WATER – THE VERY ESSENCE OF LIFE with my guest, TATIANA E. BELLAVITA from Colombia, USA, Hong Kong and Bali
Smitten By Faith Issue# 00028 12th February 2022
If she were a star in the firmament, I think that the trilingual English, Spanish and Italian speaking TATIANA E. BELLAVITA would be one of the brightest stars. More than 25 years ago when my best friend Mirla Paniza Bellavita’s son, Rafael fell in love with this tall, amazingly beautiful girl from Colombia, I remember remarking to Mirla, at their fairy-tale wedding in Mexico, what a lucky man he was. I could already see from the kindness of Tatiana’s young heart which then already glowed as much as her stunning beauty that this Columbian beauty would be very good for Rafael and that together, they would have a most unusual life. And, after so many years, she has indeed proved this - a thousand-fold.
Left : You can see the super model figure of Tatiana here !
Right : Tatiana in pensive mood
To celebrate this Lunar Year of the Water Tiger in 2022, there was no doubt in my mind that the best person to write about WATER would be Tatiana Bellavita - not only because of her strong connections to the water industry and how passionate she is about this subject but also because of the deep humanitarian and compassion in this woman. She is definitely more than just a pretty face - as you will see below !
With a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado in Denver, Tatiana is the co-founder and head of product development for ‘Acquavibe’ and ‘Enfimi’, international leaders in the water industry with their sophisticated water filtration process with over 10 years of experience providing clean and healthy drinking water solutions to residential and commercial consumers. Aside from this Tatiana also takes pride and is responsible for all the socially responsible activities that her two companies take - giving clean water to communities in rural and urban areas. I see this for myself in Hong Kong where I live. Tatiana makes an impressive social impact in Hong Kong where she has promoted her brand through events such as the ‘Otto Brain Tumor Clinic’, and the HK University Hospital where Tatiana works closely with doctors to encourage patients to drink their water to assist in their overall health and well-being. Tatiana actively promotes her water through online media such as ‘Eco-zine’ and ‘Heartbeat HK’ and other magazines promoting self-sustainability and healthy living.
Left : At the Otto Brain Tumor Clinic Event in Hong Kong - a fund-raiser where Tatiana’s company donated the recyclable bottles and the Acquavibe water
Right : Tatiana recording a promotional event in Los Angeles for her Enfimi drinking water systems
Tatiana and her husband Rafael have lived all over the world but it is clear that their hearts are in Asia. On the business consulting side, Tatiana’s career has also been involved as an Advisor to ‘Asian Palette (2004-2008)’ in Thailand, where she overlooked all aspects from creation, packaging, labeling to the end product which included a whole range of over 180 skin care products made with 100% natural ingredients for the Six Senses Group and various Hotel and Resorts in South East Asia.
But, as I already mentioned, there is more to Tatiana than just business. Much more ! With a Fashion Design degree from the London College of Fashion, the creative side of Tatiana has resulted in ‘Tatiana Bellavita Designs’. Tatiana creates beautiful bespoke jewellery pieces that are one of a kind and hand-made using fair trade gemstones, gold and silver. She also designs handbag and shoes and her designs are sold in New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Clients include well known celebrities, singers, actors and musicians. Alongside this, Tatiana is the founder and designer of ‘Aware Scarves’ and ‘Positive Living Charms’, both companies of which were created to encourage the women and communities of Northern Thailand and Uganda to create a decent living and have pride in their long-held traditions. Clients for these two products included the Princess of Thailand and have been sold in Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Sydney.
Left : Tatiana in Bhutan wearing her Aware Scarf
Right : The weavers of Northern Thailand weaving the Aware Scarves
Left : Tatiana with the film star Geena Davis at a Fund Raising Event for Women in NYC. Geena Davis is wearing Tatiana’s jewellery
Middle : the Actress Kari Matchett wearing Tatiana’s jewellery
Right : a promotional advertisement for Tatiana’s jewellery against a backdrop of Water
Left : ‘Positive Living Charms’ created by Tatiana as a symbol of this positive energy she wants to spread all over the world
Middle : ‘Positive Living Charms’ in the Vatican
Right : Women in Uganda making beads for Positive Living Charms
Tatiana is also a Yoga Teacher in Hatha Raja Yoga, Reiki Master, Crystal Bowl Sound Healer, Master Crystal Healer and Quantum Bio-Resonance Practitioner. Tatiana was a Founding Director of The Jane Goodall Institute in Hong Kong since its inception in 2003 -2018. A non-profit organization whose objectives are to raise awareness amongst the youth of today of the growing concerns of the environment, animals and all living beings. Through the Roots and Shoots programs in Hong Kong, which involve the schools and the children, the program encourages them to make a difference through their own initiatives. This inspired Tatiana to write a children’s book, “Maya Dreams” which has been translated into 5 languages – the story of a young girl and her dog with whom in her dreams, she begins to travel to these magical lands discovering all sorts of beautiful animals, stones and stories.
