CLAY: A HUMBLE ANCIENT TEACHER

Clay is a humble, earthy material that has shaped the bricks upon which entire ancient civilizations were built.

To sit with clay is to sit with the earth herself. In transformative times, cultivating grounding practices or simple rituals becomes essential for well-being—ways to return ourselves to presence. Working with clay can be just that: an active meditation.

The wet clay is cool against the palms, malleable, and commands presence. For someone who tends to reside in the realm of thought, it's a refreshing sensory experience to notice things like texture, curves, rhythm and proportions.

Malleable as it is, the clay responds to pressure and intention, control and surrender, mirroring back to you what is unbalanced, hurried or off-kilter. At the same time, it's a forgiving material and a reminder that beauty often lies in the imperfections.

In the end, whether a piece stands intact or topples over, we are reminded that we too are vessels of earth...molded by forces (seen and unseen), beautiful and imperfect, fragile yet enduring.

Whether it's experimenting with clay or finding other therapeutic or meditative rituals that anchor you into presence, may we all honor ourselves enough to seek out simple, sacred ways to reconnect with ourselves, ancient teachers, and Mother Earth.

— M. Taylor