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Curating Group Experiences That Heal Through Art, Scent, Movement, and Poetic Presence Healing is not always solitary. Sometimes it happens in a room full of breath, color, and shared silence. My sensory workshops are designed as poetic sanctuaries—spaces where groups can explore emotion, creativity, and connection through guided rituals. Each workshop is modular, inclusive, and emotionally safe—adapted for families, caregivers, artists, and seekers. What Is a Sensory Workshop? It is a group experience that blends: - Art therapy stations: collage, watercolor, body mapping, and symbolic creation - Aromatherapy rituals: scent journeys for grounding and emotional regulation - Movement and breath: gentle gestures to affirm vitality and release tension - Poetic prompts: bilingual writing invitations for reflection and sharing - Group altar creation: collaborative rituals to honor memory, transition, or celebration “In shared creation, we remember we are not alone.” Who Is It For? - Families seeking creative bonding and emotional safety - Artists and therapists longing for collective renewal - Caregivers and educators exploring sensory healing - Anyone who wants to experience poetic presence in community Workshops are trauma-informed, neurodiverse-friendly, and adaptable to energy levels and group needs. Formats Offered - In-person or virtual group workshops - Seasonal themes (e.g., renewal, grief, celebration, transition) - Printable guides and poetic worksheets for participants - Custom workshop design for institutions, salons, or sanctuaries An Invitation to Gather If you feel isolated, come create together. If you feel unseen, come be witnessed. If you long for beauty, come share it. Let art be your bridge. Let scent be your breath. Let this workshop be your sanctuary. “We heal in rhythm. We remember in ritual.”

Koöko Fleurs -The Petals of Presence EN: Intention: This worksheet invites you to explore and affirm your unique creative voice. FR: Intention: Cette fiche t'invite à explorer et affirmer ta voix créative unique. Materials | Matériel - Paper - Pencils - Collage materials - Optional: mirror or affirmation card - Papier - Crayons - Matériaux de collage - Optionnel : miroir ou carte d'affirmation Prompt | Consigne EN: Draw your creative fingerprint—symbols, colors, textures that feel like you. - Write a poetic artist statement in 3 lines. - What materials, rituals, or spaces make you feel most alive? - Name 3 creative values you protect. - Design your ideal creative altar or studio corner. FR: Dessine ton empreinte créative—symboles, couleurs, textures qui te ressemblent. - Écris une déclaration poétique d'artiste en 3 lignes. - Quels matériaux, rituels ou espaces te font te sentir vivant·e ? - Nomme 3 valeurs créatives que tu protèges. - Dessine ton autel créatif ou coin studio idéal. Reflection | Réflexion EN: What does creative identity mean to you? - How do you honor your artistic voice in daily life? FR : Que signifie l'identité créative pour toi ? - Comment honores-tu ta voix artistique au quotidien ? Optional Template | Gabarit optionnel Use a piece of paper to draw your altar, studio corner, or creative symbols. Utilise du papier pour dessiner ton autel, ton coin studio ou tes symboles créatifs www.kookofleurs.com Email: contact@kookofleurs.com

Color is not merely pigment—it is memory, ritual, resistance, and revelation. Across continents and centuries, artists have wielded color as a language of healing, protest, and transcendence. From the ochres of African earth to the jade of Chinese scrolls, from the geometric blues of Islamic tiles to the spectral theories of Western chromatics, color in art is both universal and deeply personal. This article explores how color breathes through cultural traditions, spiritual philosophies, and artistic practices—inviting us into a chromatic embrace of the world. African Art: Earthbound Spirit and Symbolic Resonance In African art, color is often inseparable from material and ritual. Natural pigments—red ochre, white kaolin, black charcoal—carry ancestral weight. They are not chosen for aesthetic alone, but for their spiritual and social functions. Red evokes vitality, blood, and ancestral presence. In many cultures, it is used in initiation rites and protective masks. White symbolizes purity, the spirit realm, and mourning—often seen in funerary sculptures and ritual garments. Black can represent mystery, the unknown, or the