There’s a lofty title, eh? 

I’m in a philosophical mood, and have been knitting (and finishing!) lots of stuff the last 2 weeks.  I realized that the temperatures were not going to drop to those nice fall-like ones I love so much - temps that make knitting a natural (almost required) thing to do in the evening.  So I picked up my knitting despite the 80+ degree temperatures, because for goodness sake, it’s OCTOBER!!

So here’s the philosophical part (once I get past the background stuff) –

When I was a college student, I went the “liberal arts” route.  I chose history as a major, and English as a second field.  Undaunted by the number of books I had to read in these subjects, I rounded out my education with accounting, business law, film, Chinese calligraphy, and my absolute favorite (and perhaps the most important thing to have stayed with me all these years) – Chinese philosophies.  I was fascinated by these ideas that ranged from a way of thinking on life, to the basis for military strategy. 

It was Taoism that spoke to me.  At a very simplistic level, there are a couple of ideas that stick with me, because they seem so very common-sensical.  They are the idea of strength in weakness – the lesser bamboo bending in the high wind versus the stronger, mightier maple that snaps in the same conditions.  (The importance of flexibility.) And, the ability to return to the “uncarved block”.  This is the  potentiality of the block to become anything at all.  We are all uncarved blocks.  Each one of us possesses the ability to be anything we want to.  And if it doesn’t work out, we can return to that state (metaphorically) and begin again.

And here’s where knitting ties in.  That skein of yarn is the equivalent of the uncarved block.  It has the potential to be anything – sweater, mittens, hat, socks, blanket…  And if for any reason the results are unsatisfactory, or were experimental in nature, we can rip the whole lot out and start again (and again, and again).  And, while the single strand of yarn itself may break when pulled, knitted together it becomes a durable fabric. (Strength through weakness.)

I may not have utilized my degree in history to become an historian or teacher, but I do practice a philosophy that sparked my interest all those years ago.  Now there’s something to think about – knitting as philosophy in action.

Peace & Love