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Showing posts from 2025

When Desire Becomes a Mirror of Peace – Reflection on Genie, Make a Wish

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Netflix Original Series · 2025 🌙 Genie, Make a Wish — A Visual Essay on Desire and Grace by Jaclyn Bae I. When Fantasy Becomes a Mirror The series Genie, Make a Wish begins with a familiar fantasy — a mythical being offering to grant desires. Yet beyond its simplicity, the story becomes a quiet mirror for our restless hearts. In a noisy world, even predictable magic can feel like a breath of air. “As we wish for more, do we grow freer — or simply more lonely?” II. The Weight of Wanting Every wish in the drama is rooted in lack — the longing to be loved, to be seen, to be saved. And when the wish is granted, the relief is brief. Desire renews itself like a tide, reminding us that we live not through fulfillment, but through longing. III. A Prayer without a Genie We make wishes every day. Some we name quietly at dawn, some we whisper into the dark. We call them prayers . To desire is to reveal our vulnerability —...

Fragments of Memory III

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Fragments of Memory III Layers of Time and Fading Truth Fragments of Memory III explores how time softens truth and reshapes memory. Crafted from bleached, torn, and reconstructed denim, the work mirrors the quiet erosion of what we once knew — revealing instead the beauty of what remains, what fades, and what transforms. Denim, bleached and collaged fiber · 30 × 38 inches · © Jaclyn Bae Through layers of white pigment and altered denim, the piece reflects how memories shift — sometimes softened, sometimes distorted, yet always revealing a landscape shaped by time. The subtle white overlay symbolizes both the erosion of truth and the quiet grace of forgetting. These fragments form a visual diary — a quiet topography of layered stories, fading impressions, and the delicate balance between what we remember and what is gently lost. Expl...

Fragments of Memory II

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© Jaclyn Bae · Fiber Art · Recycled Denim · 2025 Fragments of Memory II Fiber & Denim Art Series Fragments of Memory II continues Jaclyn Bae’s exploration of memory, time, and transformation through recycled denim. Each piece of fabric once carried someone’s warmth, movement, and unseen moments — remnants of everyday life. Through bleaching, disassembling, cutting, and re-stitching, the artist reconstructs fragments into new visual forms that reflect the layered nature of remembrance. The work meditates on how memories fade, overlap, and renew over time — much like threads that unravel and reconnect. What was once ordinary becomes a quiet landscape of reflection, where the past and present weave into a new fabric of meaning. About the Artist — Jaclyn Bae Jaclyn Bae is a Korean-born, Chicago-based fiber and mixed-media artist who repurposes denim, paper, and fabric to e...

Blessing Series I–III | Faith and Grace

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Blessing Series I–III Faith and Grace Paper Installation Art by Jaclyn Bae Blessing Series I–III explores the quiet intersection of faith, grace, and light. Each work begins with hand-dyed coffee filter paper — an ordinary, fragile material that transforms through folding, layering, and stitching. These installations reflect how grace often arrives gently, settling into the folds of our lives. From the descending beam of Blessing I , the scattered fragments of Blessing II , to the sense of renewal in Blessing III , the series invites stillness and reflection. Each piece becomes a quiet prayer, where material becomes metaphor and creation becomes devotion. The series embodies the journey from fragility toward light — a meditation on how grace gathers, restores, and expands. Blessing I Blessing II Bles...

Artist Book series

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Artist Books Handmade narratives of life, women’s stories, and daily memories by Jaclyn Bae Artist Book I — Seasons of Human Life Collaged seasons and shifting silhouettes of a life. Seasons of Human Life explores how a single life moves through changing emotional and physical seasons. Pages are built from collaged magazine papers in shifting colors and textures, suggesting spring, summer, autumn, and winter. On the facing pages, silhouettes of human figures echo these transitions — growing, bending, pausing, and moving forward again. The book reads like a quiet visual diary: the outer seasons of nature and the inner seasons of the heart layered together, one spread at a time. Magazine paper collage mapping the four seasons of a life. Silhouette figures tracing emotional and physical transitions. ...

Hanbok Series | Transformation, Comfort Women, Harmony – Art by Jaclyn Bae

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Hanbok Series — Transformation, Memory, and Harmony Contemporary Hanbok artworks exploring cultural identity, trauma, resilience, and harmony. Artist: Jaclyn Bae 1. Transformation From a Western linen shirt to a reimagined Korean Hanbok. Transformation reinterprets the cultural symbolism of the traditional Hanbok. This piece is handcrafted from a white linen shirt once worn by the artist’s husband — a Western garment reshaped into a Korean silhouette. Bible verses were inscribed onto the jeogori , echoing the artist’s personal transition from Buddhism to Christianity. The work becomes a metaphor for identity, heritage, and inner transformation — bridging two cultures, two beliefs, and two versions of self. Material: Handmade paper from linen shirt 2. Comfort Women A remembrance of the girls who lost their childhood. This Hanbok confronts the tragi...

