Finding peace at knife's edge
A repost of "Whittling"
Whittling - chipping away towards peace
First published as a paid subscribers post on February 28th, 2022.
Whittling is the uncomplicated act of shaping wood with a knife. You don't have to be artistic or even skilled to do it; simply shaving chips off a stick is technically "whittling.” But taking the time to create something, even if only a random shape, can be still more satisfying. Either way, whittling is a wonderful way to relax.
With a sharp blade, whittling is joy through the senses. Wood chips peel away with a satisfying feel. The smell of the freshly exposed wood is warm and reassuring. And whittling helps us reveal shapes and ideas hidden both inside the wood and inside ourselves.
Like many creative activities, we intently concentrate while whittling and are easily engrossed. Part of this focus comes from being safe. But once one gets the hang of it, and the action feels natural, whittling becomes a form of active meditation.
Worry subsides and we grow more peaceful as we whittle.
My son received his first pocket knife last year and has been eager to try his hand at whittling. So on a camping trip last weekend we decided to give it a shot. There, sitting by the campfire, I taught him the basics.
Safety first - hold the blade securely. In making long strokes, cut away from the hand holding the wood. Small cuts drawn towards the thumb help make cuts against the grain. Added force on the back of the blade both aids in deeper cuts and improves accuracy.
He picked it up quickly and chips soon filled his little lap.
I needed that moment. It was a tense week, and the coming one looms large and ominous. I - like many - have growing fears about our world.
But there, chipping away at some scrap wood, things felt okay, if only for a while.
As the evening grew late, my son tired and went into the tent to get some sleep. But I remained outside. There, by the glowing embers of a dying fire, I whittled. Well into the night.
And I was at peace.
JRC