Wabi Sabi- Day 7

 Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing is a Japanese tradition of spending time in nature, particularly in the forest. 

It has been found that spending time among trees can have a calming effect upon the body. There even is the school of thought that forest bathing can be used as a preventative to disease. These interactions help to boost the immune system. ( The technical term has to do with the increase in NK cells or natural killer cells that help fight viruses and cancer.)

What I do know for sure is that when I am spending time surrounded by nature, particularly trees I do feel better; more grounded and at peace. 

Perhaps it is the impermanence of nature, the visible changing of the seasons that allows us to let go of perfection.  Recently we had a hundred year old oak tree on our property implode on itself. The inner core of the tree had been infested by insects, and had rotted away. 

To the unassuming eye everything looked basically just fine, until one day it fell to the ground with a loud thud. It has made me more in tune to the other two oaks that rest upon our property, and remind me not to take their presence for granted. 

          Kempton reminds us, “Wabi Sabi teaches us that dynamic transience is the natural state of things.”

Because of this we cannot waste time holding on to the past or even present when change is inevitable.  Rather we should savor it and hold it in our hand gently like a butterfly ready to take flight. 

Wabi Sabi- Day 6

Impermanence is an important part of Wabi Sabi. This is found in two ways. First is the idea of something no longer being. This is seen in the changes of the seasons. 

The other idea has more to do with transience. In other words, the anticipation of something that will soon be gone. I think we see this in the lives of our children as they grow older. 

Having an appreciation for the impermanence of life can make us more aware of the here and now. When we realize that today will never come again we may not be so quick to live our life on autopilot.

“With the fall of a single leaf we know autumn is here.” This Japanese proverb alerts us to the imminence of change in the world. This awareness of the seasons helps us to be more in tune with the rhythms of our body. 

As the days become shorter and the weather colder we need to pay attention to our bodies need for rest. In the animal world, for many creatures, this is a time for hibernation. Why shouldn’t we consider a modified version of this?

Because we fail to notice this, and continue to overextend ourselves regardless of the season we may push ourselves to exhaustion, and may struggle to remain healthy. 

Getting enough sunshine during the summer months and curling up on the couch under a blanket with a good book in the winter might be all that we need to feel our best. 

Let the seasons remind you that for every season of effort there is time for rest. Nature knows this instinctively.  We on the other hand in our modern world have used modern technology to keep us moving at the same pace year round. Wabi Sabi helps to remind us to choose differently. 

Wabi Sabi- Day 5

 The Japanese people have a unique relationship with nature. In their minds and heart they look toward nature in this way, “Nature just is, and welcomes you, just as you are.” 

The beauty of nature and the philosophy of Wabi Sabi brings to light “that everything is impermanent, imperfect, and incomplete. 

In our western sensibilities it’s easy to continually pursue elusive perfection, always coming up short. As we connect with these teachings of Wabi Sabi we can feel “unconditionally accepted.”

Spending time in nature refreshes our soul, and reminds us of the miracles right before our eyes. Watch the beauty and order of nature, yet at the same time the death and decay that happens in the natural world. 

“By momentarily lifting us out of the fog of to-do lists, chores, and overwhelming tasks, Wabi Sabi holds a mirror to life’s magnificence -and in that mirror, we get a glimpse of ourselves.”

Simply, “The flowers keep blooming, whether or not you make a mistake.”

Wabi Sabi- Day 4

 As we delve further into the ideas of Wabi Sabi one thing to consider is the impermanence of beauty. This can easily be found in nature as we watch the leaves change from green to bright red as winter approaches. Of course, in just a matter of weeks those leaves have turned brown, and have fallen to the ground. 

If in our hurry we failed to notice then we have to wait until the next year to experience them again. Sometimes we may have to wait several years before the right combination of elements produces the brightest of reds on those Red Oak trees. 

Impending is the word that describes the inevitable fading of that beauty. Rather than anticipate it with sadness, we should embrace the here and now. Just like the few weeks that my lone Redbud tree blooms I look forward each year to seeing those first blossoms. 

As we define each word, Wabi meaning “the beauty found in simplicity,” and Sabi being “beauty that emerges with the passage of time,” we can begin to grasp how profound this teaching is, and how it can truly enhance our own lives. 

It is important to not lose sight of the idea of, “This meeting,this time only” The reality is that this very moment will never ever be fully replicated. If we are unaware then we have missed out on what that moment had to offer. 

Wabi Sabi - Day 3

 

What Wabi Sabi actually does is “gives you permission to be yourself.”  As simple as this might sound really knowing who you are is not as easy as it sounds. We have been influenced by so many outside forces that it’s not uncommon to lose sight of who we really are. 

Keaton states, “It (Wabi Sabi) encourages you to do your best, but not make yourself ill in pursuit of an unattainable goal at perfection.”

What has helped me over the years to better understand myself are the words of author Gretchen Rubin, “You can choose what you do, but not what you like to do.” These words have given me permission to stop trying to enjoy the things that I really don’t. 

In the process of releasing the need for perfection you can slow down, and just enjoy your life. 

Because we can find beauty in almost anything we no longer have to travel to the far corners of the world chasing that next elusive high. Now that’s not to say that a trip to Ruidiso, New Mexico shouldn’t be on your list of travel spots. Getting an opportunity to experience life from a different perspective is always good for the soul. 

Wabi Sabi- Day 2

According to Beth Kempton, author of Wabi Sabi, “Wabi Sabi is an acceptance and appreciation of the impermanent, imperfection, and incomplete nature of everything.”

 In so many ways this goes against everything my culture has taught me. Striving for excellence, avoiding mistakes, hitting the mark have all been voices in the back of my head. 

It’s one thing to accept the imperfections as part of life, but to actually appreciate them. How is this even possible? I’ve always strived and prefer order in my life. 

Interestingly Wabi Sabi does not just address the “things” in our lives, but includes ourself in its philosophy. It teaches us to let go of that elusive and impossible goal of perfection. It leads us toward accepting who we are just as we are. 

Considering the number of self-help books that line my shelves this seems quite foreign to my western ears. 

The simplicity of Wabi Sabi is to look for the beauty in the ordinary-the every day. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of our days that we forget to look, and miss out on what’s right before our eyes. 

In other words as Kempton reminds us, “Less head, more heart.”

Wabi Sabi- Day 1

 According to Google the definition of wabi-sabi is a “Japanese aesthetic and world view that emphasizes finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence or simplicity.” 

In May I began reading a book by Beth Kempton entitled Wabi Sabi. I’ve actually been in no hurry to finish it, and have savored it in the mornings as I’ve sat quietly by myself on the back porch. 

I really enjoyed the unseasonably cool summer we had  this summer, and am missing the delightful hummingbirds who came each morning to feed.

I’ve taken notes along the way, and have decided to record some of the wisdom I’ve gleaned through a series I’ll be posting 

Over the last ten years or so I’ve become quite fascinated by the Japanese culture. Japan has always held a special place in my heart because it is the place of my conception. Could it be possible that I have somehow formed a connection with a place I’ve never really seen? 

As I reread the definition I know for a fact that I was intrigued by the Voluntary Simplicity movement of the nineties, and have struggled with my own imperfections over the years. Finding beauty in imperfection seems to go against my Western sensibilities. But I am drawn toward the idea of wabi sabi, and look forward to sharing with you what I’ve learned.