Last week was a busy one at home with the festive season kicking off here in India. The first celebration was for Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is often associated with the lotus—a symbol of purity, grace, and beauty. This week’s tile was inspired by that theme, created in between prepping the home, arranging flowers, and setting up for the rituals. The meditative strokes felt like my own quiet offering amidst the bustle.

The weekend shifted gears entirely as I accompanied my 15-year-old son to his 5K marathon. With a time of 20:39 minutes, he placed 7th out of 257 runners across all age groups. Proud doesn’t even begin to describe it! But what truly impressed me was his discipline—meticulous preparation, sticking to his training plan, and following every pre- and post-run ritual his coach had taught him, without skipping a single step.

It reminded me of how Zentangle, too, benefits from this kind of intentional approach. While the method itself is freeing, having a few personal “rituals” before and during your tangling practice—like setting up your space, selecting your tools, taking a few deep breaths, and trusting each stroke—can greatly improve your focus and results. Just as a runner’s warm-up primes the body for peak performance, these small acts prepare your mind for deeper creativity.

Discipline in art, like in sport, doesn’t limit you—it frees you to create your best work. What are your rituals for your zentangle practice?