.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="490" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits5_a2840f81ae.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:34:54.168Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



We bond very nicely on a personal level, sharing an intuitive and creative approach to life and entrepreneurship. But
 in meditation with her, it becomes clear that she is more – a kindred spirit. A deep sense of knowing is present in
 our three 30-minute meditations, and I find myself smiling many times. It feels the same as when I am at a concert;
 the power of the collective, sharing deep feelings, coming through one individual.



It’s fascinating how one individual can channel something and impact the masses, like she does with her toys and her
 new company, Lifelines.



Why am I sharing this rather intimate space of meditation in an article? Because I feel the purpose of Melissa
 Bernstein is to inspire people to be exactly who they are. She courageously allows us into her innermost vulnerable
 place, and shows us how transforming darkness can make us come out stronger. It’s priceless and honorable, and
 profoundly needed in today’s world, where young people suffer from FOMO and low self-esteem. With Social Media, we
 brand ourselves, artificially, through the filters of so-called beauty.



Melissa unlocks creative potential in me, and transforms it into dynamic and balanced new energy. She engages in my
 journey, her thinking is free and expansive, and she keeps reminding me about the crucial need to be truthful to
 myself and my values. Always.



I pray, sending out the intention that more and more people in this suffering world will follow the example of
 Melissa, unlocking their inner and most truthful creative potential in order to co-create a wonderful world, where
 kindred spirits meet and meditate together.



Thank you, Melissa, for your ability to show us how to transform darkness into creativity. You make me feel like
 showing up as the best version of myself, where I create from the full potential within.


<hr>
<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE</h4>
<hr>

Meeting Melissa: transforming darkness into creativity

<h2 style="text-align:center;">A Regenerative Leadership Journal</h2><h4 style="text-align:justify;">EMILIE MOGENSEN brings natural processes to her workplace and reflects upon how they impact the start of a new project for her business. As a regenerative leader and practitioner of planetary design thinking, Emilie is deeply committed to advancing education that integrates inner and outer development. Here we see it in action.</h4>Mid-January, deep in winter’s embrace, I find myself reflecting on the beauty of starting something new during this season. Winter, with its quiet hibernation energy, invites us to slow down, to reflect, and to prepare for what is yet to come. Just as nature gathers its strength beneath the surface, this time of stillness allows us to nurture the roots of new potential and relationships, readying them for the blossoming energy of spring.As I connect with new collaborators and deepen bonds with others on this journey, I’m reminded of the profound wisdom in honoring the rhythms of the seasons. Winter’s quiet guidance teaches us that not every step needs to be loud or immediate—sometimes the most important work happens in the unseen, where authenticity and <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/kindness-is-key-to-resilience-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">resilience</a> quietly take shape.Imagine a world where no one felt compelled to search for the “perfect” idea or persona, but instead showed up wholly themselves—with their unique skills, vulnerabilities, and perspectives. This is the heart of regenerative leadership. It’s about honoring our differences, not as obstacles to overcome, but as essential elements of <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/a-diy-guide-to-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">resilience</a>. By seeking out and celebrating this diversity, we cultivate transparency, clarity, and trust, creating an ecosystem where every contributor feels valued, seen, and necessary.This approach has profoundly transformed me as a leader. In my previous work, I often bore the weight of performance pressure, the need to control every detail, and the drive to meet external expectations. Now, my role is not to control or dictate but to sense into what is emerging and serve it with presence and care. Leading this way is about creating space—space for others to shine, for potential to evolve naturally, and for collective wisdom to guide our actions.The result? A community where everyone matters, where each person’s contribution shapes our shared success. And for me, it means freedom—freedom from the toxic cycles of stress and control, replaced by the profound joy of witnessing growth, connection, and purpose in action.This journey is teaching me that leadership is not about having all the answers but about holding space for new potential to emerge. As the season shifts and spring’s energy beckons, I look forward to seeing what will grow from the seeds we are planting now. This is the essence of a regenerative way of leading, living, and learning together.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/regenerative_leadership2_d61b5987ef.webp" alt="regenerative-leadership2.webp"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It’s about honoring our differences, not as obstacles to overcome,&nbsp; but as essential elements of resilience.</h4><hr>

Whispers of winter

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Emily Dickinson

Love is immortality

Emma Ivaturi is a mother, graphic designer and co-editor of Heartfulness Magazine, based in New Jersey, US. She is also a regular speaker and MC at wellness and meditation events in the area. Class Valedictorian from the University of California, Los Angeles, she loves sharing an effective, life-changing practice by facilitating meditation workshops across the country.

