Drawing on her first-hand experience of working with clay, Bankson takes readers through the seven-step process of making clay into a pot, drawing parallels at each stage to the process of spiritual growth:. Grounding: Connecting with our core elements. Kneading: Awakening to the inner realm. Centering: Focusing on creative possibility. Shaping: Balancing inner and outer tension. Finishing: Trimming away the excess. Decorating: Adding a playful touch. Firing: Committing to transformation Because clay is such an elemental substance, Bankson proposes that it calls us to let go of our pretensions – "e;it's just mud!"e; – and play as a little child. This simple connection with the earth, however, has the potential to put us "e;in touch with the whole of creation and, at the same time, our soul's longing to participate as an artist, creating something new and unique."e; Through reflective questions in each chapter – along with a wealth of unique clay projects that even beginners can do! – Bankson invites us on a journey of spiritual discovery, a path of reconnecting with our body and spirit and with the earth itself.
