Meditation: Receiving and Giving

Receiving and giving are opposite energies that are inextricably linked together in the natural flow of life, like inhaling and exhaling.  If one aspect of that cycle doesn't function, the entire cycle ceases to function and the life force cannot move freely. If you can't inhale, you will soon have nothing to exhale, and before long, your body will be unable to continue living.
~Shakti Gawain

I have become an ardent advocate of breathing.

I realize that must sound a bit daft, but it truly is the essence of being.  When I meditate during yoga I focus on my breathing.  There is, of course, the physical aspect of inhaling and exhaling, but along with it is the emotional/spiritual aspect of receiving life, vitality, goodness, grace and then releasing anger, frustration, guilt, toxins.  And there is the social aspect of receiving friends and family unconditionally, as they are and then giving love, kindness, service, abundance.  

It blows my mind how so much can be meditated on just by the simple act of breathing.  Both the inhale and the exhale, the yin and the yang, are necessary for survival, in every aspect.

Just something to chew one.  Or breathe on, I guess!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mamas out there. We hope your day is filled with love, gratitude, happiness and many blessings.

Trialogue: In Honor of Mother

Q: We are enormous fans of our mother. She is a figure that looms large in our collective psyche - the embodiment of all things good and comforting. She prepared our meals, sewed our clothes, gardened our vegetables and flowers, and kept an immaculately clean house. But she was never inaccessible - she was humble and ever-present. Like all good mothers, she was (and is) the heart of our family.

M: And isn't she a hot mama?! She's going to kill us for posting these pictures of her. Growing up, and even sometimes still, Wabisabi Mom would cover her face so it couldn't be photographed. Confusing, because we always knew she was so beautiful. And though it's cliche, she is beautiful on both the outside and the inside. I have never known someone who was so giving. I can't count how many times she made meals for people when they were struggling--physically, emotionally or financially. She labored many long hours in her garden only to give away most of her crop. She instilled gratitude in us kids as we constantly saw her writing notes of thanks and appreciation to those who had showed her kindness. But most of all, she was a good mother to her four children.

When I was young, I remember my mother sometimes losing her temper (understandable and expected with four rambunctious children totaling only seven years apart). But as I grew older, my mother must have matured as well. Somehow she developed infinite patience with us and gracefully handled our various stages, from hyper kid to snotty adolescent to defiant teen. Oh, that I could raise my children with the same forbearance!

D: I'm not sure when the realization hit me that my mom was totally awesome. It must have been very gradual but I think that ever since I left home for college, when I was homesick or physically sick or lonely or sad for whatever reason, it was always my mother I craved. I think that we take for granted our family and especially our mothers until we are on our own. I definitely agree with Q that she was/is the embodiment of all things comforting and good and, as the baby of the family, the yearning for her in tough times was pretty strong. We Wabisabi sisters may somewhat romanticize her role in our family but the adoration is well deserved. If I can have but a smidgen of my mother's work ethic, patience, thoughtfulness, and devotion, I would consider myself a successful wife and mother. She is the quintessence of Wabisabi and I couldn't have asked for a better example to strive for.

Oishii: Sweet Potatoes!

Occasionally someone will ask me what kinds of food I feed Mayumi, as though I have some secret Japanese magic that I'm keeping all to myself.  The truth is, Mayumi has always been a pretty good eater and we've always been good about cooking and offering her a variety of healthy, interesting food.  In general, she eats what we eat, and even if she doesn't like something, we continue to offer it to her (but never force her!) because sometimes she'll surprise us and start to like it.

But maybe I do have a few tricks up my sleeve.  One of our favorite snacks is an inspiration from my friend, Ginger, who introduced me to the wonders and deliciousness of coconut oil.  When you combine it with sweet potatoes and a bit of salt, you can't go wrong.

Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Ingredients

2 sweet potatoes, any kind (the orange-fleshed one pictured below is a garnet sweet potato and the white-fleshed one is a Japanese sweet potato.  we love them both.)

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wash, peel and slice the sweet potatoes.

Spread two tablespoons of coconut oil on a rimmed baking sheet.

