Shortly before my 50th birthday, my sister-in-law passed away after a long bout with breast cancer. My brother (her husband) decided to come to this area for my birthday. It had been such a short time since her passing, and I know he had a lot of pain but he was, over all, in good spirits.
We decided to go for a short walk in some trails in a local state park and during that time he became a bit more candid. He let me know that he wished he could better understand the reason behind it all. After that question, we walked a short way further while I pondered. I don’t know where my response came from, as I’d never considered this before, but this is, basically, what I said to him: Everything about us is made up of energy. Energy doesn’t die but transforms. Think of it like a kaleidoscope. The raw materials (mirrors and colored objects or sand) never change, but seem to take on ever-changing forms when viewed by us. Once the form disappears, it is gone forever. But was it ever really there? It was a reflection of arrangements of the raw materials.
Everything we love will eventually transform. That can feel harsh, but when we consider that we will also eventually transform, we have a choice to consider: Is that simply the end or are we in the wrong perspective? If we identify as the form, we are a fleeting illusion. But does the form have meaning without the eye that beholds it? Are we not the eye as well? The eye remains unchanged as the forms perform their dance. The fact that you are reading and considering these words prove that you are also the eye. Think of the eye as consciousness. If we are all consciousness taking forms also beheld by consciousness, we are a kaleidoscope of kaleidoscopes.
My preference is to remind myself that my form is illusion. I try to hold my “eyeness” in higher regard than my “I-ness.” And I believe that, at some level, my eyeness shares stories with your eyeness, and that we can then all laugh and wonder at how amazing it all is.
Happy Transformations!
I wrote the song below. It’s called Kaleidoscope. The lyrics display on the screen because I’m not a singer. If anybody would like to play around with singing this, let me know. I’d love to hear!
AMAZING!! So lovely, melancholy and ethereal! I love the imagery you chose and the words on the left, as opposed to the typical bottom of screen. I desperately wish I could sing and bring that next layer to this beautiful foundation! You are so talented. Have you tried to sing the lyrics or is your vision for a woman’s voice? Can’t wait to see how it evoles! 💙💙
Thanks so much! I hope you’re well down there. I’ve tried singing and haven’t given up, but it’s a struggle. I have written a few things that have been sung by Rona Yellow Robe, but I have other songs in the hopper for her if she wants them.
Thank you so much!
That song is beautiful and I will see what I can do to sing it!! I love the blog too! Kaleidoscope was one of my favorite things growing up! So many memories!
Monique, thanks! Looking forward to hearing what you do.
Greg, I’ve had so many conversations (with others and with myself) about the concept of being both the observer and the observed. I love this take on that concept. Your song is wonderful, and the video production is great. I appreciate the way you embedded the lyrics to the side. And I love that the final frame is “Special Value”…well done!!
John, good eye! I was playing with an app on my phone that I downloaded to create the kaleidoscope effects and liked the look of that one on the small screen. It was actually a bottle of nasal spray on my kitchen table! LOL