Needlepoint as Meditation

Updated February 7, 2023.
Seth, a cartoonist, once wrote about drawing and thinking. When he draws, half his mind runs free, and he thinks about things, most of which don’t seem to be related to his drawing.

I think many of us do the same thing when we stitch; I know I do. Sometimes stitching helps me work out a problem, sometimes it gives me an idea, but when I stitch my mind travels freely.

Although Seth says his thoughts often find their way into his work at the time, with needlepoint, I don’t know that this is the case. But our state of mind often does, making the tension tight or loose, even the stitches.

I think that for many people the traditional approach to meditating might not work; we can’t shut out things. I’m certainly one of them.

But put a needle in my hand to distract me, and I can think and meditate and pray. It being the beginning of pre-Lent, I’m thinking about myLnten penance and practice. I’m going to put in a new practice for Lent, every day I’m going to stitch for 20 minutes without the TV on and use that time to meditate. That should do both my neglected projects and my soul good.