Y is for Yūgen

 As I was searching for a word to use as inspiration for my post this week, I came across the Chinese and Japanese word yūgen.  Being a fan of the Japanese arts, I was naturally drawn to it.  Yūgen is an important concept in Japanese aesthetics.  According to Chinese philosophical texts, it means dim, deep, or mysterious.  However, in Japanese culture, it is used to refer to a profound and mysterious sense of beauty in the universe or the sad beauty of human suffering.  Yūgen is beyond what can be articulated about a special experience or something beautiful in the world.  Therefore, in my mind, it would be like the first time I saw each of my girls after my wife gave birth to them.
Summer Angel Card
Tim Holtz Sewing Room Die, Layered Angel Wings Die/Embossing Folder, as well as Bottle Caps & Retro Cirque Embossing Folders; Various Tissue Tapes, Distress Ink Pads & Stickes; EK Success Balloon, Star & Heart Punches; K&Company Americana Paper; Mulberry Paper; Matte & Shimmer White Cardstock; Uniball Air Pen; Copic Fine Ink Brown Pens; Scrap Ribbon & Fibers; and Glass Beads.
Simon Says Stamp
Karen's Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #236-237
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Ramona's Inspire Me Monday #235
The latter are two of my most memorable moments of yūgen, which I chose to represent here with a Summer Angel original design for my oldest daughter's birthday card.

My Wife's Garden
iPhone 6s, iPhoto & Pixelmator
Our Beautiful World #153 - Three
Denise & Roger's ABC Wednesday 18-Y is for Yūgen
Julia and Jan's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #369
Another moment of yūgen is the miraculous manner through which God produces food for our nourishment through the vines of a tomato plant.

My Playbook (Work In Progress)
Zutter's Bind-It-All V2.0 & Double Owire; Tim Holtz Elastic Loop & Mini Stapler; Martha Stewart Screw Punch; EK Success Door Knocker Dimensional Sticker; Dymo Labeler; Ephemera; Assorted Scraps of Hand painted & Gelli Prints; Pentel Sepia Brush Pen; Sharpie Micron Pen; Various Types of Adhesives; and Scrap Ribbon.
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Tic Tac Toe
Kristin & Eva's Paint Party Friday - Week 17 Year 6
Alexandra's Sunday Sketches 
Other moments of yūgen for me are the ones I experience when I work on my artwork to create something out of nothing, such as this "Playbook" to express my feelings through this summer.

 There are a plethora of other moments of yūgen that I've been granted throughout my life for which I'm very thankful.  Just yesterday I experienced another one, when I received my passing scores to be certified as a school principal in the State of Texas.  As per James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  I pray that you find moments of yūgen in your lives.  Peace - Shalom - Paz!

Comments

MelodyK said…
A heartwarming post (again) ....always filled with love throughout everything you write, I love it, it inspires me... and like you I am very gratefull for those special moments in my life no matter how difficult and hard it has been so far and still is....
Beeing in a rough spot makes one more perceptive of the good things, right?

Wishing you well!! Blessings!