Arrange the sweet potatoes on a single layer on the sheet.

Sprinkle with salt to taste (you don't need much).

Bake for about 20 minutes and then flip the potatoes to the other side and cook for 10 minutes longer.

Serve and enjoy!

Homemade: Mommy Tote

It's so hard to find the perfect gift for mothers - something creative and beautiful and useful that captures your intense gratitude for the amazing sacrifice and dedication they've shown.  It's almost impossible!

But this little project may be something... 

Inspired by one of my favorite ee cummings poems (you may have seen it posted here a few weeks ago) I thought making a handy little tote with the words "i carry you in my heart" on it would capture somewhat the feelings of a mother for her children (or grandchildren).  I used about half a yard of fabric for the outside and found a complementary color for the pocket, lining and handles.  I plan to send it along to my mother tomorrow (look for it in the mail soon, mom!).

For the picture frame I simply traced a lopsided heart out of cardboard, covered it with fabric and glued on a piece of vinyl behind it to protect the photo.  Using embraidery floss, I just sewed it on to the pocket.  It was quite an easy little project - and I think it'll be handy for carrying a couple magazines or books (it's a bit more delicate rather than sturdy, so nothing too heavy!).

I know some of you have some wonderful, thoughtful, and creative gifts you've given and/or received for Mother's Day.  Please share!

Kodomo no Hi:Children's Day

I love that Japan has a national holiday for children.  Today is Kodomo no Hi, or Children's Day, and it is typically celebrated by flying cool carp flags and lots of playtime!  Though it originally started out as Boys Day, Kodomo no Hi, is a universal celebration of all children and in turn, an honoring of their parents.  On this day Japanese families display a samurai helmet to encourage the warrior spirit in their cihldren and they fly carp (koi) flags, which symbolize strength,good fortune and longevity.

To join in on the fun, Mayumi and I made some nifty little origami toys.

Here are instructions for folding your own origami samurai helmet or your own origami carp kite (koinobori).

If you want to get all crazy with your lunch, you can take a page from this lady's book and make a koi bento box.  But this Americanized mama is just going to go with the trusty ol' PB&J sandwich today!

3 Things I Love About Being a Mom

How can I possibly narrow this down to three things?  I LOVE being a mother - I have been pleasantly surprised by how natural and comfortable and happy I feel in this role.  It encompasses everything I love - creating, teaching, nurturing... I feel as though I have become a whole person, as though my happiness is complete.

1.  Seeing and experiencing things though the eyes of a child.  Being completely immersed in the creative and learning processes. All the opportunities to teach and learn and improve myself. (okay, that's a three-in-one)

2. Sharing parenthood with the love of my life, and knowing him as (the most amazing) father.

3.  The physicality of it all - hearing that little voice call out "Mommy!", feeling her arms wrapped around my neck, smelling her freshly-shampooed head, watching her grow before my eyes...

Meditations: A mother's prayer

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln

I, too, remember my mother's prayers for me. Not just the ones she said when we gathered as a family, but the ones she said in her heart. On several occasions, I walked into my mother's bedroom as she knelt in silent prayer. Now I know what she was asking for.

I'm sure she was pleading for the well-being of her children. I know she was asking that we be safe and healthy. I believe she prayed with all her heart for our happiness.

Because like my mother, I pray for these things.

Every mother, whether religious or not, hopes only the best for their child. They would do anything to protect that child. They love with such understated fierceness from the very depths of their souls.

I feel lucky that I was a recipient of the answers to a mother's prayer. Luckier that I have a little one to pray for.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Tanjoubi Omedetou!

We miss you and wish we could be with you to celebrate.  Have a wonderful day and another blessed year to add to the (we won't say how many) others! xoxoxo

May Day

May Day is a celebration with pagan roots that dates back to before the days of Christ. It falls on May 1 and marks the end of the winter half of the year. Celebratory rituals included setting a fire, which was thought to lend life to the burgeoning springtime sun, and worshiping Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers.

Hope you have great weather this May Day so you can get out and enjoy the beauty of spring!