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Emma Ivaturi

<h4>EMMA IVATURI shares some ideas on how we can make ripples of change in the world, through a silent revolution of hearts joining together around the world. We may discover how connected we really are!</h4>“Don’t fear to keep your heart wide open. The world needs love. You know it, my child. What better and what more can you do, now that you know how much this energy can change the world? You have confirmations of this too: these vibrations form a wiremesh surrounding the Earth.“Nothing is lost, believe me; the heart’s impulses represent a force in this world. May they spread in you as well as in each one of you. Maintain thoughts of love; cultivate them in your heart, as you would do for very rare and invaluable plants. They cannot die in this world. They gather and form a powerful égrégore. Become aware of this power of yours. In this aspect also, future times will prove the soundness of our comments. It will be used in a precise way and in proportions that you cannot imagine, since its action is boundless. By itself, this force can transform the world and achieve a revolution, in the best sense of the word.“We repeat ourselves: the world is moving towards new times, and you will have to adapt. We are preparing you through these messages. Our way is helping you greatly in this respect; you partake of this spirit. Be confident and blessed.”Babuji,&nbsp;Whispers from The Brighter World, Vol. 3., 2001How often when we meet a new person do we open with, “So what do you do?” There’s an inherent tension behind our answer. We have unconsciously absorbed the premise that what we do to make money makes us who we are. The premise that our job not only colors our being, but also must make a mark on the world, adds yet another layer to this inner strain. Yet so many of us look for work not to dazzle new people at parties, but simply to make a living and help raise our families.During this unique time, many cannot perform their jobs or even find themselves suddenly unemployed. We have all been asked to remain at home, to take a step back. We now have an opportunity to re-evaluate premises about who we are, what we value, and how our lives and the world may continue to function in the future.In the midst of new stressors, haven’t many of us have reconnected to oft neglected spaces in our heart? We have found ourselves being perhaps a bit more generous than usual, and a bit more thrilled at a passing smile from a stranger after days alone at home. We have found glimpses of trust. We have found ways to stay connected despite being physically distant.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/new_vocation1_2e22a25bfb.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:55:01.075Z">Most events and gatherings have become remote as we tune in to conference calls and live video meetings. Heartfulness centers around the world have begun to conduct group meditations in this way. There’s a trend that significantly more people are meditating and learn these simple and effective practices. Are these the newcomers joining merely because it’s suddenly more convenient and they have more time on their hand? Or perhaps because in these times so many of us have begun to reconnect to the value of inner-attunement?At some point we may ask ourselves what then we can do besides staying at home to help “flatten the curve”? We have begun to share our stories, our humor, our art and inspiration. And more of us have turned to practices like meditation to refine our being and expand our capacity to love.Gandhi’s entreaty to “Be the change you wish to see in the world” may just be the launch point for many of us. And how better to change ourselves than with contemplative practice? Meditation gives us the tools to clear our past impressions&nbsp; and free ourselves from hardened habits. We feel more lightness, joy and innate trust. Its benefits are immediate, long-term and innumerable.Yet there is another profound aspect of meditation that goes beyond mere self-improvement and inner evolution. It is in our collective evolution that we uncover meditation’s full potency. Currently we witness our interdependency more fully when we realize the fragility of our economic and social structures in these challenging times. How much more connected are we in unknown ways?We are beginning to better understand how our bodies emit electromagnetic vibrations. Studies, like those of the HeartMath Institute, show us the potency with which we affect each other and the immense electromagnetic effects of the heart. But beyond the intellectual reaffirmation, we feel intimately how much the love emanating from another can touch us, changing the course of our lives forever.<hr>Surely as more and more people learn to meditate and practice with ever-increasing devotedness, we will see ripples, nay waves, of change across the world.&nbsp;When we meditate, we refine our inner vibration. We expand our consciousness. We cultivate love. When we meditate in a group – physically in one place or virtually – we expand that vibration exponentially. How much, then, could the Earth’s electromagnetic field be affected as we expand our own? How much could subtle shifts in greater and greater numbers of human hearts and minds change, perhaps, even the course of history?We may then consider meditation, the art of deeply cultivating and widely expanding love, as a revolutionary act. Every moment I spend doing these uplifting practices makes an indelible mark on the world. Surely as more and more people learn to meditate and practice with ever-increasing devotedness, we will see ripples, nay waves, of change across the world.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/new_vocation3_4f2c7be83f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:56:47.038Z">So irrespective of whether we have work considered “essential,” have the privilege to still be able to work remotely, find ourselves unemployed, or find ourselves suddenly with way more to do with the kids at home all day, we can make the most of the enormous shift we’ve been gifted. We have the opportunity to make global change through introspective practice our new mission. And, whatever we end up doing to make a living, we can make love our new vocation.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by EMMA IVATURI</h4><hr>

A new vocation

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Emma Thompson

Books are like people

Ennan was born in Guangzhou, China, and lived in Singapore for a year before moving to Hong Kong when he was 4 years old. He and his friends protest most weeks, and have been interviewed by Greenpeace, the SCMP Young Post, and French magazine Le Petit Journal.

