CALM RAIN   |  Market & Newsletter  

  
CALM RAIN  |  Market & Newsletter  |  Global
Promoting individualities, talents, and small businesses for positive social and economic outcomes.




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  The
Original Peace Crane©
Products
         Purchase now at Calm Rain Studios!!!

                



The Crane is a majestic bird that can live for a very very long time.  They mate for life and are extremely loyal to their partner.  Thus, they have symbolized longevity, immortality, loyalty, purity, and love.

Today, the paper Crane is the international symbol for peace.

Because of the great importance of the Crane, it was an ancient belief that if a person folded 1000 Cranes, his or her greatest wish would be granted.  It is customary to give folded paper cranes as gifts to wish someone good health and good luck.


The Peace Crane Gift
Each of the Peace Crane Products is unique, as each is made invidually by hand. By themselves, the origami and card stock are merely pieces of paper.  Yet something as beautiful as the elegant Crane can be created through an ancient art called ORIGAMI which originated from China thousands of years ago. Peace Cranes Products are made from the finest card stock from around the world and origami paper from Japan.

Gift giving can be simple, elegant, meaningful, affordable, and long lasting.  This special collection of Peace Cranes can be used for any occasion and be embellished upon with your own inspirational words and touches.

Order an annual set of Peace Cranes from Calm Rain Studios to spread goodwill and best wishes! You will also be supporting Fair Trade!


Sephora Y. | Origami Artist | Peace Crane Products



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Welcome to Calm Rain Weekends in Seattle.
Calm Rain MARKET 
Fair Trade Art  Merchadise Gifts Cards Ethnic | Textile

Weekends | 
Shopping Hours:  1 to 7PM

 


Calm Rain Market
1825 S. Jackson St. 
Seattle, WA  98144
P: 206.860.3974
 
www.calmrain.com



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Living Stories - For real.


Sink or swim.  Some of us have been swimming ever since we took our first step and a few have been swimming in mine fields without sweating it.

What are we made of?  I have heard of tales from those who lived through famine, epidemics, war, genocide, drug trade and occupation.  Most of them are now older Americans who saw the Great Depression, World War II, internment camps, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Natives and Mexicans who heard about borders being drawn writing their families out of rights of land and citizenship.  They admittedly were the swimming survivors of circumstances.


All these circumstances happened because of choices made, collectively or invidividually.  They continue to happen and will probably not stop because they are what we are made of and what we are naturally gifted to do.  We play our part in allowing the worst in man to exist then try to turn things around when it's too late. And we forget to remember the goodwill that may have come from some unheard friendship between neighbors and those hard fought policies that attempt to curve some human rights atrocity to find fuel. We play our part collectively or individually.

We thrive on being challenged and learn to master our games of habits and deception.
We sink or swim.  We will find a way of feeding our children during famine or die trying. We take the bullet while we cover the body of the shocked young soldier who is calling out for his mother.  We say nothing if it means we lose our job for standing up for someone being discriminated against but look for someone to save us when it is us who become the victim. We stubbornly learn and accept that being multilingual is a tool of diplomacy not inferiority.

I had to stop cursing as much because I was annoying myself.  It's been over 12 years and I still can't (or wont) take off the extra ten pounds around the belly.  Losing weight is so difficult, like having to quit smoking, or changing habits that seemed harmless at the time we began them.  Now I challenge myself about how I judge people while I listen to the noise coming from foul mouthed youngsters and their parents at the bus stop, or the buffed up actors and athletes who have more problems than the poor, or the clergy people and politicians who falsify their true lusty desires and destroy others instead of changing their habits.  We choose the games and habits we want to master, prioritizing them according to our self gratification.  Some of us are never satisfied unless we share or force our frustration out on others who may just be trying to quietly make it through another day in their personal space.  This is the crossroad where we can choose to create the circumstances that people have to suffer through and swim long enough to tell the tales to the next generation who will repeat the same mortal habits.

The contradictions of life are predictable.  We make choices.   Sink or swim.




Last thoughts.
Mahatama Gandhi explains his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography
The Story of
My Experiments with Truth
. He was quoted as saying:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always."

"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?




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Newsletter Content:

"Living Stories - For Real" features selected essays by writers who have stories to share from their daily experiences. 

The "Health | Education " category offers a glimpse of business education, and promotes knowledge base in a variety of subjects, including health issues and links to selected topics. 

The "Events" page highlights points of interest and events.

The "Market & Advertising" section offers a great opportunity for individuals and organizations to feature their products, services, and events.  Content is contingent upon editorial approval.    Submissions of writing ideas and advertisement requests are now being accepted for future issues.  See "Contact" page for submissions and inquiries. 
 

The Black Palette Artist Exhibit 

The Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA) is seeking African and African American artists to submit original artwork for the 2009 FESTIVAL SUNDIATA Juried Competition. 

Look under "The Events" section above for more information.