Balance

Small practices for a calmer day.

Notes on symbols, stones and practice — and how to live with a little more intention.

An enormous old tree with a vast spreading crown, small young trees around its feet, late afternoon light, bare paper sky

Inspirational

The Old Tree Grows the Most

In most species the biggest, oldest trees add the most new wood every year. Growth does not slow with age. It speeds up.

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An ancient oak with a wide open hollow at its base, dark inside, and a full green crown above, standing in a field, loose wash

Inspirational

Hollow, and Still Standing
A large old wound on a tree trunk with a thick rolled lip of new bark closing over it from both sides, a narrow seam of dark wood still showing, painted close

Inspirational

A Tree Does Not Heal. It Seals.
An old rusted nail in the bark of a thick tree trunk at eye height, the bark swollen and grown around it on every side, painted close in umber and grey

Inspirational

The Nail Stays Where It Is
The cut face of a tree trunk filling the sheet, rings in cream and warm umber, a few very thin rings crowded close together partway out, painted with botanical care

Inspirational

The Rings Keep the Bad Years
A young willow growing in a large old clay pot on bare paper, slender and leafy, soft misty light, nothing else in the frame

Inspirational

A Tree Is Made of Air
A single broad tree with the ground cut away beneath it: a shallow plate of roots spreading sideways far wider than the crown, thin and many, in the top layer of umber soil, bare paper sky

Inspirational

Roots Are Wide, Not Deep
A lone figure seen from behind walking a ridge path at dusk, carrying a dark bundle on the back and holding a small warm light in front, charcoal hill and cream sky, loose ink wash

Inspirational

Carry One, Embrace the Other
A single empty circle drawn in one stroke of grey ink on bare cream paper, like an enso, with nothing inside it and nothing around it

Inspirational

The Empty Circle Above It
Close detail of the dark half of a yin yang in rich black ink wash with a single small circle of bare cream paper inside it, glowing like a moon, the rest of the sheet quiet

Inspirational

The Dot in the Dark
A large yin yang circle painted loosely in black ink wash and bare cream paper, the S-curve boundary soft and bleeding, the two small dots visible, lots of empty paper around it

Inspirational

A Curve, Not a Line
A single rounded hill at low morning sun: the south face washed in warm cream light, the north face in cool charcoal shadow, a soft line of mist at the base, bare paper sky

Inspirational

The Shady Side of the Hill
A perfectly still pond at dawn holding a flawless reflection of a single pink lotus and its leaf, the water a mirror of pale teal and sky, bare paper above and below

Inspirational

Still Water