What the “Let Them Theory” Teaches Us About Letting Go

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The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins — A Reflection on Emotional Freedom When we stop trying to control others, we quietly return to ourselves. Letting Go and the Let Them Theory Lately, I keep coming back to Mel Robbins’ idea of The Let Them Theory . When people do not understand us, when they disappoint us, when they walk away — our first instinct is often to fix, explain, or hold on a little tighter. But what if, instead, we simply said: “Let them.” Let them think what they think. Let them go where they go. Let them choose what they choose. The more we try to control what is not ours to control, the further our peace drifts away. We exhaust ourselves rewriting stories in our heads, rehearsing explanations, and chasing people or situations that were never meant to be held so tightly. Letting go is not giving up — it is opening. It is the moment we stop forcing and st...

“The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins

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“Let them. Let them be who they are, go where they go, and do what they do. Your peace comes from letting them.” — The Let Them Theory , Mel Robbins 📘 The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins Book Reflections Series · by Jaclyn Bae Main Idea The “Let Them Theory” teaches us to release control over people and situations that are not ours to manage. True peace begins the moment we allow others to be who they are. Even when others leave, misunderstand, or disappoint us, choosing to “let them” protects our emotional freedom. Key Insights We suffer when we try to control others. “Let them” is not indifference — it is a declaration of trust. When someone leaves, don’t chase. In the empty space, new freedom grows. If someone misjudges you, you do not need to ...

Practice Day10. The Greatness Within

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Mindful Journal: Day 10 — The Greatness Within By Jaclyn Bae Small practices of letting go awaken the peace and strength already within. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 10 · The Greatness Within At the end of letting go, I didn’t gain anything new. Instead, I rediscovered what had always been within me. Peace, freedom, love, and a quiet strength— they were never absent. They were simply hidden beneath emotions, fear, and attachment. Letting go is a return to myself. And now I understand deeply: the greatness within me has always been here. The Greatness Within — calm strength rooted in stillness © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Practice Day 9. Surrendering to Life

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Mindful Journal: Day 9 — Surrendering to Life By Jaclyn Bae Peace comes when we stop resisting life and allow its natural flow to guide us. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 9 · Surrendering to Life I have always tried to control life—planning every detail, steering outcomes, wanting everything to follow my will. But life moves in directions I never expect. When I let go and surrender to its flow, peace quietly arrives. Life’s river is wiser than I am. All I need to do is allow myself to float, experiencing the journey as it unfolds. Surrendering to Life — softness becomes strength © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Practice Day 8. The Lightness of Desire

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Mindful Journal: Day 8 — The Lightness of Desire By Jaclyn Bae Releasing desire lightens the heart and reveals unexpected abundance. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 8 · The Lightness of Desire The more I want, the heavier my heart becomes. “I must have this, and that too.” Desire never ends, and fulfillment often leaves a deeper emptiness behind. But when I release desire, I feel lighter than I ever expected. When the need to possess fades, I see clearly that what I already have is enough. And in letting go of desire, life quietly brings unexpected abundance. The Lightness of Desire — abundance in quiet simplicity © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Practice Day 7. Handling Anger

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Mindful Journal: Day 7 — Handling Anger By Jaclyn Bae Observing anger without resistance gradually softens its flame. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 7 · Handling Anger Anger rises like a sudden flame. Holding it in burns the heart, and exploding only leaves wounds behind. Letting go is neither suppressing nor expressing anger without awareness. Instead, I simply notice it the moment it appears — observing what shifts inside my body and mind. The racing heartbeat, the heat rising through the face — I just watch. And slowly, the flame softens, leaving behind the quiet ashes of calm. Handling Anger — the quiet calm that follows a passing flame © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Practice Day 6. Facing Fear

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Mindful Journal: Day 6 — Facing Fear By Jaclyn Bae Acknowledging fear gently softens its grip and frees the mind. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 6 · Facing Fear Fear often follows like a shadow. I used to run from it, distract myself, or pretend it didn’t exist. But now I understand: the more I resist fear, the bigger it becomes. The more I face it, the smaller it grows. “I am feeling fear right now.” Simply acknowledging it transforms fear from a frightening monster into a temporary visitor that will soon pass. Facing Fear — wildflowers by the roadside © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Peace Within (Practice Day 5)

