40-Triangle Guidelines

Blog Post #69

The 40-Triangle pysanka symbolizes good fortune. Its prayer cultivates the all-knowing power of intuition: by fostering calm perseverance; by concentrating thought, feeling and volition one-pointedly on a desired goal.

These guidelines are my grandmother’s favorite way to write the 40-Triangle symbol.

To begin, equally divide the egg into eight lengthwise sections by lightly drawing with a pencil four intersecting circles around the egg. The first circle divides the egg in half. The second, drawn perpendicular to the first, divides the egg into four sections. The last two circles divide each of the four sections in half again creating eight lengthwise sections.

For more information: Vertical Guidelines.

Each of the eight lengthwise sections will contain five triangles, giving the design a total of forty. Here’s how the five triangles are created within each section.

Mark the center point of every other lengthwise line, shown above in red.

Divide the line between each of the center-mark lines into three equally proportioned segments. Measure the line’s length from the point the lines intersect at the top, down to the point where the lines intersect at the bottom. The arrows indicate these positions. Divide this measurement into thirds and make a corresponding mark on the egg, shown above as blue dots. The curved shape of the egg distorts the perception that these segments are equal in the image above.

A final set of dots are place on the lines that contain a center-mark as indicated above by the pink dots. They are equally spaced above/below the center-mark and they extend above/below the blue dots.

Create a row of five triangles in each of the eight segments by connecting the dots so that each line made forms a triangle. Visually check to to ensure that the triangles look correct. Adjust as needed.

The 40-Triangle guideline on this egg will be transformed into a completed

prayer-pysanka and shown in the next blog post.

Peace Affirming Prayer

Peace fills my mind and flows through all my thoughts.

Peace fills my heart and flows through all my love.

Peace fills my soul and goodwill flows to all.

Peace fills my being and permeates all my activities.

Peace within. Peace without. Peace everywhere.

Peace in my mind. Peace in my heart. Peace in my soul.

Peace in me. Peace in my home. Peace in my country. Peace in my world.

Peace everywhere.

Amen.

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.