Zentangle has given me another "tool in my toolbox" that I wanted to share with you. I have been finding it really hard to focus in this new reality of ours. (In my last post, I mentioned having this problem when I had shingles, and how Zentangle helped get me through it.) I think it's not uncommon right now, so I thought I'd share something that has enabled me to focus a little better.
I call it the "Good Morning, Universe Method". I like to tangle in the morning in a small journal, while I'm having breakfast. Some days, the questions that are usually opportunities become obstacles. String or no string? Which tangles? That's when I let the Universe--or Providence, Kismet, Fate, Destiny, what have you--take over! In the beginning, I used tanglelist.com for my tangles and, after choosing a number from 1-250, tanglepatterns.com for my strings. Then, I wanted to explore Reticula and Fragments, from Rick and Maria's Zentangle Primer, Volume 1. Using the randomwordgenerator.com, I chose one or several numbers and letters that would work together for square, triangular or round fragments and reticula. (See Tanglelist.com for an exhaustive list of the fragments and reticula if you don't have the book.) Armed with the elements for my composition, I start to d r a w. Slowly, deliberately, I make one line after another, focusing on my breath and the position of my paper and pen. I move only the paper, with my non-dominant hand, so that I can stay comfortable. Inhale, exhale, turn, repeat. This simple process, the essence of the Zentangle Method, has the power to calm my mind and spirit and body. I let go, and when I see that my drawing is complete, I notice that only 20-30 minutes have passed. Sometimes, I get a surprise when I see the meta-patterns emerge. This is liberating and uplifting, and confirms that what I envision is often limited and not representative of all that is possible. I am ready to move on and start my day, in the awareness that "anything is possible, one stroke at a time."
Now I am starting to teach a free Zoom class with this focus. (Email me if you're interested.) Our focus will be mindfulness, breathing, making deliberate, repetitive strokes. And I'm hoping that others can see that, in these uncertain times, we can still let go, albeit for an hour, and trust the Universe.
PS: If you would like to further explore randomly developed tangles, check out Eni Oken's free Art Raffle app. It's quite a bit more complex than the Reticula and Fragments formula, but lots of fun.
