XII - The Hanged Man

Some Contemplative Drawings

Another late letter. Did ya miss me on Saturday? Forgive me. I worked 7 long days in a row. + Spent my evenings re-furnishing my apartment, stressing about not finding a roommate, and then a few days later confirming a roommate after all (yay!). I’m trying to cut myself some slack after the crazy week, so this is another mostly visual letter.

Without further ado, here are some drawings I made today about things that have been circling in my mind lately.

1. where I carry stress physically

2. unconscious habits

3. diagram of my favorite shoes which I’ll continue to wear until they literally fall off my feet

4. evidence of how I walk

5. portland walking routes

6. rochester walking map (from memory)

7. gooey by glass animals (from memory)

8. how it seems to be

9. pants I’m looking for

The Hanged Man represents enlightenment, seeing things in a different way than those around you, new or broader perspective, unique perspective, surrender to circumstances, an intentional sacrifice, a pause, waiting and watching, contemplation, meditation, serenity.

The person suspends themselves from the world tree, which is rooted in the subconscious underground, and supports the all-knowing heavens. The figure encourages you to wait and observe and reflect before taking any action. To just “hang out” for a second.

I feel this way when I walk. It’s a sort of non-thing I often do just to pass time. When I remove myself from the pressure of “doing”, I can observe the world a little more peacefully and objectively. The rhythmic movement encourages my mind to wander and untangle whatever arises.

Recently, due to a frustrating hint of another bout of shin splints, I’ve been thinking about the way I walk (and run). I’m now trying to focus on landing and rolling my foot through a centered path that utilizes the medial part of my foot, instead of my natural outside-of-the-sole/lateral-only gait. Of course, with 20-something years of muscle memory to compete against, the correction only maintains for as long as I’m actively thinking about it. Still, it’s something to meditate on.

I hope you got some enjoyment out of at least one of these little drawings,

And I hope your weekend felt like enough.

<3 Jordan