A Wabi-Sabi Worldview & Link Up On the Edge #320
Decades ago, I was introduced to the Japanese art of kintsugi, which is the practice of repairing broken pottery with a lacquer made of powdered gold, silver, or platinum. It is similar to the maki-e technique, which is a Japanese lacquer decoration used in all sorts of mediums from paintings to vases to decorative boxes and other trinkets. Kintsugi (“golden joinery”) or kintsukuroi (“golden repair”) is not just a practical art form for repairing damaged pottery, it is also a philosophy which views breakage and repair as an important part of the history of an object. The philosophy of kintsugi highlights rather than disguises where damage has occurred. By filling the cracks and holes with precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, the repair itself becomes part of the added beauty and value of the object over time.
It should come as no surprise that I was immediately intrigued by this Japanese philosophy. I suppose I have always leaned heavily towards the East when it comes to many of my life views and personal tastes. You know I am obsessed with kimonos, a traditional Japanese garment. You know I just became certified in Reiki, a Japanese form of energy healing. You know that I am a daily practitioner of yoga, which originated in ancient Indian and became a prevalent practice throughout the Eastern world for millennia before becoming a discipline that is practiced worldwide. You might know that my spiritual beliefs fall mostly within the Buddhist tradition, which originated on the Indian subcontinent and is one of the two main religions practiced in Japan. And you probably know that if I have the choice between traditional Asian medicine and modern Western pharmaceuticals, I will almost always choose the Eastern way.
Ever since I learned of the philosophy behind kintsugi, I quickly began applying it to my life as a personal worldview. Until today, I had no idea that there is actually a recognized worldview that applies the philosophy of kintsugi and it is so much better to say…
Wabi-sabi!
The wabi-sabi aesthetic, which is prevalent throughout all forms of Japanese art, is sometimes described as an appreciation of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” in nature. (Source) Characteristics of this aesthetic include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, and the appreciation of natural objects as well as the uninhibited forces of nature. We all know that things that occur in nature, including ourselves, are imperfectly perfect by design. Finding beauty in the naturally imperfect is where the wabi-sabi worldview intersects with the art of kintsugi.
The more we live, the more opportunities there are to break us. And break we will. Every single one of us. But those breaks become essential components of who we are and who we will become. With each blow that life delivers, we are forced to repair ourselves and keep on living. Within those breaks and subsequent repairs is where we find our ultimate strength and beauty.
The untainted innocence of a newborn baby would appear wildly out of place in a mature adult. While there is certainly a special kind of beauty in that newborn innocence, expecting to reach adulthood without a few cracks and necessary repairs is a truly unrealistic expectation. So we must quickly learn that while undamaged may appear better than damaged, damage is the very thing that helps us grow in mind, heart, and soul. Damage helps us identify where we are vulnerable but it also shows us our hidden strengths because after damage occurs we must rise to the challenge of healing ourselves. And heal ourselves we must. Because I promise you this…the world is not going to make any effort whatsoever to help you heal after it has crushed you. So find yourself some sparkly gold powder and roll around in it…all wabi-sabi like!
Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the art of kintsugi or a wabi-sabi worldview, I suppose I should take a moment to talk about my outfit. I wore this combination a few weeks ago on the same day I photographed my Tim Burton inspired Halloween outfit. I had sprayed some blue stuff in my hair for my costume so I used my hair as my inspiration for creating a vibrant fall outfit in various shades of red and blue. I loved this look so much that I wore it again (minus the blue hair) to meet up with some friends for coffee two weeks ago. But I will admit, that the blue hair spray really added something remarkably special to this outfit. If I hadn’t stopped coloring my hair a few years ago, I might actually be tempted to go blue!
Do you have a worldview you would like to share? I enjoy seeing the world through other perspectives. It is one of the best methods for personal growth.
“Things wabi-sabi have no need for the reassurance of status or the validation of market culture. They have no need for documentation of provenance. Wabi-sabi-ness in no way depends on knowledge of the creator’s background or personality. In fact, it is best if the creator is no distinction, invisible, or anonymous.”
