Consider the birds: a visual meditation

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them  (Matthew 6v26) This picture is one of several designs I made based on the flight of the swallow. These were made into stencils, which different community groups across Bradford used to print …

Even the sparrow: a visual meditation

Now is the time of year for nesting. And this year the birds are really noticeable. They have lost a lot of their fear and are coming closer. Yesterday I watched a magpie collecting nesting material from our back hedge, something I have never seen before, and on my solitary walk this morning I found small feathers, witness to nesting activities such as the defense of ones territory.

Craftivism for Global Day of Solidarity

This Friday (22nd May) is the Global Day of Solidarity. It is a call for everyone to use their creativity to show solidarity with our global community. We, along with many organisations, are encouraging you to do one of the simple actions below and then share it on social media with #StrongerTogether or send a …

Wings of a dove: a visual meditation

I have been recently made aware of the limbic brain: the part of the brain that comes fully formed with us into the world. Within it reside our earliest memories: it is where our ‘gut instincts’ originate and also where we learn our knee jerk reactions. Reactions such as flight or fight. But also as I have recently learnt, freeze. This has been a revelation to me as I have realized that I am a freezer: in the face of decision-making or crisis, I become the proverbial rabbit in headlights.

Finding our way: a visual meditation

Even though we are all on ‘go slow’ are minds do not always allow us to be contemplative. My mind is endlessly noisy, busy with it endeavours, worries, distractions and concerns. If you look closely at this picture, you will find both a maze and a labyrinth: two seemingly similar devices.

Pause: a visual meditation

When you look at this picture, what do you see? Most people will say they see a cross, and in some ways that is exactly what you are seeing. But there’s more to it than that.

Anastasia: a visual meditation

In many ways we will be feeling like this in our current situation. There is a not knowing about the virus, we cannot say as yet what the outcome will be, how many will live or die or how long we will have to stay in lockdown. It’s a very tough time for all of us in different ways.