Rise&Zen - Life as a River, Gates of Inspiration, and More

Hello!

Here are the thoughts and tastes that are bringing us joy this week.

MUSIC

This week’s inspiration comes from the legendary Misora Hibari with her iconic song “川の流れのように” (“Like the Flow of the River”).

Listen on Spotify: Click here

Watch on YouTube: Click here

The song beautifully captures the essence of life as a flowing river. Inspired by this, the therapeutic Kawa Model was created. This model uses the metaphor of a river to help people visualize and navigate their life journey. Learn more about it on Wikipedia.

WORD

閨 (“Sen”) – A Flash of Insight
門 (“Mon”) – Gate
人 (“Hito”) – Person

Together, they symbolize a person stepping through the gates of new ideas. It’s that moment of inspiration when you suddenly see the solution to a problem or a new perspective emerges.

THOUGHT

It has been said of Japanese food that it is a cuisine to be looked at rather than eaten. I would go further and say that it is to be meditated upon, a kind of silent music evoked by the combination of lacquerware and the light of a candle flickering in the dark.

From In Praise of Shadows by Tanizaki Junichiro

Maarja