Chiseled Souls
We are an Orb of Limitless Benevolence
“We are not a drop in the ocean but the ocean in a drop”
I thought on my walk today about how one’s soul is a perfect sphere and then we are carved from the moment we are pulled or pushed from the womb. The violent miracle of birth begins the shape of our identity.
Firstly
How was our birth?
Who are our parents?
What color is our skin?
Where do we live?
What sex are we?
How was our birth? Who are our parents? What color is our skin? Where do we live? What sex are we?
And Then…
Who have I hurt?
Am I proud of myself?
What does dating look like?
Am I talented?
Am I driven?
Am I productive?
Am I “good?”
Am I smart?
Do I fit in?
And Then:
Am I independent?
What do I do for a living?
Am I a parent? Am I a good parent?
Do I love… Money? Myself? Another? Being alone?
Do I have a home?
On and on it goes. We are chiseled away from the outside into the being that we identify as ourselves. We are ego, habits, circumstances, culture, 3D bodies. What was pure benevolence and potential has begun to answer to the forces of life from every angle. Like a reductive marble sculpture, we are shaped, sometimes painfully, sometime beautifully. And we think, “This is who I am.” We are this human, in this body, in this place, with these people, with this pain or this talent or this skill set. We have been defined.
But then, hopefully, something happens to bring us to a place of recognition that we are not this earthly person and ego. Hopefully, we become curious or challenged to go farther. We might question what we are and what we can be. Inevitably we learn, whether it’s work, fun, skills, relationships, we learn. If we interpret learning experiences from the inside out, all of those lessons become tools in our tool box. Otherwise, they are just moments in passing time. Hopefully we begin to understand our energy, spirit, flow, calling, purpose, self.
That’s when it gets interesting.
Because if we are not the chiseled person shaped from ALL of the above forces, and if we are not all of our skills and experiences in a big pile of skin, and if we are not, in fact, even contained in our skin, then what are we!? How can we possibly make a decision, enact our will, or relate with others if we don’t know what we are comprised of or who we in fact are?! (See Ego and Ego Death)
In Tarot, the Major Acrana journeys from 0- The Fool to 22- The World. From one perfect circle to a complete orb. From pure potential to all encompassing energy. The circle and sphere represent nothing and everything. We can see a similar representation in the center of a Dorje or Vajra, an Eastern implement for meditation, an ancient design of spiritual symbolism. The Story of the Golden Buddha is a perfect teacher of this concept. (See My Hope For Love.)
“Oh God, I beg of you
To bestow upon me
That state of being
Where I can speak with you
Without words”
My thoughts during my walk this morning were nothing new; they are simply new to me and recognition of what is good and true. Its importance lies in the resounding common eventuality; we are pure, we are love, we are connected, we are all.
When we begin to embrace our lives as a lesson in returning to nothingness and wholeness, we can find clarity and live in a peaceful state. We are able to build back to our shape, (perhaps more accurately, lose shape!) reversing the reductive effects. Smoothness and alignment begins to replace hard and jagged divots. The entirety of our connection-to-all forms and our sharp edges and boundaries fade. Yes, I am limited by my body. I will never be the professional beach volleyball player I admire. But that only illustrates my point; it’s not needed. I am already all. I am my purpose. I am love. I am you and you are me.
