“Every culture passes on its wisdom to future generations to grow as a person on an inward journey to the quintessence, that connects all corners of the world. Thereby we flourish as a community, celebrating life in the cosmopolis “
In a tilting world order the QfWf aims to contribute towards a culture of openness and pluriformity by tapping into one’s own and shared historical roots. Using Art Dialogues to revitalize wisdom traditions worldwide and liberate ourselves from groupthink!
Developing intercultural programmes according to the Golden Ratio principle that connects natural and cultural growth. Since 2024 the QfWf-platform Golden Ratio is dedicated to initiatives of World Citizenship around a yearly theme by co-creating artistic forms, play and dialogue: Golden Ratio Collection (e)books and Animal Wisdom storytelling.
Living Encounters and a space to meet and to co-create, thereby making connections between cultures: by organizing a Yearly Meeting Day, Seasonal Meetings, Workshops — showing impressions on the QfWf video channel
The Wisdom Web operationalizes the intercultural art of living.
Around its core of reciprocity are transcultural values like empathy for inclusion and the beauty of being different.
On the Wisdom Web, wisdom from all corners of the world is collected and presented in a special symbolic way.
By collecting and arranging the artistic, handcrafted, philosophical, spiritual, narrative, and symbolic contributions from all over the world — via the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living — they are organized as expressions of wisdom, developing the Intercultural Art of Living.
In doing so, the QfWf wants to contribute to intercultural connections based on the realization that these:
grow through awareness of the historical roots of cultures,
thrive on interest in other cultures and wisdom traditions and
bear fruit through encounters and cross-cultural perspectives.
The Wisdom Web continues to grow organically, with a rich palette of philosophical, artistic and spiritual expression and reflections, which concretize the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living.
This is accomplished thanks to the input of various QfWf-authors[1]
update 2026-08
[1] QfWf authors are authors, actors, artists, designers, drafters, photographers, illustrators, video and film makers and other producers of text, images, sound, and stakeholders who make the texts and other materials available to a QfWf-site have made.
Wisdom from all over the world is an expression of cultural diversity as well as of unifying principles, such as the Golden Ratio: the principle that is defining natural growth as well as the harmony by which we perceive beauty. Cultures have diverse symbols of natural wisdom and beauty, as well as moral knowledge that is passed on through proverbs — for example, by means of the Golden Rule: “What you would not want done to you, do not do so to another”.
The ancient wisdom in symbols, rituals and natural principles can be extracted from (animal) stories, containing a moral clue or example: such as how to become as clever as the fox, or wise as the crow, witty as the spider or courageous as a lion. Collective knowledge and experiences are conveyed through seasonal rituals for harvest and the transition of solstices with light festivals in which the passage through the four seasons is celebrated in culturally diverse forms.
The Quest for Wisdom seeks to gather ancient symbolic and ritual wisdom from cultural traditions as an intercultural language in order to cocreatively develop:
contemporary artistic forms as expressions of both diversity and transcultural values
transcultural values and narrative wisdom for developing practices for global citizenship
By focussing on uniting principles like the Golden Ratio and the Golden Rule in culturally diverse materials, the facilitation of personal growth and community building is highlighted in the collected ancient wisdom on a collaborative Quest for Wisdom in order to:
to give a platform for the wisdom from different cultures and traditions
to enhance intercultural communication and interaction
to develop unifying transcultural practices by means of the artistic and narrative expressions
The Golden Ratio consists of a culturally diverse palette of materials that are grouped around particular themes; through play, proverbs, myths and animal stories. The QfWf has developed two series of (e)books: the Animal Wisdom Collection and the Wisdom Collection as well as contributions on a yearly programme on The Golden Ratio, thereby developing practices of World Citizenship.
One hundred percent of the money raised by the sale of all of the products will be used in realising our upcoming QfWf educational projects, all of which are non-profit and run by volunteers.
Images of good and evil, The Wulf and the Crane – Annelie van Steenbergen
With the Golden Ratio Collections, the QfWf aims to give voice to the intercultural art of living, to counterbalance the hardening social debate. By expressing a cosmopolitan ethos and initiating practices of world citizenschip to unite people and show transcultural values, connecting cultures.
Harsh voices and destructive forces on the geopolitical stage are threatening both humanity and the entire planet, with all its winged, scaly, hairy and arthropod inhabitants. As a response(-ability), the QfWf-authors with Wild Hair of the (Animal) Wisdom Collections provide answers of humanization and ecological awareness. In doing so, the QfWf aims to contribute to the good life in the cosmopolis – with values of inclusion, cultural diversity and global responsibility.
