Make Space for What Matters

For the first time in a long while, a piece of music has given me an indescribable sense of excitement and inspiration. Penetrating deep into my soul, it ignited within me a profound sense of “oneness and wholeness.” When I listened late one night to Peter Gabriel’s “Put the Bucket Down,” a composition from his forthcoming album O/I, due to be released this November, the surge of life energy it awakened in me kept me awake until morning.

Perhaps what I experienced was a kind of “awakening.” Perhaps this is exactly what the ancient Chinese medicine tradition means when it speaks of the fluid energy of Chi flowing through the meridians—the channels of our body.

CreativeDeniz GunizOctober 8, 2026Comment

Home Retreat Rituals

“Suppose you are offered a cup of tea, very fragrant, very good tea. If your mind is distracted, you cannot really enjoy the tea. You have to be mindful of the tea, you have to be concentrated on it, so the tea can reveal its fragrance and wonder to you.“ These are the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his pioneering teachings on Mindfulness. His words also hold true for life. Life becomes full and beautiful only if we learn to slow down and live mindfully. Otherwise, life can’t reveal its fragrance and beauty to us.

Just Like Me.

j u s t l i k e m e | “If we learn to relate to others from the perspective of our shared humanity, we could extend our empathetic concern to strangers and even those whom we find difficult to relate to. Buddhist – derived compassion meditations use phrases such as “Just like me, others too wish to attain happiness and overcome suffering” constantly, almost in the fashion of a mantra: ”just like me, just like me…” Plus, as a consequence of relating to others through our common humanity, we are graced with no end of opportunities to get out of our own head, a key both to compassion and to our personal happiness, as we have seen. “ – Thupten Jinpa .

Being, ConnectedDeniz GunizFebruary 26, 2020meditation, mindfulness, compassion, self compassion, Thupten Jinpa, interconnectedness, connectionComment

Life is too short to drink bad coffee!

“Would you like to have something to drink?”. This very question, especially asked during morning hours sparks an immediate answer in us. And the answer mostly involves an “espresso” drink. To take the edge off, or give us a kick or keep us going. Sounds familiar? Whichever the reason why, our preference, if available, could be either a Macchiato or a Cortado depending on our current mood.

These drinks are somehow also directly associated with our work/office environment. Two components going hand-in-hand, all the time. Due to the nature of our business model (Branding, Design, UX ) that requires mobility and being always “on”, this means “coffee shops” with high-speed internet access.

Most Popular, NomadDeniz GunizFebruary 12, 2020coffee, barista, espresso, espresso drinks Comment

The moon cannot be stolen!

A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain.

One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away.

The Master sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, " I wish I could give him this beautiful moon." .

BeingDeniz GunizJanuary 14, 2020hapiness, friends, love, dreams, meditation, gratefulness, gratitudeComment

ALIGN | Movement Meditation Sessions

We believe the healing and transformational power of dance. Bundled with present moment awareness, body awareness and observation of our underlying emotions, we create a space for contemplation. It’s not only a work-out, but also work-in. And that’s what matters!

CreativeDeniz GunizDecember 9, 2019dance, flow, movement, meditationComment

Note to Self: Wabi Sabi

w a b i s a b i | Love the idea of perfection of being - not so perfect. 〰️ .

✏️Note to self! “Things can be perfectly imperfect! .
.
➰ I guess I must be challenged by perfection somehow that I have started to have “wabi sabi” in my mind these days. May be it is just to justify my imperfectness ( is this even a word?) That’s a possibility sure. Ha haa... .
.
➰The first time I questioned perfection was the time when Martha Stewart asked me to divide strawberries into three categories on set for a photo-shoot during my styling job.

Creative, BeingDeniz GunizDecember 6, 2019wabisabi, wabi sabi, creativity, design, japanese, japanese culture, interior design, styling, deniz-asutayComment

Note to Self: The Room, Empty and Full.

“I opened my eyes. The first light of dawn was filtering through the curtains. Without any thought, I felt, I knew, that there is infinitely more to light than we realize. That soft luminosity filtering through the curtains was love itself. Tears came into my eyes. I got up and walked around the room. I recognized the room, and yet I knew that I had never truly seen it before. Everything was fresh and pristine, as if it had just come into existence. I picked up things, a pencil, an empty bottle, marveling at the beauty and aliveness of it all.” – Eckhart Tolle

Delicious Coconut Crêpes Recipe. Plus it's gluten and dairy free!

