[ best to watch this on a computer screen, the animations are not optimized for small-ish phone screens.
Sorryyyyyy! ; ) ]
[ this is meant as a moodboard about change, a multi-media free-association stream-of-consciousness kind of a thing about the nature of change and its impact on my/our life ]
“The
Only
Constant
in
Life
Is
Change.”
“Heraclitus, I believe, says that all things pass and nothing stays, and comparing existing things to the flow of a river, he says you could not step twice into the same river.” – Plato
Those old Greek dudes (sorry, philosophers ; ) were pretty deep thinkers and understood a lot about life and the universe (in my humble opinion)
I would always seek Plato’s advise if i wanted to grok life’s riddles
If he would still be around 😀
But anyway, this is what I would say:
change can come
in the twinkle of an eye
in a tiny moment
you’ll be reborn
The earth keeps turning
The seasons change
Galaxies collide
New baby stars are born from cosmic dust
In this vast and ever movinchanging universe
Where can we find our foothold?
How to be a part?
Of this flow.
How not?
Be a hinderance.
For me, water is just the most perfect metaphor for change, for movement and transformation.
A metaphor for how i intend to be.
Some interesting questions that my curious 4-year-old and my smart 10 year old kid would ask about the ocean, the river, the cloud, the drop, the water of life, the … (and on and on and on ; )
Well, imagine, i’d say to my 4 year old darling daughter: “The waterdrop is like a tiny, tiny ball. When it falls from the sky or a leaf, it tries to snuggle up and be as cozy as possible. Being round is like its favorite shape to cuddle into. So, it becomes a little round drop because that’s its comfiest, coziest shape!”
And to my older kiddo i would probably respond: “”Great question! The reason water drops are round is because of something called surface tension. Water molecules really like to stick together, and they form a sort of ‘skin’ on the surface. This skin is what makes the water droplet hold together and gives it that round shape. The molecules on the surface are attracted to each other, pulling the water into the smallest possible shape, which is a sphere. So, it’s like the water is trying to make itself as compact and efficient as possible because of the way its molecules interact.””
[ Well, i guess even answers change
and expand in depth and breadth ….. ]
I guess i’d say to my 4 year something like: “Sweetheart, there are so many waterdrops in the ocean that we can’t count them all! It’s like trying to count all the stars in the night sky—it’s just too many.
The ocean has more waterdrops than we can imagine, and each one is like a tiny friend splashing and playing with all the others.
Like a real big waterdrop family”
To my older boy i would probably answer something pretty mind-blowing, to impress him: “Well, dear boy, some smart scientists – and their AI computers – have made some such estimations:
Earth has a approximate total of 332,500,000 cubic miles of water on Earth.
Uuups, thats a lot!.
And 96.5% of that water is salty ocean water.
A mile is 1.6 kilometer.
A cubic mile of water weighs 4.168×10^12 kilograms.
A drop of water in average weighs 50 milligrams that is 20 drops per gram.
20 X 1000 = 20,000 drops per kilogram
one kilogram of water = one liter water
20,000 x 4.168×10^12 = 8.336 x 10^16 drops per cubic mile of water.
332,500,000 x 8.336 x 10^16 =
2.77×10^25 drops of water in the ocean
or 27,700,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 drops
That’s a lot of drops!
But then there are 3.343×10^22 molecules in a gram of water or 1.671×10^21 molecules per drop. (divide by 20)
So that would be a total number of water molecules on Earth of; 5.58×10^46 or
55,800,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 molecules of H2O molecules.“
[ I guess this answer would even silence my little-scientist-of-a-son for a moment or two 😯
And he will look at me in awe.
I hope ; ) ]
But Papa, Papa, and when a waterdrop falls into the ocean, is it still a waterdrop then?
Well, this actually most probably makes me silent for a while!
And i would say: “”That’s a really interesting question my darling! Yes, when a little waterdrop falls into the ocean, it becomes a part of the big family of water in the ocean. So, it’s still a waterdrop, but now it’s joined by lots and lots of other waterdrops, and together they make the vast and wonderful ocean.
It’s like joining a big water party together with all your water friends!
And you’ll wildly splish
and you splash
and have great fun all around”
[ Well, probably not the most scientific answer i guess!
But quietly it has reminded me of the spiritual growth of a person from an ego-centric being to a world-centric to the cosmo-centric enlightenment ….. ]
The big and wild waterdrop party.
Splishing and splashing with all the waterdrop friends 😉 in the ocean
this sweet girl will ask me:
Where is all the water coming from when it rains?
Uff, it really never ends!!!
She is relentless (and i love it ; )
“Look darling! How do you like this picture?
Lets talk about it ….. “
Water is REALLY incredible
It can become different things and still always be water.
Water can be like the raindrops or the water in the river and lake and ocean.
But when we heat it in a pot on the stove it evaporates, you can see vapor floating up disappearing in the air.
And high up in the air it collects as tiny droplets in a cloud, ready to fall down again as rain.
Water can also take on the form of snow and ice.
And then it melts again in the sun.
And is always … WATER.
[ Man! What a metaphor for the soul’s journey ….. ]
Beyond the awe and curiosity of a young child and the scientific inquiry of a teenager, when it comes to water, i think we know only half of what’s to know about this mysterious, always flowing ever changing element.
