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Autoschediasm

Autoschediasm

Maria writes...

I like to collect interesting words. I have a (used-to-be) blank book just for them.  Of course, they are beautifully written, and defined, so I won’t forget why I liked the word in the first place.  Words like. . . “Notabilia,” “Stellate,” “Caper,” “Triskelion,” “Transmogrify.”    

But, when I came across “Autoschediasm,” well, I just about. . . for lack of a better word, fainted! I mean, just look at it. It’s beautiful. And, fun to say. Say it ten times fast and see what I mean. Hmmmm. Autoschediasm is simply this: something that is improved, spontaneous, impromptu. Wow. I like to think that I might be an Autoschediastic tangler. What do you think? Spontaneous switches in lines and forms. Unrehearsed, fearless, ad-libbed patterning without the angst of mistangleism. I think that all the famous (and a few not-so-famous) artists experienced some form of Autoschediasmic moments on a daily basis. Perhaps they didn’t quite know what was happening at the time, but eventually, they accepted these “gifts” and quietly, knowingly, continued their day with a slight smile, maybe even hummed or whistled a tune or two for the rest of the day. Autoschediasm can do that to a person. When you least expect it, the big “A” can turn a so-so day into an incredible one.  

In Zentangle, Autoschediasm can bring your tangle to life, in just a few strokes of your magic wand, or, in our case, a pen or pencil. You might be in the middle of hollibaugh, and just a tiny bit of Autoschediasm sneaks into your hand, and you wonder what might happen if you made that next line with a slight curve. Or, in an especially enthusiastic Autoschediastic moment, you may go wavy. Auras are a fun way to explore your Autoschediastic tendencies, or perhaps weighting or rounding. Adding “love” is a sure thing, in terms of your Autoschediasmic endeavours. If you find Autoschediasm too difficult to say or remember, you could go with Zentangle Improv.

Now, here’s the big secret: anyone, a you or a me, can experience Autoschediasm. All you need is an open mind, a sense of spirit, a sprinkle of courage, and a sly smile. But, here’s the caveat: it’s habit-forming in the most wonderful way. You will want to implement Autoschediasm whenever and wherever you can. It’s what art is all about.  

Autoschediasm. Huh. Who knew it could be that simple.

Just maybe, you too could become a “Philocast.” Like me.

Maria Thomas

35 comments

  • Strong Autoschediates are we!

    Julia Davenport, Mystic Medicine Tangles on

  • Your content is so well-researched and impactful. I’ve also been working on and would love to exchange ideas. Let me know if you’d be open to exploring related subjects in future posts! At Cell Health, we share a similar vision—empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being with premium, science-backed, and naturopathic supplements. Visit www.cellhealth.in to start your journey toward better health today!

    cellhealth on

  • Maria, I have always appreciated all your words of wisdom through the years especially, combing old and new words to help us be creative and think outside the box when we tangle. I have always been interested in Linguistics and Etymology since I was a young child which included the various colorful cultures that I became intrigued with. Drawing was always a part of my life and when I discovered Zentangle my life became so much richer and fuller with all that you and the Zentangle community gave to all of us. Thank you and bless all of you for your dedication to genre.

    Cheryl K Jensen on

  • I love words and I love Zentangle and so enjoyed reading your thoughts.

    Rochelle D’Agostino Salmon on

  • I love words and I love Zentangle and so enjoyed reading your thoughts.

    Rochelle D’Agostino Salmon on

  • I love it, if only I knew how to pronounce it. LOL

    Joyce Freeman on

  • No encuentro una palabra en mi idioma español, que traduzca con exactitud. Pero existe una que identifica la intención del “Autoscedismo” y que sugiere salirse de improviso de un trazo preestablecido, creando un nuevo camino que lleva a e enriquecer el tangle o a una versión diferente del original planteado: “Autoescapísmo” Es una linda palabra que usaré con mis alumnos hispanos en adelante y que les apoya su propia creatividad. Gracias María por inventar esos maravillosos y útiles vocablos. Cada vez amo más los beneficios del Zentangle!

    Elsa Dueñas CZT26 on

  • Maria, you have opened up a new challenge for us all which I love! A wonder of our incredible language to reanimate uncommon words with luschiously apt words for our creativity. Perhaps a new idea for a project pack? …. just a thought. I love the idea of your notebook and I too have been inspired to keep a small journal for unique and fascinating words to adore or wonder at. Thank you for always enlighting our minds, our creative hearts and souls to enjoy all the wonders we need to delve into. x Blessings always

    Veronica Hodges on

  • Maria, delightful reading your post and the subsequent posts afterwards. It seems a now challenge has begun in our Zentomology! Yes a Zendictionary of delightfully, rare, uncommon words rediscovered and autoschediasmed(?) into our tangles, sketchbooks, journals and the like. My new book quest has begun for a fun challenge with a friend to bring to life – reanimate our incredible language and wonder at what we can create with them?

