The complete briefing will be available very soon. Thank you!
Sunday, June 15, 2025
The “Art” of PRESENCE
In a
world that constantly urges us forward (toward
success, toward the next milestone, toward tomorrow, etc.) presence is the
quiet rebellion of being here, now. It is the act of choosing not to exist in a
fragmented state, divided between yesterday’s memories and tomorrow’s
expectations. Presence is the full embrace of this very moment, with all its
imperfections and beauty.
We live
in a time where the mind is seldom still, because phones buzz, notifications
demand attention, thoughts pull us in different directions. Even in moments of
supposed rest, we are elsewhere – either replaying to all sorts of conversations,
probably pre-empting the future, or simply scrolling endlessly on all sorts of
gadgets, but in doing so, we deny ourselves the rawness of experience.
To be
present it is to shed the weight of distraction; it is to taste food with full
attention, it is to hear the undertones in someone’s voice, it is to feel the
ground beneath our feet…in essence, it is the practice of simply being.
Be still, and listen…the wind whispers
your name. Everything
that matters in this moment it is already here...
On the
other hand, presence is more than mindfulness. Presence it is a form of
reverence, a respect for time itself, and for the breath we are given. It is
sitting in silence and allowing it to settle; it is walking through a forest
and realizing that every leaf has a story, every branch has danced in the wind.
When we
are truly present, we do not live life at its surface, but we dwell in the
depths, in the unnoticed spaces where meaning exists...could be the eyes of a
loved one, holding something unspoken, or the manner in which the morning light
filters through curtains, painting quiet gold across the floor, or just a
simple deep exhale when the body is releasing its held tension.
The sacredness of presence – look,
the sky does not hurry…it unfolds in softness, whispering to the earth: you too may rest!
I truly believe that presence in conversation it is not just about hearing – it
is about understanding and about holding the space for others.
To be
fully present with someone is an act of generosity, which is the opposite of
self-centeredness. In other words, it is saying, “I am here with you, fully”.
We do not rush their thoughts, nor do we impose our own. We allow silence where
it is needed. We offer attention not as a fleeting gift, but as a steady
presence.
Speak to me in pauses, I will hear
your quiet truth. In spaces between words, we meet.
Despite
all our attempts to plan and anticipate, the present moment remains our only
certainty. To ignore it is to abandon life itself. We often think of time as
something slipping away, but perhaps it is only when we cease to notice the
present that it truly escapes us.
Being
present does not mean neglecting the future or disregarding the past. It simply
means honoring what is here, it means living in a way that (when the moment passes) we do not have any regrets.
Concluding here my brief dissertation, I would like
to emphasize that presence
is an art, as well as a practice; it is the choice to immerse oneself in the
richness of now, to see life for what it is, in all its depth and subtlety; it
is the understanding that every breath, every passing moment, is a gift…the
gift of “presence”.
Breathe in the now…it has waited
for you…soft as morning light…steady as the tide.
Let presence be your quiet rebellion against distraction; let it be your
devotion to life itself!
June 2025: Happy FATHER’s Day!
A
Father's Day tribute today (15 June 2025) to all fathers, grandfathers, and father figures – today it is about
you…it's about the sacrifices you've made, about the wisdom you've shared, and
about the love you've given, often without asking for anything in return.
Fatherhood
isn’t about perfection; it's about presence…it's about being there in the
moments big and /or small, teaching lessons not just through words but through
actions. So today, we celebrate you. We honor the laughter, the lessons, the
protection, and the unwavering support you provide, and….please do know that
you are valued, you are loved and you are appreciated!
Happy Father's Day to all the incredible fathers out there!
Sunday, June 1, 2025
June 1, 2025 – INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN's Day
Each year, on June 1: INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN's DAY – it is celebrated as the International Day for Protection of
Children in many countries.
We, as adults, should do our best to
make sure these young souls are safe & let them enjoy their childhood with
happiness & innocence as this time will never return.
Happy
International Children’s Day!
La multi ani copiilor de pretutindeni!
”Copiii sunt ca zmeiele: îi vei învăța să zboare, dar ei
nu vor zbura zborul tău.
Îi vei învăţa să viseze, dar ei nu vor visa visul tău. Îi vei învăţa să trăiască, dar ei nu-ţi vor trăi viaţa.
Îi vei învăţa să viseze, dar ei nu vor visa visul tău. Îi vei învăţa să trăiască, dar ei nu-ţi vor trăi viaţa.
