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postcards (1)

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Peaceful Postcards


Here's an easy swap for our Zen Artists! Just pick out a postcard that inspires peace within you, something that's beautiful (remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and then tell us on the other side why this brings you peace!

Photo above is by druideye, taken in Georgia/USA.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

First Swap! Week of Zen Poetry

A Week of Zen Poetry is our very first swap for The Zen Artist Group on swap-bot.com - I'm really excited as I love to write poetry, and I hope that some of the members also love to write poetry.

Here's some possible themes:

* nature
* feelings that make you feel good like love, contentment, etc
* meditation
* the universe
* how you relax
* sounds around you
* what enlightenment means to you
* the seasons or one particular season
* the weather
* share some wisdom you've learned

Here's a few examples of zen poetry I found on the web ---

My legacy -
What will it be?
Flowers in spring,
The cuckoo in summer,
And the crimson maples
Of autumn ...

Ryokan (1758-1831) Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf, p.143 Translated by John Stevens

The body is the tree of enlightenment, The mind like a clear mirror stand; Time and gain wipe it diligently,
Don't let it gather dust.
by Shenxiu


Direct your eye right inward, and you'll find
A thousand regions of your mind
Yet undiscovered. Travel them and be
Expert in home-cosmography.
by Henry David Thoreau
Walden

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Welcome Friends

I started a group on swap-bot.com, called "The Zen Artist" and this is the blog for that group! Welcome to any and all that have joined and have visited here. As the group grows, this blog will be used to keep members up to date on the swaps that are being run, and a place to share what we create and swap as well as ideas for the meditative, contemplative life.

Pamela