apsara-creative-llc-05emi

Welcoming the Monday Angel: A New Year, A New Offering

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 19:10:19 GMT

Happy Cambodian New Year! Chaul Chnam Thmey!

Bringing "My Soul of Gold" to Life

So why the title: My Soul of Gold?

That came to me through a poem. I discovered it in a translated version by Trent Walker—a 17th-century Khmer poem written by King Preah Reaj Somphear while in exile. The poem is titled ព្រលឹងមាសអើយ (Prolung Measa Aey), or Golden Soul. It uses a royal register of Khmer speech, a level of formality rarely spoken today but still alive in our bodies, our rituals, our silences. Though the language may seem distant, it holds deep significance. This is love as reverence. Love as offering. Love as what we cannot say, but still carry.

I first encountered the translation in a book gifted to me by my professor Erik Davis — Out of the Shadows of Angkor , a powerful anthology of Cambodian literature. I was drawn to the phrase “My Soul of Gold” because I had always seen gold in our performances, our ceremonies, our art. It shimmered everywhere in our cultural expressions, and I wanted to understand why.

At first, I was centering the translation of the poem in this exhibit. But then Hao, who is fluent in Khmer, reminded me: this wasn’t just a poetic metaphor—it was a cultural artifact. The original poem, ព្រលឹងមាសអើយ, deserved to be honored in its own right. That shift changed everything for me. I began to see the exhibit as a revival—a way to elevate what has long been sacred, even if no longer widely understood.

In a world that moves fast and forgets even faster, My Soul of Gold is a call to remember. Cambodian culture is not a relic. It lives in our bodies, our movement, our stories, our offerings. Even as kingdoms fade and languages shift, what remains is gold: the spiritual glow of memory, pride, and artistic resilience. This exhibition is part of a revival. And it couldn’t have come at a more important time.

Read more about My Soul of Gold: A Contemporary Offering of Khmer Heritage here

Buy original artworks here

Read artist bios here

leave a review here

Painting the Monday Angel

The idea to paint Koreak Tevy , the angel of Monday, began with a story I first learned last year—the myth of the Seven Daughters of Kabil Moha Prum , celestial sisters who each descend to earth during the Khmer New Year. Each daughter is associated with a weekday, and this year, the guardian spirit arriving is the Monday Angel.

When I agreed to volunteer again for the temple’s New Year preparations, I knew I wanted to offer something meaningful. Getting to know the women in our community has become a grounding force in my life. To my surprise and comfort, I found that many of them—like me—do not speak fluent Khmer. It reminded me that language is not the only doorway to belonging . We find each other through embodiment, ritual, and creativity.

I chose Koreak Tevy not only because she is the angel for this year, but because she wears gold —a perfect parallel to the launch of My Soul of Gold. Her presence tied the exhibition, the ceremony, and the myth together in one powerful image. Painting her felt like a natural extension of the curatorial work I was already doing.

The creative process unfolded over the course of a week. It reminded me how much I’ve missed painting. It was meditative, joyful, and alive. I took breaks, asked for feedback, layered on gold foil , and allowed the image to slowly reveal itself. It wasn’t just about creating something beautiful—it was about reconnecting with my own cultural imagination.

There’s something stirring right now that I think of as a Khmer Renaissance —a reawakening of artistic and cultural expression among Cambodian creatives. That energy is fueling me. I think about artists like Leonardo da Vinci , who worked tirelessly during the Italian Renaissance to leave behind works of vision, precision, and beauty. I feel that same urgency—not for perfection, but for presence. To create images that honor what has been passed down, and to offer something back.

Painting Koreak Tevy helped me feel closer to my culture. It brought me joy, healing, and inspiration. And I don’t want to stop here. I hope to continue painting all Seven Angels , and to bring more of our mythology to life—through brushstrokes, gold leaf, and love.

The Sampeah Kru Ceremony

Join Us: Cambodian New Year at Watt Munisotaram | April 18–20

As we continue to honor the spirit of Khmer New Year, I invite you to join us this upcoming weekend— April 18th through 20th —for the official Cambodian New Year festivities at Watt Munisotaram , Minnesota’s largest Cambodian Buddhist temple.

This annual celebration is a vibrant, joyful gathering filled with traditional dance, music, food, blessings, and community spirit . It’s a time to make offerings to the monks, connect with elders, participate in cultural games, and celebrate with friends and family under the open sky.