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Ennan Qiu

<h4>ENNAN QIU is a 15-year-old climate activist. Of Chinese and British descent, he has been living in Hong Kong for 11 years. In conversation with RACHEL NELSON of the Heartfulness Institute, he explains more about himself, his climate activism, and his hopes for the future.</h4><hr>Q: Hello Ennan, thanks for joining me. Can you tell me a bit more about yourself?&nbsp;EQ: My favorite thing to do is cycling, and I’m an advocate of plant-based eating. I’ve been involved in activism since August last year when my friend and I joined another young local climate activist who’s now left Hong Kong.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: What prompted you to become a climate activist?&nbsp;EQ: I’ve cared about the environment since I was very young. In primary school, I wrote letters to the government and our parliament about Hong Kong’s waste problem and the incinerator they were building on a porpoise breeding ground. I’ve been vegan since I was 12 years old. Around that time I also went to the “Fridays For Future” Climate Strike here in Hong Kong in March 2019, which drew thousands of students.What prompted me to become an activist was a feeling of helplessness about the lack of climate action here. Our government has a very low emission reduction target, and people eat 5.5 times as much meat as the international average. I have also felt despair and anger about how fishmongers in the markets break the law in plain sight and face no consequences. It’s a very common practice to throw fish on the dry counters to flop around violently, as some people consider that when they’re writhing in pain and moving so much they’re fresh and tasty.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You’ve been an activist longer than you think if you’ve been doing things since primary school.&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: Yes, although I wasn’t drawn to any movements, really.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: It’s clearly been something you’ve been thinking about for a while. So why is it important to help the climate?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: As the UN Secretary General and former Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, said, “The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable that greenhouse gas emissions are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. We are still very much careering toward climate catastrophe.”&nbsp;Government emission reduction plans are nothing more than weak, undelivered, empty promises. The United Nations says that despite pledging to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world is on track for almost a 3-degree temperature rise by the end of the century, which would be nothing short of cataclysmic. This is an abdication of responsibility, and a betrayal of younger generations and all life on Earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Yes, we’re seeing the effects everywhere in the world. You mentioned some of the issues you have around veganism in Hong Kong; is there anything else specific to your region, which you are interested in changing?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: Earlier, I mentioned the barbaric abuse of animals in wet markets, but right now my fellow activists and I have started a campaign targeting McDonald’s, whose animal welfare policies have been rated as poor to very poor by the animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection. Our aim is to get McDonald’s to start serving vegan burgers and plant-based milk at every restaurant. Unbelievably, they still don’t do this, even though the vegan McPlant burger has been launched in the UK and oat milk is available at McDonald’s in Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another aim is to get them to reduce their waste by providing reusable cutlery instead of takeaway cutlery and ketchup bottles for dining use. Greenpeace Hong Kong has found that McDonald’s gives out over 200,000 pieces of single-use plastic every day during a two-hour lunch span.&nbsp;Q: I didn’t know that. It’s another good reason to have these conversations with people from different places in the world.&nbsp;EQ: Most McDonald’s don’t have it. They really need to work on that.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ennan_Qui_HK_14a3498463.jpeg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:12:42.317Z" alt="">Q: Can you tell us about Fridays For Future?&nbsp;EQ: Fridays For Future is a youth-led climate protest movement with local chapters all over the world. It started in 2018, when Greta Thunberg (who was 15 at the time) began her first school strike for climate action outside the Swedish parliament. She was fed up with the international community’s failure to treat the climate crisis as a crisis, and demanded urgent action to stop it’s catastrophic impacts.&nbsp;Fridays For Future is part of a new wave of change, along with a coalition of other groups around the world, inspiring millions of people to take action on the climate. Actually, our group isn’t officially affiliated with Fridays For Future, because the original Hong Kong group disbanded. We’re interested in reviving it, but we’re not yet registered with the official organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You mentioned that you have a few friends who work with you as climate activists. Does that help you stay more positive? Does it help you feel like you have more support?&nbsp;EQ: Definitely. I don’t think I could do much on my own. Together our voices are amplified and it’s harder for corporations and leaders to ignore us when we are more people. It’s also reassuring to know that there are other people who care, and we help each other stay on the same page.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You seem motivated and positive. Where do you think that comes from? Is it a result of working as a group or are you a motivated and positive person anyway?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I’ve been motivated by all the information about the climate catastrophe, the suffering of animals, and factory farms, that compels me to act. To be honest, it’s not always easy to stay positive in the face of these problems. I guess we just have to remind ourselves that we’re doing the best we can with what we have, and feeling down or sad will not change anything or help in any way.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Do you feel like the burden of activism has fallen on the younger generations, while the older ones have caused many of the problems?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I don’t blame everyone from the older generations, because I know that not all older people are responsible, and there are a lot of adults in the environmental movement. But I feel that we young people have a lot more to lose, and that is one of the main reasons why most activists are young.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You mentioned Greta Thunberg, and in the last few years many other young activists have stepped up to take ownership of their future. What would you like to see the people in power doing, and what are your hopes for the future?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: My main hope is for world leaders and the international community to wake up, put their differences aside, and formulate solid plans to tackle climate change.I also hope that governments will take action on animal agriculture as well. It contributes as much to climate change as cars, planes, trains, buses, and ships combined. There’s been almost no action on this front, even though efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees are impossible without a drastic fall in meat consumption. We can all play a role by choosing to eat more plants and less meat.&nbsp;Q: Do you think the animal perspective pushed you into activism, leading to other environmental issues, or do you think it was a bit of both?&nbsp;EQ: I think it was a bit of both. Originally I was more interested in the environment, which is why I wrote letters to the government. Then, around 12 years old I became a vegan. One day we were walking at night-time and we heard a cow mooing continuously in pain, so we thought it was giving birth.&nbsp;My mom told me that dairy cows are forced to breed continuously to ensure a steady supply of milk. That’s when I started to learn about the connection between animal welfare and the environment. I learned how animal agriculture contributes to climate change, the pollution that’s caused by manure, and the cutting down of rainforests to make space for growing crops to feed the animals. So, I would say it’s a mixture of both. I care equally about both issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Did you get a reply from the government to your letters?&nbsp;EQ: Yes, I did. They wrote a long letter justifying all the reasons for the incinerator. I still have it somewhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: What do the adults in your life think about your activism?EQ: I would say most are supportive. Actually, one of our activists is an adult. Most adults know about the climate crisis and see the urgency in solving it. Most don’t like factory farming, which is the cramming of animals into cages and tiny pens to maximize efficiency, even if they aren’t vegan or vegetarian themselves. Some, like my parents, worry that I’ll get into trouble or offend people. That helps guide me away from doing things that a lot of people won’t like.&nbsp;Q: What would you like to do in future? Do you think you’ll go down the environmental activism route, or will it be something that you do on the side throughout your life?&nbsp;EQ: I’m not sure, but I am considering going into climate science or environmental science. I plan to study geography and biology when I start my IB Diploma next year, but aside from that I’m not sure what specific job I want to have.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: You’re still young, and there’s a lot that can change, it’s just that you’re clearly very informed. Do you do a lot of research?&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I did a lot of research before my activism. I wrote articles for my school newspaper, and I did a few speeches. We had to do a speech in class so I chose this as my topic.&nbsp;Q: It’s a good topic. Do you have a message for young activists, climate activists in general, and everyone?&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><hr><h4>My main message is not to feel sad.&nbsp; And don’t give up hope,&nbsp; because history has shown that we&nbsp; are capable of surmounting big challenges.</h4><hr><hr>EQ: My main message is not to feel sad. It’s good to be worried, but don’t let it take you over. And don’t give up hope, because history has shown that we are capable of surmounting big challenges. We created the United Nations, we adopted the Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Montreal Protocol that helped save the ozone layer, but averting this climate catastrophe will require more effort. It requires everyone to play their part.Some things you can do are eat plant-based foods, even if it’s just one day a week or one meal a day, and drive and fly less. It’s better to stay local more often. Use less energy, and waste less.&nbsp;Q: That sounds good. As you say, everyone is living in different environments, but it’s hopefully something governments will look at and start to create better spaces for people. It’s not all on the individual. There are higher levels at work that can do more.&nbsp;&nbsp;EQ: I think it needs a coordinated effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;Q: Yes, definitely a coordinated effort. Thank you.<hr><hr><h4>Interview by RACHEL NELSON</h4><hr>

