慧 Character Study
For the past few months, I’ve been studying Chinese Brush Painting with Josephine Tsai http://www.taoofbrush.com, and I can say she is a true master of her art. I am awestruck by the ease and grace at which just a few brushstrokes become a peony flower, or a mountain landscape unfolds. I’ve noticed that in painting, as in Acupuncture, it is about the harmony of the elements of the painting – dark and light are always together, concentrated scenes are always coupled with vast space, yin and yang are always interdependent.
Along with painting bamboo with limited success, I’ve also learned some Chinese characters. 慧 is one of my favorites. It relates to the wisdom of one’s inner being. This is the modern script, but it evolved from an ancient seal form. The top two elements are trees, but represent brooms here, as brooms were once made from tree branches. The middle element is a hand holding the broom. And the bottom, with the three drops, shows a heart. The meaning of wisdom here is to clean one’s heart, and sweep away everything that does not belong so that wisdom will be present. The understanding behind these words is a simple reminder to me, to be present, and with that intention. I hope you find some inspiration from it too.
- Returning to a Sense of Lightness – Nourishing the Energy of the Spleen - January 22, 2021
- May I Take Your Pulse? The Original Biofeedback Tool is Thousands of Years Old - August 25, 2020
- Is Shiatsu the same as massage? - February 25, 2019
