Chants in Wood

This piece grew slowly under my hands, the way good work usually does. It began as a simple round of basswood, soft and welcoming, and over time it opened into a mandala through patient chip carving. Every cut follows the rhythm of breath and blade, tiny facets catching the light like quiet thoughts rising to the surface.
At the center sits a circle of walnut, darker and denser, grounding the whole piece with its warmth. Inside that walnut I laid a thread of brass, shaped into the Seal of the Circle of Transmission. The metal glimmers softly against the wood, like a small ember held in place. I wanted it to feel less like decoration and more like a heartbeat - something steady, something ancient.
Together the woods and the brass create a gentle contrast: the pale carved basswood radiates outward, the walnut gathers it inward, and the brass symbol marks the point where spirit and craft meet. It’s a simple thing, really, it is just wood, metal, and time, however it carries a quiet presence. The kind of presence you notice only when you stop for a moment and let it speak. Still unfinished, still sitting on my workbench...