One piece of advice I often offer to a student in my Sashiko Class (Online or In-Person) is about their “normal”. As they are learning something foreign, they often find it challenging to accept it as “New Ordinary”. I sincerely respect them for going through it – and I have seen so many of them having both old and new “Normal” as a choice. It isn’t a matter of ability: it is a matter of how to approach it. Therefore, I find it stressful when someone twists (overpaint) the Sashiko based on their “normal” such as convenience or comfort. When the simplification is done for a profit intentionally, then it is probably what Cultural Appropriation is.
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Sashiko introduced in English has “Too much Mind”. Many do not admit it, or even attack others to defend themselves, but it is full of judgment. In this context, this “Judgment” is to themselves, from themselves. In this society, it isn’t socially allowed to judge other pieces – so they run the surface of the practice, and keep judging “themselves”. To get somewhat “validation”, we showcase what we make. Too much Mind. Too much Control. Too many Rules. Sashiko do not exist in what they define as normal.
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A journey of Sashiko starts when one “accepts” it. It depends on a person what/how they accept – but nobody can reach the principle of Sashiko when they keep using their controls. No one has shared it in English. Why? Because they are sharing (teaching) Sashiko without getting it. Once they get it, they find themselves uncomfortable sharing(teaching) so often. I know it is contradicting as I share a lot… It is the pain I need to go through, too. All I teach & All I sell are the assistance to “accept” it easier.
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刺し子がSASHIKOとなって、日本人の声の届かないところで違うものになってしまって。巻き戻せないとは思うのだけど、必死に抵抗は続けてみようと思っていて。その為に、日本と西洋の違いを日々論理的に説明しようとしているのですが、感覚的なことが多く、言葉にするのは大変です。「針目みりゃわかるっしょ」と逃げの姿勢は見せつつも、いつかは普遍的にお伝えできるような言葉の組み立て方を見つけたいなと思っています。
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「一針ひとはり、心を込めて」と刺し子を表現することがあります。ただ、この場合、文字通り一針ずつ気にして針を進めているかというと、違ってきます。目と頭で刺し子をすると苦しくなります。リズムとは、その瞬間の「外気」と「内氣」で構成されていて、結果として「心がこもったもの」ができるのだろうと思っています。側から見ると狂気の沙汰のような刺し子も、刺し手にとっては至福の「気を感じる」時間なのかもしれません。外で気を遣う人ほど、この時間は楽に感じるのかもしれません。なーんて久々にスピリチュアルっぽいお話を。少しだけスピリチュアルに巻き戻そうかと思っています。危なくない範囲で。
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