Meet a young climate activist

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Epicurus

Taste the joys in life

From a young age, passions for the ocean, science, and community have defined Erin’s path. In 2021, she was acknowledged by the North American Association for Environmental Education in their EE 30 Under 30 program, recognizing outstanding young environmental educators around the world.&nbsp;

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Erin Shultz 

<h4>ERIN SHULTZ shares the experiment she has been doing to create a more sustainable lifestyle. It involves small, manageable changes that still make a difference, especially once they become everyday habits.&nbsp;</h4>With so much information at our fingertips, it is hard to decide what to do, what to believe, and how to make an impact. Sustainable actions to help combat the climate crisis definitely fit into this arena of information overload. Many of us feel that it is pointless to do anything, because how can one person make a difference?&nbsp;I have found peace and solace in the idea that making my life and choices more sustainable can be as individual as the way I take my morning tea (or coffee, if you prefer). The idea that social media influencers, authors, documentary hosts, or even me have the single right answer is both limiting and detrimental to our progress.&nbsp;So, take what works for you from all that you see (including me), and leave the rest. Maybe it will fit into another time or way, but the best sustainable action is the one you are willing to take right now, and hopefully more often in the future.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The best sustainable action is the one&nbsp; you are willing to take right now,&nbsp; and hopefully more often in the future.&nbsp;</h4><hr>First, take stock of your life. What habits do you already have in your day? What is your morning routine? When and how do you get your groceries? Where do you shop most frequently? Consider if any of these habits could be just one bit more sustainable, while still fitting into your life and routine.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:25%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp 159w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference2_2320e6d661.webp 159w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4>Tea and coffee drinkers&nbsp;</h4>Ask your favorite caffeine shop to put your drink in your reusable mug. Across a year (with 3 drinks per week), this will save 156 plastic cups, lids, and straws.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference4_d726e4312c.webp 450w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Walkers&nbsp;</h4>Carry a bag (and maybe a glove) when you walk, and grab some trash along your way. You may just save a bird or another critter, and you are definitely making your neighborhood more beautiful.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference5_6086dee1a1.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Clothing&nbsp;</h4>Commit to checking out a thrift store or secondhand store before heading to the mall or Amazon to grab a new pair of jeans. Reusing clothes reduces the resources consumed to make new products.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference6_edea77463f.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"><h4>Cleaning&nbsp;</h4>Buy cleaning products that come in glass or metal containers. These are infinitely recyclable, unlike plastics.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp" alt="one-person-can-make-difference7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/one_person_can_make_difference7_5b3c0e39c0.webp 450w," sizes="100vw">Whatever you choose, make sure it fits into your day, and make sure you are committed to doing it for a month. Then, add another activity in the following month. Sooner than you know, you will start seeing simple, sustainable swaps all around you, and the changes will not be daunting after some early wins.&nbsp;When I began this process of simple shifts, the people in my life noticed. They saw me constantly toting around my favorite sticker-covered water bottle (one friend even named it my “emotional support water bottle”), they saw fewer products lining my shower, they saw reusable cloths in my kitchen instead of paper towels, and they definitely saw the five different recycling bins!&nbsp;They had questions. So I shared with them the changes I had made and explained my perspective of seeing a better future when we lower the demand on the resources that are essential to keep our Earth happy and healthy.&nbsp;Today, I hope you’ll find a minute to take one small sustainable step. Nurture it, and watch it grow into a habit. Whether you realize it or not, that habit could actually help save the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How can one person make a difference?

