Birthdays, Fatherhood & Emptiness | March Newsletter

Hi there!

What a month! On February 14, 2025, our daughter, Cleo Alba, was born. She is soooo cute! And healthy and well—just like Marie.

Today, March 14 is my 32nd birthday and the birthday of this newsletter! Exciting!

Every month, I am planning to share with you:

• Something by Ivo - My latest creative work
• Something to Use - A helpful tool I recommend
• Something to Reflect On - Content that inspired me
• Something on Meditation - Meditation-related inspiration
• Something Beautiful - A quote, poem, or other beautiful piece

Something by Ivo

It's been a creative month!

First of all, I launched Learn with Ivo—a space to share my reflections on fatherhood, meditation, and life. I've already posted Why I Love Being a Father – My Thoughts After 5 Days (also available in German), along with some texts from my first blog in 2022.

I also created some pages on Meditation, including pages about Wise Reflection Practice (and how to get started with it), Brahmavihara Practice, and Samatha Practice, linking my relevant YouTube videos.

This was possible, because I finally started my YouTube channel, Meditation with Ivo, to share guided meditations and dharma talks.

Meditation with Ivo

Welcome! My name is Ivo, and this channel is dedicated to meditation as a tool for deep insight, heartfulness, and personal growth. My practice is rooted in the book The Mind Illuminated, blending Buddhist teachings with scientific understanding. I place a strong emphasis on the Brahmavihārās (heartfulness practices) and wise reflections, helping you integrate meditation into daily life. Here, you’ll find guided meditations, reflections, and teachings designed to make meditation practical and transformative—turning life’s challenges into opportunities for wisdom and growth (putting them on the path). Subscribe to explore mindfulness, awareness, and heartfulness with me! 🌿✨

YouTube

I've already received great feedback on the uploaded meditations, especially the Self-Compassion for Insight and Wise Reflection on Compassion and Equanimity practices.

Something to Use

Want to watch YouTube videos (and guided meditations 😉) without advertising? Try Brave Browser! I've been using it on mobile for six months and I really like it. Brave also seems to do better than other browsers in terms of speed an privacy.

Something to Reflect On

I first come across Donald Hoffmann's TED Talk Do we see reality as it is? years ago in a book club discussion. Recently, in my meditation teacher training we've been exploring the concept of Emptiness, and this talk resurfaced. It’s a fascinating look at how much of what we think we know might not be as solid as we assume.

If you enjoy this, consider checking out his deeper talk: Donald Hoffman | The Case Against Reality

Something on Meditation

Sticking with the theme of Emptiness, I recently listened to a conversation between the two meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Guy Armstrong.

While it’s an advanced topic, I still want to share it for those of you wanting something deeper. They discuss key Buddhist concepts like the Three Characteristics (Impermanence, Emptiness, and Unsatisfactoriness) and how to apply them in practice and daily life.

Something Beautiful

Marie and I "rediscovered" this poem during our very first walk with Cleo. It resonated deeply with us and aligns very well with this month's themes.

I'm sharing both the original German version and its English translation below. Enjoy!

Stufen (Steps) by Hermann Hesse

Wie jede Blüte welkt und jede Jugend
Dem Alter weicht, blüht jede Lebensstufe,
Blüht jede Weisheit auch und jede Tugend
Zu ihrer Zeit und darf nicht ewig dauern.
Es muß das Herz bei jedem Lebensrufe
Bereit zum Abschied sein und Neubeginne,
Um sich in Tapferkeit und ohne Trauern
In andre, neue Bindungen zu geben.
Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne,
Der uns beschützt und der uns hilft, zu leben.

Wir sollen heiter Raum um Raum durchschreiten
An keinem wie an einer Heimat hängen,
Der Weltgeist will nicht fesseln uns und engen,
Er will uns Stuf’ um Stufe heben, weiten.
Kaum sind wir heimisch einem Lebenskreise
Und traulich eingewohnt, so droht Erschlaffen,
Nur wer bereit zu Aufbruch ist und Reise,
Mag lähmender Gewöhnung sich entraffen.

Es wird vielleicht auch noch die Todesstunde
Uns neuen Räumen jung entgegen senden,
Des Lebens Ruf an uns wird niemals enden…
Wohlan denn, Herz, nimm Abschied und gesunde!

As every blossom fades
and all youth sinks into old age,
so every life’s design, each flower of wisdom,
attains its prime and cannot last forever.
The heart must submit itself courageously
to life’s call without a hint of grief,
A magic dwells in each beginning,
protecting us, telling us how to live.

High purposed we shall traverse realm on realm,
cleaving to none as to a home,
the world of spirit wishes not to fetter us
but raise us higher, step by step.
Scarce in some safe accustomed sphere of life
have we establish a house, then we grow lax;
only he who is ready to journey forth
can throw old habits off.

Maybe death’s hour too will send us out new-born
towards undreamed-lands,
maybe life’s call to us will never find an end
Courage my heart, take leave and fare thee well.

Source of the English translation: Steps by Hermann Hesse.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful month!
Ivo