![]() The zen gardens, for example, with their pebbles, bonsaïs and torii. We also associate things and objects with zen culture. Minimalistic and imperfect, the enso means enlightenment, and drawing it is a spiritual practice. This circle, made with one brushstroke, expresses the freedom of mind and its ability to create. The enso, for example, is one of the symbols of zen. Why not zen tattoos?Īsian spiritualities and religions are full of elements that connect us with Nature and good feelings. When life becomes too much stressful, we need things find our inner peace and harmony with the world again. It would inform the hero about the situation ahead and even warn him about the dangers that lay ahead. In most tales it would be the bird that would fly ahead and scout for the hero. Plus there is the role of birds in the mythological tales of old, where the hero would be helped and aided by birds as they set off looking for the villain, be it a demon, an ogre or any other kind of evil creature. These beliefs and the fact that a bird carries tremendous visual impact, makes them ideal for being chosen as a tattoo motif. It is also believed that our feathered friends have also been endowed with powers that let them carry spirits to the skies. Plus there is the belief that birds are creatures closest to the divine as they fly high in the sky and it is believed that brings them closer to the heavens. As human beings we cannot imagine a bigger freedom than being able to simply stretch your wings and fly off into the sky. I offer this particular enso as a symbol of all that is gathered and united within us - alive, open ended and true.Birds have been a source of much fascination among us as they represent the ultimate freedom. The making of a circle with one brushstroke is a calligraphic practice of bringing that wholeness forth, through the gesture of the body, into form on the page. It is a universal expression of wholeness that lives deep in our beings. From Barbara Bash The Japanese word for circle is enso. It is from that inspired conversation that I intuitively knew that Barbara was the artist that I wanted to create the enso for my practice. Barbara and I met shortly thereafter for coffee. I witnessed Barbara facilitate a beautiful, integrative, and creative workshop called Opening the Door in February 2018, hosted by Naropa University. I sought out Barbara after learning about our shared lineage through a mutual connection. Her work can still be found in the halls of Naropa University. She taught at Naropa University in Boulder, CO, where she collaborated with storytellers, dancers, and musicians in performance. She has studied dance, drawing, calligraphy, and graphic design, which has led her to a successful career as a graphic artist, writer, and performer. About the Artistīarbara Bash is a calligrapher, illustrator, author, and performance artist. I could think of no better symbol for which to represent my work as your therapist. And through lessons of the impossibility of creating the perfect circle (sans mathematical calculations), we find this much to be true: that the very imperfections and contours that otherwise prevent a perfect circle from being created are exactly what makes the enso beautiful. The enso is a representation of our true and innermost self its creation is said to leave the artist fully exposed at that one particular moment in time. It symbolizes strength, elegance, and one-mindedness. The enso is a manifestation of the artist at the moment of creation and the acceptance of our innermost self. While at first glance, the enso symbol appears no more than a misshapen circle, it symbolizes many things: the beauty in imperfection, the art of letting go of expectations, the circle of life, and connection. Enso (formally spelled ensō) is a sacred symbol in Zen Buddhism meaning circle, or sometimes, circle of togetherness. It is traditionally drawn using only one brushstroke as a meditative practice in letting go of the mind and allowing the body to create, as the singular brushstroke allows for no modifications.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |