Ten to Zen(tangle)

Molly writes:

I recently came across this list. I was intrigued by it and searched around a bit for an author but kept coming up as Author Unknown.

Zentangle is not Zen. They are for sure two very different things. However there are some overlaps I see in the philosophies and perspectives of the two methods. I was recently drawn to this list because it so reminded me of the approach we take when we teach Zentangle classes. I was enamored by the idea of letting go. When, as artists, we are able to “let go”, our creative process takes us on a path that is nurturing, supportive, and can lead to side effects such as uncontrollable smiling and in some instances belly laughs.

Here is my Zentangle breakdown …

1. Let go of comparing your lines, your tangles, your orbs and your tiles to anyone else. After all it is yours. How amazing that we all have our own unique expression. Seeing beauty in yourself and your own work can take time, but I assure you it is there. In fact it has always been there, we just sometimes loose the ability to see it in ourselves. Allowing ourselves to let go of comparing who we are and what we create to others, and trusting that beauty lives independently and is not contingent on others is a powerful thing. Once you see the beauty within yourself, you start to see it everywhere.
2. Let go of competing with yourself and others. Its art. Can one piece of art be better than another? We love seeing Zentangle themed exhibitions and events, but we always ask that is done for the celebration of showing work and that there is no emphasis on one particular piece being awarded the best. If beauty is seen through the eye of the beholder than there is no way to have a best. Zentangle Art is a platform for all types of artists.
3. Let go of the negative judgements on yourself and others. Take a moment. Take a breath and look at things with fresh eyes, from a new light, or at a different time. Allow yourself to let go of the “because”, the “if only”, the “it would be better if” and the “if it didn’t”. Look for the beauty in things and you will find it.
4. Let go of Anger. Some days are tougher than others. Some days your tangles will flow better than others. Some tangles will make more sense than others. Getting mad at yourself will only lead to frustration and anxiety. Take a break. Take a breath. Shake it off. It is just a tile. In many cases I have found that is was the tiles that challenged me most and then revisited later that I love and connect with the most.
5. Let go of regret. At a CZT seminar a few years ago I was rambling about how I should have done this and could have done that and this lovely CZT stopped me and said, “don't should on yourself.” The words hit me hard. I realized that laboring over what should have happened or could have been done is ridiculous. I thought about how many times I have been stuck in woulda, shoulda, coulda moments that I completely lost sight of what was actually happening. At that point I decided to make an effort to take things as they come. Regardless if it is what I was expecting or not, I remind myself to embrace the journey when it takes an unintended turn. I have realized that if I get caught looking backwards to the past, it gets hard to see where I am and where I am going.
6. Let go of worrying about what it is going to look like. Let go of worrying if you mess up. Let go of worrying if it will be good enough. What a relief to finally understand why we encourage this in a Zentangle practice. It took a long time for me to grasp this one. I was constantly planning, mapping and correcting so much that I was never able to really enjoy myself. When I finally allowed myself to just focus on where I was and let that stroke dictate the next, my tangles took on a whole different look. I realized that I had to trust the process and myself.
7. Let go of blame. We can often get lost in blaming ourselves. I hear my fellow Zentangle artists beating themselves up about not tangling fast enough or for not creating enough tiles. I hear words like, “I am so behind.” or “I haven’t tangled in so long.” Whether you tangle everyday for hours or you can only sneak in Bijou tile once a month, it is still “your” Zentangle practice. Your Zentangle practice is a place for you no matter what your life is offering at that moment. Let go of the blame and enjoy whatever moments whenever you get them.
8. Let go of guilt. We all deserve a little “me” time. For us tanglers, finding moments to sit down and draw is a treat. I have learned to make those times a priority. I know that it calms me and nurtures my soul. I know that there are weeks when I get plenty of time to tangle and others where is hard to fit it in. Whatever time I can find, I know that feeling guilty about taking this time can ruin the whole experience. I try to instead feel grateful for the time and look at all the good things that it gives me.
9. Let go of fear. I too can get scared. Even when it comes to my Zentangle practice. Scared to try a new tangle, a technique or even scared to teach a class. But like worry, it is a place you can let go of – especially when it comes to Zentangle art. I remind myself to once again to trust the process and that there are no mistakes in creating Zentangle art. I know that whatever bumps appear in road, I can make it part of my journey.
10. Have a proper belly laugh at least once a day. This one is my favorites. From the start Mom and Rick have included “fun” in the way they describe Zentangle. We try to keep things light and remind our students and ourselves not take things too seriously. There is so much serious stuff that goes on in the world. Feel free to let your Zentangle practice be a place where you can just enjoy the process. Remind yourself that it is just pen and paper. There will be another time and another tile. Be grateful that we can have a practice that gives us break, a smile, or even a laugh. I am always amazed at what can happen in the creative process ... discover how much more can happen when you top it off with a giggle.

- Molly Hollibaugh