fertile soil of rebirth. Textiles like kente cloth from Ghana use vibrant chromatic codes to signify status, lineage, and moral values. Each color—gold for royalty, green for renewal, blue for harmony—becomes a woven poem of identity. Chinese Art: Harmony, Elemental Balance, and Imperial Power Chinese chromatics are deeply rooted in Taoist and Confucian cosmology. The Five Elements (Wu Xing)—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—correspond to five cardinal colors: Wood is linked to the color green, representing growth, vitality, and renewal. Fire corresponds to red, symbolizing joy, celebration, and dynamic energy. Earth is associated with yellow, evoking stability, nourishment, and centrality. Metal is paired with white, signifying purity, clarity, and mourning. Water aligns with black, embodying depth, mystery, and introspection. Imperial art often centers on yellow, the color of the emperor and the earth. Red dominates festivals and architecture, symbolizing luck and protection. Blue and green appear in landscape paintings, evoking serenity and the Daoist ideal of natural flow. These elemental-color relationships form the foundation of Chinese chromatic philosophy, influencing art, architecture, medicine, and spiritual practice. Islamic Art: Geometry, Light, and Divine Reflection Islamic art approaches color through abstraction and sacred geometry. Figurative representation is often avoided, so color becomes a vessel for divine contemplation. Blue —especially turquoise and lapis lazuli—is associated with heaven, protection, and spiritual depth. It adorns mosques, tiles, and manuscripts. Green is the color of paradise and the Prophet Muhammad, often used in calligraphy and textiles. Gold and white reflect divine light and purity, frequently seen in Qur’anic illumination. Color in Islamic art is not random—it follows mathematical precision and theological symbolism. The chromatic system becomes a mirror of divine order. Western Chromatic Systems: From Alchemy to Optics In Western art history, color has oscillated between mysticism and science. Medieval artists saw color as moral and spiritual—blue for the Virgin Mary, gold for divine presence. The Renaissance introduced oil painting and perspective, allowing for richer chromatic depth. By the 18th century, Newton’s prism experiments and Goethe’s Theory of Colours reframed color as a psychological and optical phenomenon. The chromatic wheel emerged, organizing hues into complementary and analogous relationships. Modern artists—like Kandinsky, Rothko, and Albers—explored color as emotion, vibration, and abstraction. Color became a field of energy, a spiritual force. Color as Ritual, Protest, and Healing Across cultures, color is used to: Heal : Color therapy (chromotherapy) uses hues to balance emotional and physical states. Protest : Artists use red for urgency, black for mourning, and rainbow for inclusivity. Ritualize : Seasonal palettes mark transitions—spring greens, autumn ochres, winter whites. In my own holistic practice, color becomes a gentle guardian. Whether curating African art therapy visuals or styling editorial guides, our chromatic choices reflect emotional safety, spiritual resonance, and inclusive storytelling. The Emotional Impact of Color Color influences our emotions and perceptions. Each hue carries its own psychological weight. For instance, blue can evoke calmness, while red can incite passion. Understanding these emotional connections can enhance artistic expression and deepen the viewer's experience. Incorporating color thoughtfully can transform a piece of art into a powerful statement. Artists can use color to convey messages, provoke thought, or evoke feelings. This intentional use of color can create a dialogue between the artwork and the audience, enriching the overall experience. Conclusion: Embracing the Chromatic Spectrum To speak of color in art is to speak of life itself—its rhythms, ruptures, and revelations. Each hue carries a whisper from the past, a breath of the sacred, a pulse of the present. In honoring these chromatic traditions, we do more than decorate—we remember, we resist, we heal. As we explore the vast spectrum of color, we invite you to reflect on your own experiences with color in art. How does color resonate with you? What memories or emotions does it evoke? Embrace the power of color and let it guide you on your artistic journey. For more insights on the significance of color in art, check out this resource .

