By Heart

This is a fun word play blog and a perfect fit for our recent “No Mistakes” Project Pack No. 06. There are some unexpected twists and turns in this narrative, but follow along. I think you will enjoy it.

Tile by Molly Hollibaugh

Parkour is “the act of moving from point A to point B using the obstacles in your path to increase your efficiency” according to the World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF) (wfpf.com). Parkour (and freerunning) have many similarities to the Zentangle Method.

After watching this video, I can imagine you saying, “Rick, are you serious? What possible similarities do you see?”

Did you watch it? Yes? Well, take a moment to catch your breath.

Okay, let’s take a closer look at parkour. 

Parkour practitioners see it more as a philosophy and approach to life than as a competition. It is about creative, playful and expressive movement; not just speed. Parkour practitioners see themselves as “artists of motion.” 

It takes a lot of courage to do parkour, or (indulge me as I alter the spelling but not the sound) . . . “Parcour[age]. Is this a time that calls for courage? I think it is. Particularly the courage to create. (Thanks, Lavette!)

Add an “e” and “ParCour[age]” becomes “ParCoeur[Age].” (And with my idea of French pronunciation, it sounds just the same!) “Par Coeur” is French for, “By Heart.” The Zentangle Method is a practice that encourages and empowers a person to create from the heart . . . by heart . . . Par Coeur!

The Zentangle Method does not teach exactly how to duplicate a particular tangle. Nor does parkour teach exactly how to jump a particular barrier. But both approaches share a set of fundamental guidelines that inspire heart based creativity. They both enable you to accomplish something you didn’t think you could. Practitioners in both art forms benefit from unexpected and unplanned events. Both art forms use a set of elegant limits to guide a unique creative response in each moment . . . a response that is necessarily heart inspired and often . . . courageous.

Creativity takes courage.  - Henri Matisse

With the Zentangle Method and with parkour, you learn to see barriers, challenges, and so-called mistakes as opportunities and even as gifts . . . gifts that inspire you to go within, access your imagination, and re-give your unique creative response . . . a response that can bring more beauty and grace into this world. 

Project Pack No 06 journal pages by Maria (L) and Rick (R). 

Maria and I are in our 60s. Like anyone who has lived that long, there are events we wish did not happen. However, neither of us would change a thing because that could risk us not being with our family and with each other . . . and, with this Zentangle community. 

After over 15 years of practicing and speaking about the Zentangle Method, we find that we live each day as parkour freerunners approaching a new course. And each day is a gift that offers us new opportunities to respond “Par Coeur” . . . By Heart . . . to bring beauty and grace to each moment.

Welcome to this age of “By Heart.” It can be empowering, uplifting, healing . . . and fun!

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