Six Days of Zentangle: Learning to Trust the Process at Changemakers Collective Youth Camp
In May 2026, I had the opportunity to return to Asia Plateau, Panchgani, for the Changemakers Collective Youth Camp 2026, organised by Initiatives of Change (IofC) India.
There are many stories I could share from those days, but in this blog I want to focus on one experience that was particularly close to my heart the six-day Zentangle workshop.
Six Days, One Line at a Time
Around 30 young people joined the Zentangle workshop, and for six days we spent time exploring patterns, creativity, attention, collaboration and, perhaps most importantly, ourselves.
For me, Zentangle has never been only about creating beautiful drawings. The Zentangle Method encourages us to focus on each stroke rather than worrying about the final result. There is no need to know exactly where the drawing will end up; we simply take the next step.
That became the thread running through our six days together.
We began with an introduction to patterns and the basic elements of Zentangle. Simple lines, dots, curves and shapes slowly became something much more interesting.
It was beautiful to watch participants discover that something seemingly simple could become deeply engaging when we gave it our full attention.
Day Two – Playing with Patterns
On the second day, we moved from learning patterns to playing with them.
There was experimentation, curiosity, laughter and plenty of surprises. Participants began developing their own ways of combining patterns and exploring what was possible.
The emphasis was not on getting it "right" but on allowing ourselves to explore.
Day Three – Process Over Outcome
This was one of the most important days for me.
We explored the idea of process versus outcome.
So often in life, we become focused on where we are going — the finished product, the achievement, the result. Zentangle offers a different invitation: slow down and pay attention to what is happening right now.
One stroke at a time.
One pattern at a time.
One moment at a time.
The Zentangle Method itself is intentionally unplanned, allowing the artist to focus on the process without worrying about what the final image will look like.
I found this particularly meaningful with young people because the lesson extends far beyond art. Perhaps life, too, is asking us to trust the process a little more.
Day Four – Creating Together
By the fourth day, something had shifted.
We were no longer simply creating individually. We began creating together.
Patterns became a language through which we could collaborate, contribute and build something larger than what any one person could create alone.
It reminded me that creativity can be a wonderful way of building relationships. When we create together, we learn to make space for one another, appreciate different ideas and let go of the need to control everything.
Day Five – Mandala, Nature and Impermanence
The fifth day took us in a different direction.
We explored the creation of mandalas and connected our artistic experience with nature and the idea of impermanence.
We also reflected on the Tibetan understanding of mandala, not simply as something beautiful to look at, but as a reminder of the temporary nature of things and the importance of detachment.
We create.
We appreciate.
And eventually, we let go.
There was something deeply moving about bringing this understanding into a creative space with young people. The patterns we had spent days carefully creating were beautiful, but they were never meant to be possessed forever.
Perhaps that is one of the quiet lessons of art, learning to appreciate something without needing to hold on to it.
The sixth day was about presentation and sharing.
Participants had the opportunity to present what they had created and, more importantly, to share something of what they had experienced during the six days.
By then, the drawings were no longer just drawings.
Each one carried traces of patience, experimentation, concentration, mistakes, surprises, conversations and personal discoveries.
Looking at the collection of work, I realised that the real outcome of the workshop was not the artwork itself. It was everything that had happened while creating it.
Grateful for the Journey
I feel incredibly fortunate to have facilitated this workshop and to have witnessed the participants' journey from the first tentative patterns to the final creations.
I was especially lucky to have Aparna Khatri, also a Certified Zentangle Teacher, co-facilitating the workshop with me. Her presence, creativity and support made the six days even more meaningful.
A very special thank you also goes to Prity Khar, who supported us throughout and captured many of the beautiful moments through her photographs.
And, of course, my deepest gratitude goes to all the participants who came with curiosity, openness and a willingness to explore.
These photographs are a small glimpse into those six days at Asia Plateau.
For me, the workshop was a reminder that sometimes we don't need to know exactly where we are going.
We just need to make the next stroke.
And then the next.
And trust that, somewhere along the way, something beautiful will emerge.
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