Koöko Fleurs -The Petals of Presence EN: To express emotions through movement-inspired marks and gestures. This gentle ritual invites you to translate inner feelings into flowing lines, shapes, and textures—allowing emotional energy to move and release. FR : Pour exprimer tes émotions à travers des gestes et des tracés inspirés du mouvement. Ce rituel doux t'invite à transformer tes ressentis intérieurs en lignes, formes et textures fluides—pour laisser circuler et libérer l'énergie émotionnelle. Materials | Matériel EN: - A blank sheet of paper - Pencils, markers, or crayons - Optional: music, movement, or dance to inspire gestures FR : - Une feuille blanche - Crayons, feutres ou pastels - Optionnel : musique, mouvement ou danse pour inspirer les gestes Prompt | Consigne EN: Choose one emotion you feel today. Close your eyes and let your body respond—move your hand as if dancing with that emotion. Use lines, curves, or shapes to express its rhythm, weight, and flow. Let your gestures guide the drawing. FR : Choisis une émotion que tu ressens aujourd'hui. Ferme les yeux et laisse ton corps répondre—bouge ta main comme si elle dansait avec cette émotion. Utilise des lignes, des courbes ou des formes pour exprimer son rythme, son poids et son flux. Laisse tes gestes guider le dessin. Reflection | Réflexion EN: - What did your movement reveal about the emotion? - What part of your drawing feels most alive? FR : - Qu'est-ce que ton mouvement a révélé sur l'émotion ? - Quelle partie de ton dessin te semble la plus vivante ? (Use the space below to draw your movement-inspired expression) Use the paper to create your emotional color composition. Utilise ton papier pour créer ta composition émotionnelle en couleurs. www.kookofleurs.com Email: contact@kookofleurs.com

Koöko Fleurs - The Petals of Presence EN: To gently explore and express your current emotional state through the metaphor of weather. This visual ritual invites you to notice, name, and honor your inner landscape—without judgment, with tenderness. FR : Pour explorer et exprimer en douceur ton état émotionnel à travers la métaphore de la météo. Ce rituel visuel t’invite à observer, nommer et honorer ton paysage intérieur—sans jugement. Materials | Matériel - A blank sheet of paper - Colored pencils, markers, or watercolor - Optional: collage materials, stickers, or natural elements (leaves, petals, etc.) Prompt | Consigne EN: Close your eyes. Take three slow breaths. Ask yourself: What is the weather in my heart today? Is it cloudy, stormy, sunny, foggy, windy, or calm? Let your hand draw what you feel. Use colors, shapes, and textures to map your emotional sky. There is no wrong way to feel. Let your page become a sky that holds it all. FR: Ferme les yeux. Respire lentement trois fois. Demande-toi : Quel est le climat de mon cœur aujourd’hui ? Est-ce nuageux, orageux, ensoleillé, brumeux, venteux ou calme ? Laisse ta main dessiner ce que tu ressens. Utilise des couleurs, des formes, des textures pour créer ta carte du ciel intérieur. Il n’y a pas de mauvaise émotion. Ta page est un ciel qui accueille tout. Reflection | Réflexion EN:- What surprised you about your emotional weather? - What do you need today, knowing this is your sky? FR :- Qu’est-ce qui t’a surpris dans ton climat émotionnel ? - De quoi as-tu besoin aujourd’hui, en connaissant ton ciel intérieur ? Use this sky to reflect, draw, or simply rest. www.kookofleurs.com . Email: contact@kookofleurs.com

Koöko Fleurs -The Petals of Presence Color Your Feelings is a transformative art therapy program designed to help participants explore and express their emotions through the vibrant world of color. Rooted in the philosophy of Koöko Fleurs Therapy, this program invites individuals of all backgrounds to embark on a creative journey that fosters self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. Throughout this program, you will engage in a variety of artistic activities, including painting, collage, and color therapy exercises, all carefully crafted to unlock your inner world. Guided by expert art therapists, you will learn how different colors can represent and influence your feelings, and how creative expression can be a powerful tool for managing stress, processing trauma, and enhancing overall well-being. EN: A gentle invitation to assign colors to your emotions. This worksheet helps you explore how feelings can be expressed visually—through hues, tones, and intuitive color choices. FR : Une invitation douce à attribuer des couleurs à tes émotions. Cette fiche t'aide à explorer comment les ressentis peuvent être exprimés visuellement—par des teintes, des nuances et des choix intuitifs. Materials | Matériel - Colored pencils, markers, paper - Crayons de couleur, feutres, papier Prompt | Consigne EN: Choose 3 emotions you feel today. Assign a color to each one. Then, create a drawing or abstract composition using those colors to represent your emotional state. FR : Choisis 3 émotions que tu ressens aujourd'hui. Attribue une couleur à chacune. Puis, réalise un dessin ou une composition abstraite en utilisant ces couleurs pour représenter ton état émotionnel. Reflection | Réflexion EN: - What emotions were easiest to color? - What surprised you about your color choices? FR : - Quelles émotions étaient les plus faciles à colorier ? - Qu'est-ce qui t'a surpris dans tes choix de couleurs ? Use your paper to create your emotional color composition. Utilise du papier pour créer ta composition émotionnelle en couleurs. www.kookofleurs.com Email: contact@kookofleurs.com

