Tim Bridle’s Post

CHERRY BLOSSOM WISDOM💫 As the coming of spring promises new life, so the blooming of cherry blossoms brings a sense of vitality and vibrancy. At the same time, their short lifespan is a reminder that life is fleeting. It was a breathtaking week to be in Washington, D.C. ! Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are well-known worldwide for their bright, fragile, and momentary beauty. Cherry Blossoms are more than just pretty trees; they have deep roots in Japan's history, culture, and identity. The blossoms, which were once used to predict the year's harvest, have now come to symbolize Wabi-sabi philosophy and Shinto principles of impermanence, optimism, and renewal and have become one of Japan's most recognizable natural motifs. World Food Prize Foundation Skoll Foundation #forbeswomen

𝘿𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙬𝙪 𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 Today (Jun 10 which is based on fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year) marks the Duanwu Festival 端午节 which is quite a confusing festival as it has many historical names associated with it. In ancient China, it was known as 端五节、端阳节、重五节、重午节、当五汛、天中节、夏节、五月节、菖节、蒲节、龙舟节、浴兰节、屈原日、午日节、女儿节、地腊节、诗人节、龙日、午日、灯节、五蛋节, 解粽节 etc (!). Many foreigners are familiar with Dragon Boat Festival which corresponds to 龙舟节 above, and probably 屈原日 i.e. day to commemorate poet Qu Yuan; but one should bear in mind that it was also the day that was celebrated in ancient China for different purposes. I think such diversity shows the mindset of 海纳百川 i.e. literally all rivers run into the sea which means one should be tolerant/accommodating to different ideas. I would just highlight some of the alternative celebrations below: ⭐浴兰节 (lit. Festival of body cleansing with Chinese herbal water) On the day of Duanwu which falls in the mid-summer and was the season of skin diseases, the ancient Chinese used a type of orchid 兰 to be used as a herbal water 兰汤 to cleanse 浴 the bodies to avoid catching any skin disease. ⭐解粽节 (lit. Festival of unwrapping the glutinous rice dumplings) When the ancient Chinese ate the glutinous rice dumplings, they could compare the lengths of the leaf that was used to wrap up the dumplings, and the longest would be the winner Of course, the main attraction of any Chinese festival is always its mouth-watering food, and do you know that there are many wrapping styles besides the common triangular shape for glutinous rice dumplings (see below)? If you are celebrating Duanwu Festival, here's wishing you good health on this day and beyond! 端午安康 ! 🔗#david_tbk_china ➽ #China posts #chineseculture #translation #mandarin #chineselanguage

🔻The Intruiging Spiritual Side of Ikebana🔻 In Shinto, Japan's indigenous spirituality, the belief in kami is central. Kami are spirits that inhabit natural phenomena, objects, and even humans, representing everything from ancestral spirits to the forces of nature. One intriguing aspect of Shinto is its view on sacred trees, or shinboku, which are believed to house divine spirits. These revered trees, often marked by shimenawa (sacred rope), signify the presence of kami and are treated with utmost respect and care. This belief in the sacredness of nature underscores the broader Shinto principle of living in harmony with the environment, promoting a life of gratitude and respect for the natural forces that sustain us. Ikebana, deeply influenced by Shinto's marvel of nature, embodies the harmony between humans and the natural world. This art form mirrors the respect shown to sacred trees in Shinto, capturing the essence of nature through the thoughtful arrangement of flowers and branches. In practicing ikebana, we engage in a spiritual dialogue with the environment, celebrating the seasons and life's transient beauty in a reflection of Shinto beliefs. Attracted to the serene art of Ikebana and nature? Follow for regular updates, or subscribe to our newsletter, joining 17,000 others. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ecNziBXr  #shinto #ikebana #いけばな #生花 #shinboku #ikebananature  #connecttonature 

