A few years ago I discovered this wabi-sabi photo in a magazine ad. Or rather, a photo that is such a good example of the essense of this approach to life. As is the case with many important things, I cannot remember exactly how I got to know wabi-sabi. I think Matilda told me about an article that she came across. Nevertheless, we discovered a name and a whole philosophy for the way we thought about and looked at life and things. Wabi-sabi, being Japanese in origin, is difficult to define exactly. It consists of two words (obviously!) that at first had meanings separate from each other. These meanings changed over centuries so that we now have wabi – which says humble and simple - and sabi – saying rusty and weathered. This gradually flowed into one stream to form a single mind-set with roots closely associated with the Japanese tea ceremony. In fourteenth century Japan the upper classes developed elaborate, ostentatious style tearooms and rituals where they sho...
The Restory is a Retreat Centre nestled against Tafelkop, a singular mountain head near Wakkerstroom, South Africa. Here we live a simple life as contemplatives. It is a place of re-connection: with ourselves, people, Nature, Silence and Creativity. Our retreats are aimed at this. Our conversations, writing and art centre around the univocity of life. We need a place that reminds us that we are all one. The Restory hopes to be such a place and space.