Why Seishin Pens?

The other day I was asked: “Why Seishin Pens?” After thinking about his for a minute I began to wonder what was I asked. Was I asked why did I choose the name? Or, why do I want to make pens? I want to take a few minutes and answer both questions, just to be clear.

First, Seishin is a Japanese word that has several meanings. It first came to my attention when I was living in Japan and I heard an elder Japanese martial arts instructor refer to a student. He used a phrase I had to ask someone to translate for me. “Tora no seishin.” It means spirit of the tiger.

Seishin is often used to describe spirit, soul, heart or mind, but not as a thing; more as a behavior or way of being. For instance, seishinryoku is used to say a person has mental strength or great willpower. Fukutsu seishin is used to say someone has an indomitable spirit. Seishin ga yadoru refers to a person’s soul. Wa no seishin is the spirit of harmony.

When I work with a piece of wood, I don’t often sit an plan on what I want it to look like. Instead, I hold the wood while looking at it, trying to get a feeling for it. Then I simply let what I feel in my heart guide me to turning the pen. As corny as it might sound, it is a spiritual feeling. Finishing the wood, and assembling the pen, I truly feel my spirit getting lighter. It brings joy to my heart. It fills me with subarashi seishin (great spirit).

So, why did I choose Seishin Pens for the name of my business? Because the word seishin pretty much encompasses everything about the way I feel when hand crafting pens.

So, why make pens?

I started working with wood when I was very young. The first thing I remember making was a Pinewood Derby Car when I was a Cub Scout. I think I was 8 years old when we learned how to carve the body of the car, attach the wheels, paint and decorate it. When watching it roll down the track to win or lose was an amazing feeling.

I made sure wood shop was a class I took every year in high school. And during my years in the Air Force, I had access to wood hobby shops where I would build furniture, lamps, and various other things.

I don’t have room for a large wood shop, and honestly I don’t have the desire to build furniture or other large projects; but there is still a huge desire to create something from a piece of wood.

I’ve also learned of the incredible therapeutic value of hand crafting beautiful objects from exotic woods. I am a service disable Veteran and my therapist urged me to find something that gave me joy in life.  

When I create a pen that is incredibly beautiful it brings me great joy. When I look at a pen that I have spent hours, or days working on, there is a sense of pride that come from knowing I made that pen. When I hold a finished pen in my hands, and it exceeds the expectations of a customer, it fills me with a feeling that is almost impossible to describe. It’s a very emotional experience for me.

So, why Seishin Pens? I can’t think of anything I’ve done in life that allows my spirit to fill my heart and soul as much as this does.