Carolina Avendano
Carolina is a Canada-based writer and journalist who enjoys learning and sharing information about how to lead a meaningful life. She is passionate about traditional culture, handmade crafts, the connection between humans and nature, and human rights.
Ban Zhao’s Precepts for Women (Part II): Cultivating Politeness and Hospitality
Instructions for Chinese Women and Girls (Nǚ jiè 女誡) is an ancient Chinese guidebook for cultivating traditional feminine virtues. Written by polymath Ban Zhao (班昭), it addressed the need for girls to be educated in...
The Life and Teachings of Confucius: Searching for the Middle Way to Restore Order to the World
Perhaps the most well-known of the ancient Chinese sages, Confucius dedicated his life to reviving and transmitting timeless values to guide human conduct. He traveled the many states that made up the China of his...
8 Timeless Lessons from Epictetus, the Greek Stoic Philosopher
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”Epictetus Born a slave in Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale,...
Ban Zhao’s Precepts for Women (Part I): Cultivating Modesty and Gentleness
The Precepts for Women (Nǚ jiè 女誡) is an ancient Chinese guidebook for cultivating traditional feminine virtues. Written by female polymath Ban Zhao (班昭) during the Han Dynasty, it addressed the need for girls to...
Aesthetics and Virtue in Classical Arts, Part II – Performing Arts
The arts play a significant role in shaping human culture. As explored in part I of this series, the visual arts have the power to convey clear messages to the viewer and to influence our...
Understanding the Traditional Chinese Calendar in the Year of the Rabbit
Have you ever wondered why Chinese holidays — such as the New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival — are celebrated on different dates each year, or why every year is represented...
Aesthetics and Virtue in Classical Arts, Part I – Visual
Derived from the Latin adjective classicus, the term “Classical” refers to that which belongs to a category “of the highest order.” When applied to art, classicism places emphasis on proportion, simplicity, restrained emotion, clarity of...
The Surprising Reason You Can’t Become Tranquil in Meditation
In our daily hustle and bustle of striving to get things done, our neurons seem to be firing non-stop. With thousands of thoughts being processed each day, it seems nearly impossible to quiet the mind,...
Common Products With Toxins and Their Healthy Alternatives, Part III – Hand Sanitizer and Mouthwash
In the final part of our series on toxins in the home, we will discuss how some common hygiene items contain harmful chemicals — often revealed by their intense smell, color and/or taste — and...
Why Standardized Tests Are Not as Valuable as They Once Were
Standardized testing, as we know it today, originated in ancient China. Used as a system to gather the most talented citizens for government positions, the imperial exam was administered every year and tested candidates on...
Common Products With Toxins and Their Healthy Alternatives, Part II – Candles
Although artificial light has become indispensable since the 19th century invention of the light bulb, many people still enjoy the soothing glow of a candle. Whether to decorate a room, to scent our home, or...
Studying Our Subconscious – 5 Easy Techniques for Dream Interpretation
Dreaming is a fascinating phenomenon. Some dreams are so elusive that they slip from our minds as soon as we wake up, or they may be random and transition-less, making it hard for us to...