The stories stored are a flock of birds that when discovered fly to heights above communication lines that seek an ear to listen an be retold. There is a pecking order. I wake from dreams and sift thru the scenes ; chose the right bird with the best plumage. Satisfied the bird sings a song from my heart to you.
John, that’s a great title. I was trying to capture the turning point when we become aware of the stories we tell. Thank you for reading. I appreciate it!
Greetings dear Priya - birds, in the chest, talking! What a great metaphor for hearing one's life experiences.
You ask if any of this resonates. I can relate on a deep level. Over the years I have reflected on bits of my lived experience mostly intentionally. Sometimes though, it seems even against my own will, as if some wisdom failed to plant roots during some past eventful time, and the uninvited reflection is determined to have me see what I missed.
There is an image of our lived experience that I came across in a book by Maurice Nicoll, and it has stuck in my understanding for most of my adult life. The image is that our life's time as an upward rising spiral. With each orbit on the spiral, there are essential lessons to be learned. If we fail to learn, the lesson will be repeated on the next orbit. It will be a different situation, perhaps with different people, but the lesson will be the same. If again we fail to learn, we drop and repeat the orbit... again and again, as many times as necessary, maybe endlessly.
One must accept many assumptions about human existence, consciousness, and individuality to accept this image on a larger level, that of repeating lives, or reincarnation. Nicoll talks about those we observe who appear to soar upward from earliest childhood... perhaps they've mastered the difficult bits on many lives previously lived. Conversely, Nicoll speaks of those we may encounter who seem destined to spiral down and down, and no one and nothing can help.
Life as an upward-rising spiral is an amazing concept originating in ancient times, perhaps in the mountains just north or west of where you reside.
In my own experience those lessons I've failed to master have been repeated more forcefully each time they are encountered. All lessons--for me--seem to center on being open to deeper meaning on the soul's development. I can reflect on major intersections of my life's path and see that I've made wrong turn after wrong turn. It feels feel as though I've repeated this same spiral dozens of times. Why am I so dense? Will there even be another opportunistic intersection?
Carl Jung spoke of a collective unconsciousness that spans all of humanity. Others, more recently, theorize that there is only one consciousness - that while we think we are individual conscious entities, we are but portals of this ubiquitous consciousness. It's difficult for me to get my head around this concept, as my existence really seems quite personal. Perhaps if I had birds in my chest, they'd tell me to open up and let everyone in, that only love is real, anything else is fear.
You ask how you should respond to your friend. I'd say listen to the bird's stories with a new mind. Perhaps they've a subtle lesson that needs to be heard.
Thank you for reading, Rich. Even at the everyday level, repeating the same patterns of behavior lead us to similar results until some awareness arrives and we can see where we might be getting in our own way. I agree, the birds stories are where the treasure is at. Appreciate your comment!
Michael, thank you for sharing the poem! I hadn’t heard of it and when I read it, I loved it! Birds are such a theme for me right now and they are popping up in my writing everywhere. The poem was magic!
Glad I could share it with you, Priya. It’s definitely a favourite of mine.
And yes, birds and writing about them is wonderful. Just incase you haven’t come across it, there is a Substack called ‘Death and Birds’ by Chloe Hope, which is always wonderful for bird related reflections — if you check it out tell Chloe I sent you hahaha
My Malayalam is not as good as my Tamil and though I’ve heard of a movie by that name, I don’t know what the phrase means in this context. Could you explain?
The stories stored are a flock of birds that when discovered fly to heights above communication lines that seek an ear to listen an be retold. There is a pecking order. I wake from dreams and sift thru the scenes ; chose the right bird with the best plumage. Satisfied the bird sings a song from my heart to you.
Thank you for reading, Richard! Appreciate it. Birds as stories are such a recurring theme for me right now.
There's an aviary in my soul...
John, that’s a great title. I was trying to capture the turning point when we become aware of the stories we tell. Thank you for reading. I appreciate it!