Have a nice abcwednes-day / – week
♫ M e l d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
http://melodymusic.nl/abc-wednesday-18-y/
June 29, 2016 at 3:12 PM
Lunch Lady Jan said…
Oh, how interesting a post is this?! I had never heard of yugen before but completely get what it stands for. Thank you for sharing this and your experiences of it as well.
Hugs, LLJ xxxx
June 29, 2016 at 3:52 PM
Teri said…
Huge congrats on your admin certification!!
June 29, 2016 at 6:10 PM
Indrani said…
That is great news! Principal!!! Wish you more such yugen moments in life!
Happy ABCW!
June 29, 2016 at 8:45 PM
Roger Owen Green said…
YOU are always profound!
ROG, ABCW
June 29, 2016 at 9:54 PM
April said…
Your artwork is lovely as it always is. I like the word - Yugen - very profound meaning. I hope you are having a great summer.
April #26
June 29, 2016 at 10:21 PM
Dorlene Durham said…
What a great blog post! Thanks for the info on yugen and your examples. Very uplifting. Your card and art journal are amazing. I'm so glad I peeked into your work desk. It's a inspiring place. Dorlene #44
June 29, 2016 at 10:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you for explaining the word Yugen. These kind of words are hard to explain because they don't only have a translation but also a feeling. It was a very interesting post and I like your artwork a lot.
June 30, 2016 at 2:12 AM
Ros Crawford said…
Many congratulations!! You will make a wonderful principal! Lovely work and photos ,,, Thanks so much for sharing at OBW!!
June 30, 2016 at 5:03 AM
Felix the Crafty Cat said…
Hi Arnoldo. I love reading your posts they always make me feel so relaxed and calm afterwards. Maybe it's just that I have to read through them slowly to take it all in but I always enjoy my visit here. I had to smile when you mentioned the tomato plant as I have just been out in the garden picking strawberries and there are just so many at the moment which is lovely because I can share them with my friends and family (so you can guess I mean lots of strawberries!). Have a great week, Angela x
June 30, 2016 at 7:49 AM
Victoria said…
Wow Arnoldo, you have deeply touched my soul today , reading all you wrote , shared and expressed artistically about yugen, I feel a deep affinity with this, thanks for introducing me to this profound and beautiful world.
All of your creations are gorgeous..love the playbook and love the summer angel card of course!
Massive Congrats to you!!! Thrilled for you, cheers!
Victoria
June 30, 2016 at 8:27 AM
Shoshi said…
Interesting post, Arnoldo. I've never heard of this before. Thank you for your visit, and I'm very happy to hear that your mum is a cancer victor! We are very grateful for all the support available here in the UK for people with cancer, and in the aftermath, and I realise more and more how fortunate we are compared with other countries.

Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #38
June 30, 2016 at 9:24 AM
dmgarafalo said…
Thank you for the lesson, great concept, love your journals - specially the colors & mixed media! blessing, donna #9
June 30, 2016 at 9:29 AM
Sharon Madson said…
I really look forward to your posts! This time I must say I envy your wife's garden. :). Nice play book. I want to do that, in fact started one, but didn't stick with it! LOL. Thank you for already stopping by my WOYWW post this week and for your comments. Always appreciated.
June 30, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Su-sieee! Mac said…
Yugen. It's the perfect word for what I've been feeling. Thank you for this post. Congatulations!
June 30, 2016 at 1:28 PM
Gail said…
Congrats on your new position - I wish you the best - thanks for sharing the blog posting and your art work at WAW this week - I was a former Principal for 2 years and a teacher for 14 years in a Christian School - May God give you all of the wisdom for this journey and good counselors to sound and support you during this adventure - blessings!
June 30, 2016 at 2:47 PM
Reader Wil said…
Thank you Arnoldo! You always give us something to think about.
God bless you.
Wil, ABCWTeam
June 30, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Valerie-Jael said…
Congrats on your good scores, well done, and lots of lovely art again. Happy PPF, Valerie
July 1, 2016 at 7:06 AM
Christine said…
Beautifully inspired work Arnoldo, thanks for teaching me this new word, very intriguing.
July 1, 2016 at 7:23 AM
froebelsternchen said…
Congrats!!!
What an uplifting post and nice art!
Blessings
Susi
July 1, 2016 at 7:32 AM
Faye said…
What a beautiful post, Arnoldo! The angel is gorgeous and is a wonderful subject for a birthday card. I enjoyed your explanation of the Japanese word. My best friend was born 1941 in Tokyo. I'm sure she would be pleased to see your post.
July 1, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Karla B said…
First of all, congrats!Love your artwork!So beautiful!
July 1, 2016 at 8:08 AM
sirkkis said…
I love the summer angel. Wonderful post Arnoldo.
Happy weekend 🌞
July 1, 2016 at 8:49 AM
Irene Rafael said…
Congratulations on passing the exam. How fortunate for those who are able to connect and work with you. Your loving and heart felt nature is contagious. Thank you for the beautiful post on yugen.
July 1, 2016 at 9:22 AM
Contagiously Crafty said…
Touching and thoughtful post. It reminds me to be more grateful to God for the many ways he blesses us. Congrats on the certification. I'm sure you did your part and worked hard for it too! So glad to have once again found you through Our Beautiful World.
July 1, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Ariadne said…
Congratulations for becoming a principal!Thanks for sharing in OBW!AriadnefromGreece!
July 1, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Linda Kunsman said…
thank you for introducing that lovely word. Such a heartwarming post filled with love and beautiful art. Congratulations on getting your principal certification!!!
July 1, 2016 at 1:00 PM
Anita Houston The Artful Maven said…
I love the image of you seeing your girls for the first time...my hubby was like that too. Wonderful post, and gorgeous art! I really love the angel card!
July 1, 2016 at 5:41 PM
My name is Erika. said…
Love the new word. I can think of examples in my life that are full of yugen. And your book is gorgeous, as well as your daughter's birthday card. I hope it was/will be a special day and you can enjoy it with her. Happy July 4th weekend. Erika
July 1, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Anewdawn 16 said…
learnt a new word thanks to u :)...gorgeous work as always
July 2, 2016 at 12:47 AM
Caryn said…
Amazing project - and I know a new word!! Great job.
Thanks for playing along at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
Hugs,
Caryn xxx
July 2, 2016 at 5:10 AM
sheila 77 said…
Yes, making art, writing and blogging about it can cause yugen, maybe something like being in the flow?
Your art is always lovely to see and your "Play Book" looks so intriguing.
Yes, how is a tomato produced from such a tiny seed, a miracle indeed.
July 2, 2016 at 10:25 AM
Win Dinn, Artist said…
What a wonderful new-to-me word, accompanied by such extraordinary examples. Thank you so much!
July 2, 2016 at 12:58 PM
minnemie said…
Congratulations on your certification! Yūgen... what an interesting word... especially as it includes "the sad beauty of human suffering." So true that suffering also holds beauty... though it is a beauty we don't willingly choose. Love all the elements incorporated in your summer angel.
July 2, 2016 at 1:11 PM
Giggles said…
Congratulations on your certification! So happy for you! The world and schools need more leaders like you! Such a special post.. Pretty sure yugen is the way the spirit moves! Always a beautiful mystery with rewarding results!

