Wabi Sabi for an enjoyable life

In 2019, I saw a Youtube video by a maker who had made a fantastically beautiful sidetable with wood and welded steel. In the video, he mentions Wabi-Sabi and I was curious right away. It turned out to be something that not only described where I find my inspiration but also to a large extent my outlook on life. To appreciate the beauty of imperfection, to have nature as inspiration, to see rust, natural aging as something beautiful, to strive for calm, balance and lasting well-being.

What is Wabi Sabi?

Wabi Sabi has roots in Zen and Japanese tea ceremonies. It is a centuries-old Japanese philosophy and aesthetic that is still relevant today and can provide new perspectives on life.

It is quite a difficult philosophy to describe in words and it has many translations, but something that is recurring is to see the beauty in all of life's ups and downs. To appreciate nature and enjoy life - despite adversity. There is something very powerful in looking at adversity with tenderness and appreciation for what it gives, or have given, or teach.

"Wabi Sabi doesn't remove the struggles, but it makes them beautiful"

-Rebecka Jonasson

Wabi Sabi teaches us to see the beauty of things, people, life - just as it is. Without judging anything as good or bad. It can be beautiful regardless. And when you start to see the beauty of what you have around you, a whole new world opens up in front of you.

To give an example, here is an observation from my life.

For an exhibition I wanted to make some sculptures inspired by Wabi Sabi but with a 'Norrland' (North of Sweden) theme. I've heard that dandelions are edible and think they're fascinating so I wanted a sculpture of a dandelion and did some research for inspiration. Not only do they turn out to be edible, you can roast your own coffee from dandelion roots, make tea from the leaves or have them as a salad. I bought some dandelion coffee to try and sure enough, it reminds me of coffee! With a slightly chocolatey tone and maybe more like instant coffee in taste but it absolutely works. It is completely caffeine-free but has many health benefits and an invigorating effect. I feel like I get a little clearer in my head by drinking it anyway, but maybe it's a placebo effect. Regardless, when summer came and the lawn turned yellow with dandelions, I no longer saw weeds. I have a whole meadow of dandelion coffee to harvest!

To be honest, I don't know how much of the dandelions I'll harvest but it made it clear that I looked at the flower with new eyes. And it's a good example of how one's perspective on what's around you and what's happening in your life can shift our view of it. Something that is a weed can become a beauty.

Wabi Sabi also means appreciating our changing nature. Everything is constantly changing, and the traces of time are beautiful and something to appreciate not to run away from. A rusty old tin can be given new life as a flower pot or a broken coffee cup can be repaired with gold to show that the cup has been around for a long time and is therefore significant (Kintsugi). When we begin to appreciate what has aged, what has been around for a long time, it takes on deeper meaning. It is the changing state of things that makes the moments valuable. In spring comes the light and greenery, summer carries warmth and flowering meadows, autumn holds us like a cozy blanket, in winter we celebrate with family and friends and look forward to a new year. Without the cold, the heat would not feel so dearly missed. Nor would the air when the trees shed their leaves feel so relievingly fresh without a warm summer. If we choose to see the beauty of constantly being in change, fear is replaced by curiosity.

One of my favorite Japanese words is 'Komorebi' which describes the feeling of being in nature and seeing the sun's rays through the trees. If you, like me, spend a lot of time in nature, you know exactly what komorebi means. A moment that makes you stop.

And it is precisely the appreciation of the little things in life that makes our life enjoyable in everyday life. Together, many small things become big and can change our outlook on life. And soon you'll find yourself enjoying the birds chirping outside the window. Or you can enjoy cooling water against your legs on the jetty you usually pass. Or you can find a nice stone on a walk and there you are, enjoying nature.

There is so much to say about Wabi Sabi, far more than what I have included here. But I've tried to get down what matters most to me.

Do you have your own examples of Wabi Sabi moments? Feel free to comment.