A Poetic Practice of Presence, Breath, and Emotional Safety Mindfulness is a rebellion. A soft one. A sacred one. It is the art of arriving—fully, gently, without apology. Not to fix, but to feel. Not to escape, but to return. My mindfulness coaching is not about discipline or silence. It is about poetic presence. About creating rituals that help you feel safe in your body, clear in your breath, and alive in your rhythm. What Is Poetic Mindfulness? It is a sensory, therapeutic practice that blends: - Breathwork as emotional anchor - Gentle movement as embodied affirmation - Poetic prompts to guide reflection and self-awareness - Sensory rituals using scent, texture, and sound to ground and soothe Each session is a sanctuary. A place to listen inward, to soften, to remember. “Mindfulness is not stillness—it is noticing the dance.” Who Is It For? - Adults navigating stress, grief, or creative fatigue - Children needing emotional regulation and sensory grounding - Artists, caregivers, and therapists seeking renewal - Anyone longing for a gentle way to reconnect with self Sessions are adapted for neurodiverse needs, trauma-informed care, and bilingual expression (French/English). What We Explore Together - Breath rituals: poetic breathing sequences to calm and clarify - Emotional weather maps: tracking your inner climate with color and metaphor - Sensory grounding: using scent, texture, and sound to anchor presence - Poetic journaling: writing as a mirror of breath and emotion - Movement rituals: gentle gestures to affirm vitality and release tension You do not need to sit still. You do not need to “empty your mind.” You only need to arrive. “To be mindful is to be kind—to your breath, your body, your becoming.” Formats Offered - Individual coaching sessions (in-person or virtual) - Family or caregiver-child rituals - Seasonal mindfulness kits (printable or physical) - Poetic worksheets for breath tracking and emotional reflection - Group workshops with sensory and poetic themes My Approach: Gentle, Poetic, and Grounded I do not teach mindfulness as discipline—I offer it as devotion. My coaching is: - Emotionally safe: trauma-informed, inclusive, and sensory-aware - Grounded: rooted in art therapy, emotional regulation, and lived experience - Adaptable: honoring your energy, your story, your way of arriving Whether you come with tension or tenderness, you are welcome here. An Invitation to Breathe If you are tired of pushing, come soften. If you are lost in thought, come return. If you are longing for quiet, come listen. Let breath be your guide. Let presence be your poem. Let this ritual be your renewal. “You are allowed to arrive slowly. You are allowed to feel safely.”

The Petals of Presence EN: This worksheet invites you to reflect on seasonal transitions and welcome gentle renewal. FR: Cette fiche t'invite à réfléchir aux transitions saisonnières et à accueillir un renouveau doux. Materials | Matériel - Paper / Papier- Colored pencils / Crayons de couleur - Natural objects / Objets naturels - Optional: candle or seasonal item / Optionnel : bougie ou objet saisonnier Prompt | Consigne EN: - What season are you in emotionally? Describe its colors, textures, and mood. What do you wish to release from the past season? - What gentle rituals can support your renewal? - Create a seasonal altar or collage using symbols of your current emotional season. FR: - Quelle saison vis-tu émotionnellement ? - Décris ses couleurs, textures et ambiance. - Que souhaites-tu libérer de la saison passée - Quels rituels doux peuvent soutenir ton renouveau ? - Crée un autel ou collage saisonnier avec des symboles de ta saison émotionnelle actuelle. Reflection | Réflexion EN: - What does renewal mean to you right now? - How can you honor your seasonal rhythm in daily life? FR: - Que signifie le renouveau pour toi en ce moment ? - Comment peux-tu honorer ton rythme saisonnier au quotidien ? Optional Template | Gabarit optionnel EN: Use a paper or a journal to draw your seasonal altar, collage, or emotional symbols. FR: Utilise du papier ou un journal pour dessiner ton autel saisonnier, collage ou symboles émotionnels.

