Step 1: Forming the hole

Make sure your clay is shaped into a round ball to start. Hold the ball in your palm and using your thumb, press an indent in the middle of your ball. While your thumb is still in the hole, use your other fingers to pinch and bring the clay towards your thumb. Turn the ball slightly in your hand and pinch from another side of the hole. Pinch only enough that it is comfortable and you are moving the clay a little at a time. Continue to pinch and turn the ball as it starts to form a bowl.

Step 2: Forming the bowl

As the clay begins to thin around the edges, push your thumb further down into the hole to widen the bottom. Make sure that the edges don’t get too thin. You are aiming for the thickness of a coffee cup. Watch for cracks and smooth them out with a fingertip as soon as they appear.  A small dip of water on the finger can help with smoothing cracks, but make sure not to use too much water or the clay will lose its shape.

Step 3: Finishing the bowl

By pinching and turning you can control the shape of the bowl. If areas get too wide or thin, use a pinching motion with both hands bringing the clay together between them. Smooth out any rough areas with the pad of your fingers. Allow the bowl to dry until it doesn’t feel cool to the touch anymore, about 24 to 48 hours. The clay can be painted or decoupaged with tissue and glue to create a final finish.

Place the bowl next to your bed on a windowsill or nightstand.  Before falling asleep, make a practice of visualizing taking your worries out of your mind or write them down on a piece of paper and place them in the bowl. In the morning, dump the bowl out to help those worries from sneaking back into your mind during the day.  If they do come back, try talking to someone about them and then place them in the bowl again the next night. 

Things to Think About

What is a worry that you have been focusing on lately?

What have you done in the past to help overcome worries?

Close your eyes for a moment, take a deep breath, and visualize pulling your worries out of your mind and placing them in the bowl. How does visualization work for you? How might writing your worries down and placing them in the bowl feel different? 

For a video tutorial: https://carlos.emory.edu/pinch-pot