Looking at the moon sheets brought us into a discussion of silence in journals as well as of different ways of structuring time (by lunar month instead of regular months, by fortnights, etc.) in journals. I was a little sad to realize I had no idea what phase the moon was in last night; even though I live in a valley that has gorgeous moonrises and moonsets over a mountain range, I've grown complacent about them. So as I drove home I thought about how a journal can help us notice things as well as remember things. And I decided to use my little square-inch-a-day journal to help me start noticing things that I take for granted here at home (but would record in a travel journal).
So, when early this morning I pulled out of the driveway and spotted the silvery crescent moon hanging in the branches of a tree across the street, I knew I had my noticing for the day. Later this afternoon, though, I noticed crisp little bunches of chives sprouting in clumps in some dead leaves at the base of a tree. So this is my breaking news for today: the moon is a waning crescent; chives are bursting through litter and duff! And that's what you'll find in my one-inch for today.
I love this, Gwen. I like to go for meditative walks in Manhattan where I pay close attention to little details as I walk. Unfortunately, it's usually ticket stubs or cracked sidewalks that I'm noticing, but even a rusty railing has a beauty of its own.
ReplyDeleteFascinating idea here. I'm also curious how you have assigned the days to the squares. Could you explain?
ReplyDeleteI divide every right hand page of a two-page spread in half vertically and then in half horizontally; then I divide the bottom and top halves in half again horizontally, giving 8 squares. For the left hand page of the spread, I start by dividing the page in half horizontally; then I divide the top half and bottom half in halves horizontally. Then I divide the three bottom rectangles in half vertically, giving me 6 squares and one rectangle at the top of the left hand page. I write the dates of the fortnight in the rectangle, and I date each square sequentially. The entire journal has sufficient pages for two complete years. But there's no rule! One woman in our group divides her pages into three larger squares; another started out with grids but not has burst out of the grid and draws irregular lines around variously -sized boxes. The bottom line is to divide the page into spaces that are small enough to be non-intimidating to fill on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteTeri- I love to look for sidewalk trash too and old rusty things. Today's find for me is a small herd of black cows and their calves that are in a bleached ochre field down at the end of our road. The cows look like they have been painted with a Japanese brush pen. It's miserably cold but I'm about to head down there to draw them into my little square for today. I'm trying to get used to a new pair of glasses, too, so this should be an interesting challenge!
i'm thinking how important both these events are in the world. the moon MUST wane, the chives MUST sprout.
ReplyDeletehow beautiful - and simple, just seeing whats around us... lovely, reminds me to tune into things here:
ReplyDeletethe crunch of grass under the old push mower, the sticky warm sense of midsummer on my skin, and ants barging their way home at my feet.
Always something going on! enjoy your night there Gwen!
Thanks for the follow-up info on your practice. ;-)
ReplyDeletehi i dont kniw how else to talk to you so i hope you read this and right me back. I am trying the flat style australian reverse piano hinge and I simply can not figure out the pin hinge thing and i cant find any videos about it please help me I am so confused. my email is pinkyleb@live.ca
ReplyDeleteYour Square a Day journal has inspired me to start one myself. Thank you for the encouragement. I blogged my new journal here; http://alwaysalethia.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteKeep inspiring us Gwen!
This is perfect, and in fact, so simple. And did you know you can get a free 'moon phase' app that you can add to you blog sidebar, so you will always know in what phase it is (good for weeks when the weather is cloudy). See it in action on the blog I write for a garden supply company: http://dobiesofdevon.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind, but your fortnight book is such an inspiration that I began my own the very night that I read your blog. I have posted my little 2" watercolor and ink pieces on my blog: supermoonstudio.blogspot.com with credit and kudos to you. I cannot thank you enough for your inspiring blog. I DO worry about your dearth of recipes. My hubby & I have several quick/delish regulars, if you'd like to share.
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