Drawing and other forms of cocreation
By cocreation, the QfWf wants to propagate this mission as an intercultural community through artistic forms: by drawing, musical expressions, dancing and Arts Dialogues as well as by disseminating the developed artistic and intercultural materials as inspiring examples in wider circles of concern. Just as Dirk de Wachter undelines in our interview with him the power of hope we do believe an ethos of world citizenship can overcome the destructive forces.
With this in mind, the Quest for Wisdom foundation has launched the Golden Ratio Collections that stimulate cosmopolitan and ecological awareness, reciprocity and respect for other beings within the cyclical processes of our Mother Earth.
Animal Wisdom Storytelling
The mythical significance of animals as bearers of wisdom and natural power are linking pins between cultures, showing the beauty of cultural diversity. The transcultural perspective of Animal Wisdom Storytelling has inspired the QfWf-authors to collect old and new narratives about animals, enhancing ecological and cosmopolitan values. Examples of stories are presented on the Animal Wisdom website and explained in more detail in the Animal Wisdom (e-)book Collection:
Madagaskar, Land van Orale Cultuur, Lemuren en Kameleons
Golden Ratio Collections
QfWf-event on Global Citizenship -Presentation Amor Mundi
The Quest for Wisdom aims to pass on old wisdom to new generations in appealing, contemporary forms. The QfWf-Circle of authors have realized this mission with the Golden Ratio Collections published as (e)books in the (Animal)Wisdom Collection — since 2024 on a yearly theme of social importance in artistic and musical forms, to be collected on the QfWF-platform The Golden Ratio.
Boekpresentation Amor Fati in the OBA Reigersbos 25 jan 2025
Amor Fati, containing “playing wisdom for the cosmopolis” opens the Wisdom Collection. This first book of the Series describes the QfWf background philosophy of the Wheel of intercultural life art of living. Greg Suffanti’s English-language intercultural reflections on his watercolour series give the reader — together with the visual work of Agnes Roothaan, Louis van Marissing, Annelie van Steenbergen, Caroline Young, Nour Kayali, Klaske Rehorst, Josee Tesser, Elin Maljaars, Maya Plas & Mitra Muijen around the mythic-philosophical themes of Amor Fati — a surprising route of the imagination through the book. As a welcome gift, QfWf-Friends receive this book with an annual donation of € 45.
The Wisdom Collection consists of twelve volumes. Worldwide, cultures have developed wisdom traditions containing artistic, philosophical and spiritual forms expressing the art of living with different perspectives. The QfWf aims to unveil these precious treasures in a unique and artistic way for a hopeful cosmopolitan future to happen.
Amor Fati: by Heidi Muijen exploring the Quest For Wisdom vision;
Koloniale wa(a)r(d)en: by Fred de Haas, enlightening the historical colonial context of the Caribean intercultural identities, poetry and music.
Amor Mundi: documenting the QfWf-project on “Global Citizenship”;
Walking Two Roads, Accord and Separation in Chinese and Western Thought; an intercultural exploration by Hans van Rappard.
Russische Zigeunerromances: by Fred de Haas, presenting the Gypsy romances with its rich cross-cultural and historical sources;
Middeleeuwse Chirurgie in Woord en Beeld: by Marcel Reyners with drawings by Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385-1468) with the text of “The Method of Medicine” by Albucasis (936-1013).
One hundred percent of the money raised by the sale of all of the products will be used in realising our upcoming QfWf educational projects, all of which are non-profit and run by volunteers.
The QfWf continues to collect animal stories from all over the world on the Animal Wisdom website. The overarching goal of this storytelling programme is to present how the symbolism in the narratives transcends cultural borders and at the same time the beauty of cultural diversity is presented. This goal is explained in the first two books of the Animal Wisdom Collection. This collection also contains specific cultural storytelling traditions and presents examples with various artistic forms, sharing the intercultural wisdom about how to become truly human (in the mirror of animal life) and how to build happy communities.
By developing this quest for wisdom perspective into (e-)books, teaching modules and other educational forms, these old treasures are preserved and made freshly available for new generations.
The good life in the cosmopolis
Courageous as a tigre – Nour Kayali
Animal stories can be found in all cultures of the world in a colourful diversity of narratives and genres. Through their differences, these stories express a cross cultural elemental wisdom that these animals embody.
The crosscultural significance of the narrative use of animals as embodying wisdom and natural strength forms a golden opportunity for building bridges between cultures. Educational goals of the programme include the strengthening ecological and cosmopolitan values of global citizenship — such as inclusion, cultural diversity, ecological awareness and 21st century skills. In appealing artistic and educational forms, the QfWf aims to reach different target groups: children, students, parents, teachers, professionals, managers and administrators.
