The spaces in between
MINDFUL MOMENTS # 151
I want to talk to you today about ‘Ma’. (And no, sorry, mum, this isn’t a post dedicated to you.)
‘Ma’ is a Japanese word, meaning negative space.
It is sometimes difficult to define a word that exists in another language; a direct translation is often inadequate. How beautiful, though, that the Japanese character meaning ‘ma’ depicts a door, through which a crevice of moonlight shines.
Some define ‘ma’ simply as emptiness, but somehow this seems too cold a translation. Rather, the concept of negative space lends significance to the emptiness as being something important in its own right, and not just the absence of something else.
Last week we spoke about music and how, when we play, we are searching for a colour. We spoke about working to create a soundscape in a way that keeps this bigger goal in mind; in a way in which we observe rather than criticise.
One thing I learnt early on in my music-making career, is the importance of the rests. The concept of ‘ma’ in music is paramount: the space between the notes and the timing of that is crucial. The breath between notes and bow-strokes; the intake of breath in a song; the barlines that give structure to the page: all of these things are as important as the notes themselves. Perhaps you have experienced the power of that held moment of silence at the end of a performance; the moment before the eruption of applause. This is ‘ma’.
In photography and in art, consider the spacing of the subjects. In your home, consider the space that surrounds your belongings - specifically, perhaps, consider when you place things to look ‘nice’ (a photograph, an ornament, a plant - even the food on your plate) that it is the spacing of these objects that makes them aesthetically pleasing.
Consider, then, the space between the flowers when you next buy yourself a bouquet; consider the negative space that exists between the stems and around the tops of flowerheads; the space between the petals.
We can extend the concept of ‘ma’ to almost everything: the space between people and our boundaries with others; a safe distance between cars. In our culture, this doesn’t exist as a specific concept, so we are borrowing it as reminder to praise, respect, honour and notice the negative space.
Mindful moment: Like liquid, we rush to fill space. With our voices we often rush to fill silence. What if you started to bring your attention to the negative space? Perhaps you can start by noticing something as simple as the space between your fingers and toes; When you walk, notice the space between each step and when you breathe, the space between breaths. In art and music, notice the negative space and appreciate how important that is. As microcosms of the world around us, appreciate, then, the importance of negative space for your mind and your body. Can you spend a little longer in silence? Can you create more space in your mind, just by being aware of it?
YOGA | Mindful Movement
Next class: April 20th
Join us every Saturday from 11am-12.15 at the Cornerstone Community Centre in Hove for an all-levels vinyasa yoga flow class, meditation and mindfulness (mats provided or bring your own).
£6 per class or £24 for 5.
Upcoming classes for your diary until August 2024: April 20th. May 11th, 18th, 25th; June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th; July 6th, 13th, 27th.
(Or, if it’s easier…no classes: April 27th, May 4th, July 20th)
REFLECT
“Feel how light they are our, our lives.”
Mindful moment: Are you taking everything a little too seriously? Can you make things a little lighter?
Have we met?
Welcome to the Community.
I'm Laura, a yoga teacher and NHS doctor. With this weekly newsletter I aim to help you incorporate mindful moments into your week. I want you to feel inspired, empowered and creative. I promise to always be authentic; to only include content that speaks to me and which, therefore, I hope will do the same for you.
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