Robynn Collins, University of
St. Paul, Peace and Conflict
Program
When their lines merge with
mine and stories are carved
from the bark of
micro-narratives. It is at
this time when the little
mysteries are revealed and
then kissed. Breathlines is
like a totem pole. Each of us
can score a story of the
woodwork.
David Walsh, Toronto,
Developer
Breathlines is an enjoyable
contemplative practice that
starts with a blank canvas and
moves to painting colourful
images that come from our
unconscious.
Grace Nostbakken, therapist
As in the beginning, I still
think of this experience as
cloud watching.
Connor Bennett, Ottawa, Grade
Twelve Student, Woodroffe High
School
This is a way for me to get in
touch with myself and connect
with others in a universally
inclusive, welcoming,and
respectful way. Breathlines is
also play - a way of letting
imagination flourish by
amplifying the child in me.
Kathleen Orth, research
manager
Images appear
Meaning forms
from many shapes
Black lines, white spaces
The process
unfolds slowly
Patience: meditate and breathe.
Jo Nazar, Elementary school
principal
Breathlines gives powerful
dream to quiet contemplation.
It limns the original story,
the old story, the human
story, the forever journey. It
invites me to a place that
calls me to place myself in
the presence of me. There is
a fundamental awe and wonder,
gasp and jubilation, trial and
joy in each story glimpsed.
When the story emerges from
the black lines and whitened
spaces there is no place to
run and hide. But there is
plenty of place and space to
splash about in, to marvel in,
to wrestle as Jacob, to dine
with fine linen, and finally
to come home in for a day or
two, maybe even three.
Merryn Edwards, Vancouver
labor organizer
Breathlines can help cultivate
radical curiosity. The fun of
watching curiouser and
curiouser characters emerge
from breath, blankness, and
jumbled lines can make you
braver about bringing that
stance into observing the joy,
pain, indifference, hope,
suffering, potential and
limitations of your daily life
and the world around you.
Brendan McIntyre, teacher,
Holy Name Elementary School,
Toronto
I never finished a painting,
but the process of breathing
my lines, and looking for my
image, my story, did awaken
something within me.
Something that let me see how
giving up control, allows from
somewhere inside me, a seed of
an idea to grow, free from the
confines of my will.
Maria Wilson, Teacher, Holy
Name School Elementary School, Toronto
Breathlines for me was a venue
where I was permitted to let
go. Permission to let go of
control to relax, breathe
(funny enough I forgot to do
that so often) and plunge into
the imagination I didn't
believe I had. I was amazed
that I could create or set
free something beautiful that
was inside of me just waiting
to be expressed on canvas. Who
knew? Breathlines offered me a
setting where there really are
no mistakes. I suppose in
short - freedom.
St. Paul, Peace and Conflict
Program
When their lines merge with
mine and stories are carved
from the bark of
micro-narratives. It is at
this time when the little
mysteries are revealed and
then kissed. Breathlines is
like a totem pole. Each of us
can score a story of the
woodwork.
David Walsh, Toronto,
Developer
Breathlines is an enjoyable
contemplative practice that
starts with a blank canvas and
moves to painting colourful
images that come from our
unconscious.
Grace Nostbakken, therapist
As in the beginning, I still
think of this experience as
cloud watching.
Connor Bennett, Ottawa, Grade
Twelve Student, Woodroffe High
School
This is a way for me to get in
touch with myself and connect
with others in a universally
inclusive, welcoming,and
respectful way. Breathlines is
also play - a way of letting
imagination flourish by
amplifying the child in me.
Kathleen Orth, research
manager
Images appear
Meaning forms
from many shapes
Black lines, white spaces
The process
unfolds slowly
Patience: meditate and breathe.
Jo Nazar, Elementary school
principal
Breathlines gives powerful
dream to quiet contemplation.
It limns the original story,
the old story, the human
story, the forever journey. It
invites me to a place that
calls me to place myself in
the presence of me. There is
a fundamental awe and wonder,
gasp and jubilation, trial and
joy in each story glimpsed.
When the story emerges from
the black lines and whitened
spaces there is no place to
run and hide. But there is
plenty of place and space to
splash about in, to marvel in,
to wrestle as Jacob, to dine
with fine linen, and finally
to come home in for a day or
two, maybe even three.
Merryn Edwards, Vancouver
labor organizer
Breathlines can help cultivate
radical curiosity. The fun of
watching curiouser and
curiouser characters emerge
from breath, blankness, and
jumbled lines can make you
braver about bringing that
stance into observing the joy,
pain, indifference, hope,
suffering, potential and
limitations of your daily life
and the world around you.
Brendan McIntyre, teacher,
Holy Name Elementary School,
Toronto
I never finished a painting,
but the process of breathing
my lines, and looking for my
image, my story, did awaken
something within me.
Something that let me see how
giving up control, allows from
somewhere inside me, a seed of
an idea to grow, free from the
confines of my will.
Maria Wilson, Teacher, Holy
Name School Elementary School, Toronto
Breathlines for me was a venue
where I was permitted to let
go. Permission to let go of
control to relax, breathe
(funny enough I forgot to do
that so often) and plunge into
the imagination I didn't
believe I had. I was amazed
that I could create or set
free something beautiful that
was inside of me just waiting
to be expressed on canvas. Who
knew? Breathlines offered me a
setting where there really are
no mistakes. I suppose in
short - freedom.