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Esther Perel

Commitment

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Eva Du

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>EVA DU shares her passion of connection, and her celebration of the joy of life.</h4>
Reading and writing are some of my greatest passions besides dancing and moving my body. Connecting with whatever is
 around – whether it is my own body or the natural and human world – is my constant passion. In spite of my frequent
 changing focus and interests in the world, the one thing that stays the same is making connections.
I love to be out in nature, in the sea and in the woods, smelling and talking to the plants and animals around. I
 also love to be with friends and other people, bringing unlikely groups of people together in exploration of
 themselves and the world around. I love engaging in fun, meaningful experiences in nature that connect people both
 inwards and outwards.
I make sure to take time to practice first for myself, whatever the hobby or passion. Often I find they are the
 things I do anyway, without needing to think, the things that soothe and bring me joy. Recently, and reluctantly, I
 started swimming first in a swimming pool and then in the freezing cold Irish sea. It helps me to release all my
 stresses and worries and returns me to the present moment, happy to be alive, well and breathing. It fills me with
 life again, reminding of what is important and why: Nature.
While I am still trying to work out my potential, all I have to say is to follow your heart’s calling from the
 beginning, not after you’ve graduated, not after school, not after you’re married. Start today!
<img alt="the-gift-of-today" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/gift_of_today2_4e1d8f773e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-17T07:53:20.659Z">
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by EVA DU</h4>
<hr>

The gift of today

Eva is Group Head of Public Affairs at Amarenco, a European Solar IPP. As chair of an agrisolar workstream in Europe, she promotes synergies between agricultural and solar sectors to tackle climate change adaptation. She stands for ecological transition, promoting regenerative agricultural solutions combined with solar energy production in rural areas. Eva has a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Paris Pantheon Sorbonne, specializing in public law and political science. She is also certified in Public Affairs, Strategy and Influence, by the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

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Eva Vandest

<h4>
 EVA VANDEST is
 Group Head of Public Affairs&nbsp;for independent solar power producer, the
 Amarenco Group, and chair of a European agrisolar workstream. She promotes
 synergies between agricultural and solar sectors, to bring regenerative
 agriculture and solar production to rural areas. Here she describes the work
 of “The International 4 per 1000 Initiative: Soils for Food Security and
 Climate” in uniting individuals, communities, and organizations to improve the
 quality of the Earth’s soils.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 We are all concerned by Climate Change, the loss of biodiversity, as well as
 water and food security. Unfortunately, indicators do not lead to optimism.
 75% of the world’s soils are already degraded to varying degrees due to human
 activity – they are either degraded or highly degraded.



 The Food and Agricultural Organization of the U.N. (FAO) states that if we do
 not act now, more than 90% of the Earth’s surface soils could be degraded by
 2050. The death of soils has disastrous consequences for their capacity to
 capture and store carbon emissions, for water and food security, and for the
 prosperity of farmers and their families. Our capacity to feed the human
 population of the Earth in 2050 will depend greatly on our ability to keep our
 soils alive.



 The health of soils, which is mainly indicated by sufficient organic matter,
 is closely correlated with agricultural production and practices. Stable and
 productive soils directly foster the resilience of farms to cope with the
 effects of climate disruption, and help maintaining biodiversity.



 “The International 4 per 1000 Initiative: Soils for Food Security and Climate”
 aims to demonstrate that agriculture and forestry, in particular agricultural
 and forestry soils via natural carbon storage through photosynthesis, can play
 a crucial role in food security and climate change.



 Launched by France in December 2015 during COP 21, 4p1000 confederates all
 voluntary, public, and private stakeholders, including national, local, and
 regional governments and authorities, companies, professional organizations,
 NGOs, research establishments, etc., within the framework of the Global
 Climate Action Plan (GCAP). Based on solid science, it invites all partners to
 promote and implement concrete action for soil carbon storage.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<img decoding="async" width="700" height="466" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Soil_Health2_52d94c7f73.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T17:49:41.122Z" />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 With 700 members together engaged in the regeneration of soils, 4p1000 also
 communicates the seriousness and the emergency of the situation, bringing
 awareness that each individual, each community, each organization, private or
 public, can join together to bring radical changes in practices, to restore
 the balance essential for our Earth system.



 Governments and large organizations have the greatest power to make a
 difference, and can have the most impact. However, each one of us can and must
 act. Living a more harmonious life not only guarantees the resources essential
 to our survival as a human species, it also makes us happier. For too long
 happiness has been associated with a lifestyle of overconsumption, creating
 more and more unattainable desires.



 Noise, light, and electrical pollution excite our nervous systems to the point
 where we can no longer sleep, and suffer from depression and burn out.
 Overcrowded and isolated in ever larger and more complex cities, the loss of
 simplicity and the direct link with nature makes us unhappy. Sometimes we go
 so far that we “crack.” One day, we wake up and want to change our lives,
 little by little.



