The Baggie That Remembered For Me
Zentangles & My Ashy Ex
I didn’t mean to find the baggie.
I wasn’t looking for it. I don’t even remember pulling it out. But somehow, it showed up—unassuming, zipped shut, and humming with memories. Inside were slips of paper filled with hand-drawn Zentangles, small meditations made in ink during one of the harder times in my life.
It was 2019. I had just moved in with a man who slept on an air mattress on the floor. Yes, I traded my peace for a man and a mattress full of air. But that’s another story for another day.
What I do remember is waking up at 3 a.m., sometimes 4, unable to sleep, overwhelmed, or just desperate for silence. I would sit with my pens and let my hands move. Patterns. Repetition. Intuition. That’s what Zentangles gave me: not just art, but peace. Control. A space to breathe. A moment to exist without explaining myself.
Recently, a friend sent me a video about neurographic art. As I watched the artist draw, set intentions, and flow with the shapes, I couldn’t help but think: this is spell work. They asked me the same thing. I said yes. Because when you make art with intention—especially art that listens back—you’re doing more than creating. You’re communing.
That’s what this baggie is. A container of tiny spells. Not just doodles, but meditations, memories, maps of my survival.
And somehow, it made it. Through moves. Through box after box of things that got lost or given away. Through all the chaos of packing and unpacking. This little plastic bag remembered when I didn’t. It kept my pieces safe.
The man? Didn’t make it.
The art? Absolutely did.
I want to honor that.
I want to offer a way for you to do the same.
How to Archive Your Meditative Doodles & Drawings:
1. Label with Intention
Add dates, moods, or even times like “3:45am” or “Full Moon” on the back. Let future-you remember what present-you was going through.
2. Scan or Photograph
Use your phone or scanner to digitize each drawing. Try to capture the texture and detail as best as you can.
3. Create a Story Folder
Digitally, you can make a folder called “Art That Held Me” or “Early Morning Spells.” Physically, use a binder with plastic sleeves or a dedicated keepsake box.
4. Reflect & Tag
As you archive, jot down a short memory, affirmation, or thought that goes with each piece. This could become metadata when uploading to Etherith.
5. Prepare for Upload
Once the Etherith Memory Vault opens (very soon), you’ll be able to upload these as part of our collective archive—your drawings won't just be saved, they’ll be remembered. Forever.
Final Thought:
Art doesn't forget. Even when we do.
That little baggie? It’s not just storage. It’s a survivor. A witness. A time capsule.
And now, it's ready to be remembered.