Tatiana and her husband Rafael with Jane Goodall in Hong Kong at the Reading of ‘Maya Dreams’
And now - over to TATIANA E. BELLAVITA where she writes passionately about WATER !
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WATER – THE VERY ESSENCE OF LIFE
By Tatiana E. Bellavita Bali, Indonesia 12th February 2022
Religions from all over the World have used this very precious element as a bridge between spirit, life and the cosmos. The human body is over 85% water. Without it, we could possibly live only for a few days. Yet, if you think about it, how much time do you take in your daily life to think about water? You would first think about all the meals you will have in the day, before you would consider how important water is to your very existence.
Left : Crystal Bowl Playing for the waters in Easter Island
Middle : Crystal Bowl Ceremony with flowers, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong
Right : Thanking the waters, Great Waterfall, Santa Rosa, Colombia
Water became a passion for me over a decade ago when I realized that my health condition kept on getting worse, because I was not drinking the right water. That is what it came down to! I could not believe this coming from one of the top Doctors in New York, Dr. Frank Lipman. Now you would ask yourself what is the right water? There is living water; or that water that emulates the natural spring waters which are filled with minerals and oxygen; and then there is dead water that is lacking in any kind of minerals. Yet the water we put into our living body temples takes a back seat for most of humanity.
Nevertheless, if we look into religion and indigenous tribes from around the World, water continues to be one of the most important elements for their rituals and ceremonies. The Kumbh Mela, which is a 42-day long pilgrim festival for the Hindus, usually gathers over 50 million people at the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical subterranean Saraswati River. At this auspicious time, people will do their ritual bathing in order to cleanse themselves from their sins, in these 3 sacred rivers. Through this ritual, they are prepared for death to this bodily form and being birthed to the cosmos. As we are born from the very womb of our mother that is filled with water; being a medium linking this world to the Otherworld.
Water takes many forms, yet it is true to itself. Shape shifting from solid state, liquid, gas, plasma and back. In a constant metamorphosis, taking the shape of the body it inhabits - for even your best friends, the 4 legged creatures are 99% water.
So beautifully expressed in these ancient wisdoms. Water - she is the liquid essence, in sum, of Shakti – the energy and power of the Supreme, flowing in the life of the world. Water symbolizes the whole of potentiality as a source of possible existences.
Let’s also bring forth Zoroastrianism. A very ancient religion from the times before Christ. For them, protecting the life-giving elements is of their outmost concern. They do not use water as their primary agent for cleansing. For using water to wash away their impurities and dirt is seen as a sin because it is exposed to demonic impurities. As such, nothing impure is allowed to come in contact with any natural source of water. From our lakes, to our rivers and streams. Water being that which gives life and wellbeing to all living things. The appreciation and respect for this element is so important for us to bring it to our daily lives and not only through the various religions or traditional beliefs.
Take here as well the meaning of Baptism in Christianity. It’s a union of Christ in his death and resurrection. Being an inward and spiritual grace. A birth into God’s family; forgiveness of sins and new life in the Holy spirit (the book of common prayer).
So beautifully said in Eliade 1993:188. Immersion in water symbolizes a return to the pre-formal; a total regeneration; a new birth. Immersion means a dissolution of forms, a reintegration into the formlessness of pre-existence and emerging from the water is a repetition of the act of creation in which form was first experienced. Every contact with water implies regeneration: first because dissolution is succeeded by a “new birth” and then because immersion fertilizes, increases the potential of life and creation.
My love and passion for water continues to grow each and every day of my existence. I came into the business of water because of a necessity. Then it became a mission to bring forth more awareness of this very limited resource. Wherever I travel to, I make it my priority to also sing to the waters of this World. It can be a dirty water stream, an ocean or a lake. As Doctor Masaru Emoto, a pioneer of our times in the water industry would say, “Our thoughts, words and intentions can affect the molecular structure of water.” In this way, I show up for water in all of its forms.
As the Kogi Indians, from the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta in Colombia say, “The water streams - in all its ways are the blood of the planet. What we do onto her we are doing onto ourselves. The future of our planet is in the hands of us the younger brothers (as they call us humans and the state of mind of present humanity). We hope they will become wise (humanity now) and awaken to their deep spiritual and potential nature as true care takers of this planet.”
©Melissa Om
Above : The Kogi and Arhuaco Indians, Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia
For water is our blood, our very existence. All living beings have the right to clean drinking water. Each and every one of us can create a powerful and positive impact upon our planet and our waters. All we have to do is take a few moments to reflect upon our daily choices. Convenience is not an option. Our planet is the only one. We should consider the 7 generations to come and not just the me or the I. We are a community of people living on this planet together. Let’s co-create and have that greater vision for the sake of our children.
Above : Tatiana at the HK Society for Protection of Children
You can read more about what Tatiana does with WATER in :
https://www.acquavibe.com/
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