day 63 - release

"The greatest effort is not the fight, it's the letting go." 

- Rumi 

Release is how nonviolence becomes possible. When I loosen my grip, on anger, on fear, on control, I create space for gentler choices. 

Release interrupts the chain; it defuses tension before it turns into harm.

This little cat, eyes closed and body at ease, reminds me that inner peace often begins with a simple exhale. He is a tiny embodiment of de-escalation, a playful little being teaching a serious truth — that harm often comes from what we hold too tightly.

Today I'm practicing release, beginning in my body, by consciously tensing and relaxing my muscles.

Cat designed and taught by origami_ishibashinaoko on YouTube

day 25 - friendliness

"One who prevents you from meeting your destruction is your friend, mitra. Maitri is the spirit that compels your friend to be there for you; friendliness." 

- Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, 

Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 1.33 

Friendliness doesn’t require a big extroverted personality.

Sometimes it begins with simple approachability - with how safely we are able to meet what and who is around us.

“Trauma-informed spaces” may sound sophisticated, but they often begin exactly here:
not fixing or advising, simply offering presence and goodwill.

This origami model delights me because it mirrors that idea. From one square of paper emerge three figures: a heart, and two friendly cats side by side.

Three forms, one uncut square - a moment of single sheet origami magic.

Relationship.
Reciprocity.
Connection held at the centre.

Nothing added. Nothing cut away.
Just one sheet, transformed.

A reminder that friendliness unfolds not so much between us as through us.

This practice brings me a great deal of joy. Thank you, friend, for being here to share it with me.

Today I’m practicing friendliness by reaching out with something whimsical.
If you feel inclined, I’d love to hear - what’s bringing you joy today?

Pocket Heart with Two Cats, Kamikey on YouTube

day 9 - dreaming

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." 

- John Lennon

Dreaming isn't always reaching for something far away. Sometimes it's simply listening for what wants to emerge.

This little kitty, in his galaxy window, feels to me like the threshold between waking and dreaming - a liminal space where imagination, hope and possibility live.

Today I'm practicing dreaming by reminding myself that there is more out there than what I can see right now.

Frame designed and taught by Chisshy Origami on YouTube.

day 2 - smiling

"Peace begins with a smile." 

- Mother Teresa

Smiling is easy to dismiss as superficial, but today I'm paying attention to how profound it really is. When my face softens, something deeper seems to soften too. 

This little vignette reminds me that small shifts can change both the expression and the impression, and they can be contagious. 

Today I'm seeing what happens when I let that softness show more freely.

Black Cat Silhouette by hiroko_daichan origami on YouTube

trending 2026: analogue bags

2026 is the year to embrace anologue. 

Let's wean ourselves off of our phones by loading up baskets and bags to reach for between tasks. 

Stash craft supplies, notebooks, puzzles and pens to support your well-being and reduce screen time. 

I know what's in my bag - a good book, a healthy snack, a commonplace book and origami paper! 

What's in yours?

#initforallthelove, animals

 

Day 7 of 14) Lion Face (designed by Kamikey Origami)

This post is dedicated to my beloved animal friends, past, present and future.

You tame me, test me, teach me, and tell me you love me just as I am. How can I thank you enough?

To the creatures who share my yard and my earth home, totem teachers and magical messengers, I love sharing this world with you!

Special shout out to the little lion who currently has me wrapped around his paw, Mr. Ricky Baker.

best friends