One of my favorite books living on my bookshelf is entitled, “Perfectly Imperfect, The Art and Soul of Yoga Practice” by Baron Baptiste. The book is (of course) about creating a personal, consistent, and strong yoga practice, and it is so much more.

Baron uses the subject of yoga to teach becoming the authentic “perfectly imperfect” person we naturally are. As humans living in a competitive fast-paced world, we can often convince ourselves that we need to act and look a certain way to feel and be perceived as successful. Perfectionism can rear its head and convince us that we’re not enough, or that what we’ve done isn’t enough. We may seek validation from others or not feel safe to be our unique self and speak our truth.

In the book, Baron asks “What is all this masking and hiding costing you?...being someone else creates a hollowness,” a never-ending exhausting search for something out there that will make us better, more loveable, or happier.

My husband and I recently vacationed in Japan, and I learned about a philosophy called wabi-sabi that, when put into practice, creates a soothing, balanced, and accepting way of seeing myself, others, and the world around me. It’s becoming a powerful medicine for my mind and soul.

Let’s dive in.

What is Wabi-Sabi?

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy, design style, and reflective appreciation of the imperfections of life, contentment in the wear and tear that comes from the aging process, and an affinity to a simplistic natural lifestyle. The concept of wabi-sabi originated in 15th century Japanese tea ceremonies and reflects the ideals of Zen Buddhism and nature’s cycles of growth, decay, fragility, and death. The intention of the tea ceremony, from preparing a space to making, serving, and drinking the tea, was to observe and revere the simplistic beauty and transience of life.

Environment

In landscapes and room design, wabi-sabi encourages the use of colors found in nature and the use of natural materials like wood, hemp, and living plants. The combination of earth tones and natural materials create comfortable spaces that feel lived-in and connected to nature. This simple, uncluttered design style brings a sense of the outdoors inside, awakening presence and calming the mind.

Maria's Wabi Sabi Collection

https://foyr.com/learn/wabi-sabi-interior-design

Metaphors in Ceramics and Design

Japanese art utilizes Kintsugi, a traditional wabi-sabi design style incorporating deliberate imperfections in ceramics. Kintsugi was historically used to repair cracked pottery by applying lacquer and gold powder to bind the pieces back together. These intentional “fault” lines in addition to asymmetry in the shape and color of Japanese pottery reflects the wabi-sabi concept that beauty is found in imperfection. Celine Santini, author of Kintsugi, Finding Strength in Imperfection, writes “in therapy, personal growth is gained by putting the pieces back together and appreciating the process.”

Wellness Practices

The concept of wabi-sabi fits beautifully into the mission and offerings at Dr. Katie Wellness Insights, including my massage and Craniosacral therapy practice. In each session, I set an intention to be fully present for each person, and I listen with my heart and my hands, recognizing the wabi-sabi within all of us.

We are all in a continuous state of physical and mental change and adaptation. Our bodies are literally regenerating new cells every day. Situations that cause our muscles to ache and hearts to break can lead to personal growth and new healthier pathways we would have never seen or chosen had we not experienced loss and pain.

As Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, novelist, and visual artist so profoundly says in his song, Anthem,
“Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.”

When we practice wabi-sabi, we can more easily open our minds and hearts to accept and appreciate what we previously judged in ourselves and others as unacceptable, frustrating, or disheartening.

Full disclosure, I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and criticize my wrinkles, I sigh when I feel a persistent or new body ache, and I sometimes have a nagging voice that reminds me that I didn’t “get it all done” today. What if we could see ourselves through the wabi-sabi lens of compassion, transforming what we reject or silently label as flawed into something we accept as authentic, loveable as it is, and natural?

I’m thinking now of a gigantic old oak tree I pass on my regular walking route. I’ve been slowing my pace as I approach her and place both palms on her rough, aged trunk, and I say, “hello beauty, thank you, I love you.” She is strong, sturdy, aging, and beautiful, ever-changing with the seasons. She appears content as she is. She is wise and wonderful and rooted deeply. She is Nature’s reminder of how I want to be, and I wish this for you too.