learning – hpkalyani

Published February 6, 2017

learning to swim

My heart is so wide open right now, it hurts. But it’s a good hurt… a beautiful breaking open… an expansion of muscles that have been tight for too long… a release… a flood. Only this time, I’m not drowning (like last time, and the time before) because you, all of you, are helping me keep my head above water, helping me relax into the unknowing, and helping me, finally, learn how to swim…

— heidi kalyani, 2017
from the *nothing is black and white* project: illustration created out of meditation with a single unbroken line

Published March 17, 2016

learning from difficult situations

22_learning_from_difficult_situations

Recently, I was overwhelmed by a confusing and painful situation — trying to see it from all angles, trying on all of the emotions surrounding it, trying to eliminate it with distraction, flush it with tears, disassemble it with logic… but it wouldn’t let go. Then finally, at the point of screaming, “leave me alone!” I came across this quote by Buddhist teacher, Pema Chödrön. “Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.” So, I’m going to brew another cup of tea and open my heart to hearing what I need to hear… until the tension goes away. Breathe deeply. Listen fully.

— heidi kalyani, 2016
from the *nothing is black and white* project: illustration created out of meditation with a single unbroken line