Dar în fiecare zbor, în fiecare vis şi în fiecare viaţă
amprenta învăţăturii primite va rămâne pentru totdeauna.” (Maica Tereza)
JUNE…the “midsummer month”
The
name "June" is believed to have originated from the Roman goddess
Juno, who was the goddess of marriage and childbirth, and because of this, June
has long been considered a favorable month for weddings. It is the threshold of summer – the month of ripening days and restless
wanderings…it is the moment when spring lets go, sighing softly into the warmth
of longer hours and fragrant air. In June, the sun lingers its golden thread stitching late evenings into the fabric of
memory, and we can see that the lilacs surrender their last perfumed breath,
while roses rise, unbowed.
June is neither a beginning nor an end, but rather a
space in between – an interlude of possibilities and a summer’s overture. This month,
the school bells become quiet, and somehow the city streets hum in a softer,
wandering rhythm. Many gardens brim with expectations, while their roots are deepening
as leaves unfold.
There is something effortless in the way June
persuades – inviting us to go more often outdoors, to walk bare feet upon the
warmer earth, while whispering of more and longer road trips and vacations.
In my opinion, there’s a certainty to the light in June…it arrives
early & it lingers, making every shadow stretch longer, every morning softer.
Also, it seems that the quality of the air itself shifts, holding promises
of adventure/s, the scent of salt on distant shores & the crisp edges of
impending change. This is the time of golden hours, where the world sways
gently in the glow of twilight; this is a time when many conversations lengthen
over patio tables, when the ice cubes are melting slowly in the hush between
sentences...we watch as dusk hesitates, suspended, reluctant to surrender...beautiful moments of togetherness, having the love ones close to us.
June does not ask for urgency; it is a season of
pause, of motion without hurry...the days brim with possibility, yet there is no
demand.
Unlike July, with its fevered pulse, or May, which still clings to spring’s indecision, June stands confidently, balanced between what was and what will be.
It is the solstice’s quiet rebellion, a surrender to light without resistance.
Unlike July, with its fevered pulse, or May, which still clings to spring’s indecision, June stands confidently, balanced between what was and what will be.
It is the solstice’s quiet rebellion, a surrender to light without resistance.
June is memory before it is lived, it is the
laughter carried through open windows, the scent of freshly cut grass hanging
in the evening air; it is the soft unraveling of routine and the embrace of
something looser – unstructured days with many moments unfolding without
demand. During this time of the year, we find ourselves
drawn to the simplicity of June – the ease of its warmth, the tenderness of its
long-lit evenings…in this space, time is less rigid.
So, let June be what it is …an invitation to
linger, a promise whispered in waves, a month that holds its breath & asks
nothing but that we pause long enough to listen.
June arrives
like a whispered promise, wrapping the world in golden light.
The air hums with
possibility, and every sunset is a masterpiece painted in fire and rose.
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Philosophers’ Café with ALICE & Friends: Spring 2025
The complete briefing will be available soon. Thank you!
Saturday, May 24, 2025
About the TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN BLOUSE
 |
| A traditional Romanian blouse ("Ie românească") |
This
type of blouse it is entirely hand-made, from a special fabric (called approx. in English "sheer
lawn"), with exquisite embroideries on the chest, back and
sleeves, with designs preserved for centuries. The signs and symbols
embroidered on each traditional Romanian blouse aren’t just random decorations,
but each has its own significance, depending on the region, the seamstress, and
the person who wore it. For example, among the symbols embellished on each blouse
there could be a tree or a tree-like design, which is the symbol of life,
wisdom and rebirth. The fir tree is particularly drawn on the Romanian
blouse, especially in the mountain rural areas, and symbolizes the immortality,
a motif seldom found in Romanian mythology.
The circle or a sunflower represent the sun, day or Divinity; in Romanian tradition, the sun was at the core of life and often associated with abundance.
Other motifs related to daily activities can be found ranging from one region to another: water (either as a river or as sea waves) and fish in the fishing villages along the rivers and sea coast, wheat or corn stems in agricultural villages, wheels or coin in crafting traders’ villages, and so on. At the same time, the colors on the blouse also vary according to the geographic region; green and gold symbolize the plains, gray, red and brown for the mountains and blue for the rivers.
The circle or a sunflower represent the sun, day or Divinity; in Romanian tradition, the sun was at the core of life and often associated with abundance.
Other motifs related to daily activities can be found ranging from one region to another: water (either as a river or as sea waves) and fish in the fishing villages along the rivers and sea coast, wheat or corn stems in agricultural villages, wheels or coin in crafting traders’ villages, and so on. At the same time, the colors on the blouse also vary according to the geographic region; green and gold symbolize the plains, gray, red and brown for the mountains and blue for the rivers.
