My dearest friend, Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz, is Executive Director of Sojourner Truth Ministries in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. One of the many programs she managers is the Sojourner House of Hope, which enables women in a season of homelessness to develop a plan conducive to healthy living and make positive and productive transitions into society. The goal of this short-term communal housing is to see women who have fallen through the cracks in the community and society and to mentor them through the process of becoming self-sufficient.

Angelique commissioned me to create a sculpture for her bookshelf with the theme: from the dirt. As a materials-driven artist, I created for her an exquisite dorodango, or Japanese polished mud ball. A dorodango is formed by rolling moistened dirt by hand into a perfect sphere and polishing it until it shines. It was my first attempt at this simple art form, and I intend to adopt it as a meditative practice.

My friend was truly impressed with the resulting product. She was drawn into its brilliance and revered it. The shape and stability of the dorodango captured her imagination and raised several questions about my process.

Artist Bruce Gardner says,”The process is simple, but the result makes it seem like alchemy.” Alchemy, indeed. I explained how I was impressed by the sense of joy and wonder I experienced as I patiently rolled the dirt into a ball, layering it with thin coats of finely sieved dirt. While reflecting on the theme: from the dirt, I transformed the moistened soil into a sphere of near perfection with just my hands.

As I polished it with a soft cloth, I was left with a deep impression. I felt emboldened by this victory and meditated on its significant compressive strength. It does possess a fascinating aesthetic appeal, but that is not all. It reached another level. It gave me a sense of satisfaction, achievement and fulfillment.

As I described my experience, Angelique held the shiny mud ball. It was pleasant and calming for her to feel its smoothness. It is a remarkable memento that will serve as an object lesson for women coming from homelessness. Surely, it will serve to spark conversation about life experiences and transformation.

If you enjoy practicing mindfulness, spending time in nature, and working with your hands, this earthy activity is for you. The process is quite reflective and frankly can take your breath away.

It can provide you with a glimpse of who you are and the decisions you made, good and bad, which led to where you are at this point. It may leave you just a little more aware, a little more appreciative of your personal history, and maybe just a little wiser.

Art and Wellness Challenge

Give this calm and peaceful pastime a try. Molding a dorodango requires a three-step process: building a core foundation, coating with fine particles, and polishing. Since it takes time for the ball to dry, it needs a period of several days. Click here for instructions from an expert.

Then, you can share a photo of your shiny sphere via email at chris@chrissingleheart.com or via message on Facebook facebook.com/chrissingleheart. You are invited to include any personal reflections you had during your process.

The Fine Print

Participation in this and any Art and Wellness Challenge is voluntary and at your own risk.