Guidelines and Circles

Blog Post #100

For many, writing a pysanka begins with guidelines. These lightly drawn, erasable pencil lines show the pysanky-writer’s intention and ensures balance and symmetry.

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WHITE

Symbolizes Clarity, Intuition, Intention.

Circle

Symbolizes Eternity, Eternal Truth.

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The creation of the above guidelines began with a horizontal line around the middle of the egg.
Circular lines, a half inch from either side of the middle line, were put in place next. These two lines form a band that will contain the main design of the pysanka.
Circular lines, a half inch from each of these secondary lines, create two smaller bands around the egg.
A vertical, circular line then divides the egg in half lengthwise. Another vertical, circular line, perpendicular to the first, divides the egg into four equal sections.
These vertical lines divide the main center band into four spaces. An X guideline was placed in each of these four spaces, extending into the smaller bands where it creates a triangle.
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The slide presentation below, showing how beeswax was applied to specific guidelines, gives more clarity to the explanation above.

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These guidelines, converted by beeswax into final white lines, convey the pysanky prayer-writer’s spiritual intent: a prayerful contemplation on God’s eternal nature.

Having no beginning or end, God’s eternal nature is symbolized by the circle.

Circles converted into ladder symbols signify a sincere eagerness to ascend to greater heights by gaining an understanding of the true wisdom* of God’s eternal nature.

(*Refers to the medieval definition of wisdom: A harmonious integration of practical reason, moral discernment and spiritual insight to achieve a righteous course of action.)

Beloved God,

Thou art Wisdom, and Thou dost know the cause and end of all things.

I am thy child; I want to know life’s true mystery, life’s true joyous duty.

Thy wisdom in me shall show all things that Thou dost know. That Thou dost know.

Amen

(Prayer Adaptation: Paramahansa Yogananda’s Scientific Healing Affirmations)

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Conclusion: Blog Post #101

Ukrainian folklore characterizes pysanky as a symbolic, talismanic writing that invokes a higher Universal Power for help, while believing with faithful certainty that It will. The contemporary version of this characterization is a paper-and-pen journaling practice called prayer writing that develops a personal relationship with God.