Zentangle and Cat's Cradle

To hold prayers or the ritual of prayer is called Haipule in Hawaii. It has four parts: words, images, feeling and movement. This ritual promotes relaxation. When you are relaxed you are open to inspiration and healing.

HUNArt The Ritual of Art as a Moving Meditation

• Opening: Create a sacred space and time. i.e. Play soothing music. Light a candle, Drink water


• Take a deep breath


• State your intent. i.e. I am creating this Zentangle with the healing intent of harmony


• Begin the moving meditation i.e. Zentangles, Cat's Cradles etc.


• After a short 15 minute session, stop to appreciate your art, check inside to see how you feel


• Take another deep breath


• Closing: Sip more water, Turn off music, Blow out candle

The Huna Philosophy

1. The World Is What You Think It Is
Be Aware: You know when you are relaxed. You know when you are tense or unhappy. Choose an art form or form of expression that relaxes you.

2. There Are No Limits
Be Free and Connect: Try different forms of expression. Connect. Experiment...the possibilities are endless.

3. Energy Flows Where Attention Goes
Be Focused: Pay attention and be purposeful in your art.

4. Now Is The Moment Of Power
Be Present: Stay in the present moment.

5. To Love Is To Be Happy With
Be Loving: Appreciate your work, find or create someone who does.

6. All Power Comes From Within
Be Confident: Relax and let the process happen. There are no mistakes. Trust that everything is working out perfectly.

7. Effectiveness Is The Measure Of Truth
Be Flexible: Find what is effective for you. If you feel stuck, try something different.

For more information about the Huna Philosophy as taught by Serge Kahili King Aloha International Home Page

These are my favorite ways to bring things back into harmony (You will notice that they all have something to do with string patterns). In Hawaii we call this ho'oponopono - to set things right.

Zentangles:When you tangle string patterns, you simultaneously create change in the patterns of your life.

Figures: There are moving pictures in a simple loop of string as you weave cat's cradles and other String Figures between your two hands.

Knots: String knots are symbols that can be tied and released, increasing relaxation and decreasing the tension that blocks creativity.

Loops: Become a Seer. When you drop a string onto the ground, pictures appear in the labyrinth pattern as stories unfold.

Labyrinths:Walk the string pattern with your fingers and your eyes.

This is an art of repetitive patterns. Look around you. They are everywhere. You see them in nature as the petals of a flower, the markings of a ladybug and the grains of sand on the beach.

Man creates all kinds of patterns. From petroglyphs to pyramids, from the traffic markings on the street to the logo designs found on cars and the clothing we wear.

Be Aware of patterns and collect them. On the internet Milliande suggests that we go on a Pattern Hunt. Record the patterns that you find and use them later in your art.

There is no right or wrong in this process. Just relax. It is a process of meditation, Freeing you to create and be inspired.

You may have played the game of cat's cradle as a child. You were participating in an ancient ritual that was found in cultures all around the world. There are thousands of patterns that can be made with a simple loop of string. On one level this is just a child's game but for those that want to go deeper, this art is a moving meditation, almost like holding a prayer between your two hands. HUNArt

Knots are symbolic of constriction, tension or illness. The release of the knot, releases the tension or constriction. Combined with a technique like Dynamind, words can be combined with the making of knots to symbolically release the blockage that gets in the way of inspiration.

The Process:

• Take a deep breath


• I have a problem and this can change


• I want this problem to go away


• Make a knot or a series of knots


• Release the knots

This can be done at first physically then later with vivid imagination
in your mind. The mental exercise can be done with various lengths and textures of rope. i.e. thin/thick, smooth/rough etc.

As above so below
There are two sides to a coin...

Knots can also represent an intention, a wish or a desire.
The tying of the knot, holds or binds the intent as a symbolic commitment or reminder.

The Process:
Make a bracelet of blessings whispering aloha with each knot you make. Sit and make wish or dream knots. This is a relaxing meditation and a visible reminder of your desires.

The game of knots is good for releasing artist blocks that inhibit inspiration and creativity.

From man's earliest days he saw patterns in the clouds, the trees and the stones of this earth. He was aware of the patterns of nature. Divination was a form of pattern recognition. The Seer was aware of probabilities drawn from the current patterns he observed in nature. The game of loops allows you to read a story into the patterns that you cast.

The Process:
Hold a question in your mind i.e. What should I consider next?
Drop a string loop on the ground
Observe the pattern that the string loop makes

Make an association with the pattern i.e. if the pattern looks like a car, you can be aware of the possibility of travel. You are the best person to interpret your pattern. Ask yourself: What does this mean to me? Then ask What am I going to do about this?
You can read a story into the string patterns that are cast.

If the pattern does not feel right then make small changes in the pattern until it feels good.

Combine the game of tangles with loops and trace your string pattern on a piece of paper. Then proceed with drawing repetitive patterns into the tangles and change the patterns until they feel right.

String loops are like labyrinth paths. Follow the string pattern with your eyes, trace the pattern with your finger, outline the pattern in your tangle.