Fiona studied Fine Arts and Spanish at the University at Albany in New York. She is a Heartfulness trainer and a certified Yoga instructor. Fiona is inspired by nature and is passionate about creating introspective spaces to share with others through her landscape paintings, photography, music, and conversation.

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Fiona Neary

<h4
    id="h-fiona-neary-celebrates-diversity-as-a-way-to-create-communities-that-are-vibrant-dynamic-and-interesting-she-finds-ways-to-overcome-language-barriers-and-discover-common-experience-and-ways-of-communication-that-are-uplifting-and-allow-us-all-to-flourish">
    <strong><span style="color: #cc4242">FIONA NEARY</span>
        celebrates diversity as a way to create communities that are vibrant,
        dynamic, and interesting. She finds ways to overcome language barriers, and
        discover common experience and ways of communication that are uplifting and
        allow us all to flourish.</strong>
</h4>

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<p>
    In nature, there is a tendency for plants of many species to grow in diverse
    communities; climbing, crawling, fruiting, sturdy vegetation that support one
    another like a symphony. There is beauty and harmony in the offerings of each
    plant and flower, and every bug and animal living nearby also benefit from
    this array of sustenance. They are all different colors and shapes. But
    despite the variety, all plant life is working toward a simple goal: to
    thrive, rise to the sun, and let life blossom into future generations.
</p>

<p>
    I think we are very similar to our green-leafed friends. We have the inherent
    desire to help each other grow and reach our full potential. This beautiful
    spark of humanity is easily seen when we have a common goal centered around
    community, caring for one another, with a focus bigger than ourselves.Any
    perceived differences naturally fall away. At the same time, we are all
    unique, and the many cultural and demographic distinctions make the human
    experience so fascinating.
</p>

<p>
    I have felt the greatest sense of unity amongst large groups of people,
    sharing a common goal and direction, or the appreciation for something
    beautiful. I have traveled overseas a few times and experienced deep
    connections with people in airports; people I would probably never encounter
    otherwise. Sometimes, there is a feeling of overwhelm and vulnerability. But
    when you share this duality of emotion with another traveler, there is a
    strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork when heading to the destination
    together.
</p>

<p>
    This in-between space can foster the most wonderful synchronicity. I think it
    is the magic in travel. Being in an unfamiliar place can strip away the
    conditioned behaviors we follow daily, and enables us to step away from our
    differences and embrace each other’s humanness.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    I think experiencing different cultures is an essential part of life. Even
    with language barriers we find other ways to communicate. Smiles are a
    universal form of body language! Our human hearts are always connected to each
    other, just like tree roots are connected to each other through the soil.
</p>

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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
    <span class="has-vivid-red-color">Smiles are a universal form of body language! </span><br /><span
        class="has-vivid-red-color">Our human hearts are always connected to each other,
    </span><br /><span class="has-vivid-red-color">just like tree roots are connected to each other
        through the soil.</span>
</h4>

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<p>
    Music can unite people of all backgrounds. Its sweet sounds are heard floating
    through the subways, buskers on the street, and from children’s mouths. In a
    large, bustling metropolis like New York City, I have seen musicians draw a
    crowd. People appreciate the beautiful melodies. A feeling of unity and
    togetherness is apparent, and no one cares what class, status, age, or race
    the other people are. There is just music!&nbsp;In difficult times, music is
    one thing that can soften hearts and let us breathe in the light of comfort
    and community in the gravity of it all.&nbsp;
</p>

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<p>
    In modern times, social media is one of the primary methods of communication
    and knowledge-sharing. I believe it is so important to be conscious of what we
    are allowing into our minds from the cyber world. In the beginning of the
    year, I decided to follow people and social media accounts that fill my heart
    and show the best side of humanity, for example, accounts on Instagram that
    share only good news.There are people greeting family members for the first
    time in years, surprising grandparents on their birthdays, doing something
    simple and meaningful. These videos and stories are sent in from all over the
    world, people from every culture and background, and you can feel the beauty
    in human connection.
</p>

<p>
    It is so easy to have empathy when we see someone overcome with joy and tears
    in their eyes. When I am down, I sometimes watch one of these videos, and
    become filled with love.
</p>

<p>
    I am also very interested in stories of strangers or friends sharing openly
    about life and healing together through a common understanding. Thoraya
    Maronesey is a filmmaker who interviews strangers in different cities to find
    out their secrets. They choose to stay anonymous or show their faces.
    Something about this casual invitation allows them to feel seen and heard.
    Hearing the struggles of others helps us feel a little less alone in whatever
    we are going through.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    There is so much in the news that can make us feel divided. Sometimes we feel
    lonely or unheard, or brought down in sadness. But there is so much good
    happening also! We can live and flourish like the many plants in a garden and
    lift each other up. By getting curious about different cultures, we see that
    we are all part of the same small, vibrant globe.
</p>

