After the long rains, the summer-browned earth has been transformed into a fresh, vibrant carpet of green. It’s so refreshing to see.
I started 2026 with a deep breath. First, I inhaled the fresh air and exhaled everything unnecessary and negative from the past year. Next, I breathed in light and sent it back out into the world. Then, I breathed in my dreams and released them to the universe, trusting they will take flight.
Finally, a simple prayer: “Thank you, Universe. Please guide me through this coming year.”
I have a feeling the bird in this painting might just be the guide I need to make it all happen. 😊✨
Driving south from Mendocino toward the Brewery Gulch Inn on Highway 1, I missed my turn and had to double back. Even though it wasn’t even 6:00 PM yet, it was impossibly dark—unlike a city, there were no streetlights or even a glimmer of light from nearby houses.
In that moment, I suddenly caught a fleeting sense of the atmosphere from my childhood.
I was born in Tokyo and grew up in its suburbs. Back then, even though it was a suburb of the capital, it was nothing like it is now; it was surrounded by rice paddies, fields, and woods. The houses were few and far between, tucked away on small patches of land.
Because of that, the sunsets back then felt more vivid than they do today—a very quiet, deeply evocative landscape.
I think it was that gentle light of the sunset, set against the pitch-black darkness, that stirred such a sense of nostalgia in me.
Today is the Winter Solstice. It is a sacred moment when consciousness settles into its deepest stillness, allowing the light descending from the universe to reach our innermost depths.
The light of the solstice quietly erases your ‘old sounds’ and installs a new vibration. Therefore, let go of negative words. Negativity only clouds your frequency and blurs the path ahead of you.
May your Winter Solstice be a time of deep rest and beautiful renewal.
The last light of day was painting La Jolla beach in San Diego when I saw this group of surfers emerge. Their young, happy energy was palpable—stoked and utterly exiting after what was clearly a fresh session. It felt like they had just shrugged off the day’s commitments, school or work, and their precious free time had begun.
My painting, “666. Sunset Surfers,” is currently on display at the Northcoast Artists Gallery in Fort Bragg as part of their new exhibition, “Gathering.”
The show runs from November 6th through December 2nd. We invite you to visit the gallery and see the artwork in person!
Since I was a child, I’ve always loved stones for some reason.
I’d hold a smooth, rounded stone in my hand, one that had been washed by the flowing river or ocean waves. Even though it’s a hard mineral, it feels soft and pleasant for some reason.
When I think about how a large rock from hundreds of millions of years ago crumbled, was washed by water, and finally came to rest in my hand, I see a certain romance in it.
It’s believed that stones also possess vibrations.
The “vibrations of a stone” are said to be a faint energy (or frequency) that the stone emits, which can be scientifically explained as originating from the mineral’s crystal structure and composition. Natural stones are said to have a unique energy that can balance a person’s mind and body and improve their luck. These vibrations are thought to resonate with human energy, promoting the activation of the subconscious and encouraging positive thinking. It’s believed that this energy can be more easily received through communication with the stone.
The human mind and body also emit electromagnetic waves, and it’s said that when a stone’s vibrations resonate with these frequencies, the subconscious is activated and positive thoughts are generated.
It’s believed that stones support healing, spiritual growth, and positive change by providing the energy their owner needs.
Because it’s difficult to receive this energy in a disturbed mental state, it’s important to meditate and relax regularly and to receive signs from the stone through communication.
Back when I lived in Japan, I once saw petrified wood on Kamakura Mountain and I remember laughing with friends, saying, “That’s a ‘Get Stone!’”
Trees naturally vibrate due to wind and internal structural dynamics, a phenomenon studied for plant dynamics and energy harvesting. These vibrations involve the movement of the trunk, branches, and leaves at different frequencies, which vary based on the tree’s size, wood properties, and architecture. While trees have a fundamental vibrational frequency, wind causes them to oscillate and even twist, with various parts vibrating in overlapping frequency bands to dissipate energy and return to a resting position.
Even without wind, trees have inherent dynamic properties that influence their vibrations. These properties, such as their size, wood density, and branching structure, affect their natural frequencies.
The movement and vibration of trees can be harnessed to generate clean energy.
The vibrations and resulting movements of trees play a role in their overall health and their interactions with the environment.
Six works, each a “Space of Wood & Stone,” encapsulate a scene woven from wood and stone. I wrapped each of these scenes in paper that’s a replication of the delicate and elegant patterns our Japanese ancestors once drew for kimono designs. This paper emphasizes the beauty of the scenes within.
Why not spend some time in your own quiet space, communing with these?
Display at the Northcoast Artists Gallery in Fort Bragg, Sept. 4 – Nov. 4, 2025
This location is in the southern part of MacKerricher State Park, California, very near the town of Fort Bragg.
I’ve been to this beach many times, and it’s rare to see other people. It’s a wonderful place to meditate and connect with yourself. You probably won’t have cell phone reception here, which is perfect for taking a break from devices. Listen to the waves and birds, and feel the Earth’s vibration with deep breaths. You might just find the answers you’re looking for.
