Recently, I ventured into pottery making. I started with pinch pots and coils. My first lesson was utter bliss. As the newest student, I enjoyed my solitary work while my teacher gently taught me the basics of working with clay. How to cut a chunk off of my block of clay. How to use my palms instead of my fingers to gently form it into a circular shape.
It felt so soothing in my hands, this freedom to create without pressure or expectations… the liberation of using my fingers in a different way. Instead of forming the edges with my fingertips, I used the middle of my fingers, opposite my knuckles, to form the edges. Whether I was pinching or rolling out little grey snakes with my hands to make coils, I just allowed my hands to do the work. Grabbing stamps or tools as I needed. Nothing, just immersing myself in the glorious letting go of it. Letting go of planning or analyzing, just feeling and creating by instinct. (more…)
