Edited by Oliver Sawtell, Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 16:00
General Feelings:
Very happy to have completed this part of the course. I think I have learned a lot in a short space of time.
The Study diamond is embeded in my head, and I find myself using it whenever looking at any art form now. Indeed on a recent trip to the Tate Britian, I found myself analysing Francis Bacon's works using the study diamond (in my head) and finding new insight into his works that I had never had before.
In addtion, I feel my appreciation of poetry has never been higher. I know I had major reservations about this part of the course. Poetry has never been something I have considered interesting. But that has changed now and I see poetry through new eyes.
It is a deep art form indeed.
The link to Buddhism for Haiku was unexpected and a joyful one for me (as a buddhist) and the penny dropped quickly about many of the links to impermanence and other buddhist concepts.
I have also become proficient at skim and close reading over the duration of part 2. And whilst my note taking skills were pretty good at the start of the course they are substantially improved as a result of part 2, and I have invested in a mind-mapping software which makes my scruffy handwritten notes look just lovely!.
I have to say that I really enjoyed the study of Haiku, I found it profoundly engaging; the works of Basho and Issa have found a new fan in me. And I'm very much looking forward now to trying my own hand at writing a few Haiku myself.
Study Diary - end of part 2 of Y160
General Feelings:
Very happy to have completed this part of the course. I think I have learned a lot in a short space of time.
The Study diamond is embeded in my head, and I find myself using it whenever looking at any art form now. Indeed on a recent trip to the Tate Britian, I found myself analysing Francis Bacon's works using the study diamond (in my head) and finding new insight into his works that I had never had before.
In addtion, I feel my appreciation of poetry has never been higher. I know I had major reservations about this part of the course. Poetry has never been something I have considered interesting. But that has changed now and I see poetry through new eyes.
It is a deep art form indeed.
The link to Buddhism for Haiku was unexpected and a joyful one for me (as a buddhist) and the penny dropped quickly about many of the links to impermanence and other buddhist concepts.
I have also become proficient at skim and close reading over the duration of part 2. And whilst my note taking skills were pretty good at the start of the course they are substantially improved as a result of part 2, and I have invested in a mind-mapping software which makes my scruffy handwritten notes look just lovely!.
I have to say that I really enjoyed the study of Haiku, I found it profoundly engaging; the works of Basho and Issa have found a new fan in me. And I'm very much looking forward now to trying my own hand at writing a few Haiku myself.