Today is the parinirvana anniversary of Kyobpa Jikten Sumgon (1143–1217), an important founding teacher of the Drigung Kagyu lineage, who established the renowned monastery of Drigung Jangchub Ling.   Jikten Sumgon was born with signs of profound spiritual potential, including compassion towards animals and humans in need and a strong aspiration for liberation from cyclic existence (samsara). Due to this, Jikten Sumgon sought the guidance of the great master Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyelpo (phag mo gru pa rdo rje rgyal po, 1110-1170) and became known as one of the few vegetarians among Tibetan teachers.   Throughout his life, he engaged in study, meditation, and teaching. His reputation spread across Tibet and beyond. Known for his penetrating and accessible teachings on profound subjects like Mahamudra and philosophical systems, Jikten Sumgon attracted a large following. This following led to his recognition as one of the formulators of "The Fivefold Mahamudra Instruction" and the creation of "Gongchig,"(dgongs gcig), the Single Intention, after his teachings. His plain and simple writing style sets him apart from many Tibetan scholars, making it easy to mistake his works for contemporary poems: What is that which cares like a father and loves like a mother? What is that so affectionate like a lover? What is that bringing sustained joy all the time? What is that providing all needs like a king of supreme power? It is your mind, your very own mind. This mind cannot be separated from you for a single moment. My son, like my heart. I tell you this single, pithy word of instruction. I have nothing else to teach you. _________ Drigungpa Jikten Sumgon (1143-1217); U Province, central Tibet; ca. early 18th century; ground mineral pigment on cotton; Rubin Museum of Art; gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.555 (HAR 1034) #art #museum

💚 Start your week with a fresh color!💚 💖 In ancient cultures, and in lineage texts of Tibetan feng shui, descriptions and illustrations rich in color have been used as tools against anxiety and fears, to uplift spirits and usher in calmness and harmony. 💖 The five elements as five colors have been the basic theory of feng shui. 💖 So was light and dark, yin and yang, in a variety of cultures from the Middle-East to Japan. 💖 Color as an archetype in the cosmos that has its reality has been a philosophical theme during the era of Enlightenment in Europe. 💚 The subject of color is a very important aspect of life and healing, and if we translate that into our 21st century world, could we use color to heal our modern life? 💚 💝 Come and learn about how to invite the best color combinations into your space to make your heart sing - and so much more! 💝

八百万の神 (Yaorozunokami) Recently, the number of foreigners visiting Japan has been increasing. Their first impressions of Japan are that it is surprisingly clean and that old things are carefully maintained. What is the secret? The reason is that the Japanese have revered Yaorozunokami (eight million gods) since the distant past. In other words, numerous gods exist in Japan. Japanese people are born with the innate sense that gods reside in various phenomena and all things. This traditional way of thinking is not taught to us by anyone but is engraved naturally in our minds and hearts. It is widely accepted as Shintoism. The peculiarity of the Japanese people, who feel the presence of God in things, has led them to cherish things, revere nature, and live in harmony with it. For example, when a factory manager of a company disposes of outdated machinery and replaces it with new, modern machinery, he arranges a ceremony to thank the old machinery for its service before introducing the latest machinery. In the Western view, machines are mere matter and have no soul. However, the Japanese, who believe in the “eight million gods,” believe that the gods reside in them and work together to help us in our mission to create something. As 2024 approaches its end, many Japanese households will be doing central cleaning to welcome the new year. This is also a reminder to feel God dwelling there and do our best to make it clean and pleasant for a long time—at least. I cherish the things I use in that way.  

