Waterwoman Knits

I have not visited the Whidbey Institute labyrinth in six months but it beckoned me today. Blessed to live in proximity for 20 years, the labyrinth holds many memories.

The times I was part of a volunteer crew to weed the soil between the stones. The times I walked it for distinct reasons but always primarily healing.

Today, I tried something I’d never done before and joined (or knitted) the mindful walking of a labyrinth with the mindful practice of knitting a pattern I memorized.

Each time I approach a labyrinth, I enter with a question and by moving the body through a winding and unwinding, an answer or at least clarity drops in. It can feel magical.

I’ve walked three different labyrinths, and if I had opportunity would walk many more.

It was a fascinating experiment that resulted in the slowest walk I have ever done and a near out-of-body, out-of-time sense as my visual focus was on stitch by stitch while my body’s focus was on step by step.

The question that dropped in for me is:

What can we do to bring more healing into the world?

My mind started to ask “how can we stop fill-in-the-blank” but was quickly replaced by the generative question as a response to what can seem a master class in cruelty we absorb through our economic, social, political systems.

Clarifying healing as a purpose to channel my knitting mojo helps me recommit to two paths forward:

• Knitting to comfort others, such as lap blankets for people at cancer infusion centers, unsheltered folks, people in my circle going through crises.
• Knitting to build a wardrobe I could not otherwise obtain that honors and fits my body, after years of body shame and body hatred.

Clarity of purpose to use my skill and materials accrued over many years. A third path is patiently waiting: I will create a knitwear design pattern that will go viral, resulting in some monetary support for the above two paths.

Episode 8 – Podcast Notes

WIPs:
Mossblossom Shawl by Wool & Pine
Lanikai Summer Tee by Sallyknit

FOs:
Lunae Shawl by Natasja Hornby
Grid Gambit Cowl by Samantha Guerin
Tubman Cuff by Jiminez Joseph

Wool in Lunae: Malabrigo Sock Yarn, Archangel color Expression Fiber Arts, Luster Sport, Angel Whisper color Knitpicks Palette, Almond color