 We quickly discover that the right people are there to accompany us. The world
 is full of ideas and solutions that allow us to rediscover ourselves and
 design our individual and collective destiny. Absolute confidence and a firm
 will lead us inexorably to success.



 4p1000 is an official supporting partner of the United Nations Decade on
 Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.


<h5>
 To learn more and be involved:
</h5>

<ol type="1" style="
 word-wrap: break-word;
">
 <li>
 <a href="http://www.4p1000.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.4p1000.org</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 Understanding the 4 per 1000 Initiative in 3’30
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xohnOdgz-C4" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/embed/xohnOdgz-C4</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 Why are soils important for the climate?
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORncZnlKOZg" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORncZnlKOZg</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 The Strategic Plan of the 4 per 1000 Initiative
 <a href="https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/english/en_strategic_plan.pdf" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/english/en_strategic_plan.pdf</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 4 per 1000 at a glance
 <a href="https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/ok_4pour1000_gb_v2.jpg" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/ok_4pour1000_gb_v2.jpg</a>
 </li>
 <li>
 List of the consortium members and forum partners:
 <a href="https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/original_partenaires_membres.pdf" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">https://4p1000.org/sites/default/files/francais/original_partenaires_membres.pdf</a>
 </li>
</ol>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Soil Health: 4p1000

Fabio is an artist and musician. He grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, graduating in stage design from UNIRIO. Currently living in Freiburg, Germany, he teaches drawing and percussion in learning institutions and works as a freelancer artist, receiving orders from around the world.

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Fabio Kohler

<h4>FABIO KOHLER is an artist and musician. Here he explores the mystical aspect of creativity, and how meditation helps him to engage more deeply with the subjects of his artwork.&nbsp;</h4>Doing a portrait is a challenging task. The face proportion has to be precise to within millimeters. Otherwise, the person will not be recognized or something will feel wrong. But this covers only the visual part. The next challenge is to catch the particularity of the person. This is similar to the process, “from thinking to feeling,” or in this case, “from seeing to perceiving.”One fine day, my Chinese teacher commissioned me to paint a portrait of herself. Our student and teacher relationship was based on artistic exchange and mutual admiration. During her classes she would sing Chinese songs or demonstrate Chinese traditional dances to the students. I went several times to see her flamenco dance performances, in the same way she attended my musical concerts where I played percussion. This interaction definitely had an impact on the final drawing.When I personally handed her the portrait, I asked her to show it to her husband. The moment he saw the drawing, he said, “非常好!”(meaning “very good” in Chinese). But what I could read in his eyes was, “What an amazing person I’m married to.”&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp" alt="portrait-painting2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting2_534da42b76.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;This episode reinforced my belief that on a conscious level the mind of the artist is occupied in formal principals (shape, proportion, light and shadow, texture, etc.), while their inner being is accessing the energy field of the person portrayed.The same process happened while drawing any spiritual person. Once you draw the human form of those souls, you start feeling the vibrational field of the person portrayed. And those vibrations are reflected through the portrait. When I showed a drawing of Jesus that I had made to Daaji, he said, “Look how compassionate these eyes are!”If you look carefully at this drawing of Jesus, you may notice that it was based on a photo of Babuji. Babuji’s eyes were strabismic. He himself used to say that while one eye was looking outside the other was always looking inside.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp" alt="portrait-painting3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting3_8fa83416fa.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">While the artistic process is flowing outwards, culminating in works of art, the practice of meditation leads inwards. Both activities combined may be very complementary.</h4><hr>This can also be applied in the process of art. While the artistic process is flowing outwards, culminating in works of art, the practice of meditation leads inwards. Both activities combined may be very complementary. Personally, I feel deeply absorbed when I’m doing an artwork. At the same time, the practice of meditation itself helps me to access a subtler and deeper level of artistic expression. It’s like the material wing and spiritual wing; in this case the artistic and spiritual wing combined make the bird of creativity fly high.For me, the mystical experience is the greatest reward of being an artist.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp" alt="portrait-painting4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting4_37b6fd1f4f.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp" alt="portrait-painting5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting5_463d43a8b0.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp" alt="portrait-painting6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting6_214cf668e8.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp" alt="portrait-painting7.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting7_fd7879ccb9.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp" alt="portrait-painting8.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting8_262a5b83f5.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp" alt="portrait-painting9.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/portrait_painting9_60722335dd.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;For more artworks and to commission a work of art, visit: <a href="www.fabiokohler.com">www.fabiokohler.com</a><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Artwork by FABIO KOHLER</h4><hr>

