Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation

March 3, 2015August 31, 20168 Comments

When I was asked to be one of the hosts for a mindful parenting challenge organized by Bendi Baby, I knew exactly what I wanted to teach — children’s meditation, specifically the Sa Ta Na Ma meditation. I learned this meditation from Shakta Kaur Khalsa with whom I completed my children’s yoga teacher training over ten years ago. Yes, before I had children! At the time I had been practicing yoga for about five years, taking classes in all styles and traditions available around town. I had experienced profound benefits physically, recovering from dance injuries that I had thought would be with me for life, but even more so, I experienced benefits mentally. I knew I wanted to bring my children into a family that would include yoga at its foundation.

Ro practicing the Sa Ta Na Ma meditation. Raglan “All You Need is Love” tee by Pop Kids USA.

Inexperienced in teaching yoga to children, I expected my children to take greater enjoyment from the physical postures (asana) than from meditations. In my experience, most adults find asana more interesting than meditation. I naively expected the same of children, particularly since children often bear the stereotype of having a hard time sitting still. In practicing with my own children, my experience has been the opposite of my expectation; they most enjoy the meditation part of the practice.

Ro in the Na hand position. “Cuter on a Scooter” tank by Pop Kids USA.

I began practicing yoga with Ro soon after her birth, but I didn’t introduce her to meditation until she was almost three. I began with a simple gong meditation, where she would focus on the sound and observe how long she could hear it. She really enjoyed this, and so I decided to take a leap and teach her Sa Ta Na Ma, which is significantly more complicated for a child of that age. After a few minutes working with her she understood the mudra pattern (hand positions) and was happily continuing on all by herself. At first I felt a little regretful that I hadn’t taught it to her sooner, since she was clearly ready. But then I decided to award myself some “mother’s intuition points” instead, telling myself that I had chosen today, because today was the right day. Until around 4 years of age I would have to remind Ro of this meditation in order for her to practice. Then, without my noticing, there came the day when she started doing it on her own, when she felt a need or desire herself, and I haven’t reminded her since.

I will never forget our first parent-teacher interview, when Ro joined public school in Grade 2. Her teacher couldn’t wait to tell us about how she had observed Ro, more than once, meditating during the chaos of recess. She was rather amused by it. I, on the other hand, felt pride, because she had developed a practice she could go to in times of imbalance and overstimulation.

Ro in the Ta hand position. Organic Zebra shirt by Filemon Kid.

So how does the meditation work? (Please see photos below for visual aid):

Find a comfortable seated position, crossed legs, lotus, or otherwise. The meditation involves 4 hand positions (mudras) that are synchronised with 4 sounds (mantra). Show your child the hand positions first: thumb to pointer finger, thumb to middle finger, thumb to ring finger, thumb to pinky finger. Do a few repetitions through the finger positions. Next add the sounds. Sa (thumb to pointer finger), Ta (thumb to middle finger), Na (thumb to ring finger), Ma (thumb to pinky finger). Complete a few repetitions of the mudras and sounds working together. Once the child is comfortable with this you can ask them to close their eyes and continue. With children who may have a hard time keeping their eyes closed you can place a focus object in front of them, something gentle and soothing like a flower or a soft toy. Start by repeating the sequence for 2 minutes, then gradually lenghten the time; you will probably be pleasantly surprised by how long children can carry on with this meditation.

Sa Ta Na Ma meditation: hand positions and sounds

One variation of the meditation includes starting off quietly then raising the voice slowly with each repetition, and then declining in volume once the chanting has become loud. Another variation is to begin by voicing the sound, slowly becoming quieter until you are simply saying the sound in your mind. There are a number of You Tube videos that demonstrate the meditation and are useful for hearing the tones for each sound, just search “sa ta na ma meditation.”

There is much written about this meditation, from the Kundalini tradition, that suggests the meditation has a balancing effect. I can’t speak authoritatively about the benefits neurologically and psychologically, but I can tell you that this meditation has been very satisfying for Ro and is a practice she comes back to time and again. I can only hope and imagine how this practice will support her through the teenage years and into adulthood when stress and challenges to our inner balance are a daily encounter.

Thank you very much, Bendi Baby, for asking me to participate in this challenge. Please visit Bendi Baby’s Instagram account to find the other challenge hosts and lessons that were shared or check out the hashtag #MindfulMamaBendiBaby.

***

Let’s be friends! Please come find me in other places:

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise
*New* Private Facebook Discussion Group: Slow, Eco, Minimal Living just ask to join, we love to welcome new people
*New* Author, Sisterkeeper & Muse for Saturn*s Sister : Use my Discount Code: HIPPIEINDISGUISE to join the community or browse the blog here

Inspiring Mother Danielle: @missverse

February 25, 20157 Comments

There is a certain amount of artifice put into some Instagram accounts. I freely admit that I put thought into choosing what I will share and how I present my family. I want to be authentic, but I want my authentic to be beautiful. Like any story, there are parts told and others untold. I tell you about the hidden paths we walked on the weekend, the street art we found, the drawings Ro did or the flowers Sen arranged. I leave untold, for your imagination to elaborate, what my sink full of dishes looks like or what my daily struggles are.

