Monday 23 September 2013

Drama

I am the most happiest when sitting in a theatre.

Therefore I hope to take part in theatre by volunteering to teach young people as part of an outreach programme and then hopefully explore further.


Sunday 8 September 2013

Ayurveda - The Science of Life

This excerpt is from http://www.chopra.com/our-services/ayurveda

"Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India. Although suppressed during years of foreign occupation, Ayurveda has been enjoying a major resurgence in both its native land and throughout the world. Tibetan medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine both have their roots in Ayurveda. Early Greek medicine also embraced many concepts originally described in the classical ayurvedic medical texts dating back thousands of years.

More than a mere system of treating illness, Ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life,Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. Providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses, Ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.
Recognizing that human beings are part of nature, Ayurveda describes three fundamental energies that govern our inner and outer environments: movement, transformation, and structure. Known in Sanskrit as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth), these primary forces are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body. Each of us has a unique proportion of these three forces that shapes our nature. If Vata is dominant in our system, we tend to be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic, and changeable. If Pitta predominates in our nature, we tend to be intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented and we have a strong appetite for life. When Kapha prevails, we tend to be easy-going, methodical, and nurturing. Although each of us has all three forces, most people have one or two elements that predominate.
For each element, there is a balanced and imbalance expression. When Vata is balanced, a person is lively and creative, but when there is too much movement in the system, a person tends to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation, and difficulty focusing. When Pitta is functioning in a balanced manner, a person is warm, friendly, disciplined, a good leader, and a good speaker. When Pitta is out of balance, a person tends to be compulsive and irritable and may suffer from indigestion or an inflammatory condition. When Kapha is balanced, a person is sweet, supportive, and stable but when Kapha is out of balance, a person may experience sluggishness, weight gain, and sinus congestion.
An important goal of Ayurveda is to identify a person’s ideal state of balance, determine where they are out of balance, and offer interventions using diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage treatments, music, and meditation to reestablish balance."

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Five minutes with Noor Fares, jewellery designer


Noor Fares, image from Noorfares.com


1 What does jewellery mean to you?

To me, a piece of jewellery is a very special object that holds a deeper meaning.


2 How do you find inspiration for your jewellery designs?

I am inspired by my travel and by talismans, symbols and antique jewellery

Pyramid Pendant by Noor Fares


3 How do you approach design, is it structured or spontaneous?

I am very spontaneous by nature and at the beginning my design process was intuitive but I have developed my ideas into a more structure and methodical way. I also do lots of research to support my ideas.

Merkaba dress earrings by Noor Fares

4 Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery?

My grandmother’s wedding band, which is a very thin hexagon pavéd with diamonds, it is so under stated and elegant.

5 Can you provide some advice for anyone interested in designing and making jewellery.

It is very important to me to research as much as you can in order to further your ideas and to generate new ones.

Thank you Noor for this interview