the Japanese art of kintsugi

One of my favourite Leonard Cohen songs is Anthem which features the lyrics, “Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack, a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.”

One of the reasons why I love his words here is because it reminds us that not only is perfection impossible, but it also doesn’t reflect our authentic selves. Instead, it is in our cracks, our vulnerabilities, and our imperfections that our light can shine through.

I connect this with the beautiful Japanese art of kintsugi, which is the practice of repairing broken pottery with lacquer that’s been mixed with powdered gold. Rather than hiding the cracks and ‘brokenness’, kintsugi highlights them, transforming what was once broken into something even more beautiful and meaningful. It recognizes that what has been repaired doesn’t erase its history. Instead, the gold seams tell a story of resilience.

In any discussion around wellness there is often a striving for wholeness. But Leonard’s lyrics and the art of kintsugi remind us that wholeness is not about perfection, it is about integration. It is about acknowledging the cracks in our lives whether they be the moments of loss, the mistakes we’ve made, the disappointments, the heartbreaks, the setbacks, the challenges, the times we felt broken, or the times we were broken. These experiences do not diminish us. They shape us and when we embrace them they become the places where light and wisdom come through. And who knows….the ‘cracks’ might even become the most radiant parts of your journey.

~Kate

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