February 21, 2013
Wabi-sabi is the beauty of the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is the beauty of things unconventional and modest. It’s not just a style of art, it’s a world view
“Wabi-sabi is a way of seeing the world that is at the heart of Japanese culture. It finds beauty and harmony in what is simple, imperfect, modest, natural, and mysterious. It can be a little dark, but it is also warm and comfortable. It may be best understood as a feeling, rather than as an idea.” – Mark Reibstein and Ed Young
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”
Marilyn Monroe
Imperfection in Nature
by D. B. Mauldin
Nature is full of imperfections. No two snowflakes are alike, yet snow is beautiful. No two stones, no two leaves, no two flowers, no two trees are alike, yet they are all beautiful. No two humans, no two animals are exactly alike, yet are all beautiful. Beauty is full of imperfections.
Everything in creation is imperfect and/or incomplete in some way. It may be a small way or a large way, but there is still beauty in it.
American culture teaches us that we can cover imperfections with clothes, makeup, and plastic surgery. The young want to look older; the older wants to look younger. We learn to limit our perception of beauty, but if we look closer, become more aware, and open our minds we find beauty everywhere.
See the unique beauty. Appreciate it for what it is. Accept flaws and know that everything is full of imperfect beauty.
Participate in Rarasaur’s “Prompts for the Promptless” at:
http://everydaygurus.com/2013/02/20/wabi-sabi-beauty-in-impermanence/
“ForThePromptless”
Do you see beauty in impermanence, imperfection, or incompleteness? Please share.
Well said. I love the Marilyn Monroe quotation – she’s a great example of wabi-sabi herself!
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, reading my post, and commenting. 🙂
LikeLike
This is beautiful– full of wisdom and peace, and very well-written. 🙂 Thank you for sharing, and thank you for participating in Prompts for the Promptless! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the opportunity. 🙂
LikeLike
Love the critique of American culture’s need to make everything perfect. I agree about seeing beauty everywhere. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
LikeLike
“HUGS”
LikeLike
Everyday in the mirror,lovely post!
LikeLike