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mental centering

updated sat 30 nov 96

 

JENNY LEWIS on fri 8 nov 96

I'm a bit out of date with postings, so not sure if centering is
still on the discussion menu. The thing is, I had partly forgotten
this, but it came to mind on Wednesday evening, when I was at my
weekly class and losing an argument with a blob of clay....

One of my teachers years ago tried to help a group of us beginners,
trying to explain how to centre. He suggested using thinking. We
all sat there dutifully waiting for some great philosophical
thought, and it was - Imagine that instead of a wheelhead, the clay
is on an old vinyl long-play record. You know that hole in the
middle? Well, think to yourself that you are going to push the piece of
clay right through that little hole ....

After we had all finished laughing, we tried - and it worked!
Sometimes I remember his words of wisdom, start to imagine the LP
record whizzing around, and occasionally it helps.

(78 rpm, preferably)