What Does It Mean to Blossom?

This morning I find myself thinking of Imbali-The Weaving Studio where I spend most of my time during the day. Before going further into sharing some thoughts on Imbali, friendship and how they are all connected in my life I would like to give you the meaning of the name Imbali.

Imbali is a word that comes from the Zulu and Xhosa languages of South Africa, and it means “flower, or blossom and in some places will used it to also mean history”

You will find a lot of children named Imbali and if you go to my website: www.imbali.gr you will read the story of Imbali, the young girl I met 26 years ago in South Africa and how God intertwined our lives.

The name is often used to symbolically represent beauty, growth, hope and blossoming life or community. Thinking of how the name is symbolically used blows my mind because this is what I experience every day at Imbali through different friendships that have been formed over the course of my life here in Greece but mostly during the 8 years I have been serving in this community and the four years I have lived here.

Imbali is a word that comes from the Zulu and Xhosa languages of South Africa, and it means “flower, or blossom and in some places will used it to also mean history”

I have met people through being here in this community and as I share today, I am thinking of the time I have lived in Lavrio and the deep friendships that have been formed and how each one is different and yet has contributed to who I am becoming. Life in my weaving studio can be long hours spent patiently working on an item and when my friends stop by, it forces me to stop what I am doing on the loom and focus on them and I have found that most of them have some encouragement to offer me in small and big ways, some provide me with emotional support when we can talk about what is going on in our lives and the kids they have etc. These friends have helped me grow in my understanding and appreciation of community. I love how some of them have these ideas that inspire me to think bigger and outside the box and just their desire to see me grow and in the process help in preserving weaving-part of the Greek culture and heritage.

Most of my friendships did not just take off from day one, they have required time and I have had to move out of my shell of being an introvert and sometimes it has been hard but I look back and see the fruitfulness it has added to my life and the depth of love I have received- I see how this mirrors weaving. Weaving is a very slow process and is not for the impatient because you do not see the finished product in one day, two or even a week. Sometimes you see the finished end product after a month of slowly but surely working. So, it is a good place for me to learn about the importance of patience and growing in grace and understanding. The grace and everything I need is not something I can just do in my own strength. This is something that God helps me with every day as I pray and commit each day, step and each person into His hands. He is the one who gives us friendships in the many changing seasons of our lives. To all my friends out there especially my Greek friends in this city and those outside the city-your friendship is something I treasure deeply and do not take for granted.

As I wrap up this post; I would like to invite you to pop in and say hi and see what summer products are available, come and try your hand on simple weaving or if you are adventurous like me come try your hand on the big loom. I would love to show you how to weave a simple pattern.

Summer is almost here and I will be running Weaving, Sewing and even Crocheting Workshops for children and adults. I will also be open if anyone wants to learn Natural Dying as an art. Please visit me in our physical space: 29 Mitropoulo. Lavrio 19500 or call or send a message. I would love to share some of my skill with you.

Remember to follow me on Social Media and also the website.

Cecilia