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Greetings!
Welcome to Day 10 of the 2026 Bijou Be Well series!
Each year, in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, we share our Bijou Be Well series. This is a 21-day Zentangle challenge designed to encourage you to pause, breathe, and make space for yourself through small, meaningful moments of creativity.
In this year's series, alongside a daily reminder to tangle, we will share a collection of studies, articles, and stories that explore creativity and its benefits for mental well-being.
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Today we continue to investigate the topic of...
Zentangle and Trauma Therapy
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CZT Jennifer Marchand writes...
"As attention becomes gently focused on the drawing task, many individuals enter what is often described as a flow state, a state of absorbed, effortless attention. In this state, automatic thoughts, such as tasks and worries, begin to quiet and fall to the side, and the mind becomes receptive to new information and perspectives.
This is an optimal state for trauma recovery. The breath starts to slow, the body starts to settle, and it becomes more possible to integrate new experiences and update old patterns and beliefs. The repetitive, predictable nature of Zentangle patterns can help clients achieve a flow state."
Continue to read about Jennifer's Zentangle story on the blog today.
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This year, we encourage you to step away from your screen, ground yourself in your space, and create without expectation.
We will begin the series with an introductory video to help you get organized and familiar with the process. Each day that follows, we will release simple instructions and a step-out of a tangle to guide you as you build your Opus tile... one tangle at a time. If the step-out is not enough, and you would like additional guidance, we will also provide a video of each tangle from some of our previous Bijou Be Well series (we are in a Time Machine this year, after all!).
Now, take a deep breath, stretch your arms over your head, roll your shoulders away from your ears, take a deep breath, and join us in today's prompt.
| | Bijou Be Well Series 2026 - Day 10 Step-Out | | |
Tortuca was introduced many moons ago. It is a simple pattern that combines a basic grid filled with printemps spirals and serves as a great beginner tangle. Tortuca can easily occupy almost any space on your tile. You can build this tangle with all of your spirals going in the same direction, or play around and see what happens if you alternate the direction.
Tangling Tip: Experiment with adding bits of weighting to each spiral or filling in the background with ink to add drama and interest.
We will add a little each day, one tangle, one stroke at a time. Take your time and trust this process. Now it is time to take a deep breath and a moment for yourself to tangle.
We will continue tomorrow with a new tangle and more suggestions to carry you through the series.
Are you just joining us? You can join us from the beginning on our website, here!
| | Each day as we go along, we will share Opus tiles created by different members of Zentangle HQ! We encourage you to take progress photos along the way so you can look back and see how your tile unfolded. | | White Opus by Martha Huggins | | Translucen-Z Opus by Molly Hollibaugh | | Share your progress photos on the Zentangle Mosaic App and other social Media sites with the hashtags #BijouBeWell2026 and #BijouBeWell2026Day10. | | | | |
Shop Bijou's Be Well Bundles here.
Bijou's Be Well Bundles contain 2 Opus Tiles and assorted tools to tangle with specific for each surface. Each glassine envelope also contains three Bijouisms selected just for you.
Choose from white and tan Opus tiles, black Opus tiles or Translucen-Z Opus tiles.
| | The purchase of these supplies directly supports the overall production of the full 21 days of tangling in the Bijou Be Well series. We are grateful for your thoughtful support in helping make this meaningful offering possible for our community. | | |
The Zentangle Foundation is a non-profit organization. Due to the community's generosity, the Foundation can provide monetary support to organizations and individuals to share the Zentangle Method in their communities, support research studies to evaluate and quantify the benefits of the Zentangle Method, and support people in becoming Certified Zentangle Teachers by providing scholarships. The work to spread the Zentangle Method is essential to our recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
If you would like to learn more, and consider a gift, please visit the Foundation's website. Donations to The Zentangle Foundation may also be made on YouTube by clicking on the Donate button located on each video page. We thank you for your support!
| | Learn more about our upcoming events here! | | |
With Gratitude and Appreciation,
Rick, Maria, Martha, Molly, and everyone at Zentangle HQ
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