    Veronica Hodges on

  • Maria, delightful reading your post and the subsequent posts afterwards. It seems a now challenge has begun in our Zentomology! Yes a Zendictionary of delightfully, rare, uncommon words rediscovered and autoschediasmed(?) into our tangles, sketchbooks, journals and the like. My new book quest has begun for a fun challenge with a friend to bring to life – reanimate our incredible language and wonder at what we can create with them?

    Veronica Hodges on

  • Fabulous! I love it

    Irene Lammerse CZTeu1 on

  • Fabulous posting! And the comment section has been equally as interesting. What a great group of tanglers!

    Jane Roberts on

  • I too love meeting new words! Thank you for sharing your insights on how autoschediasm relates to creativity and finding joy in following your own path.

    Vicki on

  • LOVE your posts, Maria! This is a great one – the perfect word for Zentangling :) And, like Rita J.M. Blom, I too looked for “philocast” and found only “philocalist.” But I’m pretty sure you can be a philocast if you want to.

    Peyton CZT38 on

  • More please! I LOVE words and their etymology…almost as much as I love tangling!

    Viv on

  • Well, of course I had to look up ‘Philocast’ and found a wonderful web site called Word Nerd. In defining Philocast, it mentioned that in finding the beauty in all things, that is to be a philocast, we quaintrelles are all true philocasts at heart. we cultivate, create and appreciate beauty in all of its endless forms. Oh I do love words…. And I, too, need to have much more autoschediasm in my art. Throw caution to the winds…. Be endlessly brave!!

    Pam Stevenson, CZT on

  • Love this! It reminds me of my 5th grade teacher who made us do something called ‘Sesquipedalians’. We had this list of words we had to find magazine images to represent. This is a humdinger..I may have some of it, but I could use more :)

    Jody Genovese on

  • THIS. THIS is my problem. There is utterly NO autoschediasm in my tangling whatsoever. Not so much as a smidgen. My “creativity” is limited to following the step-outs provided by ZHQ, and shading. I’ve been tangling for years, and those autoschediasmic tendencies haven’t shown up once. Any suggestions for figuring out where mine are hiding? Perhaps coaxing them out? In any case, what a FANTASTIC word!!!

    Tracy B. on

  • I’m not sure how it came about but I discovered the word “autoschediasm” some time ago and instantly knew that it described my Zentangle practice, The moment of clarity for me comes about when I finish a tile and take the final step, Appreciation. At this point, I often see things I never intended to draw or that, with just a few more strokes of the pen, became something quite remarkable. Sometimes, my favorite view is flipped from the view I had while drawing. (Oh, but I love The Zentangle Method.)

    Linda Dochter on

  • I used to delight in being a “wordsmith”!

    Jan Brandt, CZT 12 on

  • Because I have an ex-broken wrist, it has been difficult for me to make some of the different tangles. I’ve had to do what I can and make my own. I called them “Jazz Tangles” in honor of my husband who was a jazz pianist. He would take a song and turn into a whole new tune – or even several whole new tunes. I had a great time working on the jazz tangles during the lock down and it kept me sane.

    Now I’ve developed arthritis in my hands so badly, I can barely hold a pencil or pen (much less a crochet hook which has been my major form of creativity all my life), so am trying to think up another way to draw and create. I’m sure it will come to me somehow.

    Thanks for the introduction to drawing for me. Never thought I was an artist!

    Deborah on

  • 😊🌈🌞🦄💚

    Rimona Gale on

  • Wonderful way to describe all those little wiggles and turns in a tangle. Autoschediasm all the way
    Wonderful blog Maria, thank you.

    Kathleen McMurtryCZT on

  • Oh my! I’ve been doing this for a long time! Choosing a new interesting word every day! I didnt know that others do this too! What a delightful word Maria! Thank you for sharing! A fellow Pholocast…
    Mary McAllister April 15

    Mary McAllister on

  • Fun Synonyms for Autoschediasm: impromptu, jamming, on-the-spot, spontaneous, spur-of-the moment, unpremeditated
    Antonyms: deliberate, planned, premeditated, prepared
    Hmmm…I think I’m actually both Autoschediastic and its opposite when I tangle! I’m sometimes deliberate and intentional and other times I’m jamming spontaneously. Makes me think of musicians who are classically trained, but who can then improvise with jazz.

    Dione Greenberg on

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