BEST 2 more days in 2011!!!

 2 more days in 2011!
Please finish unfinished things before 2012 comes!

I went to a concert with my sister yesterday.
The singer's name is Masaharu Fukuyama.
He is also an actor, song writer and entertainer.
My sister is a big fan of him and I started to listen to his songs.

During the concert, we saw a video looking back his 2011.
Of course, the video included the scenes of the East Japan Disasters on 311.
And what he did was also shown.
About 17,000 people at concert hall watched and  nodded, sharing the same feeling and emotions.
As one of them, many memories and emotions came up in my mind.

At the end of the year, there are many TV programs and events, looking back the year 2011.
Some scenes and facts are new.
Now we can hear the true voices of people who suffered.

I guess all the Japanese share the same feeling right now.

Japanese will never forget the year 2011.

My life was changed a lot this year.
At some points, I felt nothing moved on.
But when I looked back, my life was changed dramatically.

However, I didn't expect this change.
I was reluctant and not determined.
I was like drifting.

But when I was watching the sufferers doing their best, and people supporting them.
I thought I could do more!
I decided to be willing to give as much love, talents and whatever I can give as possible next year!

And I'll be more proud of myself as Japanese!

Japaneses are known as modest.
We don't boast of ourselves.
Although we get praise, we tend to refuse it.

For example,
If something bad happens, it is my fault.
If something good happens, it thanks to you.

I believe this is good but I guess we'll change in the future.

I like to boast of being a Japanese.
And I like to tell many people all over the world how wonderful Japan and Japanese are!
I believe Japan will change!

I also like to become a person who can move and touch people's feeling because I was moved and touched by many people who did their best during their hardship.

I don't know what I can do now. I just decided!
That's my next year's resolution

At the end, I like to introduce the song of Masaharu Fukuyama.
The theme of this song is `KIZUNA' meaning `bonds or ties'.
KIZUNA is also the them of this year for all Japanese.

The title is `Kazoku ni narouyo' meaning `let's become a family'.
Although the song is Japanese, please enjoy the music!
Please have the BEST 2 more days in 2011!!!

New Year Greeting Cards

Soon after Christmas was over, we have to be ready for the New Year.
House cleaning, special-meals cooking, New Year decoration....etc.

I finally finished my New Year greeting cards.

The card includes my photo and pottery work.
Since they have a special stamp, all cards arrive on the New Year although they are mailed a week before.
Of course, there is the time limit and if it's too late, they will arrive after the New Year holiday is over.

Now it's very convenient we can make cards by computer.
Before I bought it, I did all hand-writing with some stamps.
I'll write messages and mail them.

These days, people send the New Year messages by mail.
But I still like to write to give special thanks of this year, and happiness and friendship of next year.

The animal of the year 2012 is Dragon!
We have 12 animals, Chinese zodiac.
Dragon is the only legendary animal of 12.
So the year 2012 is not usual.
Something we never expected will happen.
Good or Bad things are all up to your mind and heart.
Please always visualize whatever you really expect to happen!

This painting is done by Seiji Fujishiro.
I visited his show and we were free to take photos of his works.
I love his paintings and generosity.

I seem to work this New Year's eve and New Year.
Friends of my friend came to Japan and I'll guide them.
This is my first time to work at these days.
I had refused to work at New Year's eve and New Year because everything was unusual and I preferred spending with my family and friends.
Oh! I lose no time in doing something unusual!!
I'm excited at new experience!
Since it is the first time for them to visit Japan, I'll do my best to support them and enjoy together!!


For all of my friends,
Thank you very much for your friendship of this year especially during our hardship.
I wish you wonderful New Year holidays with your family and friends.
When I visit a temple or shrine at New Year, I'll pray for your happiness, health and whatever you wish for the year 2012!!
Love,
Chiaki

Merry Christmas!!

For my friends all over the world,

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas filled with love and peace!
Please enjoy the Christmas Parade at Tokyo Disneyland.

Never forget the mind and heart you had in your childhood.

Your childlike heart brings you fresh perspectives and ideas!

I hope I can see you again with fresh discoveries!

Love

Chiaki

10000 People sing Beethoven Symphony No 9 together♪

Today, Dec. 23rd is our Emperor's 78th birthday.
If you are interested in this, please check this Press Conference on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday (2011)
Although Christmas isn't a national holiday,  Emperor's birthday is a national holiday.
Luckily, Christmas is on weekend. Office workers can get 3-days off.

At the end of the year, we watch many special programs on TV.
Most programs this year are related to the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11th March.
I sometimes forget it happened this year.
But it is not the past yet for people living in that area.
At the same time, I really thank the fact I can see the old year out and the new year in with my family at safe home.

Today, I was watching a TV program, `10000 People sing Beethoven Symphony No 9 together.'
I can't find its YouTube yet.
When I find it, I like to introduce it here.

This below video is from last year, 2010.
The conductor is always Yutaka Sado. I like him.
The singer was Ayaka Hirahara. She sang this year too.
She is one of my favorite singers.

At the same setting, 10000 people sang Beethoven Symphony No 9 together.
It was amazing!!!
While I was watching it today, I remember LOTS OF THINGS both good and bad which happened this year.
Especially,  the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11th March is the prime memory.
I guess people in that program felt the same feeling and they sang, sweat and shed tears.
We, Japanese can never forget this year, 2011.
This year's memory will be inscribed in our heart and thought forever.

The singer of the below video is Ayaka Hirahara.
I'll post it here not to forget the day...

the winter solstice and new moon

Today, Dec. 22nd is the winter solstice.
The length of daytime is the shortest and it's getting longer day by day from tomorrow.

The shortest daytime means the longest nighttime, which is the length of darkness is the longest.
Some of you might have to face your ugly and immature parts you hate.
And you are trapped in bad delusion and think the world around you negatively.