Whether you’ve been part of the community for years or are just beginning to explore your heritage, there is a place for you here. These celebrations are more than events—they’re acts of remembrance, joy, and cultural continuity .

✨ Cambodian New Year Festival at Watt Munisotaram �� 2925 220th St E, Hampton, MN 55031
�� Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April 20
�� Open to all — bring your friends, family, and curiosity!

Come receive blessings, enjoy incredible food, and witness the beauty of Khmer classical dance and music in full bloom. I’ll be there all weekend—dancing, connecting, and continuing to celebrate this journey with my community.

With Gratitude,

Sara Gregor

Writer, Artist, Educator of the Apsara Creative LLC

sara@theapsaracreative.com

www.theapsaracreative.com

My favorite photos from this weekend:

ANNOUNCEMENT: "My Soul of Gold" at Xia Gallery Cafe

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:30:56 GMT

My Soul of Gold : A Curatorial Debut Honoring Cambodian Heritage

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War , a moment that profoundly shaped the Cambodian diaspora and Southeast Asian communities across the U.S. In reflection of this history and the resilience that followed, I’m honored to share my first curatorial exhibition: My Soul of Gold, opening April 11th at XIA Gallery & Cafe in Saint Paul.

Rooted in the beauty of Khmer heritage, this show is a personal offering—an exploration of memory, embodiment, and cultural resilience. The title is inspired by a 17th-century Cambodian love poem that speaks to cycles of time, impermanence, and a soulful, radiant kind of love that lives beyond form.

The exhibition brings together visual storytelling, sacred iconography, and intergenerational voices. I’m especially excited to feature Hao Taing’s photojournalism project Apsara Grannies , a stunning celebration of Cambodian elders adorned in traditional attire. Through these portraits and other curated works, My Soul of Gold invites viewers to reflect on what it means to carry heritage not just in objects, but in the body, in ritual, and in joy.

Join us for opening night on April 11, 2025 , and witness how Cambodian memory continues to bloom across generations.

—
Sara Gregor
Artist, Educator, Curator
Founder of Apsara Creative LLC

Khmer Mythology & the New Year: Koreak Tevy’s Blessings for 2025

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:42:40 GMT

KHMER NEW YEAR 2025

As we step into 2025, the Year of the Snake , we also welcome the celestial influence of Koreak Tevy (Kō-rāk Té-vī) , the Guardian of Monday in Khmer mythology. In Cambodian tradition, each new year is watched over by one of the Seven Daughters of Kabil Mohar Prom (Ká-Bél Mō-Há Proŭm) , who takes turns carrying their father’s head in a sacred procession to ensure prosperity and balance for the human world. This year, as we navigate the wisdom and transformative energy of the Snake, it is fitting to explore the powerful symbolism of Koreak Tevy (Kō-rāk Té-vī) and how she may guide us through the months ahead.

The Seven Guardian Angel Goddesses & the Khmer New Year

The Myth of Kabil Mohar Prom & the Sacred Riddle

Long ago, there was a young scholar named Dhammabal Koma , a man of great wisdom who could understand the language of birds. His intelligence and reputation spread far and wide, attracting the attention of Kabil Mohar Prom, the King of the Gods. However, the god was not pleased—he grew jealous of Dhammabal’s knowledge and sought to test him.

Kabil Mohar Prom descended to earth and posed a riddle to Dhammabal, wagering that if the scholar could not answer within seven days, he would lose his head. However, if Dhammabal succeeded, the god himself would face the same fate. The riddle was as follows:

Where is happiness in the morning?
Where is happiness in the afternoon?
Where is happiness in the evening?

Dhammabal struggled for six days, unable to find the answer. On the seventh day, while resting under a tree, he overheard a pair of eagles discussing the riddle. The male eagle revealed the answer:

In the morning, happiness is on the face , as humans wash their faces at the start of the day.
In the afternoon, happiness is on the chest , as people clean their bodies to cool down from the midday heat.
In the evening, happiness is at the feet , as humans wash their feet after a long day before resting.

With this revelation, Dhammabal returned to Kabil Mohar Prom and presented the answer. Defeated, the god had no choice but to honor his vow—he cut off his own head . However, before doing so, he warned his seven daughters that his head held immense destructive power :

If it fell to the earth , it would set the world ablaze.
If it fell into the ocean , the seas would dry up.
If it was thrown into the sky , the rains would vanish, and the heavens would collapse.

