Some places have special qualities, which give us a feeling of coming home, although you just arrived and you are “only” a guest there. Elounda Island Villas is one of those places for me. What may be the secret of it? Swimming along the beach, sitting in the shadow of the houses and trees, or in the peaceful cafe, some possible answers occurred to me. I feel at least three invitations here.

See the beauty
“Everything is beautiful in its own way”, are the words of a song by Bing Crosby. The hundreds variations of colors and surfaces of the sea, the stones which tell us about the wild volcanic geology of the island, the faces and voices of the people, who work and live here, and the architecture and design of everything they form. Everything is beautiful in its own way. It’s not a romantic beauty, but an authentic one. It includes roughness, shadows, efforts and lost dreams. “Lost and found” is the name of a helpful place on railway stations. Here I can find me and my vision of life again. It starts with being aware, with seeing what is here already.

Be aware
Be aware of everything what you are seeing and feeling in this moment, outside and inside you. And intuitively you are drawn into a space of silence and peace. You only have to answer. Yes! I want. We are free, we have a choice to decide. We are transformed in what we are looking at. Don’t worry, if experiences of fear, of wounding are rising. That’s normal in the process of healing. That belongs to life. Everything that is seen with benevolence can become whole and a vivid and dynamic part of our life. And: You need not to be mindful in all moments. Just in the present one …

Be proud to be European
Old Greek mythology says that Europe got its name from the beautiful Phoenician princess, with whom Zeus fell in love. In a tricky way – metamorphosed into a lovely white bull – he brought her from Sidon, today Palestine, to Crete. Myths have meanings and often historical correspondences. Crete may have been the bridge between orient and occident … And for sure it is one of the cradles of European culture. Just remember the many words with Greek origin: eros, aesthetics, utopia, biography, organic, theater, music, democracy, dialog, therapy, chaos … as Lida shows on a T-shirt she designed. Being here in the southern edge of Europe, I am happy and proud to be a European citizen. And Greece is a pearl, a gift to Europe.

Josef Kittinger, Austria
June 2017

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