What Lurks Beneath
Look under the water,
A newt in hot pursuit!
It’s really amazing what you can see going on beneath the surface of ponds and rivers. There is life going on under there even when we can’t see - when the water is dark and murky, or when it is frozen. For people as well, there is much going on underneath. The Waters are often thought of as primal, old and wild energies, and you may notice that there are waterholes around that are fenced in for our “safety”, to stop anyone falling into such wildness. If you’re feeling brave, and feeling ready for a new challenge and a great reward, start looking into your own wild places. See what lurks beneath the surface of who you think you are. And when the time comes - take the plunge!
May 13th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Lewis that is a brilliant analogy; one that can be used for so many spiritual bits and bobs
beccaxx
May 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Indeed. There’s a wonderful book by Robert Bly called Iron John, which is a book that broaches this issue as part of the journey of men into their own wildness (Iron John can be found overflowing with hair all over his body, chained to the bottom of a lake or pond). My response to such metaphors is to go out and feel my way into them, literally feeling into the swamp and watering holes that I come across as I wander around. The sense of wildness there that it awakens in me is tangible.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
The book sounds interesting (and i found it on abebooks for a reasonable price) so i look forward to reading it over the summer.
I like your response to such metaphors, makes a great deal of sense; Derek (of taoism.net) always says to him metaphors, dao, cultivation etc are about living and experiencing not just thinking about
beccaxx
May 14th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Indeed, I’m a great fan of metaphor. And to live it, experience it, that’s the real wisdom. Knowing is one thing, doing is another.