![]() ![]() It’s become a form of creativity and art I enjoy creating. In short, this is the true path to living well.įor me, after a year or two of doing of ensō sumi painting or other drawing styles, it’s become an important fixture in my life and fun practice and form of meditation for me. Just as the ancient Japanese believed that the katana-wielding samurai needed to be masters of the sword and the brush, the same applies to us. Whether it’s overworking or laziness, overeating or anorexia/asceticism, frugality or reckless extravagance, celibacy or addiction to sensuality, the idea is to strike a balance that keeps us on an even keel. In Buddhism this is often called “the middle way” or “the middle path” that keeps us in a calm state and minimizing suffering. It reminds us that we should never lean too far toward one end of the spectrum in any aspect of life. In our working life, personal relationships, physical health, mental state, and the way we interact with all things, living or not, in the world, the qualities that the Ensō represents are useful. Sometimes in today’s world we live in extremes which puts us at odds with other people and even with ourself or our best interests at times. The ensō is a very fitting representation of the balance that all human beings should strive to achieve. The Ensō Circle holds nothing it does not need, but lacks nothing that it does. This is great for working on perfectionism! ![]() The Ensō is a perfect example of accepting our perfect imperfection. ![]() When doing art I often use Sharpie markers or pens as a way to commit to the design I create instead of using a pencil and erasing things to make them “right” or “perfect”. One cannot make any alterations or corrections to it, either once it is done.Īs an artist I love this once and done approach. The only unalterable constant that must be adhered to when making an Ensō Circle is that the drawing motion must be one (sometimes two) smooth, circular sweep(s) without pauses or breaks. You can draw out an Ensō Circle practically anywhere, including the dirt or even in the air, with the same internal significance. In practical terms, the Ensō Circle is brought to life using a black ink wash, known as Sumi, to draw out the figure using a brush on thin, rice paper, the traditional surface for Japanese calligraphy. To the casual observer, the Ensō Circle might seem like a regular painted circle, but it is so much more than that. You will find its origins in Japanese calligraphy and the ensō in Buddhism as an enlightenment tradition or practice, which are the two vehicles that have influenced much of popular eastern philosophies. I chose the Enso name and designed my logo as a symbol of my desire to assist clients with achieving a healthy stress-less life that is grounded in the present to allow them to maximize their potential while living a truly happy life.Creating this minimalist Japanese symbol involves drawing out a simple circle shape left unfilled. When we are under stress (physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual) and distracted from the present moment, we lose our connection to our own inner wisdom and our capacity to feel universal interconnectedness. The Enso Healing and Meditation logo integrates the oak tree into the enso symbol to represent the anchoring of ourselves into the present moment which supports our ability to grow and flourish. The oak tree is also symbolic of the Tree of Life which represents our interconnectedness to everything. Oak trees grow slowly and can live for hundreds of years, they are a symbol of stability as their branches stretch as far below ground as the branches do above. The oak tree is an iconic image in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and a symbol of strength and interconnectedness. This allows one to connect to their inner wisdom and strength and is why the enso is a symbol of enlightenment. One must let go of expectations in order to allow their body and spirit to express their innermost self freely. Even though it appears to be a simple variation on a circle, the enso represents much more.Ĭreating an enso is a truly mindful experience as it is an expression of the artist in the present moment. While the closed circle can represent wholeness or totality, an open circle can represent the beauty of imperfection and the idea that the enso is not something separate but rather part of something greater. Artists paint enso as either a closed or open circle. It is traditionally painted in black ink wash onto thin white paper as one circular brushstroke, a singular brushstroke allows for no modifications. The enso symbol is a common subject of Japanese calligraphy and Buddhist enlightenment and has other names such as Zen Circle, the Circle of Enlightenment, the Lost Symbol of Reiki, and the Infinity Circle. Enso is a Japanese word meaning “circle” or “circular form”. I’m frequently asked about the meaning behind the Enso name and logo. ![]()
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