It is said that people who are spiritually awakening are affected by natural cycle like moon cycle and planet retrograde.

Therefore, if you feel negative, it might be due to the winter solstice.
Then now it's over and you can feel better.

In addition to that, the last new moon this year is on Dec. 25th.
Soon after the date is changed, it is the full moon at 3:06am,

The darkness is over at the winter solstice and the new beginning starts at the new moon.

Enjoy the new start!

Christmas decorations everywhere

It is Christmas season now! 

Most of us in Japan are not Christians but we all love to enjoy Christmas season.

Christmas decorations everywhere!

Paper cranes are hanging from the tree. These paper cranes were made by guests at this hotel, wishing for the quick recovery from the disasters on 311.

Have a joyful Christmas season!!

Feel more free!

I enjoyed the full-moon lunar eclipse last night.
It was over after 1:00 midnight.
After the separation from the sun, the moon was shining happily.

When there are always things important just besides us, we can't notice how important they are.
But once we are away from them or lose them, we can realize their importance.

I hope we can notice things important before we lose them and are away from them.
But things important and necessary always return to us.
If they don't come back, they haven't belonged to us or they haven't been necessary since the beginning.
We can't possess things which don't exist inside us.
Everything outside reflect things inside us.
If those come back to you again, your happiness must be much deeper than that when you keep them from the beginning.

We lose nothing necessary and important.
Don't need to be afraid!

I was thinking of above things while I was watching the moon shining again last night.

Sun these days are beautiful again after rainy and cloudy days.
I love sun and moon.

Actually I have many things I'm afraid of.
I like to run away from them and keep hiding myself.
But I don't feel free in those situations.
I was born to be free.
So I promise myself I'm not afraid of anything anymore and fly freely.






 

Full-moon lunar eclipse today!

It is full moon today in Japan! Today's full moon is not only full moon but also lunar eclipse!
We are all excited to see this phenomenon. It is said that we can see the eclipse perfectly in Japan for the first time in 11 years!!

Beautiful full moon!

The eclipse started at 9:45 pm Japan time.
The maximum eclipse is at 11:31 pm.
Then it finishes at 1:18 tomorrow.
We all enjoy this Heavenly Show!

This photo was taken around 10:30 pm.

Our planet is between sun and moon. Therefore the light from the sun can't reach to the moon and the moon is eclipsed.
That means we can see the shadow of our planet reflected on the moon. As long as we don't get on the space shuttle, we can't see our planet. But today we can get the idea of our planet even it is only its shadow. I love this idea! Heavenly Romance!!
I'll keep looking at sky until the eclipse finises!

I just took this photo right now at 11:10 pm.
The moon seemed to be red.
I'm very excited!!

Please enjoy this full-moon lunar eclipse all over the world!

 

pastel therapy workshop

Last weekend, I had a pastel therapy workshop. 3 people attended. One cancelled due to her family problem.
I usually have a pastel workshop at my friend's house or my pottery studio.
I like to find another places to have more classes for not only pastel but also different type of workshops next year.

All of them attended my workshop several times.
So we finished the first picture for 30 minutes after my guided meditation.
While they were meditating, I guided them to have the image of picture and colors.

We painted a Christmas tree for the 2nd picture. They had a little hard time but their Christmas tree was very beautiful!

After we finished painting, we enjoyed tea and cake. My friend made cheesecake for us, which was very delicious!!

My workshop still continued. I used this guidance board behind the cheesecake and oracle cards and answered their questions. Then after we cleared our vision, I did guided meditation to make their dream come true.

Many of my workshop participants say my workshops bring them change and transformation.
That's why they like to come back!
I never intend to do so but if they say so maybe it's because I myself keep changing and never stop.
And I guess I am no more a typical Japanese after I met a variety of people from many countries.
My way of thinking is very new to them and they think they can do whatever they like to do beyond their limitation. Maybe I just stimulate their limit only a little bit. They are also ready to change!
I don't like people who always wait for somebody coming up to change their life, depend on others and expect others to change them
Freedom and Independence are very important for me!

I'll have one more pastel therapy workshop this year and take a break.
I'll think what I like to do next year in the meantime.

Savor Everything!!

I was busy until last week for myself and have been busy for my family. Then I finally found time for painting!

Savor Everything!!

I know `savor' is for food.

But like savoring a variety of flavors like sweet, bitter, spicy and sour,

we savor all kinds of emotions, experiences and relationships.

I love spicy, sweet and sour, all kinds of flavors

Therefore, we savor everything which happens in front of us and emotions which are caused by those happenings.

When you have a bitter experience, please allow yourlsef to be soaked in the bitterness.
When you are sad, please allow yourself to be soaked in the sadness.
When you are angry, unless you trouble others, please allow yourself to take the anger out.

I'm sure something will be born from deep sadness, furious anger and uncontrollable bitterness.

But if these emotions are not genuine, only fake can be born.
And that fake bubbles disappear on their way up.

When you reach the bottom of bottom,
genuine bubbles, genuine desires, genuine yourself and genuine pass can be born.

Those genuine bubbles are led by light.
Bubbles of sadness and anger are transformed into bubbles of joy, happiness and light.

Even when you are soaked alone in the sadness at the bottom of the deep ocean,
the light reaches you.
You just don't notice the fact because your sadness is so deep.
However, LIGHT REACHES YOU!

When you are good, you can be somebody's light and guide the person.
When you are not good, somebody can be your light and guide you.

We are not alone.

We are each other's light.

We shine on each other's light brightly.

We walk the pass of light together.

I'm here to make your light burn brighter

like you make mine burn brighter.

in love and light,

Chiaki

...I was thinking of those things while I was painting this picutre...