Welcome to Let It Be Easy with Susie Moore.

So most recently, when my husband and I were in Kyoto, Japan, one thing that I really wanted to do to have some novelty and to, you know, have some fun and do something different. I think it's great for us to do

fresh different things. Check out our episode on novelty if you haven't already. I took something

away from this class that was unexpected. So I always just thought, yeah, calligraphy is like

writing cute letters on cute pieces of paper or cloth, right? And look,

I suppose it kind of is to some extent. But we booked this, I didn't realize it was going to be

private, actually. This private calligraphy lesson with a fourth generation teacher. So this

girl who we met, her great-grandfather, her grandfather, and her father were all calligraphers.

And she's now carrying on the tradition. She didn't speak English, so we had an interpreter, which was amazing.

And we spent this morning practicing calligraphy, looking at the amazing letters, learning the

meanings of the different symbols. It was so much fun, fun and different.

But there was a takeaway from the class that I didn't expect. So, of course, you learn how to make

the ink, you learn how to hold the paintbrush, you learn that it's meant to be a very, very light touch.

Your wrist is meant to be down so that your hand doesn't shake. I mean, there are all sorts of

rules to it, to the mastery. But the one takeaway that I loved the most, the teacher said to us

that you are not supposed to do quilligraphy unless you are in a

serene state of mind. Oh, isn't that good? She said by the interpreter. Don't put your

brush anywhere near the paper until you are in a serene state of mind.

The brush strokes are smoother.

You're more naturally creative.

The process becomes more effortless.

You're in your flow.

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