To prevent disaster, Kabil Mohar Prom ordered his daughters to place his head on a golden platter and keep it in the celestial Keo Thomalee Temple (Keo-thom-ma-lee) atop Mount Kailash (Phňom Kái-láhs) in the heavens . Each year, a different daughter must carry his head in a sacred New Year’s procession , ensuring the continuation of blessings and balance on earth.

The Symbolism of the Four Faces

Koreak Tevy (Kō-rāk Té-vī): The Monday Goddess

Join the Cambodian New Year Celebration at Watt Munisotaram

From April 17-20, 2025 , Watt Munisotaram will host its annual Khmer New Year celebration , where the community will gather for blessings, cultural festivities, and traditional ceremonies. A key highlight will be the processional ceremony welcoming the New Year , in which I will be participating. This sacred event re-enacts the celestial procession of Kabil Mohar Prom (Ká-Bél Mō-Há Proŭm)’s head, ensuring a year of renewal and prosperity for all.

If you are in Minnesota, I encourage you to join this beautiful celebration and witness the rich traditions that honor our ancestors and deities.

Last Year's Procession (2024)

Below is a video of last year's procession (2024). Along with a few photos of the angels. The women with the tall crown represent the 7 daughters and the other 8 women are additional angels that participated in the procession.

Conclusion: Walking with Koreak Tevy’s Energy

As we journey through 2025, Korak Tevy’s presence reminds us to move forward with wisdom, patience, and quiet strength . Just as she tends to the celestial cycle of the Khmer New Year, we too must tend to our own paths, shedding what no longer serves us and stepping into our power. This is a year to trust our intuition, protect our energy, and embrace the renewal that transformation brings .

How will you invoke Koreak Tevy’s guidance this year? Let her story and the spirit of the Snake lead you to deeper self-discovery, resilience, and prosperity.

FEATURE: Seexeng Lee

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 14:52:50 GMT

Grand Opening of Seexeng's Fine Custom Creations

I had the honor of attending a very special event for an important mentor in my life. Seexeng Lee, a Hmong-American mixed media artist hosted the opening of his newest creative venture, “Seexeng’s Fine Custom Creations”. I felt called to feature Seexeng’s opening in my Apsara Creative blog, as his work has been highly influential in my own practice of art. I hope you enjoy an interview with the artist, my dialogue on the art, and personal reflections on Asian-American art.

Part 1 will be about how Seexeng, and I will ask him a few interview questions, while Part 2 will follow my personal reflections on Asian and American art I have noticed in my own upbringing as both an Asian-American and artist.

Thank you again to all those who have subscribed to my website and email updates. Please feel free to send me some feedback!

Part 1: Featuring Seexeng Lee, Hmong-American Artist in St. Paul

Meeting Seexeng

Seexeng was my first Asian-American teacher, a significant milestone in my journey. While my mother, also an Asian-American and a teacher, shaped my upbringing, having a mentor outside my family who shared my passion for art was an entirely different experience. It was a gift from the universe. This highlights a major gap in our education system— the lack of diverse teachers. Educators from varied backgrounds offer invaluable mentorship, bringing perspectives rooted in traditions that enrich and expand the narratives most familiar in the U.S. When I speak of diverse backgrounds, I am referring to the cultural knowledge and lived experiences that teachers bring into the classroom.

Seexeng was born in Laos, the sister country to my mother’s homeland of Cambodia. Like her, he was a refugee of the Vietnam War. For over 20 years, he has been an educator at Minneapolis Public Schools and The Blake School. When he first arrived at Blake, I was an eighth grader with a budding passion for art but still uncertain of my identity within it. His presence and mentorship empowered me to explore my cultural heritage through my creative practice.

I began by drawing a Cambodian child on a water buffalo, which led to a deeper fascination with the image of the Apsara. Even something as simple as speaking about my culture became an integral part of my artistic journey. Through Seexeng’s guidance, I realized that my ideas had value and a place in the world of art. Looking back, I see our meeting as more than just a personal milestone—it was a significant moment within the broader narrative of Asian creators and artists, a convergence of stories that continue to shape and inspire.

This fall was the beginning of his 28th year of teaching. Seexeng left teaching at the Blake school, courageously stepping in to his new venture “Seexengs Fine Custom Creations”. Here are some photos taken by Andrew Xiong.