On the Animal Wisdom website the intercultural Wheel of Animal Wisdom categorizes the gathered animal stories from all over the world. This Wheel visualizes the overarching goal of the intercultural Animal Wisdom storytelling programme: how do the (un)wise animals mirror in a symbolic way human behaviour, virtues and mischief. The QfWf develops not a “flat moral” from those stories but a multifaceted one in artistic forms that is thought-provoking: as narrative wisdom that cultures worldwide have developed and that tells in a visual language about humanity and community building.
Intercultural Animal Wisdom
Sea Mermaid — drawing Chrisje Ronde
Communities from all over the world pass on their cultural wisdom gathered over generations in the form of stories, proverbs, symbolism and rituals.
The QfWf Storytelling program unlocks this intercultural source of wisdom and gives it appealing artistic forms, focused on connecting the stories and transcultural symbolism!
Animals embody elemental wisdom
Snake, symbol for natural wisdom – Nour Kayali
Animals represent an elementary wisdom, they display clever and vicious tricks as well as being paragons of virtue. However differently the animals are presented, according to the specific cultural and historical context in which the stories were created, in all cultural traditions animals reflect basic natural strength and wisdom.
Beautiful forms of the latter are found in the classic tales of the of the Hindu Panchatantra and the Buddhist Jatakatamala.
Also, the famous stories of the Ghanaian Anansi as well as the less famous but extraordinary adventures of cricket, chameleon and other Malagasy hero’s.
Bolinus brandaris, the purple snake — drawing Chrisje Ronde
Animals in myths, legends and fairy tales present a wise natural force: proverbial is the wisdom of the owl and the cunning of spider Anansi.
Birds in fairy tales and myths often convey messages, like the raven for example, as a mediator between the world of the gods, the humans and the underworld.
In addition to similarities, there are also interesting cultural differences. For example, almost all cultures have stories about dragons. Although they differ in shape on the one hand — sometimes more serpentine, sometimes more like a giant bird or like some kind of dinosaur — they all embody an enormous (super)natural power.
In 2026 we have cancelled the expensive Mollie-service. As a consequence the Donation button does not work anymore. So please, donate via a bank transfer:
bankrekening IBAN: NL14TRIO0777827654
The reason for cancellation is that the monthly costs of this service are too high for our limited budget.
5: The QfWf Policy plan: the intercultural art of living
The QfWf policy is planned in detailed multi-year plans, as documented in point 9: Beleidsplan-QfWf-2024-2026
Objectives and Policy Plans stem from the QfWf Mission and Vision:
The Quest for wisdom was founded on the 20th of September 2016 by Dr. Heidi S.C.A. Muijen with the mission of fostering a culture of openness towards inclusion and cultural diversity. This objective of the foundation according to the statuten calls for an intercultural art of living as response(ablility), given the fear of ‘the strange other’ in order to develop inter-cultural connections as ‘multicultural society’ by means of:
historical awareness of the (inter)cultural roots of wisdom traditions;
interest in other cultures and wisdom traditions and
engaging in inter-esse by living encouters and cross-pollination between cultures
To this end, the QfWf-programmes are cocreated by paying attention to the cultural-historical contexts of the collected stories, rituals and symbolism from wisdom traditions from North and South, East and West on the one hand; on the other hand, by highlighting transcultural values, like hospitality, empathy and humanity through music, visual arts and other intercultural expressions, that help to transform the globalizing society.
Being able to deal well with differences is a pressing as well as delicate issue of late modern times; a social question that sparks intolerant opinions and heated political and religious debates. To stay away from polarizing discussions, the QfWf focusses on inter-cultural connections, following a path of ‘glocalization’ ― a combined perspective of ‘the local’ with ‘the global’. In this way, the QfWf aims to contribute to a cosmopolitan mindset in growing Circles of Concern (Martha Nussbaum). This integrative approach was discussed by the late emeritus professor Couwenberg on the Wisdomweb.
Dealing with differences: World Citizenship!
The QfWf activities continue to take place together with a growing circle of stakeholders, who share the mission of the foundation – as visualized and expressed in the ‘Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living’.