Leonard Koren, Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers
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Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Jeans, Top, and Duster-Torrid / Ruana-Zara (Thrifted) / Earrings-Good Life Gift Shop / Horn Necklace-Traveling Chic Boutique / Beaded Choker-Gift / Scarf-Old / Fingerless Gloves-Amazon
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
38 Comments
Pamela
Love that philosophy, love me love my baggage and accept my history too!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Pamela! It is a great philosophy, indeed!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
Is sounds kind a sushi to me……lol sorry. Never heard of it, but then again, you always learn me new things! Enjoy your weekend!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha, it does sound like sushi! I love sushi, too! And I love that I taught you something new! Have a great weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jill
I’ve never heard of wabi-sabi. The philosophy is so interesting! Thank you for sharing this. Also, loving your kimono and fabulous layers! Have a great weekend!
Jill – Doused in Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jill! I was so excited to discover the actual term for this worldview. It’s my new favorite word! Wabi-sabi all the way! I hope you have the most wonderful weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
So I am not sure if this is the same, but in an episode of Yargi last season, 1 of the characters was doing this and explaining it to her brother. He was like “why don’t you just buy a new one? You can afford it.” But then she went on explaining it to him.
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Yes! It is the exact same thing! This is straight from the Wikipedia description of kintsugi…”The philosophy of kintsugi can also be seen as a variant of the adage, ‘Waste not, want not.’” It’s all about minimizing, recycling, reusing…all the things you already do. You are living a wabi-sabi life, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anne M Bray
Long time no “see”, my friend!
I linked up two kintsugi things, artwork and an old SpyGirl post.
I had a quiet summer, resting from surgery and social media.
Gosh, it’s already November? What?
Like your amalgamation of cozy comfy outfit things.
xxox
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hi Anne! It is so great to hear from you! I am glad that you were able to take a little break and get some rest. Surgery and social media will both suck the life out of anyone. I can’t believe it’s November already either. Where is the time flying off to? I look forward to your kintsugi posts! Yay!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sally in St Paul
OK, I now need to read more about sabi-wabi because everything you’re saying here resonates so strongly! I have seen visibly mended Japanese pottery and textiles, which are gorgeous, but was unaware of the larger philosophy around it. Thank you for this!
As for your outfit–absolutely love the brilliant blue with the dark red and navy, the layering, the billowing duster (which always looks so totally bad-ass). The blue streak in the hair is *chef’s kiss* with this look.
And thanks so much for the shout-out to my post, too!
Sally in St Paul
Ironically, I misnamed wabi-sabi as sabi-wabi, but I can accept this imperfection 😉
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahahahaha, I love that! I wonder if it really actually matters which order you put the two words in. It is just two aesthetic concepts joined by a hyphen…wabi (subdued, austere beauty) and sabi (rustic patina).
xoxo
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Gah, thanks so much, Sally! Wabi-sabi is such a beautiful philosophy that aligns very much with the idea of waste not, want not so I am no surprised that it resonates with you. I just jotted down a few book titles that were listed in the Wikipedia references for both kintsugi and wabi-sabi. I think I might head to the library today and see if I can find any of them. Isn’t the library a very wabi-sabi concept, too?! I hope you have a marvelous weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
I remember learning about Wabi-Sabi in one of my college art classes where we were encouraged to create with keeping the idea of the perfect/imperfect in mind. Thanks so much for featuring my pupmkin post.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh cool, Joanne! I love that your art class taught about wabi-sabi! I bet it made creating art so much easier when you can accept the beauty in the imperfections. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laura Bambrick
I have seen kintsugi and it is absolutely stunning! I love the philosophy of it as well. Great post!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Laura! It is such a fascinating philosophy that results in truly beautiful things. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
Japanese philosophies are absolutely fascinating, aren’t they? I had heard of if this before, I think it might have been during The Great British Pottery Throwdown show (a must watch for pottery lovers!). One of my closest friends is obsessed with all things Japan and she’s desperate to go…who knows maybe we’ll go together at some stage!
I love your outfit, Shelbee, blue hair and all lol!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzy! Oh yes, Japanese philosophies really hit close to my heart. And Native American ones, too. Those two cultures have always felt very, um, suitable for me! I feel like I read a reference to The Great British Pottery Throwdown in one of the articles on kintsugi or wabi-sabi. Check out some of the posts linked in the party…Anne shared two that feature her own kintsugi repairs! I hope you have the most wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Valerie Hansen
Hi Shelbee
What a fun outfit and yes the blue hair just tops it off perfect…and please watch out for the trains ha ha!
xo
Valerie
http://www.mapleleopard.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha, thanks so much, Valerie! Maybe the train will spot my blue hair before I spot the train and they will slow down!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I really appreciate the wabi-sabi philosophy – and I am glad you shared it because I hadn’t heard of it before. I’ve always believed that growth occurs when we venture outside our comfort zones. And sometimes life has a way of sending us s nasty surprises where we must recreate ourselves.
