Tag: Sumi-e ink

Decisions were made this week and I feel some relief from the vacillations around my jobs. 

The Prompt: Focus

Again this week's prompt comes from the Zen by the Brush book by Myoshi Nancy O'Hara. 

Look lovingly on some object. Do not go on to another object. Here, in the middle of this object–the blessing.
            – Shiva

Again, first task is to sit for a meditation on that for 5-10 minutes or however long you feel is good to you.

The Drawing

Gave up on the board this week. Will convert these to sumi-e ink in a week or so. 

My Haiku

…inspired by the drawing. 

The light of the pen
Ink machine of the described
Chasing metaphors

The Reflection

So often I can deal with stress by writing it out. I find lots of comfort in my favorite pen and will go to crazy lengths to keep track of it, even if it's a shitty pen. It's the pen that wrote me out of my quandaries! This pen "described" above was from my realtor and it actually lights up for no apparent reason. Illumination for illumination's sake.

Now you.

This was a week filled with anxiety for me due to too many irons in the fire. My brain started to fog out and I really appreciated this prompt. Further background: we went to Arby's the night we learned about Monsieur Big Bang's mom. So now we're there quite frequently for some reason. The curly fries are very good.

The Prompt: It's the Little Things

Again this week's prompt comes from the Zen by the Brush book by Myoshi Nancy O'Hara. 

An enlightened being should develop a mind that alights on nothing whatsoever.
            – The Diamond Sutra

Again, first task is to sit for a meditation on that for 5-10 minutes or however long you feel is good to you.

The Drawing

My sumi board is getting really cray-cray. And I'm now in the habit of doing a pen version. So below is the pen and a drying (or melting) version of the water/sumi. 

And this is the beautiful book example:

My Haiku

…inspired by the drawing. 

Hunger in a box.
Tatters in coiled calorie.
Salty, starch comforts.

The Reflection

This was a hard haiku. It took a very long time considering. Writing about food is difficult, it's so concrete. 

Now you go.

We have a snow day today in Albuquerque so I'm taking the time to post my first of 52 Haiku. It's not much by East Coast standards but there's not a snow plow or a salt pile in this city and so the drive in is treacherous with even a half inch.

That's my front pinon tree and Mexican feather grass hunkering down outside my office. I've always loved Mexican feather grass from my days of working at Marina Del Rey in the left white tower. The corner there, bordering Ralphs grocery store, is lined with it and I loved to watch it blowing in the wind.

The Prompt: Calmness

Anyway, this week's prompt comes from the Zen by the Brush book by Myoshi Nancy O'Hara. 

Calm yourself with breath-
Dip the brush, hold gently, draw.
Whatever comes, comes.
            – Myochi

So the first task is to meditation that for 5-10 minutes or however long you feel is good.

The Drawing

I did a drawing on a sumi-e board, which is just water as ink that fades within a minute or two. This is supposed to teach you about letting go and impermanence. But I'm struggling with that so I took photos with my phone. 🙂

Right after drawing it and after propping it up on its stand (which made the ink run as it faded away).

My Haiku

Then I wrote a haiku inspired by the drawings. 

River rising fear
Turtles drying in the sun
Then swimming away

The Reflection

It was a day of anxiety at work when I did this exercise. We have new leadership and old wounds. And I still feel sad for all that happened last year. Hopefully the kus will help me work through it.

Now you try it.