Interbeing
29 September, 2020
These are the last blue muka threads I indigo dyed in Bali. That’s a fact. The truth is, they are much more than that - which can only be seen by looking deeper.
I see a special harakeke plant growing in rich volcanic Taranaki soil, nourished by the sun, plenty of rain, and innumerable tiny creatures. I see loving humans caring for this plant. I hear insects and birds resting, feeding themselves, and flying away. I smell ocean breezes gently moving through precious leaves.
I also see Indigo plants growing in rich volcanic Bali soil, protected by well fed spirits and saints. I hear men laughing and chatting. Men who are able to feed their families thanks to these plants. I see friends from different continents carefully dipping their blue hands in shared indigo vats. I see magical shades of blue, born to transmit beauty and wisdom.
Thich Nhat Hanh calls this the nature of interbeing, meaning nothing can exist without everything else in the cosmos. He wrote “I don’t think that the word inter-be is in the dictionary, but I believe that it will be there soon, because it helps us to see the real nature of things, the nature of interbeing.” (Thich Nhat Hanh, Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm)
Tags: muka, harakeke, indigo, natural fibres, interbeing
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