Embracing the Brokenness in Our Relationships

Deep inside us, at some level, we hope to find perfection in our lives. We dream of finding our ideal partner, having a happy family life, gaining respect from others, and securing deeply harmonious relationships with people who matter most to us. But over the years, life deals us some heavy blows that leave us shattered as we pick up the pieces of what was once a fine dream, and we carry the scars of past hurts in our relationships.

What do we do with these fragments we’re left with? Before we attempt to desperately get rid of them, we might instead turn to the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi, which teaches us that what is damaged shouldn’t be discarded or neglected, but rather respected and treasured. In kintsugi, ceramics that are broken are carefully gathered and reassembled with great care – a process that represents a reconciliation with the flaws and accidents of time. Kintsugi – which literally means to join with gold – does not attempt to disguise the fault lines, but rather brings out their beauty and strength.

It’s easy to reject the brokenness in our relationships, wishing things could have been better or different. In this session, delve into the wisdom that the art of kintsugi brings to our relationships and life, teaching us to cherish what is damaged and scarred, vulnerable and imperfect – beginning with ourselves, and those around us.

What you will gain through this 2-hour session:

• Find equanimity in your interactions
• Uncover what makes each one of us unique and precious
• Learn to appreciate the beauty of imperfect relationships
• Accept your relationships as they are

Note: For this session, you would need to have an object that is broken with you in the session. It is preferable that the object be of significance to you. Also have some permanent markers (gold if possible) and superglue with you.