Encephalon Posted January 12, 2010 SHAPING Potter at the wheel. From centering to finished pot, Form increases as options decrease; Softness goes to hardness. When a potter begins to throw a pot, she picks up a lump of clay, shapes it into a rough sphere, and throws it onto the spinning potter's wheel. It may land off-center, and she must carefully begin to shape it until it is a smooth cylinder. Then she works the clay, stretching and compressing it as it turns. First it is a tower, then it is like a squat mushroom. Only after bringing it up and down several times does she slowly squeeze the revolving clay until its walls rise from the wheel. She cannot go on too long, for the clay will begin to "tire" and then sag. She gives it the form she imagines, then sets it aside. The next day, the clay will be leather hard, and she can turn it over to shape the foot. Some decoration may be scratched into the surface. Eventually, the bowl will be fired, and then the only options are the colors applied to it; its shape cannot be changed. This is how we shape all the situations in our lives. We must give them rough shape and then throw them down into the center of our lives. We must stretch and compress, testing the nature of things. As we shape the situation, we must be aware of what form we want things to take. The closer something comes to completion, the harder and more definite it becomes. Our options become fewer, until the full impact of our creation is all that there is. Beauty or ugliness, utility or failure comes from the process of shaping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 12, 2010 Damned if that doesn't sound a bit like my life right now. I have already been fired. Just putting on the paint now. Peace & Love! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chitoryu Posted January 12, 2010 Working on explaining the shaping of our organization for 2 1/2 years as the route to success. Hard to get it across to people who think it's all technology and a few tweaked procedures. How to you unfire the pottery? It is freaking hard but you have to believe it can be done. I will be glad when I can be the 'the skillful employer who lays low' and not up front. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 12, 2010 How to you unfire the pottery? It is freaking hard but you have to believe it can be done. No, the pottery cannot be unfired. But, ... the pottery can be broken into small pieces, the pieces ground down to fine grains and then the grains used to build something new and unique. I think that this is in line with the Taoist concept of unlearning. Peace & Love! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chitoryu Posted January 12, 2010 And in the end, the pottery is made anew. Nice image. After destruction, there is always healing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 12, 2010 And in the end, the pottery is made anew. Nice image. After destruction, there is always healing. I don't always need to have the last word. Hehehe. You have understanding, that's all that matters. Talk with you again soon, I am sure. Peace & Love! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
