PROJECT SATORI

When Japanese Mountain Gods appear as children, they are known as Satori. Satori can read your mind. They can speak your thoughts faster than words fall from your lips. Should they hear you lie, they might kill, or even eat you. From an early age, I knew what their story meant - that every lie you tell brings your soul a little closer to death. In Japan, the death of your soul is worse than death itself.

Growing up, there was a little Satori statue next to the front door of our family home. It reminded us not to lie, no matter how good a solution to suffering it might seem. It stood as a reminder for us to accept the truth, and the world, as it is - to let life unfold honestly around us. Most importantly, it told us not to lie to ourselves.

I didn’t take this folktale seriously until my son, who just turned 3, started to lie. I was appalled. Someone I love so dearly learning to lie, to make his life more comfortable. I want my children not to lie. To tell them that although it does not always feel safe to speak the truth, the lie is much more dangerous. How could I explain? I recalled the story of the Satori, that ‘faith to the truth’ is the only way to make your soul indestructible. I took the opportunity to look at myself, really look - and discovered a million lies of my own. I had to stop, so my kids could FEEL what it’s like to have the courage not to lie. It’s not enough to tell them off, tell them how to behave, I must show them.

So my journey to strengthen the soul began. Please join me if you like. Let’s really listen to what we say, lets FEEL the sensation of our words - and live truly, with Satori beside us, to keep us honest.

- Noe Kuremoto 2022

Goodbye to the lie that makes you look good.

Goodbye to the lie that says you’re ‘right’.

Goodbye to the lie that entertains.

Goodbye to the lie that keeps you agreeable, likeable.

Goodbye to the lie that covers embarrassment, avoids punishment.

Goodbye to the lie that protects other people, so you think.

Goodbye to the lie that hides who you really are.

Goodbye to the lie that protects you from conflict, so no one knows what you stand for, though it feels safe this way.

Goodbye to the half-lie, that tempts you not to speak the entire truth.

Goodbye to the lie that believes the truth does not work.

Goodbye to the lie that controls what people think of you.

Goodbye to the lie that takes care of now, yet ruins your future.

Goodbye to the lie that divides you and your soul.

Goodbye to the lie that makes your sprit weak.

Goodbye to the lie that keeps you awake at night, because you know deep down you have betrayed yourself.

Goodbye to the lie that you forget where it begins and ends, one day it will flood your life.

Where these Goodbyes will take us, no one can tell.

But tell no lies, and reality is on your side.

There is nothing more powerful.

My hope is for my Satori collection to stand as a reminder, to have the courage to tell the truth as carefully as we can.

To accept what happens next is what should happen, in this situation, at this time.

To let the world unfold around us.

And live life as it is.

Here’s to the truth.

To the magic of telling it.

And the adventure of not knowing where it will take us.

Welcome to the world of truth.

Where our souls are indestructible.

- Noe Kuremoto 2022

White Stoneware Sculpture

W:17 cm D : 10 cm H: 18cm (approximately)