From time to time, behold

Check out Katie Yamazaki's murals in communities across the country. Talk about uplifting art in social activism! http://katieyamasaki.com/work/moon-beholders-japanese-american-national-museum-little-tokyo-los-angeles-ca-2014/ 

To those who seek a new perspective, like a moon beholder, look up from your daily life. When we look up at the sky to behold the moon, we take an action away from our regular lives to pause, to gaze, and imagine. In that space, I want to appreciate more, joy resides there. 

Today, I begin share some things I do that keep me hopeful and able to shift outside myself and force me to look up, literally and figuratively, from the negative and narrow pull (of media and other distractions) to refresh my senses. 

 From time to time, I'll be sharing things I do, see, read, listen to -to be like the moon-expansive, illuminating, spacious, evoking peace.

This mural touched me. We were in Los Angeles in February to witness the Day of Remembrance and exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum marking the 75th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066. 

This mural greeted us in the parking lot!  It caused me to look up and extend my perspective and has stayed with me. The image of the little girl, eyes closed, upside-down, the pattern of her furoshiki patterned shirt, glowing lanterns, accompanied by the poem by Basho made me realize, I want to see more light, be more of a light, to offer some light, when the world seems dark. 

-and so I begin to share what illuminates my days and nights with this:

A short video, to remind us of the power of nature and what happens when we behold.

Starling Murmuration video-be awed, really awed by the power of nature.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=vimeo+starling+murmuration&&view=detail&mid=8FA282D00D0CED222A638FA282D00D0CED222A63&FORM=VRDGAR. 

Thank you, Puja, this video gently pushed me to look up on my birthday!


- be one who observes, witnesses something extraordinary!