Tuesday 15 September 2015

Wabi sabi

I have been attracted to Japanese design for a number of years, and curious about Japanese culture, but, regrettably, never really delved into the subject in a thorough manner. I recently came across the term wabi sabi, and have begun to look into this concept further.

"A blend of Eastern wisdom, feng shui, and the movement toward simplicity, Wabi Sabi is a Japanese expression meaning "wisdom in natural simplicity." Wabi Sabi helps us to see the beauty in imperfection, to discover that our unique flaws also can lead us to our greatest strengths and treasures.No one is perfect--in fact, we all are perfectly imperfect.

What is Wabi Sabi? 

A universal ideal of beauty, Wabi Sabi celebrates the basic, the unique, and the imperfect parts of our lives. Wabi Sabi is the comfortable joy you felt as a child, happily singing off key, creatively coloring outside the lines, and mispronouncing words with gusto. On a deeper level, Wabi Sabi is the profound awareness of our oneness with all life and the environment. It includes a deep awareness of the choices we make each day, the power we have to accept or reject each moment of our lives, and to find value in every experience. Appreciate this and every moment, no matter how imperfect, for this moment is your life. When you reject this moment, you reject your life. You don't have to settle for this moment, you are free to steer a different course, but for now, this moment is yours, so be mindful to make the most of it." 


"Wabi sabi is a state of consciousness. Its beauty hidden in the aesthetic or feeling experienced between you and something in the world."

"Wabi sabi has many different meanings. Wabi was originally associated with sadness and loneliness. However today it means living a simple and modest lifestyle; one which is peaceful, balanced and in tune with nature. 
Sabi originally meant ‘to be desolate’ but now it is associated with ‘growing old’, the natural progression of time, transitory or short-lived beauty and enjoying objects which are aged, fading or weathered.
It's about just ‘being’. Enjoying the moment and life’s simple pleasures and bringing more of these into our lives." 

"Together wabi sabi provides a way of life which helps us to connect with our true essence; the place within us where peace, serenity and harmony reside."

"Wabi sabi is:
• Unconventional
• Unassuming
• Unpretentious
• Understated
• Underplayed
• Undeclared
• Unencumbered 
• Unmaterialistic."

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