Forecasts for The Year of Snake Disclaimer, I’m neither a spiritual leader nor a prophet. I do not hear voices from anyone (or anything) up above.  This post is for recreational and entertainment purposes.   Feng Shui and Zi Wei are tools and instruments commonly applied to predict what will happen in a given period of time.   The followings provide selected forecasts for 2025. The year of Snake officially begins from February 3, 2025, at 2210, and will end on February 3, 2026 per the Chinese lunar calendar.    Every year a dominate star (from 1 to 9) will take the center stage.  In 2024, it’s “3.” In 2025, it’ll be “2.” In 2026, it’ll be “1.” In 2027, it’ll be “9.” So on and so forth.  FYR, in 2022, it was “5” – a major illness star. Every number represents certain things, people, or direction.  Let’s focus on 2025 for now. When standalone, “2” generally is not regarded as a "positive" or a “lucky” number from a feng shui perspective (despite common belief that it is since "2" resembles "easy" when pronounced in Cantonese) and represents the followings - In terms of the 5 elements (gold/metal, wood, water, fire, earth) – Earth In terms of color – brown or yellow In terms of people – female leader, female CEO, oldest female in a household, mom, etc. In terms of geography – Southwest, fog, and earthquake In terms of overall meaning – minor illnesses In terms of body parts – stomach, digestive systems, etc. With “2” in the center in the Year of Snake, we can expect major geological events in those countries situated in earthquake-prone regions.  We should also be vigilant with another round of globally spread illness. Though I do not forsee the situation to be as bad as we’d experienced in 2020 (when “5” – a major illness star was the dominate star). Simply put, I would advise against travelling or transiting via all earthquake prone regions if you have a choice especially in Lunar January (Feb 4 to March 3), in Lunar July (August 4 to September 3), and in Lunar October (November 4 to December 3).  The star arrangements for these three lunar months are less than ideal and suggest the highest odds of major geological issues that may disrupt global travels.    It is also imperative to stay healthy. IMHO, prevention is always a better option. Strongly suggested you plan your vacation and apply your annual leave days accordingly. To those who prefer to read this post in Chinese, please click on this link https://lnkd.in/g_kyqvQb for more information. Thanks for reading. #UncleWilson #Forecast 2025 #2025 #Snake #Fengshui #ziwei

🔻Ikebana and the divine presence of the sun🔻  Ikebana shares a profound connection with Shinto, Japan's original religion. Shintoism holds that various natural elements, such as trees, rocks, and the sea, can be considered gods. This belief system instills a respect for nature, teaching that humans should live in harmony with the natural world instead of attempting to dominate it. Amaterasu, the radiant Shinto Goddess of the Sun, holds a prominent place in Japanese mythology and culture. She is revered as the divine embodiment of the sun itself, radiating warmth, light, and life across the world. Amaterasu is a central figure in Shintoism and is celebrated for her role in shaping the natural world and the course of human events. Legend has it that Amaterasu emerged from the primordial chaos when her brother, Susano'o, the tempestuous deity of storms and the sea, angered her to the point of seclusion. She retreated into a cave, casting the world into darkness and turmoil. To coax her out, the other gods devised a plan, staging a grand festival outside the cave. Intrigued by the festivities and drawn by the beauty of a divine dance, Amaterasu emerged, bringing light and harmony back to the world. As the sun goddess, Amaterasu symbolizes not only physical light but also spiritual illumination and enlightenment. Passionate about Japanese culture? Share your thoughts on this arrangement in the comments!  #shinto #shintoism #ikebana #ikebanalovers #japaneseculture #modernflowerdesign #modernflower

The majestic Mount Bromo is one of Indonesia’s natural wonders that magnetically attracts domestic and international travellers. Other amazing natural phenomena are adjacent to this active Somma volcano, namely Pasir Berbisik. https://lnkd.in/gE6GARXi

🌕✨ Happy September & Full Harvest Moon! ✨🌕 As we embrace the changing seasons, how do you take advantage of nature’s cycles in your business? There are much to share from Japanese ancient wisdom. Have you heard of TSUKIMI (月見)? You’ve probably heard of HANAMI, the Japanese tradition of cherry blossoms viewing in spring. TSUKIMI (月見), celebrated since ancient times, honors the autumn harvest and the beauty of the full moon. It makes us to take a moment with people around us and appreciate our life🌾🌕 The wisdom behind ancient Japanese traditions, rooted in Shinto and Japanese Buddhism, offers timeless and valuable insights into our modern business from productivity, corporate team building, client relationship enhancement to business transformation. Strategically incorporating meaningful seasonal events into the workplace in one of the examples. It can strengthen bonds, set meaningful goals, and celebrate achievements. Any thoughts? Share in comments or contact me!