Cheryl Woodman

Edited with music mom loved.


This was found written on a piece of scratch paper in her clay room.


"Clay Speaks:


As I sat down at my pottery wheel I asked God as I often do, "What do you have for me?" I took my wedged lump of clay and threw it on the bat on the wheel. I stepped on the pedal which made the wheel and clay spin round and round. I took a wet sponge and squeezed some drops of water on the clay as it turned. Then I placed my hands on the clay.


"Listen," whispered the clay, "Listen." Your body has come from the Earth and it will return to the Earth. The plants/wheat represent life on Earth. We are grounded into mother Earth. The wheat symbolizes the brevity of life. The seasons of life: A season to plant, water, grow and die. We are the seed of mankind. All equal, all precious, all individual, all connected.



With my hands on the wet clay I pushed one finger down the center to create a well. I began to bring the wall of the clay up through my fingers to create the shape. I can see the shape in my mind's eye. "Listen," whispered the clay, "Listen." You are so much more than your body, you have a soul.


The mountains represent your soul. When you are on the mountaintop you have clear vision and perspective. You can see the beauty of creation and life. Everything looks different from the mountaintop. After I fashioned the body and lip of my pot I took a porcupine quill to cut designs onto the surface of the clay.


"Listen," whispered the clay, "Listen." God is in all life. The power of God, the goodness of God, the reliability of God, the nourishment we received from God. God is always with us. In every breath, the breath of life. The breath of life in all living things. God is in my every breath. "Listen," whispered the clay, "Listen."


The breath of life in all living things. God in all living things. Love in all living things."