Interview with Seexeng Lee

SG: What drew you to choose the location?

SL: I actually wanted a location in the East Side of St. Paul, the highest concentration of Hmong in one neighborhood, but the price and lease duration was way more than I can afford but more importantly the lease duration was 1-2 year commitment…which I can not commit to because I don’t know if I can be supported both within the Hmong community and the community at large.“

What’s your favorite medium to work with recently and why?

SL: “My love has always been drawing. Then that led me to painting and 3D sculpture. Since then I tried anything and everything, need to acquire new skills, new experience and constantly in search of which style or what materials will serve my idea best…thus far have not found it but have always default back to drawing, painting and sculpting-in all sort of materials.”

Why now?

SL: “The most important reason is that I have put my passion and desire to create aside for the sake of earning a living and pleasing my father-who said to me when I told him that I want to go into art and become an artist in college…he was upset and said I didn’t bend over and backward to bring you to this country to be an artist-what is an artist? They don’t make any money, go be a doctor, lawyer or politician, they make good money!!!”

SL: “I couldn’t simply give in so I decided to be a teacher, knowing that he and the Hmong people loves and honors teachers…never told him that I am going to be an art teacher. I didn’t invite him to visit my classroom until 3 years into teaching.”

SL: “So I have put off my desire to fully create for almost 30+ years…plus last Summer marked my 40th year arrival to Minneapolis from the refugee camp in Thailand…I thought it was time to go back to visit Laos, my birth place which my oldest brother has been since COVID. I wanted to visit my birth village as well as my parents former villages and the route we took to escape Laos. He was excited to receive me and to show me everything! We bought our ticket in late January and planned to travel after school year ended. June 11th, 2024. He called me Tuesday May 22nd we spoke and we quite excited with the plan he had in store for me…only to learn from our relatives that he passed away that Friday in the village in which he resided. We still end up going on the trip but it was difficult and totally different. My main objective was to go and thank our Lee clan members who help preserve my brother's body and assist to have it sent back to us in the U.S.

With my desire to create being put on hold for so long and the sudden passing of my brother, it reminded me that tomorrow is never guaranteed thus if I want something bad enough, I have to take action and take it soon…

Seexeng's Fine Custom Creations can be found in the beautiful historical building (now offices/workspaces) across the Union depot station. 255 Kellogg Blvd E, St. Paul, MN 55101.

Part 2: Sara's Reflections

My favorite pieces: these two I immediately found myself connected to.

"Sadness" Did you ever envision angels being sad too? Well Seexeng has. I found my spirit gravitating toward this piece for some reason. Historically, art has encapsulates angels as heavenly non-human beings. Especially in Christian art, we observe Angels to be the looking over the humans and embracing them, often with posture that is more stoic and confident. But who embraces the angels? I like this piece as it gives us a new perspective on angels. They have become tired, or even somber, maybe because of humanity? The posturing of Seexeng's angel is significant as it poses a alternative way of thinking about those angels that watch over us. I don't think this inherently takes from from the idea of angel either. Rather, it provides more human-ness to the angel, because angels often come to us in human-form or maybe were once humans themselves. They are sent to send us messages. And in this image, I see an angel of sadness that models a very human posture that sometimes I need to embody to release that sadness, fear and worry.

As I continued to think about this piece I began to sort of imagine the angel as maybe being sad because they have no more humans to go to. Is this the result of a sad angel? Having no human to work with or send messages to? The possibilities of a sad angel are endless. I wonder how this piece makes you feel.

"Alchemy" Seated in a similar posture, Alchemy presents a transformative image for the audience. The body is shattered, falling apart, almost like a hollow ceramic. Smoke bleeds through the openings and ascends through the cracks. I thought to myself, wow what an incredible concept. I thought about how a phoenix similarly rises up through the ashes. Alchemy to me, symbolizes the physical body transcending to a spiritual one. When talking to Seexeng, he noted that we often have to break through our shell to realize our essence. I like this notion of our physical bodies, maybe even our egos, being this solid, breakable thing that is impermanent. Ultimately, we all have this inner essence that some may label it as our spirit or soul, that is destined to susceptible to fractures. But this is okay, because that soul or spirit, well, it's not the same matter. It is unbreakable, it is free, it is mean to rise.