Therefore, the QfWf focusses on creating awareness of who ‘we’ are as citizens of the cosmopolis: nomads with intercultural identities, transcending differences in culture, race, religion, ethnicity, gender,…
Diagram with the 17 sustainable development goals
The QfWf-goal of world citizenship follows a path of developing inter-cultural artistic programmes both by tapping into the cultural and historical contexts of stories, art, music, rituals, and symbolism from various wisdom traditions, as well as creating in-between spaces through living encounters with music, visual arts, and dialogue, expressing values that connect cultures — like mercy, empathy, and humanity — to foster an ethos of world citizenship in the dynamic field of a globalizing society.
By stimulating the recognition of the beauty of our differences and shared commonality, instead of a fear of ‘otherness’, through artistic and (inter-)cultural expressions, the QfWf seeks to create space both in-between people for a human world (Hannah Arendt) and establish meaningful connections between cultures!
Hospitality, respect and inclusion and other shared values of humanity are what truly connect people as sisters and brothers ― opening a common playing field for all, established by the core value of reciprocity! Please, contact us on out vision and mission: bestuur@questforwisdom.org
The members of the board do not receive any remuneration for their work. They are, however, entitled to reimbursement of costs incurred in the performance of their duties, such as, for example, a travel allowance.
Board members cannot dispose of the assets of the institution separately. There is a separate bank account in the name of the QfWf. In addition, an annual financial overview is drawn up by the treasurer of the QfWf. This overview is discussed and adopted during an annual board meeting (at which at least 3 members of the board are present).
9: Report of the Activities Performed
The Quest for Wisdom carries out its activities through the voluntary efforts of a Circle of dedicated artists, writers, and other volunteers. The occasionally awarded grants have given the QfWf-projects a boost.
The grant applied for in 2025 by an alliance of 8 organisations to the municipality of Amsterdam was unfortunately not awarded. However, this application did provide a spin-off for a new collaboration and for exposure, such as participating at the event in Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam on 19 March 2026 during the week celebrating 60 years of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, established by the UN after the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960.
In 2021 as well as in 2024 the QfWf received funding, due to the cultural and social relevance of her activities. The first grant in 2021 was given for developing an intercultural storytelling programme during the Corona lockdown which was presented on a specially designed website Animal Wisdom including an educative offer with a series of ebooks.
The second grant in 2024 on Global Citizenship resulted in organizing several events around a visual exhibition with an intercultural program and the launching of a digital platform for the Golden Ratio Quest around a yearly theme of the intercultural art of living.
Hereby,the QfWf has integrated the three Quest for Wisdom to serve the shared goal of world citizenship: through the Wisdom Web; Quest 2 ― Golden Ratio of Educative Materials; and Quest 3 ― Meet, by means of Annual Meeting Days, Workshops, Masterclasses, Newsletter ‘Spinning web’ and the Video channel.
From 2024 onwards the three Quests are integrated focussing on the enhancement of world citizenship by developing every year an intercultural artistic and educative programme which is presented on the Yearly Meeting Day as well as on the digital platform The Golden Ratio.
Awarding Cultural ANBI-status
Toekenning Culturele ANBI-status
Since its foundation in 2016 the QfWf celebrated on 6 July 2018 that it has been recognized by the Tax Authorities as a Algemeen Nut Beogende Cultural Instelling (cultural ANBI-status) with its objective and activities in retrospect since 1 January 2018.
See below the reports of QfWf-policy for activities in chronological order:
The QfWf Wisdom Collection is written by QfWf-authors, to disclose the richness of cultures worldwide with stories, music, visual arts, philosophical and spiritual traditions. Thereby, the wisdom from North, South, East and West is shown in multifaceted and artistic forms. The Wisdom Collection contains both general and intercultural essays as in-depth explorations to highlight specific artistic wisdom from cultural traditions.
These (e)books are published in the Dutch and/or English language; and sometimes multilingual. The proceeds of these (e)books will entirely benefit this programme and upcoming QfWf projects. We hope for a wide and interested audience for this entire varied series.
The first three books in the QfWf Wisdom Collection has been published in a physical form, due to a grant awarded in 2023 by the Cultural Participation Fund for the ‘QfWf Global Citizenship from the Street program’.
The fourth and next publications in the series are all ebooks (pdf).