Portrait painting

<h4 style="text-align:center;">FABIO KOHLER explores the creative process of an artist, and the interface between creativity and spirituality through consciousness and inspiration.</h4><hr>In our daily life we naturally meditate to perform our worldly duties. For instance, if an artist is creating a painting his mind will be continuously thinking about the work in progress while choosing the object, the theme, the best material, the technical solutions, and so on. It’s seems quite easy and natural to meditate on a worldly activity. On the other hand, when it comes to accessing higher states of consciousness in the spiritual realm, it’s seem quite difficult as we don’t have an object or external reference point to start with.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio1_img_e918eba995.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:20:07.128Z" alt="fabio1_img"><hr>So here I will look into the artistic process of creativity, to see how a worldly activity may culminate in a spiritual experience.Before even starting any creative process, it is important to prepare some ideal circumstances. First of all, time is needed to make room for creativity. A person whose plate is full is often not able to feel or receive inspiration. The second requirement is a clean, pure heart. Third, it is helpful to create a space – an environment dedicated exclusively to artistic creation.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio6_img_3be81c3325.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:21:46.441Z" alt="fabio6_img"><hr>In that first moment, the artist is inspired by something that touches him or her from inside, that develops into a feeling of enchantment. We train the eye to be like a newborn baby observing the entire world with a sense of wonder. Then, we give enough time to observe the subject, slowly and with patience. It’s like reading a 300-page novel and telling the entire story later on. If we don’t take the proper time to read the novel fully, we will not get the whole picture.Later on, we start drafting lightly on the paper or canvas. At this step we are repeating what the eyes have seen, and what we have felt, with the hands. When we observe something continuously, the eyes travel around the object. In the same way&nbsp;the hand repeats this eye movement. Initially the whole picture is drafted on the paper, defining the page setting. Later on we get into the details. It’s very important not to be lost in details at this initial stage. Like the old Chinese saying: “If you are seeing the leaf, you are not seeing the tree. If you are seeing the tree, you are not seeing the forest.”<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio3_img_2762fa381a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:23:00.806Z" alt="fabio3_img"><hr>After a while, when there is enough visual information on the paper or canvas, we can start analyzing proportion, identifying geometrical abstractions in figures and making necessary corrections. Here enters the analytical mind, but even still it has to be balanced and integrated with the natural flow of the figure. Later on we observe&nbsp;light and dark, adding deep and intermediate grades of shadow, leaving blank spaces in those spots where the light is hitting most. If it is a painting, the next step would then be to add colors, observing the nuances.At a certain point the external object is not required anymore. Now we explore in depth the graphic or pictorial universe, which turns out to be a new reality. At this stage we express our innermost feelings, enjoying the total liberty of contemplating the inner world. This stage may take hours, days, weeks, months or even years. And even when an artwork is finished, we can easily keep on ‘cooking on a low fire’, making continuous small perfections and refinements.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio4_img_b021020a04.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:24:04.422Z" alt="fabio4_img"><hr>There is a saying that an artwork is never finished, it’s only an abandoned process that others perceive as finished. A famous example is the unfinished painting, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, which he painted over 3 years and continued refining for another 11 years until he separated himself from the work.I find that it’s preferable to spend more time on one or just a few drawings, going deep into each one, rather than working on many at once and finishing them too fast. There is an importance to the depth we achieve in each work. This depth continues to deepen, and each previous work leads to greater depth in the next one. It’s a vertical journey.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fabio5_img_be4b9c5e83.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-03T03:24:57.120Z" alt="fabio5_img"><hr>At the end, stepping out of the artistic process and contemplating the work, all sorts of feelings arise, like “How was this done?” and “Who did this?” At the same time, all the effort and feeling of doing the work is still very much alive and leads to future work. We have no choice but to keep on excelling, because the previous artwork, yesterday’s effort, no longer satisfies the soul. This will continue until our final breath on Earth marks the end of this process.So the ultimate beauty of artistic creation is to refine the tool to such an extent, that we become a channel of creation coming from the deepest inspirations of the heart. Then we are able to completely integrate the artistic process with spirituality.To see more of Fabio’s work, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/fabiokohler">https://www.patreon.com/fabiokohler</a><hr><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Art and article by FABIO KOHLER</h4><hr>

Art and meditation

<h4>
FABIO KOEHLER
 is an artist and a musician who has been living away from his native
 Brazil for over six years. Here he shares the joy of samba, and
 describes how people from all cultures have danced and made music to
 connect with life, transform pain into happiness, and come together in
 community.
</h4>

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<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
EMBRACING DIFFERENCE
</h2>

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Vejam essa maravilha de cenário É um episódio relicário Que
 o artista, num sonho genial Escolheu para este carnaval E o
 asfalto como passarela Será a tela Do Brasil em forma de
 aquarela



Look at this wonderful scenario It’s a reliquary episode That
the artist, in a brilliant dream, Chose for this carnival And
the asphalt as a catwalk Will be the canvas Of Brazil in the
form of a watercolor



Aquarela Brasileira by Silas de Oliveira https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHN2TVwNhEo


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Whenever the word happiness comes to my mind I think of samba! I grew up
in Rio de Janeiro, which is a postcard city due to its natural beauty
and its Carnival. When I was fifteen years old, a musician taught me to
play the main beat of samba on the pandeiro, an instrument
similar to the tambourine, during a moonlit party on the beach. Since
then, I have not stopped playing that instrument! I left Brazil in 2015
and the feeling of homesickness increases day by day. Since I left, the
need to play the pandeiro, especially Brazilian music, has
grown greater and greater. Nowadays, it is easier to count the days I
don’t play the pandeiro. For me, playing samba is directly
related to happiness. There is a famous song which says:



O samba é pai do prazer O samba é filho da dor Um grande poder transformador



Samba is the father of pleasure Samba is the child of pain A
great transforming power



Desde Que O Samba É Samba by Caetano Veloso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB-iGuBVclo


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 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="400"
 height="588"
 alt="samba2"
 
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 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba2_899945d90e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:35:41.993Z"
 
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And another one says:


Minha beleza encontro no samba que faço Minha tristeza se torna num alegra cantar



My beauty I find in the samba I make My sadness becomes a joyful
song



Esperanças Perdidas by Os Originais do Samba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLj9AK0edCY


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Samba has a joyful feel, and wherever I play in the world I feel this
joy is perceived by people, especially children. They are immediately
receptive to the happy vibrations and start smiling and moving their
bodies. The pandeiro (and other frame drums with jingles) was
used in diverse cultures during dances and festivities. It is known as
the bringer of joy. Whenever there is a pandeiro, the music is
filled with happiness. It is generally represented as a heart or, more
precisely, as the “heart of the musician.”



