Embrace Wabi Sabi this Christmas
by Lynne Taylor, Organic Ceramics
Christmas is magical and so special in many ways. We spend time with our loved ones, eat, drink and be merry.
But what lies behind? The facade of happiness can often mask higher stress levels, taking too much on and trying to give the perfect experience, the perfect gift, or have the perfect time.
This is where Wabi Sabi can be a real help to keep you grounded. It’s a Japanese term that means to accept and live in a way that embraces the nature of imperfection. At it’s heart is to nurture gently, love authentically and live simply. By accepting and appreciating the true (imperfect) nature of life we can give ourselves (and those around us) a much gentler time in the festive period.
My life and how I work with clay follows this way. I don’t aim to make perfectly circular vessels, or to recreate an exact image of the botanicals I use within my pottery.
My hope with Organic Ceramics is that I convey feeling and meaning through my handmade pottery. Being able to gift a unique handmade ceramic mug or bowl has so much more feeling and emotion behind it than mass produced items. This quote from Beth Kempton, author of “Wabi Sabi, Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life” is very apt:
“When a potter makes a series of hand crafted pots, they are not aiming for perfection in terms of symmetry and uniformity, or else they would use a machine. They aim for natural beauty, the mark of the hand and infusion of the heart.”
My hope with this message, is that the festive time brings you the gift of simple living and being kind to yourself. To see that you don’t need to have the perfectly laid table on 25th December. Listen to what you really want from the time you’ll spend with family and friends. For me it’s about connection and sharing, not whether we have the right shaped glasses for the aperitif or whether we’ve spent more than last year on our presents. Give with thought and love, and support local small independent businesses.
So with this in mind, I am gifting a place on one of my Mindfulness Creative Pottery Workshops in 2022. Attending a workshop brings about so much joy for both myself and those attending. I get to share the joy of ‘playing with clay’ and making something you can use, while gently guiding you to create your own work which you will treasure for years ahead.
Make sure you follow Lynne on Instagram at @_organicceramics and head to the Organic Ceramics Online Shop to purchase some amazing handmade pieces for yourself!