Emotions are reflections, not flaws. Look gently, name what rises, and choose how to respond. Emotions are energy in motion—waves that move through the body, shaped by our thoughts, memories, and needs. They are not random. They are responses to something meaningful: a boundary crossed, a dream stirred, a fear awakened, a joy remembered. Each emotion carries a message: - Anger says: Something needs to change. - Sadness says: Something needs to be mourned. - Fear says: Something needs to be protected. - Joy says: Something is aligned. Emotions are not weaknesses. They are intelligence. They are truth. They are calls to presence. How Do Emotions Work? Emotions begin in the body before they reach the mind. A tight chest. A flushed face. A trembling hand. Then come the thoughts—the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening. And finally, the behavior: the reaction, the withdrawal, the explosion, the silence. To manage emotions, we must interrupt the cycle—not by force, but by awareness. We pause. We breathe. We choose. Why Do Emotions Matter? Because they guide us. Because they protect us. Because they connect us. When we ignore our emotions, they don’t disappear. They store themselves in the body, in the breath, in the skin. But when we honor them, they move, they release, they transform. Managing emotions is not about control. It’s about relationship. It’s about ritual. It’s about returning to self. How to Manage Your Emotions A poetic guide for those who feel deeply, live gently, and seek clarity in the storm Emotions are not problems to solve. They are signals. They are sacred messengers. They rise like tides, like winds, like whispers from within. To manage them is not to silence them— but to listen, to honor, and to choose how we respond. Step One: Recognize the Wave Before the emotion speaks in words, it speaks in the body. A tight chest. A racing heart. A sudden heat. Pause. Notice. Name it: “This is anger.” “This is fear.” “This is grief.” Naming is the first act of presence. Step Two: Breathe Before You Speak When the wave rises, we want to react. But healing begins in the pause. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Let the nervous system soften. Let the mind return to choice. Step Three: Express with Intention Your emotions deserve space, but not every space is safe. Choose your moment. Choose your words. Write. Whisper. Move. Let the emotion become art, not explosion. Step Four: Ritualize Regulation You are allowed to feel. You are allowed to soothe. Try: - A hand on your heart - A walk in silence - A warm drink and a soft light - Drawing what you feel - Speaking to yourself like someone you love These are not escapes. They are bridges. Step Five: Ask What the Emotion Wants Every emotion carries a need. Anger may want boundaries. Sadness may want rest. Fear may want safety. Ask: “What are you trying to protect?” Then respond with care. Step Six: Practice Emotional Literacy Managing emotions is not a one-time fix. It’s a daily practice. A gentle return. A conversation with the self. You can learn. You can grow. You can ask for help. Therapists, guides, and companions exist to hold space with you. Final Blessing: You Are Not Too Much Your emotions are not flaws. They are proof that you are alive, awake, and worthy. To manage them is to honor them. To honor them is to honor yourself. You are not broken. You are becoming. And every breath is a return to calm.

1. Prepare Your Materials with Presence Begin by choosing materials that resonate emotionally. As you gather each item, pause and breathe in your intention—peace, grounding, clarity, or renewal. You’ll need: - Durable fabric (cotton, linen, or upcycled textiles) - Thread in a color that reflects your chosen energy - Stuffing: buckwheat hulls, rice, kapok, or recycled wool - Scissors, pins, measuring tape - Needle or sewing machine - Optional: zipper or drawstring Choose textures and tones that evoke your desired emotional state—soft neutrals for calm, deep blues for introspection, warm ochres for creativity. 2. Cut Your Fabric Thoughtfully Create a classic zafu shape: two circles and one long rectangle. - Top & Bottom Circles: 30–35 cm in diameter - Side Panel: 12–20 cm high, length = circumference of your circles Mark and cut slowly, letting each movement be a gesture of care. 3. Sew with Intention As you stitch, breathe deeply and repeat your chosen mantra silently. 1. Pin and sew the side panel to one circle. 2. Add gentle pleats for structure and grace. 3. Attach the second circle, leaving a small opening. 4. Fill with stuffing, pausing to reflect as you do. Each stitch becomes a thread of presence. 4. Infuse with Ritual Before sealing the cushion, tuck in a symbolic offering: - A handwritten mantra or poem - Dried herbs (lavender, mugwort, rosemary) - A small crystal or token of meaning This transforms your cushion into a vessel of intention. 5. Create Your Sacred Space Place your cushion in a quiet corner. Surround it with objects that support your practice—candles, poetry, natural textures, or seasonal flowers. Let it become a sanctuary for breath, stillness, and return..