When thinking about how I would introduce Danielle, I’ll be honest I had a hard time pinpointing what I love about her. Well, obviously, there’s her name. But more than having a lovely first name, Danielle takes beautiful photos and writes beautiful words. And, still, there is more… Following Danielle, known as @missverse on Instagram, you learn of her passion for mothering, her gift with words, her artful eye for composition, but you also come to know that she has really lived life. Not in the “party through your twenties” way or the travel-around-the-world way, but in ways where she struggled and was vulnerable. And rather than sharing only the ups in life, Danielle also shares the downs, the tough days, something that is certainly not easy to do. She doesn’t shy away from showing her vulnerability. As I have come to learn about myself, and I think Danielle knows it too, our struggles bring us closer to our core, to knowing what is most important in life, and ultimately to what is most beautiful.

I hope you will enjoy reading more about Danielle in my interview with her.

What part of the world do you live in?

I live in Northern New Jersey. Specifically, West Milford. It’s an area full of natural beauty, with many different hikes, lakes and rocks. There is so much scope for the imagination, as a favorite heroine of mine would say. We love it!

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

I have two boys, Elliot and Asher. They are only fifteen months apart, so it’s easy for me to see the similarities and differences. Both are incredibly active! Elliot loves to tap dance, color and find treasures outside. He greets the sun every morning with an exuberant “sun up!” and is quick to let me know it’s time to sleep when the “sun down!” Elliot shows such huge joy over the simplest things and he has taught me so much. My love of natures has quadrupled because of him. When every “do you want to go for a walk?” is met with a loud “OH, YES! YAY!” there is no way you cannot be affected. Asher cuddles and cuddles but seems to balance it with an enormous amount of independence. Ever since he could talk, he’s been pointing out the sun, moon and stars to me. How appropriate, because these boys are all three of those things to me!

What are your core family values?

I’d say that Mary Oliver’s quote “pay attention, be astonished, tell about it” sums up our core values. Some may say that we live with too little of the practical, but I have experienced too much to ever quench awe. The joy we can feel over the simplest treasures IS our greatest treasure. BUT, to be a little more practical: our core values consist of getting outside every day, encouraging imagination and to always be kind. These values are not mainly for our kids, but important to my husband and I as well. The things we teach and encourage in our children are the things we encourage in ourselves.

How do you spend most of your days?

We spend a lot of time as a family. My husband and I are equally involved in our boys lives. We go on a lot of adventures or walks. (same thing!) My husband and I are both photographers, which means we tend to take a lot of photos. However, we do try to keep a balance to the photo-taking. It’s good to simply enjoy the moment as well! 😉

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

I feel like I’m repeating myself, but we truly do take a lot of walks! Money has been tight and the great and wonderful outdoors has been our friend through it all. It doesn’t cost any money, especially since we don’t need to get in the car at all! We walk out our front door and into the woods.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about reading and writing: capturing the beautiful moments through images. I’m passionate about trees, lakes and leaves. I’m passionate about showing these things to my boys. We love to be create.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by so many things, but I’ll just tell about one here. 😉 Poetry has inspired me the most. Whenever I have writer’s block or feel a little “bleh” a good poem will bring me out of the mood. Word have always done that for me and I truly hope I can teach my boys to appreciate all the words they can read.

When I crafted my questions for the inspiring mothers series I wanted to hear from women who inspired me about their interests, their passions, their inspirations and how they spend their days. The questions were no accident. I knew my intution about Danielle was right, when she said that she felt like she was repeating herself in answering the questions. Danielle has found a way to make her passions her everyday.

Please visit Danielle on Instagram and check out her website Young Love Media.

***

Discount code available and Spots left in my Yoga & Surf Retreat in Costa Rica, May 2-7, 2016 — Join me!

What if you fly? An Interview with Erin Hanson

February 23, 2015October 11, 20186 Comments

Last week, a long time Instagram friend, Stephanie Matthew, asked me if I could help her promote a project. She told me about how she had recently read an article about self-esteem in girls, stating that self-esteem peaks at nine years of age and only goes down from there. Stephanie’s thoughts went immediately to her seven year old daughter, who only two hours earlier had been dancing in the driveway with no self-consciousness whatsoever and earlier that same day had worn her plastic princess shoes to the store without a moment’s hesitation. Whether or not the article’s conclusion was perfectly accurate or applicable to all children, Stephanie knew she wanted to do something for her daughters, but also more broadly to help other children and to raise awareness around this issue.

Thinking back on a recent occasions when a few perfect words – “We can do hard things” — had been the motivation her daughters needed to stick with something challenging, like learning to tie shoes, the popular phrase “What if I fall? Oh but my darling, what if you fly?” came to mind. She pictured the words as a dialogue between parent and child. But she also knew these words would suit a nursery room as much as a boardroom wall – they felt universally relevant. Stephanie decided to design a print to hang up for her girls, but she wanted every child to have these motivational words hanging in their home, so she talked to her friend Rebecca who runs Children Inspire Design.

If you haven’t heard of Children Inspire Design you should check them out. They are an online art shop that produces modern, eco-friendly and culturally diverse wall art, inspired by children. Rebecca believes in the importance of global responsibility and in cultivating a love for art and the world’s many cultures, which is why her shop always pairs art with giving. Throughout history art has been a strong and important force for social change, so while the prints Rebecca sells help teach children about important issues, such as caring for the earth, the sales help support women and children around the world by sharing the proceeds with a variety of charities.

