Ensō (円相) is a Japanese word meaning "circle" and a concept strongly associated with Zen.

Ensō is one of the most common subjects of Japanese calligraphy even though it is a symbol and not a character.

It symbolizes enlightenment, strength, elegance, the Universe, and the void; it can also symbolize the Japanese aesthetic itself. As an "expression of the moment" it is often considered a form of minimalist expressionist art.

In Zen Buddhist painting, ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create.

The brushed ink of the circle is usually done on silk or rice paper in one movement (but the great Bankei used two strokes sometimes) and there is no possibility of modification: it shows the expressive movement of the spirit at that time.

Zen Buddhists "believe that the character of the artist is fully exposed in how she or he draws an ensō. Only a person who is mentally and spiritually complete can draw a true ensō. Some artists will practice drawing an ensō daily, as a kind of spiritual exercise."[1]

Some artists paint ensō with an opening in the circle, while others complete the circle. For the former, the opening may express various ideas, for example that the ensō is not separate, but is part of something greater, or that imperfection is an essential and inherent aspect of existence (see also the idea of broken symmetry).

The principle of controlling the balance of composition through asymmetry and irregularity is an important aspect of the Japanese aesthetic: Fukinsei (不均斉), the denial of perfection.

The ensō is also a sacred symbol in the Zen school of Buddhism, and is often used by Zen masters as a form of signature in their religious artwork. For more on the philosophy behind this see Hitsuzendo, the Way of the Brush or Zen Calligraphy.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ens%C5%8D

I have several enso inspired works in my office - painted while in Maui with Max Gimblett. And this years visual diary - representing all my hopes, dreams and plans for the year is a "chalk" enso on red card - symbolising passion, "oneness" and spirituality to me.

Circle of infinity...emptiness with fullness, all things visible. All things unseen. To end and to begin....circle of life.

"There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life." Federico Fellini

Labels: Spirituality in art

Inspired by the photography and life change of Carla Coulson I have signed up to do a photography course.

I was thrilled to receive the following feedback and an 8/10 grade for my second assignment:)

"A great shot – lovely use of shallow depth of field for blur and well focused, well done also for making sure that the fence lines didnt cut across it too much. It’s very professional to be thinking about the background as many forget to do this and it’s important, even if we don’t want it to be. The skill is in ‘removing’ the background as much as possible, whether by composition or blurring with shallow depth of field, so that it does not distract, if it has nothing to do with the subjectt

I like the composition and crop too. Well done though Cassandra.

Matt 8 March Photography course"

The other day I met best-selling (and let me add - best-writing) author Sarah Dunant - she was so inspirational. Sarah Dunant is the author of the international bestsellers The Birth of Venus, In the Company of the Courtesan and Sacred Hearts - all of which I have read, adored and continue to cherish. Her last book rounds out a Renaissance trilogy bringing voice to the lives of three different women in three different historical contexts. Her thorough research vividly reconstructs womens’ secret histories in the characters of a Florentine Noblewoman, a Venetian Courtesan and with Sacred Hearts the spellbinding and fascinating lives of the Sisters of Santa Caterina.

When I heard Sarah was going to be in my home town of Wellington I didn't hestiate to rearrange my diary.

I felt so inspired as I listened to her talk about her passion for history, Renaissance Italy and telling the un-told stories of women living in historical times. Sarah oozed passion and I think that it's her passion, as well as her immense talent, that makes her writing come alive for me.

Inspirational quotes and inspirational people always set my soul on fire and reignite dormant passions and dreams of my own. Combining the two - the quotes and the people- makes it doubly more potent.

Some of the most memorable things Sarah said while in Wellington were:

"I was completely intoxicated by that period"
(for me that shows the importance of feeling passionate about what you are doing, or planning to do)

"I wondered what was it like to be an ordinary person during that time"
(forming a question in this way has helped my writing hugely - imagining and then bringing to life a fictional character)

"Writing a historical book is like painting - the dots are the facts, you step back and your have the story."
(as an artist I love the idea of thinking of my story as a painting - laying all the ingredients at separate stages to create the total work of art

All these things, and many more she shared re the craft of writing and her journey as a writer inspired me. But what really set my soul on my fire was when, as she signed my book, she said," I brought a house in Florence and the Birth of Venus" paid for it.

We laughed and I said, "Who said you couldn't make a living as a writer?!"

AS I drove away my passion soared. I pulled over to capture my feelings on paper. I knew what I was experiencing was huge and I didn't want to lose it. Here's what I wrote:

"I just met Sarah Dunant - one of my favourite authors - if not the favourite. I feel so inspired, and excited. My stomach is flipping and swirling, dipping - like it does when there is turbulence in an aircraft. It's exciting. A feeling of real thrill - the kind you hope will never end. It makes me feel giddy, delirious. It fills me with a deep yearning, ffills my eyes with tears. I cannot breath, cannot get the words down fast enough. I want to savour this moment - the moment I know with a passion what I felt called, compelled, excited to do - to write about ordinary women like me, living in historical times, a multi-sensory book filled with art, architecture, set in Italy, or France - beautiful and intoxicating. To write stories that make others feel as I do - hungry for more and so delighted to have met the author."

To learn more about Sarah and her wonderful books click here http://www.sarahdunant.com. You can listen to and watch fascinating podcasts here http://www.sarahdunant.com/Sarah-Dunant-Podcasts/podcasts-author-sarah-dunant.htm