Cherry Blossoms

our time is made short
love ripens, then falls away
like cherry blossoms

d. s., 2009

(above is a screenshot from the movie, “5cm Per Second”)

***

We watched a japanese anime movie last week entitled “5cm Per Second”. The film consists of 3 segments, all beautifully drawn and colored. From its wikipedia entry, it explains that the movie’s title comes from “the speed at which the cherry blossom petals fall, petals being a metaphorical representation of humans, reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways”.

A friend of my boyfriend, an American living in Japan, was here for the week to visit the Philippines. While we were watching the movie, she noted the fascination of cherry blossoms in Japanese culture. Interestingly, she said that the cherry blossoms ripen in a week to 2 weeks, then all  the flowers fall from the trees like snow. Locals and tourists come out at this time of the year to stay under the trees and experience this surreal and beautiful event. She added that as much as they celebrate the short span of time these flowers bloom, they too mark its sweet passing.

After watching the movie, it again reminded me that our time is short and things will continue to remain uncertain. There may be nagging questions about the future, but I guess it is always best that we continue to remain mindful and expressive of our love. Cheesy, I know.

I wish I can be in Japan next summer and experience this phenomenon myself. I would really love to be there. I want to see the flowers in full bloom and wait for them to fall on me like pink snow. That would be really amazing.

Carl Jung and a Lot of Color

Apologies for being away from the wordpress page for so long. I’ve been busy with a lot of things. Finally, at least, I’m able to find the time to write about wonderful things that have happened so far.

First up, out of intense curiosity, I took a class on self-exploration managed by four wonderful Jungian psychologists. I’ve been reading the book “Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (also a Jungian psychologist) and have been mesmerized by the use of myths and folktales as a form of initiation into the unconscious (pertaining to the lives of women). Throughout my life, stories have made a huge impact; stories inspire as much as they heal. Then serendipity sends a text message and I jump in to take the 4-day workshop.

During the workshop, we took self-exploration tests, told each other fragments of our life stories, drew and colored mandalas, and listened to stories from Greek mythology. What fascinated me were the stories. Maybe because of the gifted storyteller? The characters seemed so alive, real, and breathing beside me. The archetypes fit into the people I live with.

Did I learn more about myself? Of course. Jungian psychology places a strong emphasis on the inner world. There were a couple of aha! moments, lots of “that’s why, now I know…”. I also learned more about the people who surround me and how, at this point in time, we unconsciously play out our archetypal roles. These are  roles that we fit into because of influences in society, family, and other relationships. Hopefully, I learn to become more aware of  the things that I do and feel, and transcend the limits of archetypes to discover what I am truly made of. After that brief workshop, it’s nice to see the world revealed in a different way.

Next up! I’m so happy that “Provenciana” by Apol Lejano-Massebieau is now out! A book launch was organized in Paris last month and sana I was there! The book is just the funniest ever! Apol is just such a funny and talented writer…and that’s still an understatement. I’ve been a long time fan of her blog that chronicles her new life and adventures in the South of France. I’m really so happy that she loved the book cover that I designed for her. My friend, Bernice, did an amazing job designing the inside pages and filling the book with lovely illustrations. Wonderful and such an inspiring project to work on – Merci beaucoup, Apol!

And finally, I did some illustrations  for the new Spark Hope board at Starbucks. I’m glad the 5-piece set came out well – well, on my part. I just love it when I get to work on watercolor textures, line drawings, etc. Exciting rin to see how they’ll go together with the photographs once working on them in the computer. I’m glad that the baristas at Katipunan like them. If they’re happy, I’m happy.

Yey, now I can’t wait to work on new stuff for two exhibits in November!