I loved the colors of this piece too. The bright blue sky and the sandy, desert-looking ground. The blue brings a sort of peacefulness in to the sky or atmosphere in which the spirit is being received. The ground, however, is the color tan, giving us a move grounded earthy feeling to reflect on. Everything that has ever existed in the book of humanity has taken place on ground. Ground is where all decomposes and transforms. Furthermore, the pieces of that person that fell apart, will eventually decompose, and rebirth, for the next generation of humans to set foot on.

The smoke in the air also holds some sort of ball or energy in it's hand too. I like to think of this as potential energy that this spirit is holding. The possibilities of creation beyond what we thought was true. This piece was amazing and I feel both a sense of body and spirit, life and death, yin and yang it the essence of it all.

Last thing I want to note about about Seexeng's work is the repeating angel numbers. From $333 to $1111 to $3333 to $1555. I have always felt connected to angel numbers being born on 11/11. I think it adds to the entire essence of the art as well.

I want to congratulate Seexeng on an amazing opening. May his new business bring abundance to his practice as an artist and the Hmong community he also represents. Thank you Seexeng Lee and Lee Clan!

Although I had only one year of class with Seexeng, his story remained a lasting influence on my work. It inspired me to delve deeper into my creative practice and explore questions in my art that connected to my culture.

Major differences in Asian Art vs American Art.

Full Moon Reading

e1evene1even2thousand@gmail.com (Sara Gregor) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:19:24 GMT

If you found yourself interested in meditating and releasing some things during this full Moon, you may have found the right place. This is your Full Moon reading from the Apsara Creative.

I pulled some cards on Sunday that I will be meditating on for the next week or so, I have decided to share them with you, so take what resonates. This is not a prediction of your future, rather it is a reflection from a person who is on a journey of spiritual salvation.The cards I have pulled are from the Magdelene Oracle by Toni Carmine Salerno. I am going to prompt my writing based on these cards and what I read from the guide book. Enjoy!

“Wolf” Moon

I love the imagery of a Wolf Moon. A chance to get under the moon light and maybe let out a deep spiritual howl. Perhaps let out a cry, release what you have been holding in. It’s the coldest time of year too (at least in Minnesota). I’d encourage you to reflect on your relationship with cold. Try imagining what it feels like to step outside on a 6 degree day, on a Monday morning to start your car and scrape the snow off. Usually, you are dreading this moment, but maybe today, you will greet that cold with some kindness. Appreciate that it doesn’t dictate our entire year, so why let it rule our day? It’s only here for so long, and who knows? Maybe the brisk cold air that kisses your warm innocent skin was the true love you’ve been needing this month. Be in union with it.

The snow, naturally puts us Minnesotans in to a mindful practice of concentrating more of our energy in to weather preparedness, in turn, we have to be really good with our ability to rest too. I find this time of year to either be empowering or draining when it comes to maintaining a decent sleep schedule. We either let things pile up, keeping us in an anxious state as we go to bed, or we can tap in to our inner patience. If you’ve let things pile up, it’s time to let it go. The power of the full moon is in full swing for a few more days so let’s drop those fearful, negative narratives we’ve been allowing to rule our life.

“The Real You”

With the full moon being in the sign of Cancer, who not to mention, rules the moon, emotions may feel a bit more intense than normal.

When I have a good cry, I always feel lighter after. I feel like I’m getting closer to “the real me.” Who is the real me anyways? The prompt of “who am i?” could be dragged out to so many realms, but do we ask ourselves every, what am I? why am i? how am i? and am i? Now, I’m starting to bleed in to some ideas of emptiness (my favorite subject to meditate on), because when we boil it all down, we really aren’t much beyond flesh and bones, with a heart and brain, and some sort of personality or idea of the “self” rules the way we live our lives.

I think this full moon, we are being called to release old ideas of the self. Something inside you yearns to reconnect. Pay attention to your feelings and begin to reclaim the beautiful qualities you possess; the unique qualities you have for so long repressed and ignored. Shed whatever you don’t want to bring in to the new year, as the lunar new year is coming up in a few weeks. We are being called to lighten up, have fun. This will be the year of the snake, so shedding skin is going to be something we get used to.

As your true nature re-emerges you’ll feel inspired and discover a new way of looking at life. In turn, you will achieve greater successful and feel a greater sense of fulfillment. Nurture yourself physically, spiritually and emotionally. There is so much to be grateful for and so much in life to explore.

