Zen Mountain Journal: Contemplative Focus & Liquidation Sale

Narrower Focus:
Journals That Explore Questions at the Core of a Quality Life

The reaction to the Tao Te Ching Journal has been so positive that I’ve decided to focus on the creation of more journals, all with the common theme of exploring questions at the core of living a quality life. The quality of the questions we are willing to explore has a profound effect on the quality of our lives. Quality is of course subjective — the role of these journals is not to define quality, but to act as a companion in thinking through that definition. And manifesting it. These journals offer a Taoist journaling practice grounded in the hermit poets of Cold Mountain and the Zhongnan Mountains—a practice of returning to inner quiet through reflection on ancient wisdom and the natural world.

For the foreseeable future these journals will relate in some way to ancient Zen and Taoist poetry and writing (Questions from Cold Mountain, Wu-wei, wabi-sabi, the Book of Tea, etc). Ultimately the subjects of these journals will expand to a Thoreau journal, a journal based around my book from years ago, Meditations on Nature, Meditations on Silence, etc.

As a result, I’ve decided to liquidate or discontinue 75% of the art and related products on the Heron Dance website – the art not related to the Tao Te Ching Journal or upcoming planned journals. We’ll also liquidate or discontinue the books that fall outside this narrower subject area. The PDFs of all of these books, and some from the distant past, will remain available free to supporting members. And going forward, in place of canvas prints, I'll offer limited editions of five — each printed on archival fine art paper, signed and numbered — in addition to the original paintings. These limited-edition prints will be priced at $300 each.

We’ll run this liquidation for one week (until Monday, July 13th), after which all liquidation and discontinued items will be removed from the website.

Also, in order to focus on the creation of these new journals, going forward the gallery in Asheville will be open just on Saturdays (11-5) or by appointment. If you plan to be in Asheville but Saturday is not convenient, you are very welcome but please either call or text first. 802-234-3120.

Liquidation Sale

All nature art originals are now $100. Visit here to view the selection.

  • Framed nature art prints are now $65-$100. Visit here to view the selection.

  • The liquidation nature art prints at 75% off. View the selection here.

  • The hardcover first edition book, Nurturing the Song Within. This book was originally published at $95. Now $40. Description here. Order here.

  • Meditations on Gratitude, Beauty and Mystery. Only two copies left. $43.95. Description here. Order here.

  • The Pausing for Beauty Poetry Diary. $20. Was $39.95. Description here. Order here.

The following items are print-on-demand and not discounted. They appear here because they will be removed from the website in one week.

  • Zen Mountain Art Canvas Prints. You can view the selection here.

  • Nature Art Canvas Prints. You can view the selection here.

  • Nature art and holiday notecards. You can view the selection here.

  • All nature art posters. You can view the selection here.

The Tao Te Ching Journal: A Path To Inner Quiet

Zen Mountain Journal blends Taoist hermit poetry, contemplative art, and reflections drawn from a lifetime shaped by wilderness, solitude, and decades doing creative work on the outer boundaries of our culture. These journals are companions for seekers — guides in the reconnection with inner quiet, beauty, and the “soundless music” of a life lived with simplicity and meaning.

• Size: 9.25 × 8.5 inches — convenient size for desk or lap.

• Hardcover — the book can be written in without a table or desk.

• Double wire-o bound to lay flat.

• Printed on Mohawk Superfine, a premium uncoated paper for a beautiful writing surface.

• 160 pages.

More information here. Order here.

  • Everything Heron Dance does and offers is summarized here.

  • Zen Buddhism resulted from the encounter between Buddhism from India and Taoism from northern China. Poetry was an important part of the tradition of the Taoist hermit monks of the Zhongnan Mountains. The Tao Te Ching is the best known of those poems but there were thousands of others written over two thousand years ago. Many are as beautiful and mysterious as the Tao.

  • Zen Mountain Journal also draws from the poetry of the Zen Buddhist monks of old Japan.

  • Zen Mountain Journal offers a Taoist journaling practice for those who seek to connect with inner worlds, with the deep silence and peace within. The poems and paintings in these posts are part of a journal now being created by Heron Dance Press. It will be available for preorder shortly.

  • The Zen Mountain Journal is reader supported but there is no obligation to contribute. If you would be willing to contribute, please do that here.