Beth Kempton on the slow way of wabi sabi - Summer Series
Hello, and welcome to our 2022 Summer Series!
Every January, Ben and I take some much-needed time away from work and try our best to walk the slow-living walk. But instead of leaving your ears lonely over the holidays, every Thursday in January we’ll be revisiting one of our favourite episodes from the past six years. So if you missed them the first time around, or are taking another listen with fresh ears, we hope you enjoy these poggies as much as we did!
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Today’s Summer Series/Winter Warmies episode takes us back to September 2019 - mere months before Covid changed the world for all of us - and features one of my favourite conversations on the podcast, ever.
Beth Kempton is an author and Japanologist, and in this pod she and I dig deep into slow living through the lens of Japanese culture. Or more specifically, through the lens of wabi sabi.
Complex to define, wabi sabi is an exploration of acceptance and contentment. It’s an acknowledgement of the true nature of life and as such is a really powerful way of shifting our worldview. (And part of the reason I wanted to revisit the episode now is that I think many of us could use a refresher on acceptance and contentment.)
Beth introduces me to the multi-layered nature of wabi sabi and we discuss how the idea of perfect imperfection can impact the way we purchase and consume things, the way we connect with people and the environment around us, and how it’s a welcome respite in a world that calls us to constant comparison and competition.
We also discuss whether wabi sabi, or any personal philosophy, has the power to change the world, as well as the beauty of creating and honouring rituals of slowness in a busy life.
We talk about our favourite experiences from our time spent in Japan and I can’t help but talk about the hours I’ve spent in onsens with my daughter. I’ve spoken about it on the podcast before, but onsening has had such a lovely impact on my life, both in terms of the ritual of bathing and being intentional throughout what is often treated as a mundane task, but also the acceptance of self that comes with the experience. It’s truly been one of the best discoveries of all our travel experiences.
This ties in to wabi sabi in a way I hadn’t expected, because (from my very limited understanding) wabi sabi seems to offer self-compassion and grace where I’ve previously had self-loathing and discomfort. And if we’re in need of anything right now - in a world that continues to profit off our comparing and competing - it’s probably a little more self-compassion and grace.
Enjoy!
Head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and play the episode, or take a listen right here by pressing play on the player below.
Things to check out after today’s episode:
Beth's websites:
Beth's book: Wabi Sabi - Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life
BBC's Japanese soundscapes
Connect with Beth on Instagram
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