“God”

Now in this section I’ll be talking about God. God is the creator of life, some people use the term “The Universe” but I have grown to like using “God” lately. In my study of Buddhism and Hinduism, God, maybe hold similarities to “Brahma” who is a masculine deity that created the universe.

Growing up I did not understand who God was, what his intentions were, how to find him. In college, I spent many hours meditating, trying to access “Him.” I had questioned his existence ever since I was in my teens. Where was his help when I needed him the most? In those times, I felt so alone. Who was I supposed to lean on when I literally feel like there is absolutely no one at all.

Well, I later in life discovered that it’s times like that where I feel so alone, is when I can call upon God. I will write to him. I can surrender my fears and concerns, I can accept that there is a light that is always being offered to me. I get this sort of feeling after meditation too. I realize there is someone there to talk to. maybe in the past I would have said, “Oh I’m just talking to myself” which is true, but as a Budding Buddhist, I would say also that this self may not actually exist. The voice that’s talking to me might be the divine presence that does exist within all of us. Building a relationship with that energy within you is everything. So that’s why I’ve been in communication with God. He is trying to tell me something and I finally have the tools to decipher it.

So what does God want me to really be doing in this life?

I like to help people learn meditation, as it has been a really important skill that has helped me access my inner most thoughts. I have been hiding or running away from the “real me” for some time now. Some may say I have the confidence and I am always accomplishing things, maybe a go-getter but sometimes I just do things so that I can be still relevant to people, instead of actually being true to where I am at and how I am feeling. I believe in this path I am choosing for myself, I am meant to be a teacher, a guide, a leader. I’m sharing my thoughts, because they are relevant, not to stay relevant.

The relationship to God recently has been me asking questions like, what do I want to experience in life and what is holding me back from experiencing it fully? I am talking the sense-perceptions we meditate on in Buddhism. Bringing my self back to the present moment? Why can’t I do it and why is it so hard? That is when it is time to release the fear and worry and give it to God. Guides and teachers will manifest to lead me to where I am supposed to be.

The Beloved

Now that we’ve thought about our selves for a bit, and thought about God as well, maybe our heart begins to warm up to the idea that there is love out there for you. In her oracle guide book, Toni Carmine Salerno notes that "Love is the gateway to an endless universe, where the light of a billion stars forever glows though one eternal spirit."

If we think about everything being connected, we can realize that our happiness does not belong to individuals, but it belongs to the universe. We were meant to exist with this warm feeling of love. It keeps is alive. It reminds us how actually great it is to be reincarnated as a human this time.

Rumi’s poetry also comes to mind when thinking of the Beloved. Rumi professes that the Beloved is like the divine union of God in your life. The beloved isn’t necessarily a person actually but a reminder that we could always be closer to God. Choosing the Beloved, is a spiritual path, in which you hope to get as close to God as you can.

I love the Beloved, it prompts me to hold gratitude for the relationships I hold near and dear to me. The Beloved is a a source of life, in which God exists in the human realm to remind us that he is Love. Perhaps a practice of gratitude journaling could suit you during this Full Moon. Writing down all you claim to be beloved or sacred to you in your life. No matter how difficult things can be, when you journal all that goodness and gratitude, it will bring you closer to this idea of the Beloved. You might gain a lot of valuable insight and begin to bring out the best in others in your practice.

"Love is the gateway to an endless universe, where the light of a billion stars forever glows though one eternal spirit." -Toni Carmine Salerno

Now I got really wrapped up all this talk about God, which isn’t super typical of me. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and hoping to show you all how I confidently step on to my path. I ask myself a lot of questions and keep them with me, because I consider those questions that I’m contemplating truly serve as guides. I don’t think I would have gained the confidence to get my masters, get started on my LLC, and fall in love without the practice of meditation and the recent conversations I’ve had with the Divine Creator. Once I can get tuned in with God, I can tap in to the messengers and guides he is sending me. I feel as if the #1 way to get tuned in to that frequency too, is through meditation. What do you have to lose?

I thank you all who have subscribed to my blog as I reflect on this Full Moon.

Love has nothing to do with

the five senses and the six directions:

its goal is only to experience

the attraction exerted by the Beloved.

Afterwards, perhaps, permission

will come from God:

the secrets that ought to be told with be told

with an eloquence nearer to the understanding

that these subtle confusing allusions.

