Are You Getting Your Daily Fiber?

Welcome to Art and Healing Wednesday!!

You may be thinking from the title that I’m advocating you increasing the amount of roughage in your diet.  I’ll leave that discussion between you and your doctor or dietician.  It may be a good idea, but not my field of expertise.  It’s certainly not as fun as the fiber I’m thinking about.  I’m a textile artist, yes that’s fiber.  In addition to textile art I knit so once again I’m using a fiber and I love it!  So what is it about these fibers that I find so intriguing especially as it pertains to health and healing?

If we start with knitting/crocheting you interlock the fiber creating a fabric that is strong and supportive.  Crocheting was used by fisherman to fix their nets many years ago ( I assume they go out and buy new ones today) so the idea that you can create something strong, supportive, while still being flexible is a good metaphor for your journey to wellness.  Fabric that I use in quilting/textile art can be made into many things.  It can be woven, sewn together, affixed to other pieces of fabric creating new fabric and designs while still keeping a soft hand.

The big part of the process is being conscious while you’re creating.  A couple of years ago I wrote 150 pieces on knitting.  After every knitting session I would sit down and write about my experience for the day keeping in mind the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the practice.  While using the sewing machine I can meditate to the rhythm of the needle going up and down.  I can witness to pieces being brought together creating one larger piece and I have the opportunity to create something as big or small as I desire.

Sarah Haskall, a noted weaver, has created a worldwide project revolving around prayer flags.  Her project “Woven Voices” (www.wovenvoices.blogspot.com) is a testament to what can be done to heal not only the body, mind, and spirit, but the world.  If you don’t think that healing the world impacts your own health maybe that’s your question to meditate on for the day.  It’s an incredible project and shows us the impact that not only having the prayer flags travel the world, but how the community that Sarah has created is beneficial and inspires health and healing.

I hope you’ll get your daily dose of fiber (both literally and figuratively) and see how it improves your journey to wellness.