Starting, staying and moving forward

January, intentions and the wooden Daruma

January often comes with a certain pressure. Good intentions, lists, plans to do things differently this year. More focus, more discipline, more progress. But a new beginning doesn't have to be loud or ambitious. It can start quietly, without expectations.

At Tamashii, we like to look at this period in a different way. January isn't about changing everything at once, but about slowing down and paying attention again to what really matters.

Good intentions are often presented as something clear-cut: a goal you set and reach step by step. In reality, intentions rarely follow a straight line. They shift, pause, sometimes lose momentum, and take on a new shape along the way. And that is exactly where their strength lies.

This is where the Daruma naturally fits in. In Japan, the Daruma symbolises perseverance. Not quick success or perfect outcomes, but the ability to continue, even when things don't go as planned. It stands for falling down and getting back up, again and again.

Our Daruma are carved entirely from wood. Calm in colour, modest in form and grounded in the material itself. Without bright colours or rituals, they blend effortlessly into everyday life. Placed on a shelf, a desk or a windowsill, they don't ask for attention.

A wooden Daruma doesn't urge you to do more or move faster. It simply reminds you to keep going, at your own pace. Not by pushing forward, but by continuing — even when progress feels small.

January doesn't need grand promises. Sometimes a small object with meaning is enough. Something that quietly reminds you why you started, and why it's worth continuing. That is what a Daruma can be: not a lucky charm or a shortcut, but a calm companion for the year ahead.

A small selection of wooden Daruma is available in the shop — carefully chosen, each with its own quiet character.