Recently an art group that I am a part of worked on origami projects. Initially I found the process frustrating and unsatisfying because I struggled to follow the instructions. I also tend to be quite impatient so this practice challenged me on many levels. But as I slowed down and focused solely on the paper and the folds, somewhere in the process I discovered
Peace Between the Folds
During a Zoom meeting with my art group we worked on big origami pinwheel flowers. the flowers required 8 pieces of 6×6 inch origami paper, 4 of one design and 4 of a different color or design. As we folded I thought that I was following the instructions of the person teaching us the folds. But somehow when it came to putting the flower together my pieces simply would not link together.
It was frustrating until I realized that some things are difficult to learn over Zoom. A single incorrect fold can mean the difference between creating the desired object and not being able to create it. So I asked the leader to email us a copy of the written instructions for the design so that I could study them and see where I went wrong. She sent a copy of the instructions. They sat unopened on my computer for several weeks.
“Nothing is set in stone. A bird can be refolded into a boat, a fish, a kimono, or any other extravagant vision. At other times it aches to return to its original folds. The paper begins to fray. It tires, rebels.”
― A Thousand Paper Birds
Finally on Friday when I was feeling restless I pulled out the folded sheets from our Zoom gathering, opened the instructions on my laptop. I held up my folded pieces of origami paper and saw from the diagrams that they did not match what was required. So I unfolded them and started following the instructions slowly step by step. At first I became impatient and flustered. What was I not getting? But when I carefully held my folded paper up in front of the illustrations I saw what my original mistake had been.
“After staring at origami directions long enough, you sort of become one with them and start understanding them from the inside.”
— Zooey Deschanel
A Call to Slow Down and be Present
Slowly, meditatively, I refolded each petal. And somewhere along the way I found peace among the folds.
Finally after all 8 petals were folded correctly I carefully followed the instructions for assembling the final flower. Voila! The first petal and second petal fit together just as the instructions suggested. Remembering our group leader saying, “You just tuck this little fold in on the back to secure it,” I made the final tuck on each petal. And there was my pinwheel flower.
All it took was a little patience and a little perseverance.
“A master of origami said he tried to express with paper the joy of life, and the last thought before a man dies.”
― A Thousand Paper Birds
Sitting and slowly folding paper, my mind was concentrated on what was before me. Precise careful folding brought a sense of accomplishment. Slowing down, feeling the crisp folds of paper, enjoying the colorful patterns on the paper—every part of this process was calming.
This may become my new patience practice. Lord knows I need one. Despite years of effort to become more patient, I still have to work at it
Every Single Day!
When I was the young (age 22) director of a well-baby clinic my boyfriend (now my husband) gave me a small note pad that showed a drawing of two vultures sitting high on a cliff. One vulture said to the other vulture, “Patience my ass. I’m going out and kill something.” He still laughs when he remembers that note pad, “Yes, if I could find one to give you again I would. It still fits,” he tells me.
I think I am going to plan to search out new origami patterns and try sitting and folding more often. It will be my patience practice.
Searching for more information about origami I found a documentary made by PBS Independent Lens called Between the Folds. The documentary series is available on PBS Passport and I plan to watch it soon. It documents different origami artists including scientists and two men who actually make their own paper and then fold amazing animals and other shapes from it.
“My origami creations, in accordance with the laws of nature, require the use of geometry, science, and physics. They also encompass religion, philosophy, and biochemistry. Overall, I want you to discover the joy of creation by your own hand the possibility of creation from paper is infinite.”
— Akira Yoshizawa
Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, impatient? Maybe you too, can find some peace between the folds.
May you walk in beauty.
Origami Crane Mobile that I made many years ago
A basket full of cranes
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