Insight, Meditations and Reflections: Reflections On Change Second in the Series

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus who lived around 540 and 480 BCE said that there is nothing permanent but change. He also said that you cannot step into the same river twice. The flowing river becomes a symbol of constant chnage.

The weather, the two or four seasons depending on whether you live on higher or lower latitudes, the phases of the moon, the rising and setting of the sun, the planets--all function first as agents and then as symbols of change. In the same way, the states of water from solid, liquid and gas point to the different changes in life.

The egg of birds, insects and certain animals evoke change in us. Of these, the transformation of an egg into a caterpillar then pupa and finally into a butterfly symbolizes the spiritual evolution of human beings in many cultures.

For example, the Chinese Taoist sage Zhuangzi who lived around 350 and 300 BCE dreamed that he was a free-flying butterfly unburdened by the problems of life. On waking up he became aware that it was just a dream and wondered: "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?"

These and many other symbols of transformation point us to the realizations that change wears many masks and appears in many areas in our lives. Change comes into our symbolic home as an imposition by uncontrollable natural forces and man-made actions.

But change lives within our walls as well urging us to transform our living spaces as commands of our nature, of our essence, of our core being. We grow because must. We have no choice.

And yet at times change knocks gently on the doors of consciousness allowing us the freedom to invite her in.

Whether it is personal, national or global, change sneaks in on us in one or all these different ways: as a member of the family, as a guest we can invite in or reject, or as an irresistible intruder.

Beyond the appearance of constant change, beyond the saying of Heraclitus that nothing is as permanent as change, maybe there is something permanent beyond change. This will unfold in the series.

Comments

Have you ever noticed that the more things change, the more they stay the same? Maybe not the EXACT same but similar..........

Posted by: Debby | July 11, 2008 07:31 AM

So I get what you're saying Debby... it's about "looping", about repeating patterns. People can attempt a change, but people are tied to ego... and ego grabs at the familiar, fights change like it's a war. Hence, the more we attempt change the more things repeat, 'cause the patterns of ego have most of us hog tied. I do notice that there is something unique even in the familiar, however.

I was thinking about Kwami's words: Last year, I was having a truly difficult time with some spiritual differences in my existence. My husband was in emotional chaos about how "I had changed". A friend said to knock it off, to put the relationship first, above the thing "God" was pulling me through. I tried to explain how it wasn't possible to go back. I think I would have retraced my steps, might have returned to the same point, had it been an option.

But like an earthquake victim whose house has been reduced to matchsticks, my life was never going to be the same again. Change had boldly taken control. (And with my changes, my husband shifted and restructured to meet the differences.)

I have teenaged daughters... who were once infants, and then precocious Kindergarteners, and then defiant tweeners, and so on. People have actually said, "Oh, don't you just wish they were babies again?" and "Don't you want to keep them just as they are?"

I'm so puzzled... I have never understood. With each change, with each moment, I delight at watching the differences evolve.

We are so similar to the evolving butterfly! Each metamorphisis is an example of the 'constant within' bursting forth in the beautiful and miraculous illusion of change.

Posted by: Michele | July 11, 2008 03:42 PM

Insight, Meditations and Reflections

Kwami Nyamidie's Meditations, Contemplatons and Spiritual Reflections Blog. Visit main Web site: http://www.kwaminyamidie.com/

Reflections On Change Second in the Series

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus who lived around 540 and 480 BCE said that there is nothing permanent but change. He also said that you cannot step into the same river twice. The flowing river becomes a symbol of constant chnage.

The egg of birds, insects and certain animals evoke change in us. Of these, the transformation of an egg into a caterpillar then pupa and finally into a butterfly symbolizes the spiritual evolution of human beings in many cultures.

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