Surely, i know i don’t.
Although i live right next to the ocean,
although i walk the beach every day.
barefoot
my toes in the water
i feel it
it calms me
i see it
i experience joy
and when i dive into it ….
when float on it ….
i would truly love to dissolve in it
it feels just the right thing “to do”
But then, i guess only the mystics know the extasy of total surrender, dissolving the ego identity.
Of the full giving over the individual live to the flow of God.
I only know glimpses ….
but thats a story for another day ; )
Those two books long ago have helped me to a deeper understanding of the spiritual nature of Flow and Water on many levels of form and life.
feel free to download and enjoy this classic work
A few years ago i have been swimming in a secluded bay around here, my most favorite beach in the world.
And i found myself dragged out into the ocean by a strong flow, a current stronger than me.
For a while i panicked and tried to swim back towards the beach.
Swimming against the current, i got tired very quickly.
And desperate.
I thought i would drown there.
But then i remembered something that a friend had told me on Hawaii about Rip Currents.
And what to do when being caught in one such powerful flow and dragged out to sea.
“Dont fight it, relax, let yourself transported out for a while.
When a certain point is reached the flow circles back towards the beach and you can easily swim sideways and you will safely arrive back at where you came from.”
And i surrendered my fear and struggle and let myself be carried for a while.
And half floated, half swam back to safety.
Great story, i am glad i am alive to tell it! 😆
The same friend on Hawaii, he gave me a song.
i have forgotten most of the lyrics, but those two lines are still fresh in my mind:
if you dont fight with life
life simply helps you
puts you on its
shoulders
Don’t resist the flow.
Resistance creates turbulence.
Turbulence uses up lots of energy.
Resistance tires you quickly.
It will wear you down.
Life has a way to confront my ingrained habits,
my resistance to change.
Even if we have some good intentions,
change does often not come easy.
Life has a way to hit harder,
if i don’t want to hear the message.
And wen it comes to the point where i simply refuse
to let go of my rigid opinion, my self righteous views,
it can become pretty painful indeed.
Like water, the Life force wants to flow gracefully.
Life can also hit hard, just as well.
If i keep getting my ego in the way like a donkey,
life might simply blow me to pieces.
Or maybe life will just flow all around me.
Passing me by.
Better be willing to change, i say.
As a spiritual practice.
As a joy.
Because Life is Change.
Lyrics by Heather Nova
Sometimes change is painful, indeed.
Somebody we hold dear develops new friendships, becomes occupied with other interests, grows distant …
A beloved auntie dies.
Our house burns down.
War happens.
Floods.
Brutal changes.
Such changes happen.
Some slowly.
Sometimes abrupt.
We can hold on to what we have known.
And then we suffer, way beyond the actual pain.
We can also decide to let go, surrender to the change.
And new doors will open naturally, new vistas will appear.
Change brings new dreams
I pray for smooth changes
elegant moves
graceful trans-formations
~~~
The favorite writer of my youth wrote this beloved poem that has proved true to me throughout my life’s changes.
He wrote in German only, so this translation is a imperfect approximation of the original …
Stages – by Hermann Hesse ( 1877 – 1962)
As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at any age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavor,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.
The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slaves of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without ending …
Stufen – by Hermann Hesse ( 1877 – 1962)
Wie jede Blüte welkt und jede Jugend
Dem Alter weicht, blüht jede Lebensstufe,
Blüht jede Weisheit auch und jede Tugend
Zu ihrer Zeit und darf nicht ewig dauern.
Es muß das Herz bei jedem Lebensrufe
Bereit zum Abschied sein und Neubeginne,
Um sich in Tapferkeit und ohne Trauern
In andre, neue Bindungen zu geben.
Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne,
Der uns beschützt und der uns hilft, zu leben.
Wir sollen heiter Raum um Raum durchschreiten,
An keinem wie an einer Heimat hängen,
Der Weltgeist will nicht fesseln uns und engen,
Er will uns Stuf‘ um Stufe heben, weiten.
Kaum sind wir heimisch einem Lebenskreise
Und traulich eingewohnt, so droht Erschlaffen,
Nur wer bereit zu Aufbruch ist und Reise,
Mag lähmender Gewöhnung sich entraffen.
Es wird vielleicht auch noch die Todesstunde
Uns neuen Räumen jung entgegen senden,
Des Lebens Ruf an uns wird niemals enden…
Wohlan denn, Herz, nimm Abschied und gesunde!
Obviously, when i look back on the big significant changes of my lifetime, it definitely did not always look like logical steps or orderly stages, i can assure you that! ; )
Only by looking at the whole life from a higher perspective, patterns emerge.
I see order appear out of seeming random moves.
Beauty out of chaos.
[ click on it to start “a new incarnation” ]
I love to watch this famous animation of seemingly random moves that form beautiful, ever moving patterns, mesmerizing flowers of life.
Although the moves follow the same very simple and clear set of rules, the resulting patterns never ever repeat.
Kind of … like life 😀
The code algorithm is called
The i Ching – The Book of Changes
The all-time-classic to help navigate Change
lets Change!
Have a happy Change!