Wabi Sabi: What does it mean?
What I love about wabi-sabi is it holds many layers of interpretation to be explored, but at the heart of it is a perspective centered on the acceptance of imperfection and transience that is represented in cyclical rhythms of the natural world. It is a Japanese term that does not hold any direct translation, but here are a few characteristics of it that I find particularly potent.
Wabi refers to simplicity, humility, and living in tune with nature. It can be used to describe someone who is content with little and makes the most of whatever they have. Sabi refers to what happens with the passage of time. It’s about transience and the beauty and authenticity of age. To practice sabi is to learn to accept the natural cycle of growth, death, and the imperfections that accompany that progression. Together the two terms create a feeling of harmony and serenity in the uncomplicated, unassuming, mysterious, and fleeting.
These are the elements that I both live by and bring directly into my craft. The natural world is my inspiration. It is was fuels my mind, body and soul and fuels everything around me. I continue to dive deeper into these realms and continue to practice humility and remain in awe of this life.