The Making of the 889 Meditation Card

Hi! I’m Oksana, the Creative Director here at 889. The 889 Meditation Card project is my love child. I had the idea for this project in my first year of working at 889. It began when I realized the amount of paper we used for our waiver forms (not a problem anymore, because went 100% digital). I was pondering how the paper, once it has served its purpose, could gain a second life. I researched paper-making and stumbled upon the Paperhouse Studio, where I learned to use our recycled paper to make brand new usable paper.

Making Paper

Making paper is the first stage of life to this project. The process of making paper itself is deeply meditative and quite physical. You are working with water and fibre the entire time, and the quality of the paper depends on the maker’s focus and physical stamina. You have to remain relaxed, otherwise the paper will reflect the tension in your body.

The balancing act of making paper is both beautiful and challenging. The “mistakes” become the best part (at least for me). For example, if the water drips across the wet pulp right before setting, the water drops will become thinner as they dry. Or you may find a colour fibre from the equipment on your piece and that page gets a little beauty mark. All of this to say that each piece of paper is unique and infused with focused, loving energy. I can almost tell which part of the day each page came from.

The Paper Making Process

Inspiration

The second aspect of the Meditation Card Project had to do with my personal meditation practice. My dedication to the practice was born here at 889. I had meditated a little bit here and there and then soon became a regular Monday afternoon attendee at the meditation class at 889.

The biggest challenge for me was bringing my practice home. I depended on my phone and computer, either for keeping time or playing music or using guided meditations. I felt myself connecting more to the technology I was using than my own practice. As soon as I opened my eyes – I would check my emails, or answer texts.

The meditation card was essentially my solution to this problem. I decided to start writing down the mantra I wanted to focus on and placing it on my altar. I would focus my Drishti on the words and repeat them in my mind or out loud until the words became ingrained. This allowed me to close my eyes and connect within. I was able to regain a sense of what I had been depraved of: peace. (This led to a whole revolution; I banned technology from my bedroom altogether, but that’s a different blog for a different day!)

The 889 Meditation Card

The intention of the meditation card is to change your connection with your practice – to strip it as much as possible from devices that, at times, have the power to hold us prisoner. 

Karmic Recycling

Each card was individually typed on a SmithCorona. The act of typing the cards reflected the making of the paper – repetition, concentration, ease, flow – not unlike meditation itself.

The reincarnation of the paper and the activation of the card by the user ignites the karmic energetic recycling. The energy of the person using the cards gives a discarded something a new purpose and a new life. The nature of the paper fibre will age and grow with the human touch, connecting the meditator deeply with the card.

Giving Back

The proceeds from the cards will go to The New Leaf Yoga Foundation. New Leaf Yoga works across Canada, bringing yoga to marginalized youth. You can also always make a donation either through 889 or directly to New Leaf. We love supporting this effort.

Special thanks to The Paperhouse Studio for their facility.

Process photography by: Rehana Hirjee.