Hugs Giggles
July 2, 2016 at 5:04 PM
denthe said…
Very interesting... I can indeed think of some moments of yügen in my life. You represented it beautifully in the summer angel card for your daughter. Love your playbook! (as well as the name you gave it :-) )
July 2, 2016 at 5:09 PM
Emma Williams said…
What a wonderful piece of artwork and I love how you've used Tim's Sewing Room die...so very clever! Thank you for sharing this fabulous blog post and for joining us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog... :)
July 3, 2016 at 7:54 AM
Neesie said…
What a beautiful post and artwork Arnoldo,
This is the first time I've heard of Yügen, so thank you for enlightening me.
Congratulations on your results... an exciting time for you.
July 3, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Jane Lazenby ~ Artist said…
Great post and artwork. Have a wonderful new week, coming from Sunday Sketches...
July 3, 2016 at 2:46 PM
Lisabella Russo said…
What a beautiful and moving concept! Your words and art are so lovely.
July 4, 2016 at 3:46 PM
carol l mckenna said…
Wonderful post and lots of marvelous creations here ~

Happy Week to you ~ ^_^
July 4, 2016 at 5:29 PM
Jennifer Rose said…
congrats on getting certified! :)

and really nice looking card
July 5, 2016 at 7:23 AM
genie said…
WooHoo! Congratulations on passing your exam. You will make a wonderful and compassionate principal. I just wish some of mine had had you love of life and love of mankind, In 54 years had only two I would put into that category, I love your Playbook. It is wonderful idea and is turning out to be so beautiful. The card for your daughter's birthday is precious....and those tomatoes. Love 'em. Hope ours produce this year. I cannot tell you how I enjoy your posts each week. They are always so inspiring. genie
July 5, 2016 at 7:48 AM
Create With Joy said…
Yugen - what a beautiful and profound concept - just like your card!
Thanks for sharing your art at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy.
Congrats for being one of our Featured Guests this week! :-)
July 10, 2016 at 2:05 AM
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