The Ensō seems to me a beautiful metaphor of what a therapeutic relationship and process can be. I will borrow some words from Daniel Medvedov (Vienna, 2011, translated and adapted by me): “A human circle drawing might be not perfect but it is still round. Our imperfections show the human greatness”. Compared to a classical way of painting, the method Zen painting is totally contrary: After adding and applying some quantity of color on the brush, the painter does a single stroke: in that one stroke, like a genesis, he has to contemplate and discover the creation: What is it? In the process of classical painting the painter has clearly in mind what he has to paint. In Zen we have to contemplate and finish what is manifested already by the spontaneous stroke. This allows the Imagination Gate to be wide open. You expect a visitor from the world of shapes and you need to figure out what is the best way to make it visible in such a fashion that everybody might be able to plainly perceive it. The meaning of shade, in balance with light is not easily seen, but contemplation is a medium to reveal all things through the artist work, as salt dissolved in water is known by testing…
