Healing isn’t only found in medications, food, and exercise. The mental, emotional, and most especially, spiritual aspects are equally important facets of the healing journey. 

“I’ve noticed everyone that comes out of my calligraphy workshops get this newfound sense of confidence and fulfillment, similar to when you learn something new. Many participants will also say they feel more relaxed after the session, and could really see it becoming a stress reliever,” said dentist with a heart for art Micole Tam.

She found the art of calligraphy through her mom Mylene who supported her hobby of doodling and surprised her with a bunch of pens during one of their travels in Japan in 2014. What began as a hobby paved the way for a bigger mission. 

“Calligraphy brings joy not only to you as the artist, but the others you share the art with as well. Whether it’s a little note to a loved one or a personalized tag with their name, it will surely bring a smile to anyone,” she added.

As an encouragement to get into calligraphy, she shared that the best part is that it doesn’t have to break the bank, nor do you need a ton of materials to start and continue it. “It’s literally just you, a pen, and paper. No matter how young or old, how good or bad their normal handwriting is, everyone instantly sees a difference after the calligraphy session. It really makes you proud of yourself and brings out new creativity in you, even those who have no art background at all.”

Calligrapher Micole cites four health benefits of calligraphy.

It is a form of meditation. A study conducted by Henry SR Kao et al on calligraphy and meditation for stress reduction experimentally compares both calligraphy and meditation, as well as their effects on a person’s heart rate, skin temperature, and respiratory rate, which in summary may measure their stress levels. In conclusion, calligraphy and meditation had the same positive effects on reducing stress. The only difference was that calligraphy integrates both the mind and body when writing, engaging all the senses, which is good for both physical and mental health.

It enhances mental focus or concentration. Each stroke matters when writing in calligraphy, requiring you to focus on how much pressure is needed to get the desired effect. Practicing calligraphy will help your brain concentrate, clear your mind, and put you in a relaxed or meditative state, thus making your hand and mind flow the more you practice it.

It improves cognitive function. A study was conducted by Timothy CY Kwok and colleagues on the cognitive effects of calligraphy therapy for older people, which was a random controlled trial in Hong Kong. It shows that calligraphy therapy is effective for improving cognitive function in older people with mild cognitive impairment. When included as a part of their routine, it can induce brain stimulation and relaxation that make it a great non-pharmacological intervention to prevent dementia and the like. Furthermore, handwriting is said to activate a specific part of the brain that is important for learning and memory.

It awakens your motor functions. Living in a fast-paced world, with almost everything within a button’s press, we must slow it down and go back to basics. We shouldn’t forget to fine-tune our motor skills. Using the pen and paper to hone those skills would be the way to go. And what better way to spice it up than with calligraphy? Creating the curves and strokes will trigger parts of the brain such as your cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and basal ganglia, which are responsible for your motor functions.

Micole, who also specializes in other forms of art like illustrations, personalized engraving, and designing, encourages everyone from all walks of life to include calligraphy in their daily healing journey. She suggested that, unlike other forms of art, people could easily apply calligraphy into their daily lives, such as simply writing a grocery list, filling up a form at a doctor’s appointment, or even writing a journal.

“Growing up, I’ve already liked creating and appreciated the many forms of art, but I never really thought I was the best at it. Turns out, you don’t really have to be the best at something to do and pursue what you love. Only after much experience, practice, and a lot of confidence comes the progress and becoming an expert at something. So don’t be afraid to learn new skills, try anything and everything, ask questions, and say ‘yes’ to all the opportunities that come your way,” Micole said. www.instagram.com/micoletamart