Tucked away in the historic Cimetière de Laeken in Brussels lies a mausoleum that draws attention once a year for a truly remarkable display. Built in 1920 for Léonce Evrard and his wife, Louise Flignot, the tomb features a solemn sculpture of a mourner, arm outstretched toward a blank wall. However, it’s on the Summer Solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, that the mausoleum’s true magic is revealed.
At precisely noon on June 21, sunlight pierces through an opening in the roof, creating a heart-shaped beam of light. This ethereal glow forms for just a few moments, hovering above the mourner's hand—almost as if the figure is reaching out for this symbolic heart of light.
The phenomenon only lasts for about 15 minutes, but it has captivated visitors for decades, many of whom see it as a romantic testament to enduring love. The heart of light, cast during the longest day of the year, adds an emotional depth to the otherwise somber scene.
I looked up the word ‘yellow’ the other day.
I found so many shades of yellow that they had been distinguished by words like gold honey daffodil.
I found words like fire and sand and champagne and lemon and sunbeam and I even found a song.
Now imagine someone telling yellow that it’s ‘just yellow’.
When yellow is a sunbeam and a daffodil and fire. When yellow is a song.
Without yellow, we couldn’t make orange and we couldn’t create green and our world would be far less colourful because of it.
Yellow’s true colours are not limited to one thing. And neither are yours.
Some days you are dark and fiery and intense.
Some days you are rich and bright and vibrant.
Some days you are buttercups and dandelions and some days you are champagne and a song.
And without you, someone’s life would be far less bright and far less beautiful.
You are you as yellow is yellow.
And the world needs you.
Because, no matter what you think, you are not ‘just you’.
You are so much more.
💛🌼💛🌼
Becky Hemsley
Lovely artwork by Colin Page
Everyday is a new beginning
Although the world is full of suffering it is also full of overcoming it. — Helen Keller
Actress Jeanette MacDonald holding a cat named Puzzums in 1932. Puzzums was a cat featured in a few early films with MacDonald and others for his ability to do tricks onscreen, such as crossing the eyes, feeding himself from a baby bottle and feigning laughter on command. In mostly uncredited roles, his salary on-set was $250/week ($4500/week today.)
The concept of perfection was created by a flawed mind.
"Rich or poor is not a function of money. But rather only depends on how much you think you need." - Buddha