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Unity in diversity

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  <span style="color: #09883e"><strong>A Taste of Kanha Shanti Vanam</strong></span>
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  A regenerative community sharing innovation and ideas to nurture people and
  the planet.
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  <strong><span style="color: #0fae1d">Green Education</span></strong>
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  <strong><span style="color: #0bb12c">Explore and discover the gifts of
      Nature</span></strong>
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  <strong><span style="color: #25ce12">Women and Saplings</span></strong>
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  <strong><span style="color: #1ebc4a">Come to Kanha. Learn. Grow. Share.
      Spread.</span></strong>
</p>

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  <span style="color: #50c433">“Knowing that you love the Earth changes you,
    <br />activates you to
    defend and protect and celebrate. <br />But when you feel that the Earth
    loves you in return, <br />that relationship transforms from a one-way
    street to a sacred bond.”</span>
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  <em><span style="color: #50c433">Robin Wall Kimmerer</span></em>
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Heartfulness Green

<h4>
    <strong><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#2fbfc9" class="has-inline-color">FIONA
            NEARY</mark> is passionate about creating introspective spaces to share with others through painting,
        photography, music, and conversation. She and her mother <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"
            class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color">DEBORAH NEARY</mark> have created a fun exercise
        for us. It is both creative and enlightening.</strong>
</h4>



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<img alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life"
    src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life1_98c1721188.jpg"
    class="lazyload has-img-center" />


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<img alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life"
    src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life2_c875e07ca2.jpg"
    class="lazyload has-img-center" />


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<img alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life"
    src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life3_18d5d10b06.jpg"
    class="lazyload has-img-center" />


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<p>Trees are foundational in Nature. They grow from the smallest seed, but have the potential to create an entire
    forest. Trees are structured to withstand the strongest storms and the most severe weather. Their roots keep
    them steady in the ground, they grow trunks that carry water to the treetops. Then in spring and summer, flowers
    and leaves color their branches, give protection to the birds and nourishment to our atmosphere. We, as humans
    also have relationships and habits in our lives that give us strong foundations to flourish and grow as people.
    As a metaphor, we can compare ourselves to the parts of a tree.</p>



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<h4 class="text-center"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#2fbfc9" class="has-inline-color">We, as
        humans also have relationships and habits in our lives <br>that give us
        strong foundations to flourish and grow as people. <br>As a metaphor, we can compare ourselves to the parts
        of a tree.</mark></h4>



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<p>In this exercise, you draw a tree that represents YOU! There are so many trees in the world. Do you have a
    favorite? Are there any you can see outside your window or in a local park? Maybe a tree that exists far away…
    like the Baobab in Africa, a tropical palm, or an alpine spruce.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Don’t worry about drawing it correctly, express from the heart. And then think about some things in your life
    that have positively shaped you… who, or what may be in your roots, your trunk, branches, and leaves.</p>



<p>The roots represent your history – the family you come from, your heritage, strong influences which shaped your
    beliefs.</p>



<p>The trunk represents your life today – what is your career? Your “chosen” family, the organizations and
    communities in which you belong.</p>



<p>The branches represent places in your life that are stable and supportive – where you can jump and always know
    you will land safely, no matter how hard you fall.&nbsp;</p>



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<h4 class="text-center"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#2fbfc9" class="has-inline-color">We hoped
        to show the various ways the “tree of life” can be drawn, <br>and the ways
        each of our lives are all unique.</mark></h4>



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<p>The leaves represent your passions, hobbies, and other influences – friends, books, music, sports, ways you spend
    your free time.</p>



<p>The fruits represent the result of action – has acting on your creativity and talents resulted in something
    wonderful? Have you created something new for the world to see? Have you started a new group or program?</p>



<p>Other parts of the tree – for example, buds could represent new hopes and dreams for the future, thorns could be
    difficulties in life or protection from harm.</p>



<p>My mother and I created these drawings as we were traveling and it was a breath of fresh air to create amidst the
    travel stress. We hoped to show the various ways the “tree of life” can be drawn, and the ways each of our lives
    are all unique. Yours will probably be completely different!</p>



<p>Draw for 20 to 30 minutes, or continue for however long you wish. Feel free to share this exercise with family
    and friends, present them with your experience and what you’ve learned during the process! How did this feel to
    you?</p>



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<img alt="a-fun-exercise-tree-of-life"
    src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/fun_exercise_tree_of_life4_b48976bb6a.jpg"
    class="lazyload has-img-center" />


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<h4 class="text-center">Illustrations by FIONA AND DEBORAH NEARY</h4>



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