 Mandala on a black Zendala tile using metallic, stardust and white gellyrolls and white chalk pencil. Also a metallic gold Prismacolor pencil. Tangles are Shattuck, Betweed, and Pepper. I did this last night just before I went to sleep. My thought in this moment, this morning: The Wheel of Change rolls on, every moment of every day. Let's roll. "The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it, is service to a fellow human being."
--Lech Walesa  Mandala on a watercolor-prepared Zendala tile. Wish I knew whom I'd bought the watercolor from, but I don't. I then tangled on it. Tangles are Rain (the border) and Raindotty (the center). White gellyrolls, gold gellyroll, Prismacolor pencil. Above is yet another tangle I have never particularly liked: Rain (it's the outside tangle on that tile). And yet I am surprised at how much I like the way it works as a border. Challenging myself to use it was a good idea. After trying that, I decided to try the tangle Waybop on a piece of scrap paper, so I stuck this on the back of a bill I had paid, and which I'd already tossed in my recycling bin. It's on cheap copy paper and isn't even shaded. Perhaps if I do shade it and the appearance changes dramatically, I'll repost the update on another day. I had fun experimenting.  "Try things against your grain to find out just what your grain really is." --Irwin Greenberg  Tangles: Auraknot and Orbs, on a silver tile with Micron 01, graphite, chalk pencils. We have no choice but to start from wherever we are, yes? I've finally had the time to start tangling again, but my recent lack of practice means I've gotten very rusty. No matter. It's just where I am in this moment. The tile at left is not one of my favorites but it's the truth of things. The tangle is Auraknot, one that I've never quite "gotten," always making mistakes. In the past its' been frustrating! This time I finally got it, and did it successfully. One time as the frame, and then five additional times inside the frame. I was excited and pleased for myself! But here's the thing: I'll probably never like this tangle. Even now that I know what I'm doing with it, it's just not that attractive to me. Maybe with more practice? We'll see. It does make me think of the old saying from the I Ching, however: "Perseverance furthers." It was so satisfying to figure out how I'd been going off-course and correct myself. Now this tangle comes easily to me. Many lessons for me here. We really can only begin anything from right where we are in that moment. And repetition can really pay off--in daily life and in formal meditation. Finally, we each have our preferences, and it's important to notice them. With all that is going on externally in this country, tangling provides such a lovely respite and rest. And the more I do it, the more begins to come back to me. I'm working my way through Gratitangles2020 and I'm way ahead in the month already because I'm enjoying the process so much. At this rate I'll be done early. Here are two more tangles.  Tangles: Any, plus some Fescu. On a silver tile with black Micron 01, Prismacolor and chalk pencils.  More Gratitangles2020. Tangles: Shattuck and Mooka. Done on watercolor paper which someone else had painted; using White Gellyroll pens 05 and 10, white chalk pencil, and Prismacolor pencil. "Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof." - JK Galbraith Ah, here it is. The prime example of Don't-know Mind, that shocking moment of extreme uncertainty. I write this the day after the election, during a time when we still don't know the results. Here we sit. It's not comfortable. But that is the truth of this moment. Even once a decision is clear, we still will not know what happens next. In fact, we never can know what happens next. We are always in Don't-know Mind; it's simply more obvious today than usual. Since we are wired to prefer certainty, it's so much more convenient to ignore the reality that Don't-know Mind is our continuous state.  Tangles: Ixorus and Onamato. Black Micron 01, chalk pencils, Signo Uniball. On a previously-stained piece of watercolor paper. Another thing I don't know : who stained or painted the small square of watercolor paper I used to tangle on last night. To whomever you are: thank you. The staining was faint but spread in lovely fashion across the paper and provided a wonderful smear-y background for linework and bits of color that I added. I like the way the original background spreads out beyond the border here. I rarely do either of these tangles, so every line on this square is a product of Don't-know Mind. Thank goodness for Zentangle®, which is amazingly relaxing, even in the most uncertain times. "So much of our difficulty with uncertainty is that we've evolved to survive by trying to predict the future. The seasons, the crops, where the animals will be, if we're hunting.
But if we can really take care of what's right here, this present moment, what else is the future made of, but this moment right here, right now? The future is just a continuation of this. So there's no point in worrying and being anxious about the future, if we take good care of this moment, breathing in, knowing our heart is still beating, and how miraculous that is. Breathing out, and feeling the gift of our lungs. That's the present moment." - Kaira J. Lingo  Tangles: Huggins and Fife. Done with Gold Gellyroll and white chalk on a black Zendala tile. It's Election Day here in the USA and the voting is hot and heavy. Last night I did another mandala, above. I'm reminded of how the Wheel of Life is ever-turning, ever changing, and today will prove that to be true. No matter who wins this election, my country has changed dramatically over the last four years, and it will continue to change during the next four. Inevitably. May we know peaceful change; may we grow into kindness and peace each day, and may we trace our roots to the Tree of Peace. The tradition of the Tree of Peace was especially honored by the indigenous peoples of this country. There are many beautiful renditions of Native Peoples view of the Tree of Peace but I didn't want to use any of those out of copyright concerns. Below is an image from Wikimedia, used with permission. This image comes from Slovenia. Many world religions also speak of and value a Tree of Peace.  |
ABOUT ME I'm a textile artist (traditional rug hooking, punch needle rug hooking, and other textile arts), a long-time meditator, a certified meditation teacher and coach, and focused on learning about the interplay of art, creativity, and mindfulness every day. 
Certified, 2021
Certified Unified Mindfulness Coach
Certified Zentangle® Teacher, 2013
Certified by AmyOxford.com at The Oxford Rug Hooking School, 2016
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Insight Meditation Society Oxford Rug Hooking School Zentangle: The Official Site Green Mountain Rug Hooking Massachusetts Tarot Society 
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