While working on the design for the print, Stephanie’s research led her to finding out who had written those 12 profound words. Erin Hanson, is a 19 year old Australian poet, who wrote those now famous words, as part of a longer poem, when she was just 18. Impressed and intrigued by the fact that the words had been written by such a young mind, I sought out contact with Erin and asked her a few questions. Here’s my interview with Erin Hanson:

What do the words mean to you?

They mean a lot, as I’m the kind of person who can quite often back away from the things that I want purely because I’m scared of trying really hard for something and then not reaching it. They’re as much of a personal reminder for me as they are for the other people who read them.

When did you start writing poetry?

I started writing silly little poems when I was around 11, but I didn’t take it seriously until I started my blog in 2011.

What are you inspired by?

Everything! If I had to pick something in particular it would be nature, or more specifically how if you watch it for long enough you realise that its patterns can be related almost directly to the patterns and emotions etc. that exist within a human being.

What motivates you to share your art?

Everyone who’s ever told me that it’s helped them in some way. I know how much words can help people, so if mine have the opportunity to then I’m happy.

Stephanie and Rebecca have partnered to offer a print of Erin’s motivational words. The print is only available for purchase until February 25, 2015. All of the proceeds will go to Free2Luv, an anti-bullying organization dedicated to empowering youth, celebrating individuality and spreading kindness. The limited edition 11×14 print is available for purchase here, and as a thank you Children Inspire Design will include a free 5×7 print with your purchase. The prints are made with eco materials and inks, and the packaging is biodegradable. Check marks all around!

With this project Stephanie hopes to remind her girls and the rest of us that life is magical and that we should always think big – what if you fly? I think most of us have witnessed the social media community come together around crises and social issues, and I hope Stephanie’s project will be another beautiful instance of community engagement and support.

You might also like my post:

Inhaling the Season, Inhaling the Moment: The Story of Cycling through a Snow Storm

The Mathematics of Love

On Equality: Explaining Gay Marriage to Children

Inspiring Mother Carina: @carinamarienilsson

February 16, 20157 Comments

When I started posting more about minimalism last summer, sharing my interest in paring down my possessions and responsibilities, Carina was one of the first people to speak up and encourage me. Living in Vancouver, a very densely built Canadian city, with what most would consider to be astronomical housing prices, can be the instigation one needs to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. If you love your city, you love where you live, then you arrange your lifestyle to make it work, and if that means four people live in a one bedroom apartment, so that you live steps from the ocean and in a vibrant community, then you don’t think twice about the two-car garage in suburbia with a front and back yard that you could have for the same price, or probably less. And if, on the other hand, suburbia is the vibrant community that makes you feel alive and inspired then that’s the right place for you. I’m not sure if the reasons I’ve read into Carina’s choice to live in Vancouver are accurate, but my intuition tells me I’m not far off.

I can’t remember when I first came to know Carina. I know it wasn’t that long ago, but at the same time I feel like I’ve known her forever. She’s one of those people who has the rare gift of making you feel like an old friend, finding a genuine way of connecting with people, even through the ether of cyberspace. Carina and I first connected through our interest in minimalism, and then we found out we shared a background in dance, a love for the arts, a strange fondness for colourful walls, and an addiction to the outdoors. In terms of her parenting, what I particularly love about Carina is her total commitment to letting her children be themselves, in fact, she celebrates their individuality and differences. What a gift she is to her children.

I hope you will enjoy hearing from Carina, herself, in my interview with her.

What part of the world do you live in?

I am very lucky to live in Vancouver, Canada – right around False Creek, which is a small inlet right in the heart of the city. Our neighbourhood is appropriately called Mount Pleasant, and it’s where we work, go to school, and meet friends. What I love most about Vancouver is the ability to get out into the wilderness in a moment. Whether you want to camp in the bush, fish a river, ride a horse, or go mountain climbing, all of that and more is at your fingertips in Vancouver.

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

I have two children. Finn is my 8 year old daughter. You can often find her eye deep in books, or being told by her teachers that she’s a Chatty Cathy. Her favourite colour is black. Augustus is my 5 year old son. You can find him singing to himself while crouched over a book drawing, or as a blur as he tears around the apartment playing a grand adventure game he’s made up. He prefers bright floral patterns and animal prints. He is currently trying to grow his hair out long like his sister’s because he “thinks her hair looks beautiful when she runs”.

What are your core family values?

I guess our family values are best described by what my husband Cyrus and I teach Finn and Gus. Being mindful of others: so making sure that you are open, kind, and considerate. Make memories rather than desiring things. Keeping life simple: this covers everything from the toys in their room, to the daily activities we commit our time to. Most important: let the people that matter to you, know that they matter to you.

How do you spend most of your days?

Most of my days are spent getting the kids to school, myself to work, then the kids to dance/soccer/etc. In the wee hours of the morning or the dark hours of the night you can probably find me working on my illustrations (website coming soon!) or on the website I co-founded with my dear friend, Bree, Peaks & Harbours – both creative pursuits that I adore. I have regular “dates” with my girlfriends – which I wholeheartedly believe is a crucial part of maintaining that work/kids/life balance. Our weekends are usually reserved for family outdoor adventures. We love to camp, explore forests, or head to Vancouver Island – where my wonderful parents live – for fishing or surfing. Really just any adventure that we can get our hands on is what energizes our little family.

What are you passionate about?

I am super passionate about being connected to a supportive community. With the website that I run with my dear friend Bree, we focus on featuring local artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and so on – particularly we highlight women who happen to be mothers, that have taken the plunge towards making their own passions into a career that will also support their families. In my 9-5 job I work in the non-profit arts sector, so I would say that I am also passionate about the arts and exposing myself and my kids to as much of it as possible.

