Wabi-Sabi

I recently watched a class taught by Dr. Peter Levine about healing trauma through somatic experiencing, and he introduced the topic by talking about the concept of Wabi-Sabi.

Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese art tradition. When a ceramic bowl breaks, rather than getting rid of it, it’s repaired by putting the pieces back together and filling the cracks with gold.

Over time, more and more cracks and repairs happen, adding more intricate veins of sparkly gold throughout the bowl. This creates a structure that is more solid, and more beautiful.

Since then, my mind has really thought in depth about this metaphor and how it relates to coaching & somatics.

Our cracks are always going to be there, they’re never going away. We like to avoid the cracks. They continue to be open, and going there is super hard and doesn’t feel good.

Once we spend time with the cracks, learn how to fill them with gold, as a whole we will be stronger, more beautiful, more resilient. All of these cracks make us who we are.

Working with stress and old patterns in our body is an iterative process of expanding into those places in our body that are strong, that have filled cracks, reminding ourselves of our resilience.  And in this strength then we can gently and tenderly explore the cracks and invite in the healing sparkling gold.

I love metaphors like this, as the tangible concept can help us step back and have a new perspective on our own personal work and development.

As a recovering perfectionist with a loud inner critic, it brings ease to my system to reframe my imperfections and broken parts as wild veins of sparkling gold. Amazing!

What areas of your life do you have gold-filled cracks? What tender spaces do you have to invite in some gold?

Does this idea resonate with you? What do you think? I’d love to hear from you!