The secret is partner with none

but the knower of the secret:

in the skeptic’s ear

the secret is no secret at all.

by Rumi from Mathnawi III, 1417-1424

Your GUIDE to 2025, Preparing for the Year of the Wood Snake

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:21:51 GMT

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025

Hello community! I’ve been meaning to get in a space to put out my blog posts/writing to share with you all. I figured if I haven’t finished my projects, I could informally share a little bit of what I’ve been thinking about as we turn to a new year. This is my guide to 2025, and I hope it gives you some ideas to take with you. I have structured this writing/lecture with a few questions to even meditate on as you are setting your intentions.

Initial Goals for 2025: A List by Sara

-spending this month reflecting on the year of the Dragon, recognizing what I’ve built, what I’m still building and what I want to build in the Wood Snake year

-lots and lots of writing. short term goals, long term goals, business ideas, blog posts, processing grief and emotions I’ve been working for.

-releasing what no longer serves me by the full moon (January 13th)

-being confident in myself and becoming my full potential

-creating space for rest, designated meditation time, yoga time, MINDFUL MOVEMENT + NON MOVEMENT

-making mindful meals… im not much of a dieter but I want to generally just be mindful as I’m cooking and eating. Tapping in to the full experience of it all, making sure my gut, brain, muscles, eyes, respiration, bones, and all that are all healthy too!

-setting dates for travel, parties, events, just general things to look forward to!

Now I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself to begin the new year on January 1st. I actually am more tapped

in to the Lunar New Year, or the Chinese New Year. In many eastern cultures, their New Year is recognized by the Lunar calendar. So if you have been stressing about trying to start all of the goals you are trying to set out this New Year since its 2025 now, give yourself some time to continue to reflect on 2024. I feel like Christmas time to the Gregorian “New Year” moves super fast and we seldom give ourselves time to really reflect on the year.

We’re usually thrown back to get back to our jobs after the "grand" New Year and we have this haunting collective thought of capitalist society saying "you need to get your sh*t together now."

To me, that's just unrealistic. I do think its great to set goals and it feels so rewarding to achieve them. But I've been working on a practice for years now to set goals for each month, each week, and those goals lead to bigger dreams and aspirations I've been cooking up.

And we are at the halfway point of the two year wood animal period in the Chinese zodiac before we move in to a fire period starting with the Fire Horse in 2026.

Honor what was once on these grounds before you begin your epic build in 2025.

Honestly, I won’t even trash New Year’s in the Gregorian calendar too much. The change of numbers still feels

significant to me. We are moving from the spiritual number 8, to a 9 year. 9 is a year of cycles ending, spiritual fulfillment. Many things you have been hoping for for years will likely come to fruition. The balance and power we practiced in 2024 will still be necessary to bring forth in this 9 year too. 9 will be a year full of opportunities and abundance. You are going to want to remain having an open heart and mind, so that you don’t miss the next chance to experience something new. The potential energy is high to start this year. Another side note that Venus is moving in to Pisces, and there is a Mars retrograde from Leo to Cancer. It might be a very dreamy, emotional time, which could be a perfect opportunity of reflection. Be careful as you may find yourself to be extra sensitive, triggered or irritiable. It might be harder to be decisive initially in 2025.

A snake year will require you to be flexible and strategic as well. What moves will you make to cultivate the seed you are planting. What do you want to see blossom in to the spring time? What do you want to enjoy this summer? How do you see yourself in the fall? And just like that the year will be over and we will be on to the fire Horse. And I will predict 2026 will move even faster. How will you keep up and build strategies of adaptability? I’d say another theme this year would be staying on top of your wellness and health. What kinds of nutrients, vitamins, exercises are you going to need if you want to manifest longevity?

Transformation and rebirth are opportunities to treat yourself as if you were just arriving here, as a never been born on Earth-er. Have fun with it!

I will be offering spiritual readings/messages for individuals after the Full Moon on January 13th. There will be virtual

options, as well as ritual kits. Stay tuned for more details to come.And more reflections/writings on the Year of the Snake, my new business ventures, and art will be for sale really soon!

Last thought is, as I’m editing and preparing to post this… take a chance on yourself this year. Maybe try applying all

the self-help work you’ve already been doing, and just exist in the world. It can be scary at first, but with all the knowledge you have, what do you have to lose if all you’ve been wanting to experience is love and a little bit of fun.