What inspires you?

I would have to say that my children inspire me, and have changed my life for the better in so many ways. They have made me stop and think “is this what I really need?”, and so I attribute my enthusiasm for living minimally to them, because I don’t want them to be driven by a need to acquire “things”. When I’m feeling burnt out, they motivate me to get up and go outside to recharge. They have encouraged me to think deeply about what is important to me, so that I can pass those values and traditions on to them. That being said, they don’t have to love art, or play an instrument, or embrace Swedish/Italian culture, but I do want them to know that if there’s something that you adore and are passionate about, then you should embrace it – even if it doesn’t work out, you can always change your path, and things might work out even better than you expected.

Thank you Carina for sharing your wisdom and photography with us. Readers: You can find Carina on Instagram @carinamarienilsson and on her superb blog Peaks and Harbours. Please visit her and say hello, you won’t regret it.

***

You might also like my post: Minimalist Book Tour

You might also like my post: Confessions of a Minimalist

You might also like my post: Bree Galbraith: Connecting with People and Place

Inspiring Mother Dana Luna: @danaluna___

February 12, 20155 Comments

Everyone that I follow on Instagram inspires me in some way. Some people it’s their unique aesthetic. Some it’s their witty captions. Many more are mothers and parents busy at a day job, pursuing creative projects in the evenings and all the while being present and connected with their family and friends. (I’m convinced these people don’t sleep). And then, there are some who seem to do simple and slow with total grace and commitment. There is something (well, many things) to be said for doing simple well. For doing it fully. Or rather, not “doing it” but practicing and living it.

Dana is one of those people who embodies simplicity in the most extraordinary way. Making the ordinary extraordinary. Known as @danaluna___ on Instagram, Dana shares her simple, beautiful life in Chile. Her gallery is a feast for the eyes with exquisite gold, blue and green tones captured in images of her children and the beautiful landscape around their home. Her gallery is also a feast for the mind through her eloquent and humble way of sharing the joys of simple human connection.

I hope you will enjoy reading my interview with her.

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in Tierras Blancas (white lands), a rural area in Chile’s fifth region. Our home is pretty isolated and surrounded by a native forest where many birds live and sing. We are twenty minutes away from the Ocean and two hours away from Chile’s capital, Santiago. We have become a family here, in this Home built by us with so much Love, and our youngest was born right here (our first was also born at home, when we still lived in the city).

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

We are a family of four. Our oldest son, Balthazar Mundzuk, is almost four years old. He is a very gentle and sensitive soul. He loves climbing trees, books, and music. He is very theatrical in his playing, into his imaginary worlds and friends. He likes to freestyle play the guitar and sing, often with awesome lyrics. He loves his little sister, Alba Fauna Cassiopeia, infinitely. Together they create and enjoy every day. Little Opia is two years old. She is fearless and strong, and a very fast learner. She can be competitive and stubborn, but she is a sweet sweet little magical soul. She Loves babies over anything. If there is a baby around, no matter where we are, her attention will no doubt be on her, she simply thinks babies are the best. She also sings beautifully and Loves to paint.

What are your core family values?

We believe this life is magic and are very grateful for it. We want to be always growing and gaining knowledge, as individuals and as a family. When we feel stuck in life, we want to always go into our Hearts. Here is a quote that has identified us when we have lived difficulties in our life as a family: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” [Marcel Proust]

How do you spend most of your days?

Most of our days are spent at home. My husband is an artist and works from home and the children don’t go to preschool. I usually spend most of our days outside with the children, where they can play and learn guided by beautiful Mother Earth. While they play I usually take pictures and knit, and also sing songs with the children or talk to them about the things we see, flowers, birds, horses and trees.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

We love to cook delicious meals together and sitting around the table to enjoy them. We love to play very loud music and dance together. We love going out for walks and to play hiding under the bed covers.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about life! I believe in the importance of birth and breastfeeding, and love to help other women when the opportunity comes. I’m passionate about the beauty of nature, she simply astounds me constantly. I love singing and I am in love with natural fibres, knitting and sewing.

What inspires you?

My children are my biggest inspiration, simply because the Love I feel for them has no limits, and becoming a Mother has transformed me completely, and continues to transform me every day, and make me grow into a more honest, more real, stronger and more generous human being.

Thank you Dana for sharing your wise words and gorgeous images. Readers: please visit Dana on Instagram. Thanks for stopping by and reading.

Drawing a Day

February 10, 2015April 1, 201719 Comments

On the first day of summer vacation I gave Ro and Sen each a fresh new sketchbook, a small soft covered one that was easily portable so they could take them around town to parks and on our daily adventures. Ever since I can remember an empty sketchbook was a thing of delight to me, offering endless possibilities of how it would be filled, how it would become “my” sketchbook. I was happy to see that both Ro and Sen were excited at the prospect of empty pages waiting to become records of their creativity.

Drawing a day project

I am definitely a parent who believes wholeheartedly in the benefits of unstructured play and days without plans aside from walking out the front door. At the same time, I recognize that children can crave structure and that summer time is a chance to develop those skills in your children that may not be cultivated at school. So, in the interest of creating a beautiful record of our days and in helping the children see how practicing something daily could be very rewarding, I set the children the task of doing one drawing a day over the summer.

