The Tao of Urbanism: Rendering the Latent Manifest and the Possible Inevitable

Abstract

Artisans, artists, designers, choreographers, and other creators shape their work from the resources at hand: materials, dancers, money, land, and other given resources. If they devoted their time and energy to bemoaning what they lacked, they would never bring anything of value forth into the world. In similar fashion, when we build on our own gifts, rather than dwell on inadequacies, our strengths grow stronger. Some Native Americans consider these intrinsic gifts our “original medicine,” endowing unique personal power so we may serve the world most optimally.¹ The Taoist tradition, hailing from fifth century bce China, maintains that awareness and trust of our own inner nature allow us to be our best and avoid manipulation by others. These and other wisdom traditions exhort us to honor this rich source of authenticity and creativity.

That flowing imagination which founded the city in the first place can be re-found. It is planted in our midst always ready to flower—if we begin, not with the “problem” of what needs to be changed, or moved, or built, or demolished, but begin with what already is here, still stands and sings of its soul.

—James Hillman (2006, 18)