Feeling Stuck? Thoughts from a Budding Buddhist

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:11:15 GMT

"In the face of what is happening, how do we avoid feeling overwhelmed and just giving up. turning to the many diversions and demands of our consumer societies?”

Joanna Macy is an environmental activist, scholar, writer and Buddhist that wrote the books “World As Lover, World As Self” “Spiritual Ecology” “Coming back to Life”. You can also find her in the documentary called “The Great Turning”, where Macy describes the discusses the global shift from destruction to sustainability.

She poses the question “In the face of what is happening, how do we avoid feeling overwhelmed and just giving up. turning to the many diversions and demands of our consumer societies?” I have always been interested in finding solutions to the world’s issues like racial division, overconsumption, and war. Meditation has really changed the way I used to go about these issues, and it really does start with myself, and everything I have been through first, and foremost. By starting where I am at, instead of where the world is at, I have been able to access a sense of peace and acceptance. I am able to brainstorm better, more sustainable solutions to MY problems, and in turn, I have the capacity or drive to address larger issues, I never thought I would be confronting. Below, is the first article I wrote, as I launched my LLC at the end of 2024.

Letting go of the feelings attached to a memory is easier said than done.

Me too. Letting go of the feelings attached to a memory is easier said than done. In the new age of spirituality, old religion is dying and “spirituality” “mind-fullness” and “self-help” is taking its place. Why may that be the case? Religion doesn’t fit what the newer generation wants for this world. Too many rules, too many concepts to study. Many of these old religions require deep meditation, memorization of prayer, fully understanding the story. Why do the youth not want to participate in this part of human life? Probably because indoctrination of religion infringes on the idea of self. And self-care is having the free time to mindlessly scroll through our social media feeds or binge watch television so we don’t have to participate in the world.

Weirdly enough, I find myself feeling called to prayer during my free time or spells of boredom .

The media says this and says that but the reality is, we all are aware that death is happening in so many wrongful ways.

Times like these is when we really do need to rely on the power of prayer and faith. Whatever it is that you may practice, whatever community you belong to, the idea of suffering is universal. There is pain and suffering in the world. There is also a joyous life force within all of us that wants to help and be with others. How can we activate that life force again when the world appears to be so hopeless?

I’m asking myself a lot of questions lately.

Why is it that the older generation and younger generations are so disconnected from one another? This feels like very much embedded in American culture. The distance between us youth and elders should be closer in times of fear and pain. Our elders have lived through it probably much worse than us?

The question of our planet being better or worse than it was before can be contemplated and debated all day, but where will that get us? How about, was today better than yesterday? And how about you neighbor, friend, peer? Were you able to let go of the sorrows and regrets of the past, so that you can live for the present moment? Are you able to put your ego aside and check on others, even if it feels like no one checked on you in a while?

I am early in my years as a Buddhist practitioner. In fact, I sometimes feel self-conscious to call myself that because I still don’t feel confident in my ability to defend the dharma.

But the more I am able to meditate and practice letting go of what others may think, the more I can step in to the highest version of my self.

That self wants to help others, that is a big truth. It took me a long time to feel confident in sharing my thoughts publicly, but I realized my voice matters, and yours does too. Some of our voices are stuck in the dark hole of insecurity and feeling like we aren’t enough. You are, and your existence is apart of the symphony of life too. I hope you can find time to find your voice again, it really matters, more than ever.

Thank you.

Confluence: Review of Dance Recital at MN International Dance Festival

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:19:18 GMT

On Saturday October 26th, I had the wonderful opportunity to view Confluence, a project from the MN international dance festival. The dance troupes also led workshops that week, that unfortunately I did not get the chance to attend because of work. Seeing the social media updates on the workshops was thrilling though, as I noticed diversity in participants. This made me so happy! People who were not apart of Cambodian culture partaking in the embodiment of our cultural storytelling and learning about the mother postures. It served as a space that was reflective, timeless and inspiring. The performance revealed that the art, history and movement of dance is very much still alive. I was also hearing our ancestoral us that this practice of dance and mindful movement will only enhance our experience in the human realm .

The performance revealed that the art, history and movement of dance is very much still alive.

All photographs taken by Hao Taing on October 26th 2024. Hao featured in Forbes.

Costuming By Sarath Nob.

Peter Veth's Website .