Today is Valentine's Day. It's time to change our story about LOVE.
Love is not fluffy, soft and only to be sought in romantic terms. Love is basic to human nature, the glue of human society, a basic practice we all can share.
Today is one day to remember that love is not a feeling -- love is a v...
Stories in a word...
There is a magic and mystery to language that comes along with someone who loves it. Ging Feya is such a person. For her, the Hebrew language is beautiful, awe inspiring and multi-layered. She loves both its logic and its mystery. Here she talks about two of her favourite words...
Stories in a word...
German journalist Uwe von Seltmann fell in love with the Yiddish language and culture and has written many books about music, writers and history. These days he tours giving readings through Germany and the world. Here he talks about a favourite Yiddish word "die Levone" or moo...
Stories in a word...
Just in case you're a fan of the Netflix series "The Witcher", Gabi von Settlzmann tells where it came from.
Stories in a word...
Polish artist Gabi von Seltzmann talks about the true meaning of the Polish word "Wiedźma" or witch. It means a woman with knowledge or wisdom. In the old Slavian traditions, she knew about herbs, healing and had contact with ancestors and magic. In the middle Ages the word ind...
Stories in a word...
The Danes have a particular focus on what they call "seeing eye to eye" or "being at the same eye level." Moving past the time of the sovereign kings, Denmark's people had to work together to rebuild their society. Being at eye level is a stance and a value. Toke Paludan Møller...
Stories in a word...
Toke Paludan Møller talks us through the Danish concept of "dannelse", which is all about educating your "humanbeing-ness." The Danish Folk High School system -- still renowned around the world -- focuses on balancing knowledge and skills with supporting people to become humans...
Stories in a word...
Ordinary people have coffee breaks, but the Swedes have "fika", a collective art in taking breaks. There are certainly fewer places in the world that drink more coffee and have developed the cinnamon bun into an artform.
Could the practice save the world? Listen to community a...
Stories in a word...
Every culture has something unique to add to our understanding of what it is to be human and how we experience this world.
You might think that the word "event" would be a simple translation, but in Russian the word "sobytie" actually means to "co-be". Co-creation in a litera...
Stories in a word
The Swedes have a very rich history of how they practice being in community and making sure everyone has enough. One image that often pops to mind is a circle of Vikings around a fire passing the drinking horn. Ulric Rudebeck describes his deep understanding of the old Swedish wo...
Stories in a word...
I love language! When I think about the scene from The Matrix when Neo is offered the red pill and the blue pill, I visualise it like this:
If the red pill were all the physical prowess in the world and the blue pill were all the languages in the world, I'd take the blue pill...
Stories in a word...
... but wait, there's more! What's the opposite of Hygge?