The insights we share in our Willow the Wonderer series is drawn from our lived experience of life and the many ups and downs that we have had to navigate - as well the more structured studies and practices we have done to fathom our mind!

I share one such retreat I did in a forest retreat near Bellingen that helped consolidate my understanding of the nature of mind - and see for myself if what all these contemplatives, philosophers and yogis have been saying/writing about was true ...

It is these insights and learnings that I draw upon when writing Willow the Wonderer books. We share more about our inspirations and creative process in the full episode so head to our YouTube channel or podcast page if interested to learn more.

Our motto is that "it's never too early to plant seeds of wisdom" - and this has to be a new record!

We are chuffed to be supporting the month long #readathon at the Royal Hospital for Women's Newborn Care Centre in Randwick, where they care for sick and premature babies from all over the state.

#Reading helps with brain development even at that tender stage - and is something parents are actively encouraged to do.

Shoutout to RN Jane Healy for helping source the books for her families - no doubt in her own time.  Wishing a lifetime of wonder, wisdom & joy for your little charges.

Ever wondered what inspires the stories and art in Willow the Wonderer? Tune into our latest episode to hear from Reeta and Darren on the key inspirations and influences behind each book. Here's a snippet of the conversation.

"New research from HarperCollins UK, however, has found the number of parents reading aloud to children is at an all-time low.

Fewer than half of parents of children under 13 said reading aloud to children was “fun for me”, while fewer than half of 0- to 4-year-olds are read to frequently."

Of all the things busy parents could be de-prioritising, #BedtimeStories shouldn't be one of them ...

My hot tip: If the books that you are reading feel boring, try looking for titles that have been developed with the long suffering parent in mind e.g. (plug incoming) our "Willow the Wonderer" series.

Threaded within our 'kids' books' are seeds of wisdom and metaphors specifically for the grown-up in the room so that they too may get enjoyment and learning out of the experience - even if it is the 100th time they are reading the book out aloud!

In a world drowning in distractions, we need to teach children the power of stillness and observation. Simple daily practices taught in schools could be the way that kids master the art of concentration - countering the corrosive effective of social media and other tech. It is confounding to think that "mind training" isn't already part of the standard curriculum...

Darren hated school. Reeta loved it. What both agree on however, is that our education system needs to change - and soon!

In this latest episode of our 'Wise As Podcast" we look at one of the most formative parts of our lives - schooling. We share our personal schooling experiences from different parts of the world and discuss the impact that traditional education system had on us.

With the benefit of hindsight and many years of 'adulting', as well as awareness of the changes that are afoot, we also discuss the aspects that needs to change: From personalized learning that reflects a student's strengths, interests and learning abilities to integrating mind training and ethics into the curriculum, reducing rote learning, and even shortening the time spent in formal education.

Yes, we believe that keeping young adults constrained within the confines of an institution during their formative years isn't the…

Happy Friday folks. Earlier this week we released the 3rd episode of our Podcast - focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) : Where the tech is, how it may evolve and implications on jobs and education. We end the discussion on what we should teach kids if AI is going to be doing all the snazzy jobs... If you have any thoughts on the topic - we'd love to hear it.

Are we chasing the wrong rewards? Society conditions us to seek external validation—good grades, promotions—but could true fulfillment, contentment, happiness might lie elsewhere?

Watch full episode: https://youtu.be/MoZQba-zBxE?si=2ZMpLLOEPtPXvhbs

Happy Monday! Sharing the 2nd Episode of our podcast series - we dive deep into the challenging stages of life and share our personal experiences. Reflecting on our teenage and early adulthood years, we discuss the importance of wisdom and life lessons that could have made these phases easier.

Our conversation underscores the significance of the Willow the Wonderer Series, which aims to impart timeless wisdom to children, helping them navigate life's ups and downs with a balanced perspective. Tune in to gain insights into how early wisdom can help alleviate suffering and guide you toward a more fulfilling life.

Prefer to read - Here's the blog with full transcript of the episode: https://www.wiseasstories.com/post/how-wisdom-can-help-us-get-through-hard-times-in-life