The Legends of Zentangle

In May of this year, we honored Mental Health Awareness Month with our annual Bijou Be Well Series. For 21 straight days, we tangled one tangle a day, putting pen to paper for just 10-15 minutes, giving ourselves the gift of creativity and calm. Our surface was a Zentangle Opus tile, the largest tile in the Zentangle collection. Its generous size can feel a little intimidating at first, but there was comfort in that we were all filling these tiles together, one tangle at a time.

I have finished Opus tiles before, and I was excited to start a new one. I relish any chance I get to sit down and tangle, and feel incredibly lucky that it is my job, but there was something different about this project. I found the entire series to be a gift. No stumbles or pauses... I looked forward to each new tangle, each line, each small moment of peace. And as my tile began to fill up, I began to reflect on what was different about this Opus tile, this project.

It occurred to me that the part I was enjoying the most was not having to pick my tangles. Working from a predefined list took all the stress out of deciding what to put down next. There were no decisions to be made or choices to be weighed. And, since the tile I was working on was being used as an example for the series, I had to follow the list of tangles as it was and could not deviate if the next tangle was not my favorite or if it was new to me. The elegance of limits.

Had I been working on my own, I would have likely used all my favorite tangles first and then struggled with what to do next. I might still be trying to finish the tile.

This recent realization of mine is something that Rick and Maria understood from the very beginning. When they were designing their first Zentangle Kit, every element was chosen with intention. Tucked inside was Legend L5, featuring twenty different tangles, and it was accompanied by an icosahedron die. The idea was that if someone was feeling lost on which tangle to draw, they could simply roll the die and use the tangle that corresponded with that number on the legend. By removing the pressure of having to choose the “right” tangle, you are free to focus on the experience itself.

Over the years, we have explored new legends and have made our own legends to support our Zentangle practice.

One of my favorites is Zentangle Project Pack No. 10, where we created personalized legend booklets of our own. It remains one of the Project Packs we recommend most often, whether you are just beginning your Zentangle journey or have been tangling for years. Along the way, you learn new tangles, discover new techniques, explore Zentangle philosophy, and finish with a resource that becomes uniquely yours. 

In the fall of 2024, we introduced the first installment of our Legends of Zentangle series. These legends became much more than collections of tangles. They invited us to explore strings, fragments, prompts, techniques, and the stories that weave through the Zentangle Method. Each installment offers countless opportunities to begin again, even if you think you've run out of ideas. The legends remove the question of “what should I do next?” and instead, there is an invitation to simply start tangling.

While I suppose I could ask Molly to make me a new list of 21 tangles every month, I realize I already have a collection of inspiration waiting for me whenever I need it. Every legend in my tool box offers a new journey and a gentle reminder that creativity does not always need more choices, but often just a place to start. 

Have you used any of the Zentangle Legends? Which one has inspired you the most? Do you have any ideas for future Legend themes? Let us know in the comments and we will pick a commenter at random to send a Zentangle surprise to!

Shop the The Legends of Zentangle: 

The Legends of Zentangle Collection Box 
Collection 1: Lady Aura
Collection 2: Strings 
Collection 3: Organic Tangles 
Collection 4: Reticula and Fragments 
Collection 5: Zen & Tangle