On one Sunday morning...

While enjoying my ginger tea, I noticed a quote by Vincent van Gogh on the tea bag's tag, which says "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere." This quote is synchronous for many reasons, and here are two:

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1. "The Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh

One of my favourite pieces by van Gogh is "The Starry Night,"  which "depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence." My brother Edward also created artwork while staying at a mental health hospital for almost one year... Edward's first piece is called, "X," which started the story of Superstar X. While certainly their works of art are from different eras, genres, and accolades, it seems they both shared the healing powers of art.

Since 1941, "The Starry Night" has adorned the walls of NYC's Museum of Modern Art... And, now I want to plan a trip to go see it, and return to a bench in central park that caught my attention: "Embrace Life with Gratitude and the Richness and Beauty of Life will Embrace You."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starry_Night

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2. "Grandmother Moon with Jan Longboat"

"The Starry Night" also reminds me of the imminent alignment of Grandfather Sun, Grandmother Moon, and Mother Earth, which brings to mind a beautiful video I'd like to share: "Grandmother Moon with Jan Longboat."

Produced by Wabano, an Indigenous Centre for Excellence in Healthcare Services, this video features Mohawk Elder & Traditional Herbalist Jan Kahehti:io Longboat of Six Nations sharing her wisdom about the Grandmother Moon. Peter Croal, a geologist and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, also acknowledges and respects Jan's Indigenous knowledge, affirming that "science is not just a white man's thing." This gives me hope for decolonization.

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"The old people said, 'If you want to understand, you got to learn the language of the Natural World,' and that's what I've done all my life...it's my passion to know the language of the Universe."

- Jan Kahehti:io Longboat

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"We thank and we offer gratitude for that moon, our Grandmother Moon, who still looks after us since the beginning of time."

- Jan Kahehti:io Longboat

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I imagine it to be a lifelong journey to "know the language of the Universe," to "offer gratitude," to "truly love nature" and to "find beauty everywhere." I am grateful for this wondrous Universe and for Jan Kahehti:io Longboat sharing the teachings that were passed down to her. While it can be challenging to see Beauty everywhere, I hope the stars align so that you always see it. 🤩

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