Greetings dear Priya - birds, in the chest, talking! What a great metaphor for hearing one's life experiences.
You ask if any of this resonates. I can relate on a deep level. Over the years I have reflected on bits of my lived experience mostly intentionally. Sometimes though, it seems even against my own will, as if some wisdom failed to plant roots during some past eventful time, and the uninvited reflection is determined to have me see what I missed.
There is an image of our lived experience that I came across in a book by Maurice Nicoll, and it has stuck in my understanding for most of my adult life. The image is that our life's time as an upward rising spiral. With each orbit on the spiral, there are essential lessons to be learned. If we fail to learn, the lesson will be repeated on the next orbit. It will be a different situation, perhaps with different people, but the lesson will be the same. If again we fail to learn, we drop and repeat the orbit... again and again, as many times as necessary, maybe endlessly.
One must accept many assumptions about human existence, consciousness, and individuality to accept this image on a larger level, that of repeating lives, or reincarnation. Nicoll talks about those we observe who appear to soar upward from earliest childhood... perhaps they've mastered the difficult bits on many lives previously lived. Conversely, Nicoll speaks of those we may encounter who seem destined to spiral down and down, and no one and nothing can help.
Life as an upward-rising spiral is an amazing concept originating in ancient times, perhaps in the mountains just north or west of where you reside.
In my own experience those lessons I've failed to master have been repeated more forcefully each time they are encountered. All lessons--for me--seem to center on being open to deeper meaning on the soul's development. I can reflect on major intersections of my life's path and see that I've made wrong turn after wrong turn. It feels feel as though I've repeated this same spiral dozens of times. Why am I so dense? Will there even be another opportunistic intersection?
Carl Jung spoke of a collective unconsciousness that spans all of humanity. Others, more recently, theorize that there is only one consciousness - that while we think we are individual conscious entities, we are but portals of this ubiquitous consciousness. It's difficult for me to get my head around this concept, as my existence really seems quite personal. Perhaps if I had birds in my chest, they'd tell me to open up and let everyone in, that only love is real, anything else is fear.
You ask how you should respond to your friend. I'd say listen to the bird's stories with a new mind. Perhaps they've a subtle lesson that needs to be heard.
Warm regards,
Rich Kirtland
Thank you for reading, Rich. Even at the everyday level, repeating the same patterns of behavior lead us to similar results until some awareness arrives and we can see where we might be getting in our own way. I agree, the birds stories are where the treasure is at. Appreciate your comment!
What a vibrant image - birds in one's chest, all telling different stories! It's chaotic beauty in a way.
Thank you Nadia! Birds are currently a potent inspirational image for me.
They are so inspiring indeed!
Listening to one’s own stories as a third person is a gift! Too often it’s hard to separate ourselves from our lived experiences - let alone hear them
animatedly expressed as birds in one’s chest. Beautiful imagery. This letter makes me want to listen for my own birds.
Thank you, Divya, appreciate your reading and comment.
I loved this, Priya!
It’s such a wonderful thing when we start listening to the birds within us.
Also, this piece reminded me a of poem by, Charles Bukowski ‘Blue Bird’
:)
Michael, thank you for sharing the poem! I hadn’t heard of it and when I read it, I loved it! Birds are such a theme for me right now and they are popping up in my writing everywhere. The poem was magic!
Glad I could share it with you, Priya. It’s definitely a favourite of mine.
And yes, birds and writing about them is wonderful. Just incase you haven’t come across it, there is a Substack called ‘Death and Birds’ by Chloe Hope, which is always wonderful for bird related reflections — if you check it out tell Chloe I sent you hahaha
Thanks Priya :)
I will, Michael!
I know no other way to put it, than to just say I read it and my " kili poi " & haven't returned.
My Malayalam is not as good as my Tamil and though I’ve heard of a movie by that name, I don’t know what the phrase means in this context. Could you explain?
I am sorry my bad, just forget it, nothing serious, I was just saying it in a light hearted way (silly me)
No worries!