Using a 3D Model

Using a 3D Model

May 2021

Origami Meditator

Origami Meditator

June 2020

Three Carvings

Three Carvings

September 2018

Oil Bars

Oil Bars

October 2016

Winged Lily and Babushka

Winged Lily and Babushka

April 2016

Limpets and Barnacles

Limpets and Barnacles

November 2015

Replica Papyrus

Replica Papyrus

July 2015

Seated Lady

Seated Lady

June 2015

Works in Progress

Works in Progress

June 2015

Performance of the Vision on Earth

Performance of the Vision on Earth

April 2015

Replicating the Beauty of Nature

Replicating the Beauty of Nature

March 2015

Performance (Purple and Pink)

Performance (Purple and Pink)

March 2015

Using a Tablet for Sketching

Using a Tablet for Sketching

February 2015

Prostrate Figure

Prostrate Figure

January 2015

Worry

Worry

November 2014

Meditation

Meditation

November 2014

Footsteps on Beer Beach

Footsteps on Beer Beach

October 2014

Standing Lady

Standing Lady

October 2014

Modest Beginnings and Finished Products

Modest Beginnings and Finished Products

September 2014

Back to the Studio

Back to the Studio

September 2014

The Significance of Circles

The Significance of Circles

September 2014

Programming as a Creative Process

Programming as a Creative Process

September 2014

Carving Spiral Embrace

Carving Spiral Embrace

September 2014

Buried Treasure

Buried Treasure

June 2011

Baddies at the Bus-Stop

Baddies at the Bus-Stop

November 2011

toby
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Articles



Meditation

November 2014

I started meditation a year and a half ago and I try to meditate for about 30 minutes at least a few times a week. Meditation (as I see it) is being still, allowing your mind to be at peace, and maintaining focus.

I am not a person who believes in any spiritual or religious nonsense - my background is in science and I consider myself to be a rational person. I do not meditate because I believe it is a mystical or spiritual endeavour. Nevertheless, I have found it directly beneficial to my personal wellbeing.

You will find any number of lists of the health benefits of meditation on the internet. For the most part, I tend to take these with a pinch of salt - I think it is hard to prove a causal link in this case. I find it hard to believe, however, that it can be bad for you. The worst it can be is a waste of time, and you might feel a bit foolish spending time sitting still doing nothing.

The main benefits of meditation that I have noticed are:
1) It allows you to develop the skill of taking control of your mind. When you meditate, you are aware of what your mind is doing. It is as if you observe your thoughts without engaging with them - you practise stopping thinking about things. With this skill you are better equipped to stop problems preying on your mind.
2) It improves your ability to focus.
3) It gives you perspective on your life and any problems you may be having.
4) By allowing your mind to be at peace, it helps you get to sleep, and improves the quality of your sleep.
5) It gives you the chance to be still and forget about your problems for a while.

I recommend the following books on meditation:
The Wooden Bowl, Clark Strand
Teach Yourself to Meditate, Eric Harrison

There is certainly an element to painting and carving that has a meditative quality - focussing on one thing to the exclusion of everything else. I find, however, that painting is often emotional and intense, and carving is physically challenging; both can be quite draining, which meditation is not. Also, with each, there is the risk of making a mistake, which is not an issue with meditation.

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