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Mindful Journal: Day 5 — Peace Within By Jaclyn Bae Peace was never something to be found — it was something to be uncovered. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 5 · Peace Within I searched for peace in many places — through achievement, through meditation, or by reaching for something far beyond my everyday life. But peace was never outside of me. It had always been within. As I learned to let go, the weight of suppressed emotions slowly lifted. In that gentle clearing, a quiet peace — one that had always been there — finally revealed itself. Letting go is not about gaining something new. It is about rediscovering what was already inside of me — the stillness, the clarity, the peace that had simply been covered by the noise of fear and expectation. Peace Within — sunset over the quiet sea © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Through Love (Practice Day 4)

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Mindful Journal: Day 4 — Through Love By Jaclyn Bae When expectations soften, love begins to breathe again. A 10-part mindful journal exploring life’s wisdom. Day 4 · Through Love Even love becomes heavy when we try to possess it. When someone does not meet my expectations, disappointment and frustration often follow. But when I release those expectations, love flows more gently and freely — simply by seeing it as it is, and accepting it as enough. In that soft space, love becomes light again. It returns to its natural form — spacious, warm, and free. And in that freedom, both you and I are quietly healed. Through Love — letting love breathe and move freely © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Being in the Present ( Practice Day 3)

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Mindful Journal: Day 3 — Being in the Present By Jaclyn Bae Being fully present is the quiet essence of letting go — the doorway back to yourself. Day 3 · Being in the Present My mind wanders so easily. It returns to yesterday’s mistakes, or rushes ahead into worries about tomorrow. And often, without realizing it, I lose the moment I am standing in now. Letting go calls me gently back to the present. The breath moving through my chest, the sunlight brushing across the window, the leaves swaying softly in the wind. When I stay here — truly here — regrets about the past pause, anxieties about the future loosen, and in that stillness, I feel fully alive again. Being in the Present — clarity in stillness © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Releasing Attachment (Practice Day 2)

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Mindful Journal: Day 2 — Releasing Attachment (By Jaclyn Bae) When we release attachment, the heart grows light — and freedom quietly opens new paths. Day 2 · Releasing Attachment What have I been holding on to so tightly? My children? My husband? Money? Or perhaps… my idea of who I must be? I wanted my children to graduate from good schools, to have stable jobs, to live successful lives. I believed I had to achieve enough, own enough, meet the high standards I quietly built for myself. Over the years, those beliefs hardened into frames — and maybe those frames became attachments, too. When things didn’t unfold the way I imagined, I labeled it as failure. I became discouraged and pushed myself harder, chasing a life I thought I “should” accomplish. But today, I see it clearly — it was my own attachment tightening around me. When I opened my hands and let go, the world turned out to be wider than I ever expected. In that spaciousness, freedom entered. And with freedom came...

Letting Go: A Mindful Journal (Practice Day 1)

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Mindful Journal: Day 1 — Letting Go (By Jaclyn Bae) Small acts of letting go create freedom within. Day 1 · Letting Go Today, unfamiliar feelings rise quietly in my heart — fear, anxiety, and a subtle tension I cannot name. In the past, I would have tried to suppress these emotions, hoping they would disappear as quickly as they arrived. But now, I choose differently. I do not push the emotions away. I simply observe them with gentle attention: “Ah… there is fear here.” When I allow the feelings to be, they loosen their grip. Like clouds drifting across a wide sky or leaves floating down a quiet river, they soften and slowly pass. This is how letting go begins — in the smallest moments, with the smallest choices. The beginning of inner freedom © 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

David R. Hawkins (Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender)

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Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender — Key Summary & Insights By Jaclyn Bae “Emotions naturally dissipate when we allow them to be instead of trying to control them.” – David R. Hawkins, Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender 📘 Key Summary of Letting Go by David Hawkins Summary by Jaclyn Bae 1. The Meaning of Letting Go Letting go is the process of acknowledging our emotions—fear, anger, guilt, grief—without resisting, suppressing, or denying them. Most suffering comes from holding on. When we release emotional pressure instead of fighting it, inner freedom and peace emerge naturally. 2. The Energy Scale of Emotions Hawkins describes human emotions through the Consciousness Scale , where each emotion vibrates at a different level of energy. Lower levels: shame → guilt → apathy → fear → desire → anger → pride Higher levels: courage → neutrality → willingness → joy → love → peace → enlightenment As we release emotional resistance, we naturally rise to higher l...