Human curiosity and technological advancement have provided scientists a plethora of information to deduct much about the development of the natural world. Across generations an intriguing propensity of the past sees it consistently repeating. Although never identical, events separated by decades, centuries or millennia have managed to transpire with analogous plotlines but a divergence in cast. Something as ubiquitous as the changing of seasons highlights the cyclical temperament of nature, a vivid display of its ability to replenish itself anew by abiding by the perennial succession of death and rebirth.
Nature has a perpetual allure to philosophers. In both the East and West thinkers have gravitated towards and intently watched her process, observing with reverence a glimpse into the cosmos’ operations. Life is flux and it cannot continue without the transient element of time locking moments into history and engendering those of novelty. By neglecting the necessity of change life threatens to become prosaic, without alteration of experience the world morphs into one dimension.
The Continual Succession of Moments
It can be hard for people to remove a mind entrenched in the past and mould it into the present. For some it’s a place of solace gloated in happy memories, for others a tormenting sequence of dreary scenes, yet if too much time is spent ruminating on the past it negatively influences the present and taints the future.
Some events alter our vision of reality and attempting to accept and let go can be arduous. Without reconciling traumatic experiences people can foster a burden the entirety of their life, decaying intangible parts of the self. Darwin’s theory of evolution illuminates the importance of adaptation for a species survival; those with the most aptitude in adjustment enduring longer in ecosystems.
Living barricaded from nature people tend to neglect that we’re highly advanced animals, and like our wild counterparts we must change according to circumstance or have adversity incessantly encroach. Without alteration the settings around an individual will morph with their tactics will be out-dated, presenting a conspicuous gap in their quotidian armour. Life is consistently fluctuating and the harder one tries to push change away the intensity of obstruction will surge, hindering progression.
The present is all we have at our disposal and is ensured by the continual succession of moments each fading as fast as they arrived; holding onto the past means the time one has to enhance their future is instead used for melancholic recollection. Utilizing the present wisely means to take knowledge from the past and apply it in preparation for the future. If one holds rancour for life’s variations they will battle not only themselves, but also an indomitable aspect of existence.
All Things Must Pass
Change is corollary of existence as without a new moment superseding the current nothing is able to continue – everything is in a state of transformation. The Greek term Anima Mundi refers to an ambiguous intrinsic connection felt between all living things. When one adapts their own flow to the process of nature they begin to observe interweaving cosmic sentience.
Change requires time to flourish and exhibit its full expression – just as a tree’s leaves don’t grow back a day after abscission, there is the necessity of time to quantify the outcome of change. Sometimes we expect immediate results and don’t allow the process to bloom, other times we observe the bloom and cultivate results whilst expecting more. Instead of expectation we need realization; there is indeed a time to act, though it should be done with prudence not impulsiveness.
The more often an individual leaves their comfort zone and challenges themselves they learn how to fail better. If people don’t learn how to fail in their youth it becomes difficult to objectively observe hardship when older. Without adjusting to current situations hypotheticals burrow deep into the consciousness, phantom images of what could have been tease individuals with false realities.
In the words of a wise ol’ Beatle, “All Things Must Pass” – it’s best to learn Mother Nature’s lessons by an appreciation for good times with knowledge of their transitory existence, accepting those dark with reverence to their ephemeral essence.
She also offers a calming observation of death as a necessity, something our technologically enhanced society has fought with Gilgameshic air to defeat. Without the looming presence of death, how can one truly be alive? Although the cosmos is impartial, in following the process of nature the contingency of it conspiring in one’s favour heightens.
Nature always has knowledge to bestow to those attentive of her teaching, and in order to learn one must first become cognizant of her lessons. The endless paths taken by water, the death and rebirth during the change of seasons, snowfall evaporating beaten tracks; when one examines these phenomena with natural curiosity they draw equanimity and wisdom to personal quests.
The transitory aspect of nature can stimulate individuals to fulfil their potential, however to improve there must be a willingness to confront adversity and adapt to circumstances. In understanding death’s role in life people can come to terms with its inevitability and make peace with the eventual halt on their unique composition, finding solace in loving their fate as nature’s temporary manifestation.
Image Source: Gaia, Alex Gray, 1989
The Contemporary Human 
Wonderful words.
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