I make a lot of bookmarks. I sell them at my Market booth and also give them away. Each one is a unique labor of Love and, as a whole, the process of making them is a mindfulness practice.

The materials are very simple. I rescue magazines from my local recycling center and cut images and words out of them. I try not to put too much thought into it. If something speaks to me, I cut it out. After about an hour of cutting I have a table full of seemingly unconnected pieces. Then I set 8 or 9 blank bookmarks in front of me (blanks cut out of tagboard), and ask the words and images, “Who wants to go together?” I zero out my agenda and let collages happen. They kind of make themselves! The results are usually surprising, beautiful and inspiring.

I think spiritual practice is like this. Whether we belong to an organized religion with prescribed rituals or we make our own, we are constantly recycling and building on what we’ve learned. The magic of inspiration occurs when we let go of our own agenda and allow the Universe to guide us. Letting go of our ideas about how things should work helps us reduce our attachment to ego, to identity and control. Letting go frees us to become who we are meant to be.

I always feel refreshed after a few hours of bookmark making. During those hours, I’ve removed myself from the noise of culture and focused on flow and quiet reflection. I’ve set aside several hours, often half a day––I’ve budgeted time and energy for it. I look forward to it because I know how enjoyable it will be. And I take those feelings of freedom and ease that are created back into the rest of my life when I emerge.

Eventually, I have to let go of what I’ve made. I don’t actually make any money on it. That’s not the point. Part of my spiritual path is to share Love and Joy with the world. That can take many forms.