04/14/2025
I set forth with dread and I return with a form of soul Kintsugi. Peak experience as a form of Kintsugi is a worthwhile endeavor.
The soul as a vessel holds the wisdom of our experiences. With the sometimes tragic passing of loved ones or the more general breaking of our close relationships I wonder if peak experiences can be a form of soul Kintsugi.
I booked the trip last minute. A bucket list hut trip to backcountry ski the Meadow Hut tenure in British Columbia. Not knowing any of the other guests it was sure to be an adventure. I was delighted to encounter a hard charging and engaging community of mountain and ski fanatics.
We climbed over 31,000 vertical feet and skied 54 miles of mountain terrain over 7 days. That alone would have been enough for my heart and mind. But my soul needed something extra.
Losing people in our lives we see and experience fractures in our soul. Can peak experiences associated with those relationships be a form of inner Kintsugi. And how can we share that Kintsugi in a way that is meaningful for ourselves, honors the relationship, and makes the soul a more beautiful vessel. I chose to honor Rob on top of one of the mountains we climbed. Everyone took a bit of snow and threw it to the wind giving Rob a moment of freedom on the high winds. We then held him close as we skied a gorgeous line off the summit.
The size of the break is relative. The passing of a good friend vs the passing of a husband or father. From once a month to everyday pain. If the vessel is shattered and pulverized, what does the Kintsugi look like, how do we throw a new pot?
The image below is a form of digital recreation of the inner Kintsugi I attempted to create in the last few weeks.