The task was fairly open ended: draw anything. Draw something you see at the park, draw something from your imagination. Just draw.

Sen, being just a young 3 years at the time, had never had his own desire to draw, as Ro did at the same age. But, Sen does love a good challenge, so he happily set to drawing whatever happened to come to mind: a tractor or the popsicle he had just eaten. As the summer went on, he had days where he just wanted to scratch some colour on the page and have it done with so he could run and jump in the pool. And other days (when the pool wasn’t there to jump in) I could see him scanning his surroundings looking for inspiration. Tip: if you want your children to do something they may not be naturally inclined to do, make sure it’s more interesting than other options available to them, like a pool.

Sen’s drawing of a popsicle – most days Sen would carefully draw something, taking his time to thoughtfully shape his drawing, and then once the shape was done he would (un)ceremoniously colour it in, leaving it looking like a scribble, as you see here.

My favourite drawing of Sen’s was from a day we sat at a pond in our neighbourhood and Sen excitedly knew exactly what he wanted to draw. It may not seem remarkable, perhaps, but it was remarkable to me. And it was for him, because he didn’t need anyone to feed him ideas, he had his own. He couldn’t wait to sit down with his pencil and put his idea on paper. “No looking until it’s done, Mama!” But…I may have snuck a little peek. And what I saw were long green lines. Ah, yes, I thought, he’s inspired by the park, by the beautiful grass. A moment of self-approval washed over me for being that parent who inspires their child to draw the beauty of nature. “It’s done, Mama, you can look.” “Wow, Sen, that is beautiful grass. Good for you.” “No, Mama, it’s very long green hair!”

Ro, on the other hand, loves to draw. This past summer she was very interested in learning to draw from photos. Being intrigued by the curious Instagram app (that her mom paid a little too much attention to…), she asked if she could look through the photos there for inspiration on the days that we were doing drawings at home. As she scrolled through my Instagram feed, she began to understand why I was so drawn to it, with all the inspiration and creativity found in little 3X3 squares.

She ended up doing a few drawings over the summer that were inspired by photographs she saw on Instagram. I found it really interesting that she naturally chose photos from artists. A drawing I particularly liked was a fern study inspired by a photograph by artist Kajsa Wallin who goes by @kawaspics on Instagram. For this drawing, she had to really slow down and focus on the small differences between the leaves from different varieties of ferns.

On another day she drew dream catchers inspired by artist Faith Evans-Sills, who you can find as @faithevanssills on Instagram.

It might seem that way sometimes, but Instagram isn’t the only source of inspiration (note: read in sarcastic tone of voice). Something I try to do often is talk with Ro about inspiring historical figures like artists, peacemakers, politicians, and environmentalists. But just as important is talking with her about how we are all capable of great things and of inspiring others to action. One of these everyday people is Paulie Eaborn who is the creator of the Pray4Trax necklace. After hearing about the necklaces, I wanted share the story with Ro. These handmade, child safe necklaces are sold to raise money to support a boy named Trax, who is living with cystic fibrosis. Paulie and her son Tysi, have never met Trax or his mom Kassi, but they knew they wanted to help. What started as a small project selling necklaces to raise funds for Trax’s treatment, turned into a wave of support for Trax and awareness of the disease. And perhaps, most importantly, reminded us how one small action can have a huge impact. Tysi and Trax’s story really moved Ro, and she wanted to see the necklaces right away so she could draw them.

With my thoughts already, and always, drifting toward summer vacation, I am looking forward to renewing this activity while off with the children. Ro’s drawing technique has really evolved over the last few months, and Sen has finally found his own organic interest in drawing (mostly robots and ninjas, in case you were curious). I can hardly wait to see how they will fill their notebooks this summer, recording our days through the simple ritual of pencil to paper. Whether the rewards of last summer’s practice were felt by Ro and Sen, I’m not sure, I think that realization will take longer to come. And so, another summer of drawing it is!

***

Inspiring Mother Bree: @breegalbraith

January 29, 20156 Comments

It is not uncommon for me to read, particularly on social media, that mothers feel like they don’t measure up to other mothers. This disheartens me. It can be tough for some people seeing what appears to be perfect lives, perfect homes, perfect parenting and then, looking at themselves, they may feel they have fallen short. With my blog and my inspiring mothers series I don’t want to put myself or anyone up on a pedestal. Most of us mothers and parents are doing our absolute best, and our best is just what our children need. By sharing my own stories and the stories of other ordinary mothers I seek to show that we are all special, we can inspire each other in the simplest ways, and that we are already the mothers our children need. We don’t need perfect houses and all the latest toys and craft supplies, we just need to be present and connect with our children. My inspiring mothers are everyday mothers, like you, like me.

Today I would like you to meet Bree, who I follow on Instagram as @breegalbraith, and who I have gotten to know through her site Peaks and Harbours. You may have heard me mention her excellent blog, which is all about “kid-friendly art and design experiences, delicious diversions and mom-reviving outdoor adventures.” Yes, some days I feel like Bree is my western Canadian doppleganger. Bree’s way of life and parenting really epitomizes her love of connecting with people and place. She’s tops in my books, and I hope you’ll love her too.

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in Vancouver, BC [British Columbia, Canada]. More specifically, we are lucky to live in the False Creek Neighbourhood. If you are familiar with Vancouver – we are smack dab in between the Olympic Village and Granville Island. If that wasn’t enough we are steps away from the Seawall, and can hop on a bike and get to Stanley Park in under half an hour all along the side of the ocean and past vibrant neighbourhoods and shops.

