A lot of our readers say they find meditation difficult, and that sometimes turning to art and creativity can become frustrating or scary. We asked Peter Connolly to describe Zentange, a meditative drawing practice where you don’t have to be ‘good’ at drawing to get a lot out of it.
Zentangle is the mindful drawing of repetitive patterns that create fun & beautiful images.
It’s easy to learn, affordable, and embedded in zen philosophy. It provides a way of focusing our attention to calm our busy minds whilst tapping into our creativity. It’s very established in the USA and Europe, yet very new to Ireland with only 4 licensed trainers.
We asked clients to try it and four years later it’s still going strong on the wellness program.
After learning the basics I introduced zentangle to clients at Saint John of God hospital in 2014 in my role as an Occupational Therapist. The feedback was really positive, people just loved it. One person really impacted on me, after waiting outside my office to share her feedback “I just wanted to say thanks I’ve been looking for something like this my whole life; I finally found something that calms me down”
Other clients would feedback that they now understood what approaching an activity in a mindful way felt like, it was more process based than outcome focused, becoming more comfortable in the unknown, feeling grounded and being open to a change in direction.
A fundamental principle in Occupational Therapy highlights the health benefits of doing and being engaged in activity. However to make this more possible we need to observe how we approach activities in the first place and open up a dormant side of ourselves.
There is a saying how you do one thing is how you do everything. We need the zen spirit, not just the ability to draw a tangle. As adults we can often bring a serious and judging approach to new activities, which help us get good at things but is less restorative and fun, which can lead to us giving them up. Zentangle can really help with looking at our approach and return to a more beginners mind.
So why does it work?
Zentangle has a ceremony in its set up just like yoga or another contemplative practise to help ground people; it’s structured yet invites improvisation. At its core it’s simple although looks complex, it’s repetitive so great for self soothing, uses concentration, and is immediately gratifying with a gradable skill level from complete novice to expert level. As it’s so visual it has become one of the most shared images online and has brought a lot of people together from across the world. The creators of zentangle have allowed it to grow organically and many to profit from their ideas, just asking teachers to honour its value.
Zentangle Teacher Julie Horgan states that the principles of the method can transfer into everyday life – there are no mistakes only opportunities to adjust or take a different approach. It’s fascinating to see people’s reaction when they create a pattern which they initially thought was unachievable. This insight of success and accomplishment can be transferred to other life experiences and sparks a curiosity to explore other things that were once deemed impossible.
It offers something that colouring in books don’t
Zentangle is a non-representational art form which means its patterns are named after things that they don’t look like. This is to move away from ideas we may have of what things should look like. No one knows what a Nzeppel, Paradox or Cubine should look like, they are made up, so our minds judge, compare & evaluate less. The Zen aspect is where it goes beyond just drawing, as we are invited to bring our attention to our drawing whilst practicing non attachment, just like the zen monks who use to draw sand mandalas and let them go.
The forgotten value of doing traditional activities
Rick and Marie the creators of zentangle have rediscovered something that we have forgotten in our technological age, when we are engaged in doing an activity it is restful and we feel the benefits of creating and completing an activity. I remember growing up and watching my grandfather sand & french polishing doors & table tops after a busy day at work, he was at peace and yet focused, that was his zentangle.
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