About SAORI Weaving
SAORI weaving is based on a philosophy started in Japan by Misao Jo in 1969. The four slogans of SAORI are:
- Consider the differences between machines and people.
- Let’s adventure beyond our imagination.
- Let’s look out through eyes that shine.
- Let’s learn from each other and everyone in the group.
“Let’s look out through eyes that shine” This is my favourite part of the philosophy. It makes me smile – it means that our eyes see beauty everywhere, in art, in nature, in people and in the little details of everyday life. We may not always be aware or acknowledge it, but it is that beauty within each of us that shines through when we weave.
Some people think that they are not creative or that they cannot weave something beautiful. But it is not about trying, rather it is about letting go and letting that beauty that is already in us shine through. It will naturally be beautiful.
“We learn from each other and everyone in the group” This part of the philosophy removes all barriers – of age, of ability, of experience. It brings people together. I love the collaborative, sharing way of SAORI. In some arts and crafts, there are copyrights on work and carefully guarded secrets of methods. In SAORI weaving, there is an openness and sharing. If I share my ideas and my work with others it becomes more instead of less. There is no copying – just more ideas and inspiration.
“Consider the differences between machines and people” This is the basis of SAORI weaving – letting go of the rules and expectations of traditional weaving or how we think about weaving. For me, a freedom.
When I first saw SAORI, there was something about it. Before even taking my first class, I knew it was what I wanted to do. It was new in every moment. Exciting. Creative.
I’ve learned since how much more there is to SAORI weaving. It really is endless. As the philosophy also says – “Let’s adventure beyond our imagination” No limits. Listening to those middle-of-the-night ideas, to the ideas that come without thinking, with a quiet mind, the unconscious. How beautiful. Unimagined possibilities.
SAORI Links
Misao Jo (Founder of SAORI™ weaving)
” ‘SA’ of SAORI has the same meaning as the first syllable of the word ‘SAI’ which is found in Zen vocabulary. It means everything has its own individual dignity. And the “ORI” means weaving.
All flowers are beautiful, even though each individual flower is different in form and color. Because of this difference, “all are good”. Because everything has the same life, life cannot be measured by a yardstick. It is this individuality that makes everything meaningful and the uniqueness of each thread that creates the tapestry of life.”
Misao Jo, Founder of SAORI