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

I have 2 boys, aged 7 and 9. My 7-year old, Oakland, is an old-soul looking for new experiences. He’s the kind of dude who needs to break a glass to understand it’s fragile, and he wears his heart on his sleeve. Big softy. Dario, my oldest is a protector and is one serious little man. I always have to remind him that things are supposed to be fun! Together they are the best of buds, and at only 25 months apart, they have similar interests and often get mistaken for twins. They are my team.

What are your core family values?

Hmmmmm…. We make sure to treat others how we’d like to be treated, we don’t keep secrets from one another (because secrets cause stomach aches), we don’t judge people on anything but their attitude, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

How do you spend most of your days?

Personally, I split my time between writing children’s books, doing all things Peaks & Harbours, and finishing my thesis. I also have clients that I freelance (design) for, and that’s usually a nighttime job because the boys are asleep and I have the time to get to work. Most of our weekdays are spent at school (all of us, I teach at the same University I do my Master’s degree at) and weeknights are hustling between soccer practice, basketball, dance and piano. If they aren’t busy, they are not fun to be around. At night and on the weekends, there is a lot of drawing and “checking things out around Vancouver.” We like to go to museums and gardens, walk in the woods or take our dog, Raja, to the dog beach. We are outside all the time because it’s the one place we don’t get on each other’s nerves.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

My favourite thing to do with them is to go for a walk with no destination in mind.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about sharing experiences and stories and getting people excited to do things. I love writing, and I am fortunate to have found a place for my work so that it can be read around the world.

What inspires you?

I am inspired when I know that I have connected with someone and shared something that has made them smile, laugh, feel lighter, say “aha!”…. It’s always inspiring to hear feedback from something I have written and find out someone else’s interpretation of my words – especially children. There’s nothing better than doing a reading to a bunch of 6-year-olds, and then having them tell you that they are going to write a story one day too… only theirs will have cats in it, because that will make it better 😉

Bree is the author of Once Upon A Balloon, a whimsical story with gorgeous illustrations. Please visit Bree on Instagram or at her website here.

Thank you, Bree, for sharing your words, photos and way of life.

***

Minimalist Book World Tour

January 27, 20156 Comments

A few months ago I was asked by a fellow Instagrammer to share “what I’m reading now.” It was fortuitous timing. Now, I’m usually reading at least 3 books at any one time, but one book in particular that I was reading had me feeling a little conflicted. I was reading Everything That Remains, by a writing duo who call themselves the Minimalists. I had wanted to buy the book for quite a while, however, as someone trying to minimize my consumption of things, I didn’t want to acquire yet another book, not to mention one about minimalism! The irony! And so, rather than buy the book I decided to satiate my interest in minimalism by reading online books and articles. Ultimately, I told myself it would be okay to buy the book as long as I ensured that many people would read it. However, I had no real plan as to how I would make that happen. And so, from that simple question “what am I reading?” sprang the idea to share the book through the Instagram community. So that’s what I did. (You can see my original Instagram post about it here.)

The initial post on Instagram garnered significant interest, including a request from Carina and Bree over at the Peaks and Harbours blog, to write a post about the book tour I had planned. Please visit their blog to read my post and to learn how the book tour works. In a nutshell, the book is travelling around the world from one person to the next. I maintain a list of interested readers and share one address with each reader — the address of the person they are to send the book to next. If you are interested in joining in please send me an email at hippieindisguise1@gmail.com. I’m still taking names.

As a little aside, I should probably clarify that the book is about lifestyle minimalism as opposed to design/art minimalism. I’m not sure anyone is using the term lifestyle minimalism, aside from me, but I think it helps distinguish the two strands. Lifestyle minimalism is about living with fewer things and fewer obligations, to make room for those people, things and responsibilities that really, as the Minimalists would say, “add value” to your life and the lives of others. Minimalism, popular in design, art and interiors, is about paring things down to the essential; form and function are one. Certainly the two strands of minimalism share many of the same concepts, but focus them in different areas.

During the spring of 2014, I had strong urge to reconnect with and better understand the roots of design minimalism when I saw what appeared to be people identifying as ‘minimalists’ while conspicuously consuming things. It seemed to be contradictory, at least to me, so I wanted to learn more about the current thinking around minimalism. So I started reading contemporary writings and came across the writings of Leo Babauta and the Minimalists. They conveyed a different flavour of minimalism than I was seeing elsewhere online. Their writing really reinvigorated my own natural desires to live in a minimal way. I have always been drawn to simple, light living, for both environmental and, for lack of a better term, psychological reasons. (I am really someone who’s inner mind reflects the state of the space around me, and so to feel calm and be creative, I need calm, blank spaces.) Everything that Remains really helped me understand in a new way how the space around you and the commitments you make can support or hinder your creativity.

Currently, my copy of Everything that Remains is travelling across Canada, before it takes a tour through the United States. After North America there are stops in Europe, Australia and Asia. I’m hoping to have destinations on every continent before it comes back home to me. Or better yet, I hope the book keeps travelling and connecting people around the globe, until it is completely worn out. A book that lives a full life and fills many lives with inspiration is a book worth buying.

Stay tuned for updates on the book’s travels; I’ll be posting stories from its readers after every five stops or so.