This recipe -Coconut Crêpes with Coconut Yogurt + Berries - is a gluten-free {+ dairy-free!} alternative to a steaming stack of pancakes, with an extra burst of antioxidant-rich deliciousness. 📷: @thebeautychef ➰ We will drop another gluten-free recipe: COCONUT FLOUR GLUTEN FREE CREPES via @divalicious_recipes .

OpenDeniz GunizDecember 4, 2019food, gluten-free, dairy-free, crepe, recipes, vegan, slow eating Comment

Dance, I love you!

If there’s one piece of advice that I could give everyone today it is this one by Elizabeth Gilbert:

“Dance. Right now. Stand up out of the chair that you are seated in, or the bed that you are brooding in, or the couch that has taken you captive. Put on some music and dance. Yes, even though you don’t feel like it. Dance. Dancing is free. It is available at any moment.

Meet the Maker: Ipek Sensilay

Editor's Choice, CreativeDeniz GunizNovember 19, 2019jewelry, jewellery, hand-made, necklace, rings, earrings, cufflinks, greece, breeze of greeceComment

Meet the Maker: Neslihan Algunerhan

On this second round of our online pop-up event, we’d like to feature Neslihan Algunerhan, a textile designer from Istanbul. Having received her Fine Arts degree with the emphasis on Traditional Turkish hand-crafts, as well as handprints in carpets and rugs, Neslihan further mastered serigraphy techniques with renowned artists in Istanbul.

CreativeDeniz GunizOctober 23, 2019neslihan-algunerhan, textile, home textile, textile designer, linen, tablecloths, napkins, teatowel, aprons, placematsComment

Meet the Maker: Kerem Alsan a.k.a Keramikos

On this first round of our online pop-up event, we’d also like to feature a ceramic artist from Urla, Kerem Alsan, and his recent work in the form of made-to-order Chef’s plates and salad/fruit bowls under his functional line.

CreativeDeniz GunizOctober 23, 2019ceramic, handmade, ceramic artist, ceramic plates, ceramic bowls, home chefsComment

Eight Pieces of Brocade

With a 15-Minute exercise routine, you can maintain good health, fight disease, and enhance the quality of your life.

I’ve come across this fantastic set of energy, breathing and stretching exercises, so-called “8 Brocades”, also known as “Ba Duan Jin” in Chinese, as part of the Tai Qi and Qigong class I’ve attended in New York.

After a quick research, I’ve found out that “Ba Duan Jin”, developed 1000 years ago by Marshal Yueh Fei, was an ancient Chinese exercise and fitness practice for improving healing, vitality, and longevity. According to historical writings, Yue Fei entered the army at 9 years old and rapidly rose within the ranks and by 26, he was a general. He developed Eight Brocades to support his warriors’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance.

Zen Stories: Maybe

This is a story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed. “Maybe,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. “Maybe,” answered the farmer.

Editor's Picks, BeingDeniz GunizAugust 30, 2019 Comment

Becoming Present

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

becoming present x breathe : According to Thich Nhat Hanh, breathing meditation is the most simple and basic meditation technique but also the most useful. Why? Because we’re always breathing. You can literally practice this anywhere, anytime, even if it’s for 15 seconds. The main crux of this technique is that you simply focus on your breath. .

How to Cook "Stuffed Zucchini Flowers”

“Stuffed zucchini flowers”, or 'çiçek dolması' (chee-CHECK' dole-MAH'-suh), are a great example of edible flowers and one of my all-time favorite Turkish 'meze,' or starters. In Turkish cuisine, 'dolma' means something stuffed, and 'sarma' means something wrapped.

Stuffed zucchini flowers have a light, delicate flavor and look stunning on any table. This delicacy is most common in the Aegean regions of Turkey during the spring and summer months when zucchini flowers are fresh and plentiful. It has also been rediscovered by many chic restaurants in Istanbul and other major cities.

Zen Stories: Two Monks and a Woman

Two monks while practicing their walking meditation happen to come across a woman with a long kimono. The woman tries to cross a very muddy road, but she’s not daring to step into the mud. So, one monk picks her up, carries her across the road through the mud, puts her down. The monks then continue to walk on in silence for another four or five hours, practicing noble silence…

Being, WellDeniz GunizJuly 27, 2019Mindfulness, mind, zen, story, zen-story, meditation, silence, living-in-the-past, thought-patternsComment

Make Space for What Matters.