At my starting point of Shodo, Maeda Sensei shared these words with me: Protecting, Breaking, Departing守破離. This is a Japanese learning philosophy on the three stages of mastering art. I practice the same lines over and over in order to invent a single disciplined line that can project the sound of life. Many practice papers are scattered on the floor and my cat lies on the papers for a nap. Any feelings of anguish disappear in the silence of the room. I look forward to practicing here to discover more of Japanese culture, boundless imagination and beautiful moments.

This Shodo" class is a different place, a different land from the land we live in. It has its own people, rules, language, customs and habits, and culture. The class has no visible dimensions. The only limit there is determined by brush lines on the paper, and these lines are confined and free at the same ;me; sometimes they can escape the paper and dissipate in space and ;me and imagination. In this class we have an invisible spirit connectng us together, encouraging us to delve into the essence hidden behind the appearance of forms created by brush lines. In this class we like each other, we encourage each other, and we learn from each other. Mostly without saying a word. When I am in this class I merge with this connecting hidden spirit and transform without much effort into a traveller in a colourful land, carrying a brush dipped in ink in my hand wandering in the hidden mysteries of the dark meadows of a paper.

Shodo as an art form inherently reflects components of Japanese culture, and how by practicing shodo I can engage in fundamental aspects of Japanese culture in a deeper way. Ten years now I’ve been practicing shodo and I could not be more grateful for that. I still feel like I have so much more room to grow and improve. That aspect of calligraphy, that process of continual improvement and growth that will last me a lifetime is another reason why I practice shodo and why I love practicing it.

Each class is distinct. Some are reserved, while others are chatty. Every group is a mixed bag of backgrounds, personalities, and affinities. Ages 5 to 85, novice or experienced, all are welcome. Sensei’s ability to create inclusive lesson plans is to be commended. Furthermore, when faced with lockdowns, she swiftly pivoted from in-person to digital teaching. With so much disruption and uncertainty, Shodo classes kept us connected.

So, I just want to briefly talk about some of the positive effects that calligraphy has for me. I enjoy the slow preparation of the ink before we start and that already gets me in a meditative mode. Then the actual writing requires full attention. As a matter of fact, the meditative or Flow state of mind, where you completely concentrate on one thing and stop all the background chatter in your brain, has been shown to improve health and memory and overall well-being.