If you aren’t able to sign up for the book tour you can buy the book here, and maybe when you are done reading you can send it on to someone else.

***

If you liked this post please consider sharing it or subscribing to my blog or both (!), your support helps me continue to write and share.

You might also like my post:

Garbage Free: How to Make your own Delicious Raw Cashew Milk

Interview with a Minimalist: Anna

Top post: Any Occasion, Sustainable Gift Guide for Women

My Favourite Photos from 2014

January 24, 20155 Comments

Other people’s photos are a great source of inspiration for me. There is such a broad range of experiences and points of view to discover through photography. When thinking back on the last year, there are a handful of photos that really stood out for me. Yes, I saw thousands of beautiful photos of gorgeous children and stunning landscapes, but most did not stick in my mind. A few did, they seemed to leave an imprint on my mind, because they told stories.

I should explain a little more. I tend to place photographs into three basic categories. The first category is documentary photos — these photos are simply a record of something you don’t want to forget, like your child’s first winter concert at school. The second category is beautiful photos — in these photos the subject or the composition is visually pleasing; maybe the model is undeniably beautiful, or the subject is a gorgeous delicate bouquet of flowers. The third category is narrative photos — these photos tell a story or seem like excerpts from one. News photos are a typical example of this category, imagine a photograph of protesters facing off with police officers. By far, my favourite photos are those that tell a story, because the images are rich and deep in meaning, conveying a message that goes beyond being an aide–mémoire or an object of beauty.

I’ve collected four of my favourite photographs from the past year from people I follow on Instagram. They are beautiful photos, but they also seem to tell a story. When photos combine technical skill, great composition, beauty and storytelling, they can be truly remarkable, as these ones are.

The Saxophone Player

Photo credit: Nicole Bianchi

The first photo is by Nicole who lives in New Jersey and is known as @nicolebianchi_ on Instagram. When I saw this photo for the first time I was enchanted. It seemed to me like the cover of a fantastic book of adventure. I asked Nicole to tell me how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her children. Here’s what she had to say:

“I strongly believe that being surrounded by nature allows children to be creative, curious and explorative. Nature instills a sense of beauty and respect for all living things and gives the children a special love for our Earth and the environment. Imagination comes into play as children create special hide outs (such as teepees, forts, tree houses) and use natures’ findings (sticks, roots, tree trunks, leaves, pinecones, acorns, etc) to make toys and create their own stories.

When we were hiking at Harriman State Park in upstate NY, my son Tyler (age 8) and I were photographing a beaver dam and a tree trunk that the beaver had eaten, when Ava (age 6), was off exploring in the woods. Ava came running over so excited to show us what she had found. In her hand was this beautifully detailed root which wasn’t a root to her at all. Ava said, “Mommy, I have found the most perfect saxophone!” And there she went dancing to her own beat, playing her saxophone through the woods. Everything our children need is right in front of their magical eyes. They just need the freedom to explore and the patience to observe all of nature. I love that both my children are inspired by the outdoors and do not need a ton of materialistic things to be happy.

When I take photos of Tyler and Ava, I want to capture the joy of being a child, getting dirty, exploring and being free. I want my children to have this beautiful storybook for when they get older and share their adventures and memories of their childhood with the ones they love.”

The Forest Fairy

Photo credit: Michelle Housel

The second photo is by Michelle, the artist and doll maker behind @danceypantsdisco. Michelle lives 30 miles out to sea on the tiny island of Nantucket. When I saw this photo for the first time it looked like a still from a fantasy film. Odin, her little boy, looks like a forest fairy, wise beyond his years, who will soon be called upon to save the forest from destruction. I asked Michelle to tell me how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her son.

“Many of the photos I take are sightly planned, based on weather or season. On a very foggy morning I might want to head to a large field to play and bring my camera along. On a cloudy day, we tend to head to the woods. On a brighter day we may go to the water, whether it be beach or pond. This is the way we plan our days activities anyway and it always seems to set a magical environment for photos all on its own.

This particular photo was brought about much more casually, I didn’t even bring along my DSLR. We had a friend visiting and after a late night, I thought it would be nice to take a walk around our neighborhood with Odin to allow our friend some extra time to sleep in (Odin loves this friend very much and tends to want to wake him straight away with kisses, bright and early). It was warm and foggy and we rushed out the door so Odin was only wearing his pyjama pants and no shoes. I like to keep my hands busy almost constantly so I picked some ivy from our yard and wove a crown while we walked. Near our house is a dirt road rarely traveled, Odin was instantly drawn to it and turned as we passed. I followed watching him walk and stop every so often to pick tiny flowers that were growing along the edges of the road. He heard a bird singing her morning song and stopped in the middle of the path to listen, which is when I snapped the photo on my phone! I see a lot of magic in him and I think he allows me to see a lot of magic in the world and I’m always so grateful for that insight.”

The Bird Whisperer

Photo credit: Leah Deighton

The third photo is by Leah @sangthebird, who lives on a rural rainforested property in Northern NSW, Australia. When I saw this photo for the first time it was so heartwarming. It seemed to me like a snapshot from a beautiful story of friendship. I asked Leah to tell me a bit about how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her children.

