Let go of your pretensionssqueeze shape knead ampamp play your way to spiritual growth. I am being formed by the clay. I am reconnecting with the earth and with the other basic elements tooair water fireand life itself. Every gesture leaves its trail in the clay. Every fingerprint a message. My breath fills the cavity. My touch curves the wall of a bowl. And inwardly I am being formed by the outward practice. I am learning to trust the process to lean into the possibilities rather than striving for some predetermined goal. I am being hollowed out stretched and constricted trimmed and sometimes reworked entirely. from the Prologue Drawing from her firsthand experience of working with clay Marjory Zoet Bankson takes you through the sevenstep process of making clay into a pot drawing parallels at each stage to the process of spiritual growth GroundingConnecting with our core elementsKneadingAwakening to the inner realm CenteringGathering everything togetherShapingFocusing inner and outer pressures FinishingTrimming away the excessDecoratingAdding a playful touch FiringCommitting to transformation This simple connection with the earth has the potential to put you in touch with the whole of creation and at the same time your souls longing to participate as an artist creating something new and unique. Through reflective questions in each chapteralong with a wealth of unique clay projects that even beginners can doBankson invites you on a journey of spiritual discovery a path of reconnecting with your body and spirit and with the earth itself. show more