From the High Alps to the Himalayas - Mountains have inspired poets for centuries. 🗻🌿✍️

As the new year begins, I came across a poem from an ancient Chinese poet who inspired deep thought about his experience being present in nature, and how someone can understand the nature of things through it.

"On the surface, this poem describes a mountain scene. But after careful reading, we can feel the author’s peaceful mind in his ability to hear flowers falling and to see birds startled by the rising moon."

Magnifissance 🌿🪷🫖

Osmanthus flowers fall alone; 

The blooming mountains are calm at night.

The moon ascends, alarming birds 

That chirp in spring on water white.

Wang Wei (699-761)

A Unicorn

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This is a unicorn from Switzerland. He had traveled to the Alps and back to Canada.

...There will be a book written about his travels upcoming.

Please feel free to comment / write me if you are interested in learning more.

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You can also contact me on Instagram.

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As blossoms fall to the ground and turn to dust, 

They leave their unchanging fragrances behind.

Lu You (1125-1210) 

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"This is an ode to the plum blossoms blooming in the coldest winter. When the flowers wither, their fragrances linger, as do their spirit and courage." 

Magnifissance

These flowers pictured are Chinese alpine flowers, known as the Holy TianShan Snow Lotuses.

Just like this poem on plum blossoms, so do these special lotuses live through the coldest of winters, while still remaining ever so radiant.

It is understood that these lotuses can cure many desperate ailments.

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What do mountain-inspired poetry to mountain-blooming lotuses have in common?

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Instead of traveling to foreign distances to such high mountains to obtain a cure or enlightened perspective (which can certainly be sought in the mountains), there is another way.

Practicing meditation is a wonderful way to help with this.

I thought it would suit the heart of this post for the new year 2024 to include a meditation photo of a dear friend I met in New York City, moons ago.

She is practicing the sitting meditation of Falun Dafa here.

To learn more, feel free to try this free and energizing meditation practice here.