Meditation

Experiments outside with Suibokuga Japanese landscape painting with Margaret Kerr

Experiments outside with Suibokuga Japanese landscape painting with Margaret Kerr

Margaret and Blair walked to the river North of Lenzie and found a sheltered peaceful spot next to a small weir, ideal for setting up for Suibokuga 水墨画 water and ink landscape painting. We used 顔彩 gansai paint sets with fude brushes and cut bamboo… Read More »Experiments outside with Suibokuga Japanese landscape painting with Margaret Kerr

Deeply, slowly and softly - Shakyo tracing at KSD

Deeply, slowly and softly – Shakyo tracing at KSD

The last of our series of free events related to Japanese calligraphy and meditative practice was Shakyo copying – tracing a sutra.We started with a talk where Blair discussed the history of Shakyo (and of course including the famous story of Genjo / Xuanzang c… Read More »Deeply, slowly and softly – Shakyo tracing at KSD

Winter clarity and creative exploration in Japan

Winter clarity and creative exploration in Japan

In January Blair visited Japan as part of a project kindly funded by the GB Sasakawa Foundation. He had an exciting packed schedule learning about various Shodo calligraphy styles of Japanese calligraphy with Shodo masters in Tokyo, and investigating mindful meditation practices with different teachers… Read More »Winter clarity and creative exploration in Japan

North United Communities, Glasgow

Meditation and Qigong with young people

At Maryhill Hub on Saturday, Blair working with the NUC young people – a short session of mindfulness meditation for children with some fun Qigong moves?   ********** Workshop for North United Communities **********

Being with the season changing – Autumn into Winter

Being with the season changing – Autumn into Winter

It was a peaceful journey to Lenzie along the quiet paths and roads. When we arrived we found inspiring examples by Margaret of ink markmaking using a branch or twig from each of the varied types of trees in the grounds. Birch, Plum, Alder, Rowan,… Read More »Being with the season changing – Autumn into Winter

Meditation and calm at Brushing Fire

Meditation and calm at Brushing Fire

We started the day at Lenzie with a chat about the shared cultural connections around the five elements, particularly through the Himalayan area, from India, Tibet to China and Japan. We looked at the variety of meanings as well as the different approaches of the… Read More »Meditation and calm at Brushing Fire

Tracing the Sutras – Shakyo Peaceful practice following the Heart Sutra

Relaxing and meditative tracing of the Heart Sutra

In the Garden room at KSD a small group of us began Shakyo – copying sutras – by chatting about the history and styles and looking at some examples of the characters such as mu – dream and ku – space. Then we slowly and… Read More »Relaxing and meditative tracing of the Heart Sutra

Relaxing, making some marks, meditating

Relaxing, making some marks, meditating

We have been helping some folk to find calm and relaxation by providing a peaceful space where we can combine some meditation time, mark making, and notice our senses and environment. In this session we meditated together, relaxed our breathing, listened to some poetry and… Read More »Relaxing, making some marks, meditating

Calligraphy day at Wiston Lodge

Sansui – Mountains and Water calligraphy at Wiston Lodge

On February 17th we led a calligraphy and mindfulness day at Wiston Lodge with the friendly and enthusiastic members of the Border Collie Sangha. The setting and light was beautiful with lodge sitting next to Tinto hill south of Lanark, with ice and snow melt… Read More »Sansui – Mountains and Water calligraphy at Wiston Lodge

Skybrush Earthbrush

Skybrush Earthbrush

It was super to be asked by Margaret Kerr to her inspiring place in Lenzie to work with her on this one day retreat combining meditation, outdoor walking and mindful practice with Shodo calligraphy. We began the day with a chat about the theme –… Read More »Skybrush Earthbrush