POTTERY – WHY I LIKE TO DO IT

POTTERY 

   

èIt makes me feel connected to the universe since it involves combining earth (clay), water and fire (firing in the kiln) with my human energy and intention.

 èIt is transformative.  The earth, water and fire combine to create a piece of art that can withstand time.  It can turn a person into an artist.

èIt can be functional, or not…

èIt allows me to have many cool handmade things to give away.

èIt provides an opportunity for mindfulness.

èIt can be challenging with lots of opportunities to learn and cope with failure and disappointment (i.e. when the “perfect” pot collapses at the last moment!   ARG!)

èIt’s FUN to get messy!

 

ONE SHOVELFUL AT A TIME…

Changing ourselves is hard.  It takes a lot of work and is very time consuming.  But, I think the average person can do it.  If the person chooses to see themselves on a lifetime path of learning and growing; then, it is no longer is “a lot of time” because the time passes anyway. So, it’s just a matter of choosing to use the time that “is” in a more specific way – because we can. 

HOW TO DETACH FROM NEGATIVITY

     ABOUT MOVING DOWN THE PATH…

Here’s my thinking (i.e. what I’ve figured out so far…..)  about how to “detach” something negative from some part of one’s self……

 

ABOUT USE OF LANGUAGE

 A few miscellaneous thoughts. Language is a reflection of beliefs.  It reflects not only what we think but who we are.  Directly and indirectly.  It communicates via the content of the words and the style of delivery – the tone and selection of words.  It communicates via the lack of words and how that is delivered.  The delivery is received differently depending on the recipient.  Yup, it takes awareness to communicate effectively.  The same words ring differently depending on a wide range of different circumstances.

ABOUT HOW ALL MY PHILOSOPHIES TIE TOGETHER

ABOUT HOW ALL MY PHILOSOPHIES TIE TOGETHER…

I say I’m “freer” than many people because I often live outside of everyone’s expectations for me.  I create my own plan for myself which is based on what is real and what is important to me.  I don’t waste any of my energy on materialism.  I’ve trashed the sex role junk.  I believe in the sacredness of relationships but not the institution of marriage.   Everything is connected  – responses to family of origin problems, relationship with money, decisions about the types of relationships to seek and nurture, relationship with “things”, purpose, how much to challenge oneself, defining what is “fun” or “pleasurable” etc, etc.  It can seem like these are unrelated but I don’t think they are.

Everything comes together when it’s based on integrity and purpose.

ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY…

A lot of people use money to appear to be certain ways.   For “status” and all that.  I just don’t want to use my resources for any of that.

REALIZING THE STAGES THROUGH OPPRESSION

         A shared understanding of how oppression affects people similarly in spite of differences in the cause of the oppression can increase understanding and support for all.

 STAGES THROUGH OPPRESSION

June 13, 2004

These are my thoughts about the different stages that individuals might pass through in response to being oppressed. I don’t think everyone necessarily goes through each stage. Some people leap passed a stage.  Other people get stuck at a stage and never move beyond it.  Regrettably, it seems that only a few seem to make it to the final stage.

Written – 7/26/1999 – Firewalking

About my fire-walking experience…

Written – 1/1/2002 – Poem – Strong Enough

This poem was written when I was relatively new to volunteering with the Black Prisoners’ Caucus at Washington State Reformatory.  It came out of my reaction to the part of prison culture where the men are forced to stuff emotions in order to be “tough” all the time – just to survive.   I understood why that was but still, I also knew that it takes great strength to do some of the things they considered to be “soft” and those things are part of being human.  I was sad to see them cut off from their own humanity. 

Written – 12/4/2010 – Poem – Musings On Color

Basking in the comfort of blue  and forest green

Earth colors with earth vibration             

Colors next to othersand colors merging     together   

Which colors are me and which colors are you?