Today's Lesson - On KINTSUGI or how to turn your brokenness into gold

Kintsugi is japanese art technique of fixing broken things (mostly pottery) with special lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum. This oriental techinque is also known as Kintsukuroi or Golden repair it's tradition goes back to 15th century. For me, as I'm no Harry Potter this was an important life lesson.

Kintsugi gives broken pieces their life back: a new, different - and even more beautiful - one. From their brokeness, Kintsugi gives them a chance to be born again - and even if they are broken, right there, on that spot, on that specific place and under specific circumstances - Kintsugi techinque gives them a chance to become more beautiful and powerful. And to be born again. Kind of like reincarnation.

Kintsugi art 1

Are we still talking about pottery? ;)

And why, nowdays, we forget this - very important - lesson?
Greek philosopher Heraclitus knew that thousands years ago: Only constant thing is the change. Then why are we so afraid of that change? Why are we embarrassed of our broken pieces?

In other words, the transformation is not just about putting the pieces of one’s broken life back together, it’s about a total reinvention of self in which our shattered pieces are alchemized into a beautiful, thriving masterpiece.

Kintsugi art 2

Kintsugi means taking care and developing very special relation to brokenness, to what couldn't remain the same in the shape that it once was and then it change. It got repaired. Kintsugi is an opportunity to start a new chapter, new life phase, start process of self growth and start again. It is not just art for fixing pottery, it is an art of fixing ourselves.

Kintsugi art 3

All people have skelentons in their closets... By trying to bury them deeper and deeper, all you bury is your chance for happiness, by my humble opinion. Facing your true self is not an easy thing to do, but - in the end - it is the only right thing to do. And by embracing your brokenness, you give yourself wings to take you on the next level. Where air is clearer and the sun is brighter.

Kintsugi art 4

I feel, daily, that I am myself in a way in a Kintsugi phase of life - gluing my broken pieces and giving them a new life. Understanding when and why some things got broken and why old methods of holding things together didn't work for me any longer. I remembered that line that also showed me a big ray of light: Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.

When you keep your eyes opened, you see messages on every corner you walk by

Embrace your brokenness and make it your greatest strength!

With love,

Matejka