When I first heard of the expression ‘Tabula Rasa’, I assumed that it was an Irish expression incorporated into English – I was wrong, but did not learn that for a while. The phrase took up residence as a curiosity in my brain, something on which more information was to be sought. It remained untouched for over two years until this week.
My latest bug, or obsessive compulsive tendency, germinated last week at the Stone Symposium in Ahakista. The mind cleansing and calming effect of carving letters into stone was a complete joy – no thoughts of emails, work or finances – just concentration on the depth and shape of the task at hand, admittedly with the occasional contemplation of aches.
When singing the praises of the stone carving with NK, he educated me as to a saying of Cuan Mhuire – you must work the hands to free the mind. It so worked with me that Friday on Sheep’s Head.
My latest bug, or obsessive compulsive tendency, germinated last week at the Stone Symposium in Ahakista. The mind cleansing and calming effect of carving letters into stone was a complete joy – no thoughts of emails, work or finances – just concentration on the depth and shape of the task at hand, admittedly with the occasional contemplation of aches.
When singing the praises of the stone carving with NK, he educated me as to a saying of Cuan Mhuire – you must work the hands to free the mind. It so worked with me that Friday on Sheep’s Head.
 Mine |  Not Mine |
The next day, still buzzing from the stonework, GF and I enthused about the satisfaction and mind clearing of grass cutting – time alone to forget everything else.
On a tea break at the Stone Symposium, I was asking one of the instructors, as to where one might purchase a chisel and hammer if one wanted to practice at home. Ruairí Dennison gave me the name a website – one with a strange name, tab v larasa.
That is the actual address - tabvlarasa.com – but on the site, maybe an Italian thing, but the ‘v’ becomes a ‘u’ and it reads ‘Tabularasa’.
Cue - Eureka moment.
My tools have been ordered and the dictionaries have been checked – why did I ever doubt Gabriel Rosenstock and the power of the haiku.
Poetry has, on occasions more frequently of late than before, given me moments to absorb and forget everything else – not for long, but definitely a moment to stop the waltzer and forget all.
I am hoping that those forget-everything periods will be longer when I hit metal into stone and try to do one good letter – perfect would be great, but may be beyond the time available.
Until the chisel arrives from Italy, The Flea Market In Valparaíso has come off the shelf and will go into work bag for those chill-out minutes.
On a tea break at the Stone Symposium, I was asking one of the instructors, as to where one might purchase a chisel and hammer if one wanted to practice at home. Ruairí Dennison gave me the name a website – one with a strange name, tab v larasa.
That is the actual address - tabvlarasa.com – but on the site, maybe an Italian thing, but the ‘v’ becomes a ‘u’ and it reads ‘Tabularasa’.
Cue - Eureka moment.
My tools have been ordered and the dictionaries have been checked – why did I ever doubt Gabriel Rosenstock and the power of the haiku.
Poetry has, on occasions more frequently of late than before, given me moments to absorb and forget everything else – not for long, but definitely a moment to stop the waltzer and forget all.
I am hoping that those forget-everything periods will be longer when I hit metal into stone and try to do one good letter – perfect would be great, but may be beyond the time available.
Until the chisel arrives from Italy, The Flea Market In Valparaíso has come off the shelf and will go into work bag for those chill-out minutes.
“Is maith nach bhfuil teorainn leis an gcuinne | “It is good that the universe is limitless |
 Not Mine |  Not Mine |
