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      An old Japanese tradition calls for broken bowls to be repaired with gold. The tradition is predicated on the Japanese philosophy of Mushin, or “No Mind”, which encompasses the concepts of non-attachment, acceptance of change, and fate as aspects of human life. Once filled, the cracks are seen as a feature of the bowl. The cracks signify an event in the bowl’s existence. This tradition is done to teach that flaws shouldn’t be covered up because they are a part of you. They are what make you yourself. And you should be loved not for your similarities to others, but for your differences and flaws.  

     This tradition goes by two names: Kintsugi, meaning gold joinery, and Kintsuguroi,  meaning gold repair. It is the process of repairing pottery with glue and gold or mica, leaving a golden crack where the splits were. The technique involves the joining of fragments of ceramics and giving them a new, special look. Every repaired Kintsugi is unique because of the irregular patterns formed from unseen imperfections already in the ceramic and the randomness with which ceramics shatter. It’s like the unique shapes created by lightning in the sky: you’ll never see the same one twice.  

     Every repaired bowl and cup is different; the scars become part of the piece, creating a special work of art. These scars tell the story and history of the pottery, rather than disguising or hiding it. Most people would simply throw it away or repair it, painting over the seams. But the philosophy of Kintsugi believes in emphasizing breaks and marks as points in the existence of an object, rather than letting its service end at the moment of its damage or breakage. The philosophy of Kintsugi can also be seen as a variant of the adage, "Waste not, want not". 

     This 500-year-old technique might be able to teach us a valuable lesson in the present day: sometimes in the process of repairing things that have broken, we manage to create something more unique and beautiful. It deals with the idea of healing and resilience. By caring for and then honoring the broken pottery’s past, it becomes more resilient, beautiful, and precious than before the break. 

     This metaphor illuminates every step of the therapeutic healing process, whether it’s a physical or emotional injury. You don’t have to break all your valuables for the Kintsugi philosophy to support you through your healing process as you find yourself and your unity.