In a world where we’re ‘always on’ it can feel really difficult to slow down. There are so many conflicting demands on our time and sometimes life can feel like one big juggle! Many people struggle to find time to do something just for them. Calligraphy is a fantastic hobby for us to practice as it really contributes to our sense of wellbeing.
It’s a form of mindfulness
Calligraphy is a very slow, precise practice. If you write quickly, you won’t get the results you want to see. By slowing down and being really deliberate in the strokes you make to form each letter, you’re focused solely on what you are doing, which is a form of mindfulness. X-HAIL, whose meditation and mindfulness sessions regularly use movement within their sessions, know that for some people, mindfulness can be difficult for some of us to do, whereas by including music or movement, they find people find it easier to be mindful. Calligraphy has the same effect as you are moving by writing. This in turn can have a positive impact on our mental health and stress levels. For me, I always find I am really relaxed after I have sat down with my pen and ink.
Mastering a new skill has a massive feed good factor
Do you remember a time as a child where you learnt something you couldn’t do? Maybe it was riding a bike, or mastering a game. It felt really good to be finally be able to do it. Our brains love to make new connections and love it when we learn. We get a dopamine hit, the feel-good hormone, when we learn something new; as we continue to master a skill, we continue to get this feeling, which helps us to keep practicing.
It builds a social connection
Particularly when you are learning with other people, such as in an in-person workshop, learning in a group can really support our social connections; after all, humans are social beings. But away from a workshop, when you are practicing at home, you can find a great network on social media. The calligraphy community on Instagram in particular are so friendly and willing to share their tips, recommendations and wins so we can all keep learning together.
It allows you to be creative
One of the worries I see from would-be calligraphers is whether they will be good at calligraphy as they don’t think their handwriting is particularly neat or aesthetically pleasing. I always tell them that it doesn’t matter as your calligraphy style is nothing like your normal handwriting. Look at it that you are creating art with words. Even if you don’t feel like you are typically ‘arty,’ calligraphy allows you to be creative in a different way. The writing style alone is beautiful, but becomes even more so when you add in flourishes and finishing touches such as ink spatters or touches such as stars.
It allows you to express yourself
Calligraphy is very personal. Just like you had an alphabet to copy from at school, whilst you have an alphabet to help you form your letters in modern calligraphy style, you will naturally have variations on different letters. Your calligraphy style will become as individual as you are and really help you to find your individuality.
Do you want to learn calligraphy?
If you’ve not already started calligraphy, I hope some of the reasons I have shared have given you a reason to consider taking up a new hobby and learning a new skill this year. If you have any questions about learning calligraphy, I’m happy to be contacted on Instagram or Facebook to answer any questions you have.
If you’re ready to begin learning, you can learn with me in person at one of my workshops that run throughout the year (you can find details of them on my social media pages) or I run on demand, learn from anywhere online courses periodically throughout the year.
You can be assured that however you choose to learn with me, you’ll have a friendly and supportive teacher. I absolutely love teaching calligraphy and seeing my students master this beautiful form of writing