Lanterns Festival 2025 in Belleville, Paris 75011 Each year, as the full moon rises in early autumn, communities across Asia and beyond gather in celebration—not merely of harvest or festivity, but of something far older and deeper: the human longing for wholeness, reunion, and illumination. These full moon festivals, often held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, are among the most enduring cultural rituals in the world. Though they vary in name and expression—Chuseok in Korea, Mid-Autumn Festival in China, Tsukimi in Japan, Tết Trung Thu in Vietnam—they share a common pulse: the moon as a mirror of emotional clarity, ancestral connection, and cyclical renewal. Origins Rooted in Myth and Agriculture The tradition of honoring the full moon dates back thousands of years. In ancient China, moon worship began during the Zhou dynasty (circa 1046–256 BCE), when emperors offered sacrifices to the moon goddess Chang’e to ensure a bountiful harvest. Over time, this ritual evolved into the Mid-Autumn Festival, blending Taoist cosmology, agricultural gratitude, and romantic legend. In Korea, Chuseok emerged from early harvest celebrations and ancestral rites. Some trace its origin to gabae, a weaving contest during the Silla dynasty (57 BCE–935 CE), while others link it to shamanic rituals that honored the earth’s fertility and the spirits of the departed. Japan’s Tsukimi, or “moon viewing,” was popularized during the Heian period (794–1185), when aristocrats gathered to compose poetry under the moonlight, reflecting on the beauty and impermanence of life. Vietnam’s Tết Trung Thu, though now centered around children, began as a harvest festival and lunar tribute, with roots in both Chinese influence and indigenous traditions. Across these cultures, the full moon was not just a celestial event—it was a spiritual threshold. It marked the moment when the veil between worlds thinned, when ancestors could be honored, intentions set, and gratitude expressed. Shared Symbolism Across Borders Despite regional differences, full moon festivals share profound symbolic themes: - Wholeness and Unity: The roundness of the moon represents completeness, family reunion, and emotional integration. - Illumination and Insight: The moon’s brightness is seen as a time for clarity, reflection, and spiritual awakening. - Cycles and Renewal: These festivals honor the rhythm of nature, the turning of seasons, and the continuity of life. - Ancestral Connection: Many rituals involve offerings to ancestors, reinforcing lineage, memory, and belonging. - Embodied Storytelling: Through dance, attire, food, and lanterns, communities express identity, resilience, and collective memory. Rituals That Continue to Evolve Today, these festivals are celebrated with lantern parades, mooncakes, rice cakes, traditional dress, and dance performances. Yet beneath the surface of festivity lies a quiet continuity: the honoring of ancient rhythms in modern form. Lanterns are no longer just symbols of light—they are emotional vessels, carrying wishes, memories, and prayers. Mooncakes are not just desserts—they are edible tokens of reunion and generosity. Dance and attire become living archives of cultural heritage, passed from generation to generation. Even in urban settings, where skyscrapers obscure the moon and traditions adapt to modern life, the essence remains. Families gather. Stories are told. The moon rises—and with it, a shared breath of remembrance. A Universal Invitation Full moon festivals remind us that celebration can be sacred. That light, when ritualized, becomes healing. That across cultures, languages, and histories, we are united by the same lunar pull—the desire to feel whole, to honor our roots, and to illuminate our path forward. Whether one gazes at the moon in Seoul, Hanoi, Kyoto, or Belleville, the gesture is the same: a pause, a reflection, a quiet offering to something greater. These rituals endure not because they are preserved, but because they are felt. And as long as the moon continues to rise, so too will the lanterns, the stories, and the memory. Beneath the full moon, stories rise in silk and light. Lanterns glow with memory, dance speaks of ancestry, and every face reflects a different path to peace. A ritual of unity, carried across generations. What does the full moon illuminate in you? A memory, a longing, a truth you’re ready to honor? Let its light guide you inward—toward wholeness, clarity, and quiet renewal.

