Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’m sharing my thoughts and reflections on a lexicon (vocabulary specific to a certain subject) of unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words. Ludic is defined as “playful, in an aimless way” and that’s my plan for approaching this challenge – keeping my feet on the joy trail and meandering wherever the daily word takes me.
C is for…
concinnate [ kon–suh-neyt ] – (verb used with object). To arrange or blend together skillfully, as parts or elements; put together in a harmonious, precisely appropriate, or elegant manner. First known usage late 1500s.
I love this concept, and I rather think it’s a lovely invitation for navigating life. I believe the first time I was aware it was consciously possible to work this way, was thanks to a first job I had in a photography/production studio that had a number of high-end catalog accounts. The stylists kept little journals filled with ideas and color combinations and various inspirations that helped them as they were deciding how to style photoshoots. For years prior I had been clipping things out of magazines and using various paper ephemera and arranging them together, according to color, or line, or flow, but I hadn’t realized it was a “thing.”
There are times I’ve rued not having trained in art because I think that would have proved a wonderful medium for my life’s expression. While I don’t regret the healing path I chose instead, I’m grateful to have found so many ways to incorporate visual art into my life as well. I love it when both my heart and my eyes are happy.
I often think about the truth that beauty is the harmonic of nature. The indigenous concept of the Beauty Way is so rich in understanding and experiencing how nature is woven in a myriad of ways into a beautiful expression of harmony. It is both a surrender and a practice of devotion to walk in the world this way.
To concinnate objects and the tangibly physical is of great interest and fascination for me, but I also very much like the idea applied to mental processes as well. I love the image as expressed by Anne-Sophia Swetchine “To have ideas is to gather flowers. To think is to weave them into garlands.”
There is something about gathering and combining and just allowing myself to notice and reflect that is so satisfying to me. Utlimately I think all my visual journals are examples of this. I call them my without/within books – using what is outside myself to mine for the treasures within myself. And to understand the world around me as well. I like layeredness and nuance, complexity and harmony.
While I’m definitely not a minimalist, and don’t imagine I’ll ever be, one of the things I’ve been thinking a great deal about lately what “enough” looks (and feels) like. To dance with what that feels like in every aspect of life.
Mia Howell wrote “The Japanese say even the other side has another side. We need to keep turning things over in our minds until we can see them in circles of motion, in spirals, in the complete roundness of their being, through all cycles of becoming, undoing, renewing.”
I love this concept – it’s something I strive for – folding everything back into wholeness. In a very real sense, I think to concinnate things into beautiful patterns is my attempt to practice this.
What about you? Do you find beauty in the word concinnate and its meaning? Are you, or someone you know, a master at finding harmonious connections? Finding the bridges between very disparate things? Think of beauty as the harmonic of nature? What is it you ARE finding beautiful at this moment? Do tell – I’d love to hear.
Very unusual word, and I love its meanings, both artistic and mental. I guess being a quilter is my way to express the complexity of nature, and life
Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué
I think your quilting is a wonderful way to express that complexity Frédérique. I often think that shape patterns used within quilts and the decisions about what fabrics and the patterns of the fabrics themselves are meditations of harmony expressed physically.
I’m finding the flowering plants and trees beautiful. I think of my Book Club and the literature we read; we manage to find parallels between them and ourselves in events, and emotions. It seems like we’re always (and unknowingly) searching for ways to connect and to make sense of the world.
I absolutely believe that’s true, Margaret. We are connectors, and I think women, in general, are skilled at looking for and understanding relationships between things.
I like concinnate. It’s a wonderful concept within a delightful word. Very harmonious all around it is.
LOL – yes, indeed, Ally.
Anne Bray pointed me to the app. Adobe Capture which is Ludic in the extreme. It does several things like create kaleidoscopic patterns from whatever the camera is pointed at, or identify a typeface, but the one I really like, is that it will resolve colours in what the camera picks up, into harmonious colour swatches… I shall waste hours Concinnating!
I’m not sure I appreciate you pointing me in the direction of this delightful-sounding app that no doubt will be a delicious distraction. 🙂
Hari OM
In response to your paragraph of questions… I believe I am! Deborah, this is a Cracker of a word and, as a wordsmith, I am delighted to have a new one for my lexicon!
Thanks also for Beamish – for reasons only the ether can provide, both posts only just appeared together on my reader. I am occasionally finding the reading list on Blogger jumps posts as well… sigh… at least I got here! YAM xx
Well, now you’ll have me saying, “this is a cracker of a word” – be prepared! 🙂 As to the mysterious workings of post appearances, I’m convinced it’s an entirely unknowable riddle.
What a cool word and I love the quote by Anne-Sophia Swechine. I’m writing that one down to go in the junk journal I made for that purpose. Great collages too.
Very clever idea, Janet – a dedicated junk journal. And I’m sure you’ve crafted a fabulous one.
I’m finding your Ludic lexicon beautiful. The idea of meandering along, finding words that resonate with you and writing about them is so peaceful. I love words so it appeals on that level and I dislike pressure of any kind so Ludic lexicon made me smile. Concinnate – hmmm – I’d say I concinnate my home. Thanks for introducing me.to the word for this lovely concept.
It’s always a joy to find a kindred. May there always be room for meandering and peacefulness and things that make our hearts happy.
I’m not sure I’m a master of this one.
My very full bookshelves make me pretty happy. They’re beautiful.
I can totally identify with that as well—books, glorious books, always.
new one to me but I can see how our lives are woven of many parts and pieces and through our self expression we become the whole of these .
writing too a weaving concinnating( is this a way to use this word ) words into a coherent whole .
I look forward to finding ways to speak this
I love how you see (and speak) this, Sandra. I’m coming to understand more and more that it is actually more a way of being than doing. But then again, perhaps most things really are.
I’m finding ways to concinnate things all over my life, although I didn’t know to call it until now. Everything. My writing time. My work time. My intervals to feed Jayda and even words in a paragraph. After I read this, and yesterday, I did this in … my utensils drawer! It’s a jumbled mess and I couldn’t find a 1/4-cup. So I took a few things out, nested what would nest, arranged what could be arranged, and it’s got a beautiful simplicity it’s never had.
I should write tonight.
This delights me, Eli. And perhaps I can invite you to come over and have at my drawers. You know, just for the sake of additional practice. 🙂
First, a big fist-thumping YES to the Anne-Sophia Swetchine’s words.
For me, the weaving and the turning you mention happens with a few things I enjoy doing–gardening, writing poetry, arranging-rearranging flowers/vases/books/pots/cupboards/furniture…the list goes on.
And unsurprisingly, the concinnating happens only when I’m deeply immersed in what’s at hand. Attention, I feel, is required for the spirals to twirl:)
I think you’re right Arti. In-the-now-moment attention is what keeps those spirals twirling. And now that you’ve planted the idea of twirling spirals, I may have to get up a dance a bit. 🙂
Lovely post! I think I do something very similar with stories. I gather a lot of folktales from reading and listening, and then weave the motifs into the stories I tell. I like this word!
The Multicolored Diary
Oh yes, I can absolutely see that and think it’s marvelous.
What a delightful word and fascinating concept. I love how you have applied it. Coming back for more posts.
https://diaryofthesundayvisitor.blogspot.com
Thanks on all counts. 🙂
This is a brilliant theme that you have chosen and I am sure by the end of this month, I would have learnt several new words courtesy of your blog.
Regards,
Mahesh
Thanks, Mahesh! I’m enjoying your posts as well.
I’ve always thought that true creativity is taking elements and arranging them harmoniously into something beautiful. The result is purifying, just as this (new to me) word suggests!
How perfect!