The Wabi Sabi Way
“Seek always to progress rather than to perfect.”
Taro Gold
A few years ago as I researched and explored the world of Geishas for a new series of paintings, I developed a fascination in Japanese culture and all things ‘Zen’. Through my studies of tea ceremonies, I came across and was very intrigued by the term ‘Wabi Sabi’. I have since purchased many books, studied and have applied it to my art. I am also presently incorporating it in my everyday life, and often ask myself: “what would be the Wabi Sabi way in this situation? By questioning its principles, I frequently do find straightforward and uncomplicated answers which honor and validate my reality.
So what is Wabi Sabi? Although there is no accurate translation in the English language, Wikipedia describes it as: “(it) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view centered on the acceptance of transience (fleeting).” Architect Tadao Ando explains it as: “…the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection…it is simple, slow and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all.” At its most basic, Wabi Sabi symbolizes all things ‘imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.’ Sound familiar?
It sure makes sense to me. The way I see it, each and every one of us represents the amazing altogether imperfect essence of life itself. Leonard Cohen said “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in.” I happen to agree. Furthermore, that is also how our light emerges and broadens. Without that ‘break’, how would our uniqueness find its way out into the world – to gleam and shine on ourselves and others?
A beautiful example on the essence of Wabi Sabi comes to mind: The Pearl! Pearls are created from sand, parasites and sediments within a shell… and it is the oyster’s reaction to these intruders to immerse and bathe them with layers upon layers of a balming blanket - thereby conceiving a valuable jewel.
Wabi Sabi can teach us:
· to relax…
· to realize that change is to be expected…
· to ‘go with the flow’…and most importantly…
· to appreciate what we are at our very core – perfectly imperfect!
Even though this awareness can free us from an endless quest for perfection, it does not necessarily mean that we are to stop striving to improve our lives. On the contrary, it is about doing all in our power to better ourselves, based on the belief that our individual ‘flaws’ indicate the pathway to our hidden treasures and strengths.
The word Wabi stems from the root WA, which refers to harmony, peace, tranquility and balance. It represents the ‘inner’ or ‘spiritual’ experiences of our lives, and it suggests a natural process. Are we not ultimately seeking precisely what Wabi stands for? Sabi, on the other hand, outlines the ‘outer’ or ‘material’ aspects of life…our aspirations and ambitions, where our endurance is regularly tested and affected by external circumstances which are beyond our control. Would it not be to our benefit if we could manage these marginal situations to our advantage?
Uniting Wabi and Sabi would create an ideal aura of acceptance and contentment, and this would begin our transformation into empowerment – the Wabi Sabi way. By unveiling our inner values and passions, as we fuse them with our outer objectives, we can aim to find a higher purpose and actualize success as we achieve our goals… keeping in mind that bumps on the road to betterment are temporary, will prompt deeper learning, and are a progression on our way to ‘becoming’.
As we delight in the Wabi Sabi way of living, by escaping the pressures of ‘having to be perfect’, we will be able to:
- welcome the opportunity to gain a stronger sense of self and confidence…
- celebrate our true worth…
- accept responsibility for our choices, and…
- experience the infinity of our inner world…
What an awakening it will be, when we can stand before a mirror to perceive our exquisite reflection as it manifests its full potential – a reflection which knows that the course of the world is indeed the course of our lives…and indeed our existence in endless transition…
Ellie
August 4, 2009
Newsletters | Ellie | August 4, 2009
Ellie!!
Acabo de leer tu articulo y me encanto!! muy interesante, ademas me gusta mucho confirmar que lo que hago en arte , nunca fue perfecto….y esta bien que no lo sea!!! porque nunca busque esa perfeccion a traves del color , solo busque mi expresion.Todo me imagine menos que en ese mundo oriental tan lleno de belleza y perfeccion existiera ese termino,Que rico aprender hoy algo nuevo! que disfrutes mucho en Montana,
Mi amiga,
Me gusto mucho tu articulo,como dices hay que aceptar que nada es perfecto y aprender a ser feliz con todos los cambios que nos va ofreciendo la vida, Carinos
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post, so much so that I am forwarding it to my daughter. Hope you and John have a great summer!
Great article Ellie! It is so true that we are not perfect but we all have beauty (in many different forms) within us–and it can be seen/found if we just stop to look a little further…. I am beginning to be very intrigued by the Japanese culture and still think and hope to one day own one of your Japanese-inspired pieces.
Mom,
What an amazing, beautifully written piece. I am inspired by you, and I will now and forever envision the light shining through me!
Love you!
Moni
Hi Ellie,
Welcome back to Bigfork. Being Montana residents now we have been back since the first of June. Loved reading your newsletter. When talking about the “pearl” all I could think about is when I first saw my boys. Birth is incredible and when you watch their slate fill up over the years it makes it all worthwhile. I know you feel the same way about your girls.
Hope to see you and John soon.
Hugs,
Pam
P.S. I’m leaving Friday to attend my 50th. high school graduation.
In reading your August newsletter Wabi Sabi Way’, I was reminded of a movie ‘The Cats of Mirikitani’. This is movie is not about cats, it’s about a documentry of Jimmy Mirikitani a 81 year old Master Japanese artist who was living and painting on the streets of New York just below the ‘911′. The film ends with his first show in Seattle. tmc
I really loved this newsletter. Very inspiring and helpful.