The attached picture shows a 55-year old Hinamatsuri set (set out to celebrate Girls' Day, coming up on March 3rd - come back in a few weeks for more details about that festival) I received from a dear friend. This set went from Japan to Belgium and finally made it to the US just a few weeks ago.

Setsubun (節分), celebrated on February 2nd in 2025 (just yesterday!), marks the transition from winter to spring in Japan. I love the connection to the seasons which invites us all to cultivate a deeper awareness of our surroundings and inner selves.

Money causes stress, whether there’s a lack or an abundance of it! I definitely feel that way, so I'm happy I learned about Kakeibo (家計簿) which I feel offers a refreshing approach to budgeting. For me, cultivating a more conscious relationship with my finances feels like a necessary component to enhance my overall well-being so I wanted to share it with you.

If you're like me and you have a mind you can't turn off easily, finding moments of peace and tranquility is very important to avoid burnout. One practice that has gained popularity in recent years is journaling, a simple yet powerful tool for self-reflection and mindfulness.

The Japanese rock garden is such an icon that most people have this image in mind when they think of Japan. For me, the idea behind karesansui offers many options to be mindful so I wanted to share how I use them with you.

In connection with last week's article about New Year cleaning or Ōsōji, this week I wanted to write about the practice of Samu (作務). Samu more formally embodies the principles of mindfulness and meditation through work.