I love the streak of blue in your hair! If it weren’t such a pain in the patoot, I’d have some colored streaks in mine. Super cute outfit! Nice layers.
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Michelle! I really appreciate that and I am so glad that I could introduce you to wabi-sabi. I seriously got so excited when I learned this was a thing! I need to find some reading materials on the topic because I definitely want to learn more. I feel like I am always in the process of creating myself (not necessarily recreating because I don’t think the creation of me is complete yet)! And I agree with you completely on the patooty pain that is hair dying. I am so over it! Have a fabulous weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Mica Away From The Blue
This is a great philosophy to have! I really like the layering in this otufit too, the scarf and duster asre really fun together 🙂
Thanks for the link up! Hope you’re having a great start to your weekend.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Mica, thanks so much! I thought this was a fun pattern mix with the plaid and the crazy scarf print. This is one of my favorite scarves ever! I hope you have a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Lucy Bertoldi
Love this whole philosophy- so interesting!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lucy! I want to find some books to read on the subject now!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anita Ojeda
I’ll bite! I have a Christian world view and I acknowledge Creator God. His creation was perfect, but our choices caused sin to enter the world. Jesus offers the gold to heal our brokenness and fill in the cracks of our imperfections–his work is to restore us (in relationship to God, nature, and our fellow human beings. I’m learning to listen to other worldviews and spiritual traditions and not automatically claim they are all wrong (which was how I was raised). God’s desire is to love us and teach us to love. Exclusivity and claiming absolute truth aren’t very loving, so it’s a habit I need to shed!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh my goodness, Anita, thank you so very much for sharing this comment. I, too, was raised in a Christian household that taught all other belief systems were wrong. Then I spent my life learning about all of the other beliefs and traditions that exist. The one thing I realized from investigating different religious traditions and world views is that when you break them all down to their core, we all are saying essentially the same thing just using different words! God is love. Love is God. We were put here to thrive and in order to do that we must love and care for all of humanity and all of our planet. I remember being instructed as a child to be more like Jesus…I interpreted that to mean love selflessly and without condition. I have strived to do that for my entire life only to learn that most of humanity has no concept of unconditional love or what true kindness to all looks like. This is one of my favorite comments ever. Thank you again for taking the time to share your world view.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Oh, that blue streak, Shelbee! It’s just such a statement! And, then all of the different pieces of your outfit just flow together imperfectly perfectly!
I had heard of wabi-sabi before, but I’ve never quite grasped it as a fashion thing. I bet you can’t guess where I heard it from? April Cornell! Anyway, I’ve also heard of the art of kintsugi. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen any of it, though. But, I love the concept behind it. Take that which is broken, heal it with all things glittery, and see the new and beautiful thing you’ve rescued. And, rolling around in gold dust sounds like a good thing, right?
Thanks for the link party!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks, Marsha! Of course April Cornell taught you about wabi-sabi! That is so fabulous. Anne shared some of her very own kintsugi repairs in the link party. You should check those out! She used gold thread to repair a messenger bag and also to make art from denim scraps! So cool. Like rolling ourselves in gold dust! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Something that I really needed to hear. Things have been super crazy and depressing for me lately. Thanks for sharing this. It helped me.
Love the blue in the hair. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Patrick! Oh, I am so sorry to hear that you are in a bit of a depression. You can try my 5 step approach that seems to make almost everything better…weed, water, masturbation, yoga, Reiki. I hope things start to turn around soon for you, my friend. Sending positive energy your way.
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
I had never heard of wabi-sabi — so, thanks for this article. The way you explain it, the wabi-sabi philosophy makes so much common sense. It’s a loving and affirming worldview, something we could all use more of. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 41.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Carol! I thought it was a very common sensical worldview as well! We definitely could all use more loving affirmations in this world.
xoxo
Shelbee
chickenruby
I’m loving the flash of blue in your hair. Thanks for linking with #pocolo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Suzanne! I thought it was fun, too, but it made such a mess!
xoxo
Shelbee