Meu coração é um pandeiro Gingando ao compasso de um samba
 feiticeiro



My heart is a pandeiro Swaying to the beat of a sorcerer’s samba



Morena Boca de Ouro by João Gilberto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umbS_GJ0S50


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 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="700"
 height="482"
 alt="samba3-700x482"
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba3_700x482_efcbf4df24.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:36:32.697Z"
 />
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Samba had its origins in the African continent and developed in Brazil
in different areas and in diverse ways. Samba today is associated with
the city of Rio de Janeiro, because Rio was the entrance for the slave
trade coming from the African continent. There were an estimated one
million slaves in fifty years alone, which is an astonishing number.
Brazil is recognized as having the greatest number of slaves during the
colonial period.



Babuji used to say, “If you cannot leave the toilet better than before,
at least leave it like it was before you used it.” That’s why I’m deeply
grateful for the enormous work our forefathers did for humanity. During
their conditions of slavery, they transformed that pain into joy and
left us the samba! Lalaji used to sing to alleviate his stomach pains.
His sorrow would be transfigured into sweet sounds for the listeners,
just like samba music. It’s a great lesson on how to deal with sorrow
and pain. I feel very grateful to be able to play such music.



There is a song I encourage you to listen to, because the singer
Martinho da Vila is known for singing while he is smiling. You can hear
it in his voice:



Canta, canta minha gente Deixa a tristeza pra lá Canta
 forte, canta alto Que a vida vai melhorar



Sing, sing my people Leave sadness behind Sing strong, sing
loud That life will get better



Canta Canta, Minha Gente by Martinho da Vila https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxQB1FYLu5k


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This song contains the popular saying, “Quem canta seus males espanta,” which means, “One who sings, sings his woes away.”


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<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="400"
 height="588"
 alt="samba4"
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba4_871a8120fe.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:37:28.967Z"
 />
</figure>
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What has this all to do with my life? These are the tools I use. Besides
playing pandeiro every day, I also sing the rhythm. I sing in
the corridor, I sing on the streets, while working, and even in the
bathroom. My acquaintances know me for this, and recognize me from afar,
even making jokes about the percussive sounds I make with my mouth. And
when I walk, I dance to the rhythm of samba. Samba dancing is normally
taught first as walking and then the characteristic movements are added.



This is the way I have found to express happiness. I’m sure each of you
has your own way. If you do not know it yet, I encourage you to find it.



The pandemic has deeply affected the artistic sector, especially live
performances. This break in live performances gave me an empty feeling
at first, and a craving to play with and for others, but it also
permitted me to develop the art of percussion. During the pandemic, I
took care of a multiple sclerosis patient. When I started to work with
her, she could not move her fingers, but she was completely conscious,
with no brain damage. During my job interview, she showed me her drum,
and when I told her that I was a percussionist she asked me to play. At
that moment she smiled like anything. On the days I forgot to play she
would tell me, “Today you did not play for me.” She was an antenna:
Whenever I played with too much mind, she would say “Today it was not
good.” Whenever I played from the heart, she would smile joyfully.



This went on for three months, until one morning she passed away in my
presence. That night, I informed her family about the moment of her
passing and the family presented me with her drum. They asked me to play
it at her burial, which was an unprecedented episode in my life. It
changed my approach to music, art, and life itself. I could understand
how the drum connects us to the other world. It shaped my soul to such
an extent that my way of playing was deeply transformed.


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<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="400"
 height="552"
 alt="samba5"
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/samba5_558995a7c9.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T11:38:39.801Z"
 />
</figure>
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Even though samba music is transient, the approach to life remains. I
have witnessed many times how hard-working people, living in harsh
circumstances, are able to find joy in their music. They dance through
life. Their daily duties do not always permit them to sing or dance, but
samba-like activities can serve as the oil to our daily routine. No
wonder people feel the need to go out to bars, discos, and concerts to
relax, meet people, listen, and dance to music. All indigenous people
have used dance and music in their group activities. A lot of their
dances came out of work, like hunting, planting, and harvesting. So,
they were able to integrate work itself with dance and music!



I think joyful vibrations from music like samba make the world a happier
place. That’s why I feel like playing music until my final breath. I
would even say samba itself is my breath. There is a final song I would
like to share with you:



Vem que passa Teu sofrer Se todo mundo sambasse Seria
 tão fácil viver



Come that it passes Your suffering If everyone could samba It
would be so easy to live



Tem Mais Samba by Chico Buarque https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5B8n0DyRtA


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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Art by FABIO KOHLER</h4>

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