DAILY LIVINGWITH LATVIAN DAINAS Latvian "Dainas" are lovely, and this is why I'd like to share them with You! Dainas are small 4-lined versus originating in ancient Latvia. They are reflections of Natural phenomenon, from the smallest organisms and entities to the largest entities and dimensions. Expand-contract. Each a reflection of each other. Most importantly, the dainas are our human experience here on earth. They are observations of how we interact with all around us. We can enjoy them as entertainment, as we observe others, or we can use them as tools to help ourselves get through the day.  Although Latvian language grammar can be difficult, the dainas do not require it, as the relationship among objects are described in daina structure. All that is need is a few hundred words, and intuitive understanding of the stage and cast, as described in my essay Saule Sēta Saites (Sun Fences Connections) CREATING YOUR OWN STORY, using ancient daina principles let the movies begin....  "rollem!" Dainas are a collection of over million 4-lined verses, which "paint" a "frame" in Nature. A series of frames makes a small "movie" of a situation in Nature. To create our own story, we improvise, by reflecting what we see in nature, to our own life experience. Then we can use any medium to communicate these series of frames. For example, a tradition national costume "lielvardes" belt, has ancient symbols on it, explaining the wearer's life history. Today we can use an animated comic strip posted online, or we can create a song. After all, the dainas started as an oral tradition...the possibilities are endless. The dainas explain how nature works through the seasons. How we humans naturally react and do things. So although our lifestyle economics are different from when these were first produced, Nature itself is constant, so always relevant. all the world's a stage... I've summarized the Daina stage with this moniker: Saule-Seta-Saites (see link above). Saule means Sun. Sēta means fences boundaries, Saites means connections. From the Whole universe containing the sun - the sparkling sun entity in us as part of whole - we live in our communities, homes, jurisdictions - the fenced boundaries. Everyday life is about the connections we make within this stage - saites. Connections are made by a cast of characters. Once you understand the stage, and the characters, you are free to create your life stories -connections- by using the original Daina frames, or using the ideas within the frames, to create your own life movies. The ancient original Dainas have many sequences in place already. It is noteworthy, that they are done with light humour, and say a lot with very little. And this is how Nature works. It's straight forward, it's light, it's safe. No matter how off balance and out of touch we become, Nature is constant. This is the powerful, meaningful comfort I find in Dainas, and the improvisations I apply everyday, in living in general, and in creating. Home