The Pop & Psy Festival is a free, inclusive, and non-profit cultural and scientific event dedicated to mental health awareness and innovation. The 2025 edition takes place from October 10 to 12 at Communale Saint-Ouen (10 bis rue de l’Hippodrome, Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine), transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of emotional resonance and creative exchange. Coinciding with World Mental Health Day, the festival deepens its commitment to emotional truth and public healing. It features roundtables, interactive talks, live concerts, DJ sets, graphic art exhibitions, and hands-on workshops—all designed to destigmatize mental health and foster dialogue between experts, artists, survivors, and the public. Notable participants include Muriel Robin, Isabelle Carré, Mathias Malzieu, Camille Chamoux, Mahaut Drama, Noam Sinseau, and many others. A highlight of the event is the “Village des Solutions,” showcasing innovative approaches to mobility, energy, digital inclusion, circular economy, food, biodiversity, water, climate, health, and education. The atmosphere is both festive and reflective, offering a rare space where personal testimony and public engagement coexist in healing harmony. World Mental Health Day 2025: A Poetic Reflection in Times of Crisis Observed today, October 10, World Mental Health Day 2025 carries the theme: “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.” This global initiative calls attention to the emotional toll of crises and the urgent need for compassionate, accessible care. Each year, World Mental Health Day invites us to pause—not just to raise awareness, but to feel the weight and wonder of emotional well-being. In 2025, the theme resonates with piercing clarity: mental health in catastrophes and emergencies. From climate disasters to displacement, from war zones to personal upheaval, the call is clear—mental health support must not be a luxury, but a lifeline. This year’s observance is especially poignant in spaces like the Pop & Psy Festival, where survivors, artists, and advocates gather to speak truth into silence. Their lived experiences transform the room into a sanctuary of shared vulnerability and strength. These voices are not statistics—they are testimonies of survival and reclamation. The World Federation for Mental Health reminds us that 1 in 8 people globally live with a mental health condition, and in times of crisis, that number surges. Yet access to care remains fractured. This year’s campaign urges governments, communities, and individuals to build networks of support that reach into the margins—where trauma often hides. How You Can Ritualize This Day! A poetic guide to honoring emotional truth in times of crisis This day is not just a date—it’s a threshold. A moment to pause, feel, and respond. Whether you are a survivor, a caregiver, an artist, or simply a witness to the world’s ache, here are rituals you can enact to transform awareness into presence: - Light a Candle for the Unspoken     Choose a scent that evokes safety—lavender, sandalwood, or unscented if silence feels sacred.     As the flame flickers, name aloud (or in your heart) one truth you’ve carried quietly.     Let the light hold it for you. - Write a Letter to Your Past or Future Self   Begin with “I see you.”   Whether you write to the child you were or the elder you’re becoming, let tenderness guide your pen.   Seal it in an envelope, or fold it into your journal as a private offering. - Create a Visual Moodboard of Emotional Safety   Use photos, textures, colors, or found objects.  Include symbols of resilience: a tree, a bridge, a hand, a mirror.   Let it be messy, intuitive, and yours. - Curate a Mental Health First Aid Basket: include a satin pillow, affirmation cards, herbal tea, a grounding stone, and a journal.   Place it somewhere visible. Let it remind you that care is always within reach. - Share a Survivor-Centered Story   If you have lived through crisis, consider sharing a fragment of your truth—online, in a circle, or through art.   If you are a witness, amplify voices that speak from lived experience.   Honor the storyteller, not just the story. - Host a Micro-Gathering or Listening Ritual   Invite one or more people to sit in circle.   Pose a gentle question: “What does safety feel like in your body?”   Listen without fixing. Witness without interruption. - Create a Sound Ritual   Build a playlist that moves through grief, courage, and renewal.   Begin with silence. End with a song that feels like breath returning. - Practice a Grounding Sequence   Touch something cold.   Name five things you see.   Breathe in for four counts, out for six.   Repeat until your body feels like home again. - Post a Poetic Reflection   Whether it’s one line or a full poem, share your emotional truth in a space that welcomes it.   Use hashtags like #WorldMentalHealthDay #RitualsOfCare #EmotionalSafety to join the global conversation. I left with impressions.   Not facts alone, but frequencies.   A palette of emotional hues:  Lavender for courage, blooming in the voices that dared to speak.   Charcoal for grief, soft and smudged, marking the spaces between stories.   Gold for resilience, radiant and quiet, threaded through every testimony.   To remind us that healing is not a destination, but a rhythm—one we can choose to join, one breath at a time.