Here are some randomisities both old and new that I found this week and wanted to share with you. Take 1 or two with a cup of tea and a few buttered scones and have a good lie down if you want to have a break from the world for a while.
1. In the Mood for Love OST by Shigeru Umebayashi
A beautiful, romantic and reflective piece of music to enjoy as you read the rest of these finds for the week…
2. bell hooks – The love ethic
On my friend Neriman’s amazing blog, Reading Under the Olive Tree, she showcases an inspiring quotes of African American philosopher/thinker Gloria Jean Watkins AKA bell hooks.
Cultures of domination rely on the cultivation of fear as a way to ensure obedience. In our society we make much of love and say little about fear. Yet we are all terribly afraid most of the time. As a culture we are obsessed with the notion of safety. Yet we do not question why we live in states of extreme anxiety and dread. Fear is the primary force up- holding structures of domination. It promotes the desire for separation, the desire not to be known. When we are taught that safety lies always with sameness, then difference, of any kind, will appear as a threat.
When we choose to love we choose to move against fear-against alienation and separation. The choice to love is a choice to connect-to find ourselves in the other.
Those of us who have already chosen to embrace a love ethic, allowing it to govern and inform how we think and act,
know that when we let our light shine, we draw to us and are drawn to other bearers of light.
We are not alone.
3. These lovely paintings by Shinya Okayma
4. Two hours of fluttering butterflies and swaying exotic flowers in Melbourne Zoo’s hot house
5. A tiny cabinet of curiosities including secret poisons, concealed inside of a book made in 1682…
6. The Storm Arrives
This beautiful poem is prescient and relevant to our turmultuous world, it really captured the moment. Found on the always inspiring blog Wild Crafted Life by Diane Hacker-Reed.
It’s been brewing for a while now, this storm.
We can see it, even when we don’t look.
We feel the electricity on our skin
The first few drops, then the lightning,
now the thunder.
It travels, unstoppable, until the rain falls
hard and fast
to disturb the dust
to expose the crust
to erode the system.
Rain pounds, lightning strikes, thunder promises.
The storm arrives.
7. KUKUWA® African Dance Routine
KUKUWA® is an African dance workout that made me smile for a whole 18 minutes. Just being in the presence of these energetic and positive and beautiful women made feel motivated. The workout is intense, fun and enjoyable. A great channel to follow and it makes for an enjoyable departure from doing yoga or other workouts if you do workouts at home.
8. A cat relaxes inside of a piano while its owner plays a song from the Ghibli film ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’
9. These haunting and fantastical paintings by Australian artist Shaun Tan
10. Toilets with threatening auras…
If you have ever traveled or visited some off the beaten path cafeteria at a petrol station, you will understand the perils of toilets with bad or threatening auras. They are a multisensory and existential threat. If only I thought of taking photos of the many threatening toilets I have seen. The worst one was in Morocco in the depths of the Fez medina. Here are some very dodgy toilets to enjoy vicariously. This is a great Twitter channel to follow as well…
Bonus: My Heart Still Bleeds Red by Neha/Forgotten Meadows
My heart still bleeds the color red
like your ancestors and mine
it still bleeds red…
under the color of my skin
of your skin…
BROWN
BLACK
WHITE
OLIVE
HARD TO DEFINE SKIN TONES
But it still bleeds RED
RED
The color that unifies
humanity
which bleeds
with decades of injustice
Prejudice and Silence
For you see the colors don’t speak
but our actions do
and my heart still bleeds the color red
like your ancestors and mine
and it’s time we listen
we unite against injustice
we unite in peace
and rise with love
for LOVE bleeds RED
when left unheard.
Have you read, seen or heard anything that lifted your spirits this week? I know that since I have been doing this series, it has actually helped to heal me and make me realise that the world is a big, chaotic, messy and beautiful place, instead of merely a scary place, which is always good to remember, seeing as most social media and the news is all about reassuring us that the world is totally shit. But rather than think of it in these terms, it is nice to rewrite the narrative for it myself and share it with you. Namaste.
Content Catnip 
Thank you for sharing! We badly need uplifting contents on the internet during these times because a lot of negative news are circulating. Have a nice day! 💛
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Wow! Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️
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My pleasure Diana love the insights on your blog. ❤❤
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