The series opens with Amor Fati: Spelende wijsheid voor de kosmopolis in which Heidi Muijen explores the question of global citizenship through the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living. The book thus highlights both the vision of the Quest for Wisdom foundation and the background for the board game of the same name developed by her, which addresses mythical-philosophical symbolism from the four corners of the world. A
Greg Suffanti telling about his aquarelles for Amor Fati
series of watercolours, Chinese brush paintings, drawings and collages by Greg Suffanti, Agnes Roothaan, Louis van Marissing, Annelie van Steenbergen, Caroline Young, Nour Kayali, Klaske Rehorst, Josee Tesser, Elin Maljaars, Maya Plas & Mitra Muijen depict intercultural themes as a common thread throughout the book. (NL, EN, 2024, ISBN 978 90 441 3970 9)
The second book (Post)Koloniale wa(a)r(d)en by Fred de Haas contains layered reflections on (post)colonial history: the author mirrors the Caribbean and Latin-American identity in poetry and literature, also with poems written by his own hand. The portraits of poets and historical figures in black-and-white drawings by Josee Tesser has given a lighthearted touch to this heavy history of oppression. In addition, the approximately 100 clickable links to musical interpretations bring the intercultural identities of Caribbean and Latin-American peoples into experience. (NL, ESP, Papiaments, Creools, 2025, ISBN 978-94-927-273, hard cover en ISBN 978-94-927-297, e-book)
The third book Amor Mundi: Wereldburgerschap van de straat — with editors Heidi Muijen, Klaske Rehorst en Robin Stemerding and many authors from the QfWf-Circle — documents the project ‘World Citizenship of the Street’ with art, poetry, images, raps, intercultural and philosophical reflections of the Quest for Wisdom Soul Circle how the world dream of the cosmopolis is developed into artistic forms for current contexts. (NL, EN, 2024. ISBN 978-94-92-127-198)
Hans van Rappard expertly explains the fascinating Chinese and European wisdom traditions in an intercultural-philosophical manner in e-book 4, Walking Two Roads, Accord and Separation in Chinese and Western Thought (EN. 2023. ISBN 978-94-92-127-204)
In e-book 5 Russische Zigeunerromances, Fred de Haas opens up a hitherto little-exposed genre of Gypsy Romances with its rich intercultural and historical sources. The (90!) clickable links to beautiful old and newer renditions, including the musical renditions of Fred de Haas (guitar and vocals) and Ralph Kreuter (balalaika), are surprising. (NL, RU, 2023. ISBN 978-94-92-127-211)
In e-book 6 Middeleeuwse chirurgie in woord en beeld, Marcel Reyners has made a unique combination of the drawings of Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468) with the text of ‘The Method of Medicine’ of Albucasis (936–1013). He illuminates medieval surgery, drawing on his years of life, travel and work experience. (NL. 2023, ISBN 978-94-92-127-228)
E-book 7, Ik ben iemand die intens leefde… — Bloemlezing: gedichten en illustraties by Marianne H.B. van Halewijn contains a large collection of poems and mandalas, bequeathed by the author to the Quest for Wisdom foundation. This colourful anthology expresses an intensely felt cosmic connection. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 174)
E-book 8, Knipoogjes: Korte en luchtige tijdreisjes in gezelschap van Henry Bergson, consists of columns in which serious issues are light-heartedly addressed by Rosalie de Wildt. The illustrations, watercolours by Greg Suffanti, add a humorous, colourful and intercultural layer to Rosalie’s philosophical reflections. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 181)
E-book 9, Het duurde maar even … – Gedichten die mij raakten consists of translations by Fred de Haas of about 60 poems in Creole, German, French, Galician, Papiamento, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian…. (NL, multilingual, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 242)
E-book 10, Eye of the Tiger – Colorful Heritage of the Far East contains a unique collection of Chinese brush drawings by Caroline R. Young, interspersed with historical and mythical stories from the Far East. (EN, 2025, ISBN 978 94 92 127 259)
Volume 11, Plempius Vopiscus Fortunatus: Amsterdammer, Professor in Leuven (1633-1671), by Marcel Reyners, sketches the life of this Amsterdammer and Leuven professor and his position in the philosophical-medical debate between ancient Galenic medicine and the emerging Cartesian mechanical approach to the body. In addition to a discussion of the significance of Plempius’ work for the development of medicine, this edition contains an extensive bibliography and remarkable illustrations of medical instruments and writings that bring this time of transition to life.
(NL, 2026, ISBN 978 94 92 127 303)
In Volume 12, Traveling with an Expat: 20 Years on the Road on 3 Continents, Marie-Claire Marx describes her life as an expat, together with her husband and physician Marcel Reyners, in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Starting in 1998, they traveled to Cambodia, Albania, and Kenya and immersed themselves in the cultural and historical backgrounds of the people of these countries, including the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. This intercultural context, together with the author’s own photographic material, provides a unique perspective on the necessity of drawing historical lessons for global citizenship.
(NL, 2026, ISBN 978 94 92 127 310)
The financial benefits from these (e)books and other educational materials – which are all realised by volunteers – will entirely benefit this programme and upcoming QfWf-projects.
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