For
instance, in the past, young girls from the countryside, who were not married
used to wear merry colors on their blouses, combinations of red, yellow, pink
& light colors, while the dark ones (brown, black, dark green) & gold were usually worn by
older women, married and / or having a certain social statute.
Generally
speaking, this traditional Romanian blouse ("ie"
– pronounced "ee-eh") is
a pretty simple blouse, commonly worn by Romanian girls and women, but has
overcome its historic peasant confines, and it became an important source of
inspiration for many fashion designers (ranging from less known to very well known) in Romania and abroad (for instance, high-ranking names, such as Tom Ford based
his 2012 collection on the Romanian traditional motifs).
On
December 1, 2022, (on Romania’s
National Day), UNESCO has decided to inscribe
the Romanian traditional blouse on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and on the same list, in 2017, “Mărțișor” was added.
the Romanian traditional blouse on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and on the same list, in 2017, “Mărțișor” was added.
Since
2013, on each June 24, Romanians around the world celebrate The
Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, occasion which allows them to
bring forward the richness of their cultural heritage, their traditional
customs, and the timeless wisdom of their ancestors as well as their Romanian
beautiful identity outfit – “ia”.
This type of celebration it is a good opportunity for all Romanians around the world to further promote this old and beautiful Romanian cultural artifact.
This type of celebration it is a good opportunity for all Romanians around the world to further promote this old and beautiful Romanian cultural artifact.
The tradition is alive, and the story goes on....
Symbols represented on the Romanian traditional blouses
The Romanian blouse, known as "ie," is adorned with a variety of symbols and motifs that hold a deep cultural significance. These symbols are often linked to the region of Romania where the blouse originates from and they can represent various aspects of life, such as age, marital status and social standing.
For your convenience, here are:
1)
Few EVENTS I personally organized at my Circle, featuring the traditional Romanian blouse – 2023, 2022, 2021
2) The 1st event organized in partnership with few other groups from Vancouver, featuring the Romanian blouse – 2024
3) Few promotional GREETING cards I’ve put together featuring the Romanian blouse – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
Sunday, May 11, 2025
May 2025: “Happy MOTHER’s Day!”
Today
(May 11, 2025) we celebrate the love,
the strength and the endless support of all the incredible mothers out there – the
quiet warriors, the tireless nurturers, the everyday heroes. Today,
we celebrate you – the ones who gave us love before we even knew what it meant…
who stood by us with strength, warmth, and endless patience. Whether
you're a mom, remembering a mom, a grandma, a mother figure, or celebrating a
mother figure in your life, or someone who’s poured love into others – this day
is for you.
Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible mothers out there!
Thursday, May 1, 2025
7 Years Anniversary of ALICE & FRIENDS CIRCLE™
The complete briefing will be available very soon. Thank
you!
Meanwhile, please continue to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful spring!
MAY….we be happy!
The
spiritual meaning of May encompasses themes of renewal, growth, fertility
(alongside love and relationships),
abundance, and
prosperity celebrations, while honoring old traditions in various
cultures around the world.
May it
is seen as a time when nature fully awakens – the blossoming of so many flowers,
the emergence of new leaves, and the return of wildlife all serve as powerful
reminders of the cycle of life (the
cyclical nature of life) and the interconnectedness of all living beings. These
interpretations reflect the month’s vibrancy and importance in contemporary
life.
On
the other hand, the month of May isn’t just a transition into summer; this
period invites us to connect with nature and to embrace the
dynamic energy of change (it could serve as a catalyst for personal
transformation).
It’s a perfect time to embrace change (to change what needs to be changed) and to reflect on our personal journey while appreciating the beauty around us. Activities like gardening and nature walks during May allow people to connect with the earth and promote mental clarity. For instance, starting a new exercise routine or picking up a hobby aligns with the season’s spirit of growth. Many can also benefit from the various workshops or community events, fostering not just personal advancement, but also social connections.
This month it is also
marked by few important celebrations,
such as International Workers’ Day and Mother’s
Day.
Whether
you’re honoring your mother or participating in cultural festivities, May
offers countless opportunities to connect with others and nature. As you enjoy
the blooms and longer days, remember to take a moment for yourself – set new
goals or just simply enjoy the present moment.
MAY is all about fresh
beginnings and deepening relationships,
so let its spirit
inspire you to cultivate joy and gratitude in your everyday life!
