Hello to all our TWS members! Everyone received our first monthly newsletter yesterday with the feauture article, “Kintsugu.” (If you missed it click here.) While in Japan a number of years ago I was priviledged to observe the age-old art of reconstructing fine ceramic pottery and figurines that had been accidentally fractured or shattered. Master artists used gold laced epoxy to not only reconstruct the original masterpieces, they transformed them into even more beautiful works of art than they orginally were before they were damaged.
I immediately realized that this remarkable “outer world” process could be applied to our “inner world.” The inquiry that arose within me was . . . “What if the ‘broken parts of us,’ those area within our psyche that have been abused, battered, or tramatized in our pasts could be transformed just like these fine pieces of ceramic art?” In other words, rather than merely “healing,” what if we could actually become more beautiful, capable and whole than we were before we were hurt as a result of applying the art of KIntsugi to ourselves? I invite you to read for yourself just how this transormational process is accomplished! Blessings to you all . . . and I want you to know I love each and every one of you . . . you fine masterpieces of human art! – VJ
I so love the practice of Kintsugu. And what it can mean. And the application to our lives and journey. Love it!
What a delicious way to begin our journey. Savoring the tenderness of each shard as it is lovingly reassembled into a new more beautiful piece. What a gift. Maybe my sense of taste is awakened because I saw a set of china in Milan that was Kintsugi. What if I approached my own fragile places with Italian enthusiasm tempered with Japanese tender care? This piece has got me….traveling…within.
Thank you for sharing Kintsugi.
The image that came up for me was of all of us carrying around the pieces of our broken pottery. Some choose to work on mending the pieces together while others are content to hold onto their pieces and their drama.
I visualized the original unbroken pottery and it appeared to me somewhat unremarkable. Whole and complete. But with fractures comes opportunity. The fractures represent the past trauma we’ve experienced and the decisions we’ve made (Who was there? What happened?, Who was wrong? And what decision was made?). The first step in mending a fracture is in letting go of the past decision and rechoosing in order to heal. With kintsugi, my eye was immediately drawn to the intricate gold epoxy in the fractures. For me, the gold epoxy is the “forgiveness “ that comes with rechoosing. There is a profound beauty in Forgiveness.
The deepest vessels are etched with acid. Rick Carlile, I had a similar feeling when viewing kintsugi in Japan where I lived for some time. The craft and process and result of putting the thing back together was the beauty.
The deepest vessels are etched with acid.