- C
- K
Dear Friends and Family,
Namaskaram.
Namaskaram is how we greeted each other at the school and meditation center I just visited. When you see a person you greet them by putting the palms of your hands together (as if praying) and slightly bowing down to them, it is a way of acknowledging a person for all the best that is within them. We sometimes have first impressions and judgements about people and when you greet them in this way you see them for the source of creation within them and all of us.
(made this piece during my time in India)
Some of you may have been following my adventures. Italy, Spain, Belgium, India, and Malaysia so far. As I write, I just recently left the school where I was volunteering in India and am in Serapong on the island of Java in Indonesia, on my way to learn some traditional Balinese carving at an Art Center in Ubud. Before my trip ends, I would like to make it to the Fiji Islands to find a woodcarver known by a studio furniture maker I know and with whom she apprenticed to deepen her carving skills.
Please bear with me as I've never done something like this before. I am about to ask for your help in supporting me in my current heart adventure and it feels uncomfortable. But I feel like I am really living life now and growing deeply in spiritual and emotional ways. That makes me feel both humbled and brave in asking for your help to make this last leg of my heart adventure possible.
Would you consider helping to fund my continued spiritual growth and carving mastery in Indonesia and the Fiji Islands? In total, I’ll need about $2,500 more for travel and study. If I am fortunate enough to receive extra money above my goal, I will use it for travel, making my own art work, and buying tools to continue my work. The funding campaign will last from May 27th to June 27th. Carving begins in Bali mid June.
I think it would be difficult to name all I will gain from my time in Indonesia and Fiji. How can you place a value on spiritual growth and finding deeper purpose in life? How can I describe what it will mean to share traditional Balinese carving with my students when I return home? How can I convey the honor of carrying inside me the wisdom and knowledge of the people who have taught me on my journey? All I can really do is share my deep appreciation for the experiences I’ve had and the opportunities before me, humble in the knowledge of what I am asking of you.
I am offering some “thank you” gifts that allow me to show my appreciation for your support. There is also an offering for children. All my thank you gifts relate to my journey, so I’ll get to share a piece of my experience with you in some direct way. You may or may not want to participate, but it makes me happy to be able to offer you something back – however modest it might be. If you have any questions about these offerings please feel free to let me know.
I feel so blessed to have you in my life - this adventure has given me so many moments to reflect on my life. So whether or not you are able to support my adventure financially, please know that you already have contributed greatly to my getting to this place and I am so grateful to you. Thank you for coming along this path with me. I look forward to sharing many more steps with you, both in person and in spirit.
About Carving: I love carving. I tell my students I could carve spoons all day long, I get lost in the process; it is like meditating. I want to continue to improve my skills, give myself an opportunity to grow as an artist, to feed my own creativity and gain some cultural woodcarving experience I can share with my students at home.
About Fiji: It may sound funny but I've dreamed about going to the Fiji islands ever since I drank a bottle of Fiji water in 2012. Not sure why, but something in me wondered what is this place was like that sold this water in the US to help save the rainforest and where did the water come from? Can I actually make it there? As it turns out, a master studio furniture maker in the U.S. did a one year apprenticeship with a carver there whom I'm going to go meet.
If you know of anyone else who may be interested in supporting me and sharing the journey please share this link with them.
http://www.gofundme.com/carvingadventure
Namaskaram.
Namaskaram is how we greeted each other at the school and meditation center I just visited. When you see a person you greet them by putting the palms of your hands together (as if praying) and slightly bowing down to them, it is a way of acknowledging a person for all the best that is within them. We sometimes have first impressions and judgements about people and when you greet them in this way you see them for the source of creation within them and all of us.
(made this piece during my time in India)Some of you may have been following my adventures. Italy, Spain, Belgium, India, and Malaysia so far. As I write, I just recently left the school where I was volunteering in India and am in Serapong on the island of Java in Indonesia, on my way to learn some traditional Balinese carving at an Art Center in Ubud. Before my trip ends, I would like to make it to the Fiji Islands to find a woodcarver known by a studio furniture maker I know and with whom she apprenticed to deepen her carving skills.
Please bear with me as I've never done something like this before. I am about to ask for your help in supporting me in my current heart adventure and it feels uncomfortable. But I feel like I am really living life now and growing deeply in spiritual and emotional ways. That makes me feel both humbled and brave in asking for your help to make this last leg of my heart adventure possible.
Would you consider helping to fund my continued spiritual growth and carving mastery in Indonesia and the Fiji Islands? In total, I’ll need about $2,500 more for travel and study. If I am fortunate enough to receive extra money above my goal, I will use it for travel, making my own art work, and buying tools to continue my work. The funding campaign will last from May 27th to June 27th. Carving begins in Bali mid June.
I think it would be difficult to name all I will gain from my time in Indonesia and Fiji. How can you place a value on spiritual growth and finding deeper purpose in life? How can I describe what it will mean to share traditional Balinese carving with my students when I return home? How can I convey the honor of carrying inside me the wisdom and knowledge of the people who have taught me on my journey? All I can really do is share my deep appreciation for the experiences I’ve had and the opportunities before me, humble in the knowledge of what I am asking of you.
I am offering some “thank you” gifts that allow me to show my appreciation for your support. There is also an offering for children. All my thank you gifts relate to my journey, so I’ll get to share a piece of my experience with you in some direct way. You may or may not want to participate, but it makes me happy to be able to offer you something back – however modest it might be. If you have any questions about these offerings please feel free to let me know.
I feel so blessed to have you in my life - this adventure has given me so many moments to reflect on my life. So whether or not you are able to support my adventure financially, please know that you already have contributed greatly to my getting to this place and I am so grateful to you. Thank you for coming along this path with me. I look forward to sharing many more steps with you, both in person and in spirit.
About Carving: I love carving. I tell my students I could carve spoons all day long, I get lost in the process; it is like meditating. I want to continue to improve my skills, give myself an opportunity to grow as an artist, to feed my own creativity and gain some cultural woodcarving experience I can share with my students at home.
About Fiji: It may sound funny but I've dreamed about going to the Fiji islands ever since I drank a bottle of Fiji water in 2012. Not sure why, but something in me wondered what is this place was like that sold this water in the US to help save the rainforest and where did the water come from? Can I actually make it there? As it turns out, a master studio furniture maker in the U.S. did a one year apprenticeship with a carver there whom I'm going to go meet.
If you know of anyone else who may be interested in supporting me and sharing the journey please share this link with them.
http://www.gofundme.com/carvingadventure