I attended annual weekend retreat in August practising Hitsuzendo, Zen calligraphy with Sensei Sarah Moate and the sangha. This year we brushed the Zen phrase Nichi Getsu, Sun and Moon. Being in Bexhill, a seaside town, I got to see the Sun and the Moon in the wide open sky above the ocean. I love seeing the sun and moon when they are nearer the horizon, clouds permitting of course! Beauty of the nearly full moon was a joy to behold.
Bathed in the energy of the sun rise and moon rise, we meditated, we did Yokiho – ki raising energy movements and then we brushed the characters, inviting spirit and ki to flow through the brush and ink onto big white paper. We did this on both the days in different scripts.
On the second day I felt a deeper sacred energy come through and chose not to sign the calligraphy.
I love the practice of hitsuzendo where we do not try to brush perfect characters, trusting that the brush and ink helps reveal what is being made visible in that moment, in the sacred space created by coming together to practice the sacred art of Zen brushwork.