“We live surrounded by nature, wildlife and our 31 chickens. I spend most of my days at home being a mama and working on my new business Oh Sunday. I am so grateful that I get to live and work in such a beautiful place. I love spending time with my family and noticing the ‘little things’.This photo is the result of a little serendipity. My daughter is 8 years old and has always had an affinity with nature and animals, being outside with the chickens is her happy place. This li’l chick, Lavender, has always loved sitting on her shoulder as we go about our outside chores. This one Saturday morning in winter we were collecting the eggs when I heard giggling. She was giggling because Lavender had flown up onto her head and it was tickling. It was only 30 seconds or so and they became quiet and still, they both looked so natural and comfortable together. I took a quick shot of the moment and continued collecting. That evening as I edited the photo I realised they were both looking in the same direction… I never found out what they were looking at, but that doesn’t really matter, this photo will always make me smile.

I love taking portraits of my kids. I think that they are so used to me photographing them that they don’t ever feel the need to pose and (fake) smile; sometimes they don’t even seem to realise I am photographing them. I try to capture photos of my children doing everyday things, and the things that they love. Mostly that is being in nature, adventuring and making and playing. It is in those little moments where they are engaged and I am just silently watching them that I am able to capture their true nature. I also love those precious moments when you see the love between siblings, even a blurred shot can hold a beautiful memory.”

The Sleeping Beauty

Photo credit: Dieny @dibonjo

The fourth photo is by Dieny, known as @dibonjo on Instagram. Dieny lives in Scotland, she is a “mother, homemaker, lover and friend.” When I saw this photo for the first time I was stunned by its beauty. It seemed to me like the cover of enchanting story I had to read. I asked Dieny to tell me about how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her son. Here’s what she said:

“I am never so full of awe as when I watch him sleep. All of the beauty of his wakeful hours crashing to the fore. He is a true treasure. As they all are.

What you saw in this image is very much in tune with my feeling at the time. My son, as I was, is a great lover of fairy tales. In fact, tales of any sort. The folktales of my childhood, told from memory and mostly faded from my own, were joy-filled, enchanting and oftentimes foreboding. Their little warnings rang in our ears as we roamed free and far. My son isn’t able to enjoy the physical range to explore as frequently as I did but his imagination is far reaching and I hope I encourage this. When he woke from his nap, I told him his dreams sprang up around him as he slept. “I was dreaming of flowers Mama”, he beamed.”

Thank you Nicole, Michelle, Leah and Dieny for sharing your photos and words.

Danielle Chassin with Ro and Sen Montreal

Interview with Enfants Terribles Magazine

January 23, 2015July 2, 20162 Comments

One day last December I received a most unexpected email. It was from the editors at Enfants Terribles magazine. While I often read the magazine, I was a little confused since I had never written to them. I opened the email and found a lovely invitation to join their creative team! After my heart slowed down a bit, I wrote to them nervously explaining that I was not sure I could produce work to their standard; after all their photography is not only beautiful, but extremely creative and out of the box. I told them I would think about it and get back to them. At the time, I figured I would take a few days to decide. But as the minutes and hours passed that same day, I couldn’t get the offer off of my mind. I told myself I shouldn’t let fear of failure keep me from trying. I wrote back the same day and said yes. And then my heart started beating out of my chest again.

Over the past two two weeks of working with the team, planning and sharing ideas, I have been absolutely delighted by how positive and welcoming everyone has been. The environment is creative and collegial, open and honest.

Today, my first blog post for Enfants Terribles went up on their site. In the post I introduce myself and talk about the themes of kindness, creativity and connection, which are central to my approach to parenting.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the magazine, I have a short interview with Celine Hallas, one of the Editors-in-Chief at Enfants Terribles, to share with you. But first, a little bit about Celine, herself. Celine is a mother of two and a photographer with a background in children’s fashion. Celine is a big believer in everyday magic and finding adventure in little things. Her photography is undeniably beautiful and often a little quirky, as she likes to say.

What is Enfants Terribles magazine all about?

ETmag was created by Sos and I and is all about playing and keeping an open heart and mind. It is about bringing together creative people from around the world and giving them a common space where they can inspire others. We want to put the spotlight on amazing real people, not just show a polished picture, but get a little look behind the facade – for better or worse! Enfants Terribles magazine aims to be different!

Why did you want to start Enfants Terribles magazine?

Sos and I wanted to create a place where it was okay to be a little, or maybe very, crazy and a place to publish that work. We couldn’t see ourselves in other children’s fashion / lifestyle magazines, so we started our own. We like having a playful and sometimes over-the-top approach – hoping this rule breaking will rub off a bit on people and encourage them to be more brave in fashion and lifestyle.

On our team we don’t have many rules and our contributors are very free in how they work with us. We hope this freedom, that can feel like abandonment to some and feel limiting to others, will encourage their creativity and spark something original.

What are your dreams for Enfants Terribles magazine?

For the magazine to maintain its credibility and freedom to be different. Which can be difficult in this industry!

Please visit the Enfants Terribles website, where all the complete issues are available for free online. You won’t be disappointed.

And, please, don’t forget to read my blog post for them here.

To see more of Celine’s photography visit her website here or you can find her on Instagram here.

***

You might also like my post:

Simple Photography Tips & Taking Photos of Children

10 Ways to Live a Greener, More Sustainable Lifestyle

What You Can Do To Help Conserve and Protect Wild Plants and Animals

13 Ways to Simplify Your Wardrobe

Ecominimalism: Talking about Sustainability with Robin Kay

Let’s be friends! Please come find me in other places:

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise
*New* Private Facebook Discussion Group: Slow, Eco, Minimal Living just ask to join, we love to welcome new people