MINDFULNESS AND CREATIVITY

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Ever since I began writing about the connection between meditation and creativity yesterday, the topic has been on my mind.  At left is a tangle I did about a month ago.  It's called Arukas (the name derives from "Sakura" spelled backward--Sakura is the name of the archival quality pens we use in the Zentangle® process), and it's one of the most meditative tangles I've done.  I loved it from the first.

It's wonderful to find a way of moving the body that promotes a deeply meditative state.  Yoga, tai chi, running...all of these work as moving meditations.

But not everyone wants to--or can--move like that.  For some, just using the hands can be a revelation, and that is what I love about Zentangle®.  If you look at the tile above, you can see how drawing those lines, slowly and with attention, could promote mindfulness.  And anyone can do it--if you can sign your name, you can do this.

Here is another tile with Arukas.  I remember the state I was in when I did these tiles:  focused.  Steady.  Non-thinking.

There is a strong connection between mindfulness and creativity.  When I finally learned to let go of trying to "stop thoughts" in meditation, creativity began to rise to the surface.  Interestingly, Zentangle often does stop my thoughts, or at least cause me to focus on just that one line that I am now drawing...and it has the same effect.  Creativity surges.

And with creativity, comes pure joy.

I confess:  I'm addicted.  Addicted to making things, to creating things, in a slow, concentrated way, a way that draws me down and down into a quiet place.  That's where the joy is found.

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