Picking out a 25-pound “nugget” of clay, she wedged it up, over and around its center. She used the same pattern -- up, over and around -- to methodically remove air pockets from the nugget. Up, over and around she moved the clay on the darkened clay table. This most crucial step in creating clay products -- called wedging -- cannot be overlooked. Air pockets now would mean disaster later when it went through the fire of the kiln. Satisfied she had the clay ready, she rolled it into a ball, eyed the black plate (or bat) on her wheel, and slammed the clay hard. It responded by gripping the black bat and sticking.
The potter spun the wheel -- her hands pressing and molding. Shoulder muscles tense, she formed the clay in the center of the spinning wheel. The off-white porcelain clay needed only a few drops of water, a push and a pull. Then finally, the moldable clay settled into a spin that made her hands motionless. Success! With the clay centered, she could begin her day's work.
Putting her thumb in the middle of the clay and slowly pulling up the sides, she formed the mouth, or opening. Ever so gently, she pressured that clay to move upward. Forming the walls of the vessel, she kept the pressure equal on both the inside and the outside of the clay. Happy with the form, she trimmed the excess and smiled.
The process of lump-to-vessel still amazed her. Satisfied with her creativity, the potter set the clay vase to the side table to dry until it was "leather" hard. Day after tomorrow, she would be able to finish the trim work on the bottom and score the piece. When totally dry it could be “fired” one time in the kiln. This first firing would be a "bisque" firing, leaving the clay baked but porous enough to accept the decorative glaze. Like a kid with finger paints, she would dip and paint. This bisque firing was necessary to set the clay's properties, so when fired again with the glaze, it would remain whole and unharmed by the intense heat. This clay would require several hours of kiln time. With temperatures exceeding 1100 degrees Fahrenheit, going through the fire was no easy task.
Wondering why she never considered the parallel of real life and the life of a vessel, the potter ceased all activity and let her mind flow.
Many cultures believe humans evolved or were created out of the earth...thus; we are earthen creatures or vessels.
Our earthly life is lived in stages. As clay on the wheel, life molds, shapes and forms us. Our experiences soften us, harden us, inspire us and sometimes ruin us. Therefore, as vessels of clay, we experience the good and the bad, the positive and the negative, the birth and the death of human existence. Each step in the process of making a vessel correlates to steps in a human's life.
However, the potter related to the intensity of the kiln most of all.
"Going through the fire" meant being stronger, harder, durable and capable. How many times had she felt like that? When watching her grandmother die, she felt the fire of grief. As she lived through the heartache of a friend’s divorce, she experienced the fire of compassion. Since giving birth, at times the fire of overwhelming responsibility shadowed her joy. As her financial future collapsed, she daily tasted the smoke from the fire of fear. Walking out the love in a committed relationship, the fire of devoted passion didn't always burn as brightly as she wanted.
An epiphany occurred within her. Never again would she view the process of creating her beautiful wares as mundane. Never again would she tenderly place her vessels in the kiln without a moment of silent meditation for their safety as they endured the intense heat. She knew too how sometimes a vessel simply exploded when exposed to the concentrated heat of the kiln, damaging not only it, but also those vessels close to it.
Marveling at the correlation, she reflected on all the vessels in the art studio...each one in a different stage of creation. Each creation waited for its own time in the fire. Only with this final step of production could a clay vessel fully fulfill its destiny. Clay pots, teacups, water pitchers, plates, spoon rests, bowls, dishes, mugs; all had one thing in common...they all had to survive the firing process of the kiln to be of use. They had to go through the fire to BE the vessel for which they had been created.
Tears of understanding rolled down her face as the potter received this understanding of her life.
It is not just her life this relates to...it is my life and your life.
We all go through uncomfortable and difficult times. Yet the vessels (the people) that make it through the kiln are strong, resilient, and effective.
I often wish there was another way to become stronger. I know though, that it is through the hard times I grow the most. I bet you are the same.
Today if you are "going through the fire" of hard times, be assured that it is a temporary time. If you find yourself in the "fire," remember you are in good company. If I am not there with you today, I bet I join you before too long!
Today, be nicer than is necessary...remember everyone is fighting some kind of battle.
Here's to you! Wherever you are in the process of life, remember…
And I do, too!
Suess Karlsson
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