What is a contemplative practice? James Finley of Center for Action and Contemplation, calls it:

any act, habitually entered into with your whole heart, as a way of awakening, deepening, and sustaining a contemplative experience of the inherent holiness of the present moment. 

This notion of contemplative practice speaks deep and true to the dignity that has been present throughout time and place in the flourishing of a paintbrush, the wielding of an embroidery needle, the sculpting of clay and all making of new things from old that are the hallmarks of the creative spirit.

For me, crafting as both an artistic endeavor and a spiritual one means sinking deeply into a mindful and meditative place of seeing, hearing, imagining and creating. Contemplative crafting yields not only new works but new ways of thinking and knowing and being in the world.

Welcome to Contemplative Crafting, a website designed to affirm and celebrate this truth: We are created to create.