![]() It is said that the hands of a Zen master release the power of the ensō, and by this the master is helping those who meditate upon it to reach a higher level of consciousness – Zen masters often paint an ensō for their students, to meditate upon, and it is said that the quality of the brushwork reveals the depth of the master’s enlightenment. The space within that circle is the emptiness, or the void, the understanding of which lies at the heart of Zen, and the experience of which is the goal of meditation. There is a beginning to life (where the brush first touches the paper) and an end (where the brush leaves the paper), but this beginning and end continue one after the other, thereby signifying the wheel of birth, death and rebirth. Typically, the circle is said to represent the material world that continues endlessly without cessation. The ensō is a simple circle usually painted in black ink on a white paper. The Japanese practice of drawing the ensō requires that you allow your body to create freely and then observe the result without feeling the urge to modify your actions. According to Buddhist tradition, one should draw the ensō in a single, swift stroke, and is not possible to go back and change the drawing. This symbol is also used to indicate an instance in which “the mind is free to let the body create”. The open circle is a concept that reflects closely the teaching of the Japanese Zen Buddhism – ensō is an emblem of Zen Buddhism – and it represents and suggests cutting the desire for perfection and allowing the universe to be as it is. ![]() ![]() The opening of the circle has many interpretations. The closed circle represents the totality of experience and life. The ensō can be drawn in two styles: a complete circle or one with a small opening. The appearance of the circle will be determined by the artist’s personal style, feeling, mood, etc. Ensō is a common subject of Japanese calligraphy, even though it is a symbol and not a kanji character.Īn ensō should present the following characteristics: Fukinsei (asymmetry, irregularity), kanso (simplicity), shizen (without pretense natural) and datsuzoku (freedom).Īlthough simple in form, a perfect circle is notoriously difficult to draw, and some artists will spend long practice drawing an ensō. The term refers to a hand-drawn circle, produced by a single, continuous brushstroke. I offer this particular enso as a symbol of all that is gathered and united within us - alive, open ended and true.Ensō is a Japanese word meaning “circle”. The making of a circle with one brushstroke is a calligraphic practice of bringing that wholeness forth, through the gesture of the body, into form on the page. It is a universal expression of wholeness that lives deep in our beings. From Barbara Bash The Japanese word for circle is enso. It is from that inspired conversation that I intuitively knew that Barbara was the artist that I wanted to create the enso for my practice. Barbara and I met shortly thereafter for coffee. I witnessed Barbara facilitate a beautiful, integrative, and creative workshop called Opening the Door in February 2018, hosted by Naropa University. I sought out Barbara after learning about our shared lineage through a mutual connection. Her work can still be found in the halls of Naropa University. She taught at Naropa University in Boulder, CO, where she collaborated with storytellers, dancers, and musicians in performance. She has studied dance, drawing, calligraphy, and graphic design, which has led her to a successful career as a graphic artist, writer, and performer. About the Artistīarbara Bash is a calligrapher, illustrator, author, and performance artist. I could think of no better symbol for which to represent my work as your therapist. And through lessons of the impossibility of creating the perfect circle (sans mathematical calculations), we find this much to be true: that the very imperfections and contours that otherwise prevent a perfect circle from being created are exactly what makes the enso beautiful. The enso is a representation of our true and innermost self its creation is said to leave the artist fully exposed at that one particular moment in time. It symbolizes strength, elegance, and one-mindedness. The enso is a manifestation of the artist at the moment of creation and the acceptance of our innermost self. ![]() ![]() While at first glance, the enso symbol appears no more than a misshapen circle, it symbolizes many things: the beauty in imperfection, the art of letting go of expectations, the circle of life, and connection. Enso (formally spelled ensō) is a sacred symbol in Zen Buddhism meaning circle, or sometimes, circle of togetherness. It is traditionally drawn using only one brushstroke as a meditative practice in letting go of the mind and allowing the body to create, as the singular brushstroke allows for no modifications. ![]()
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