Sipra Roy
The entire creation of earth, both animate and inanimate, flow in harmony with Nature, except the human species. Other than humans, all accept its different seasons both rough and friendly. In the rainy season plants grow lush green leaves but shed them in winter to give way to the spring and to welcome new life with budding leaves. They fight only for their own survival but never try to supersede Nature. They are destined to do so coherently. Similarly, snakes and some other insects also shed their skin as Nature intends them so as to sustain their welfare.
Is there any specific season of emotional shedding for humans? Certainly not! Although we wait eagerly to enjoy and appreciate each year, the beauty of shedding leaves that happens in autumn, we are the last creatures to follow that principle for ourselves. Most of us suffer from emotional maladies due to losing the wisdom of letting go. Humans go through both positive and negative states such as love/hate, joy/sorrow, loss/gain, weakness/strength, jealousy/pride, attachment/detachment and so on. If the consequent emotions are not processed fully, they remain within the human and cause suffering.
A tide of positive emotion causes an upsurge in energy, which is good for the human as well as the environment around them. When negative emotions arise, the ensuing typhoon wreaks havoc in the life of the person; this effects their environment also. If it continues for a long time it creates mental, physical, relational and social problems. It gives stress, depression and may even end in suicide. In modern times, the rich and upper middle class, globally, suffer in the realm of emotional haze and mist. This is why psychotherapists and yoga schools are mushrooming, especially among rich countries and wealthier people.
Surprisingly, shedding happens to the human species when things go wrong with them, when life flutters in negativity! Creativity in arts and literature flourishes in the saddest moments, in painful situations when the mind is broken and torn apart by apparent failure. All the famous epics came out of pain and tragedy; “Our sweetest songs are those of saddest thought” quotes the great poet, Percy B Shelley.
We can see the achievements of Jackson Pollock, Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton and many more as shining examples.
Humans, should take lessons from Nature; how to flow consistently with Nature. Fear of the unknown, anxiety, insecurity and dishonoring Nature as The super power have created this distance; we are cocooned in them like silk worms. Fear of death and disease come one after another like unstoppable waves, like a leash holding us back from our carefree nature. This is the plight as well as price of considering ourselves as “superior beings”. This is the universal story of each and everyone of us! In contrast with other species, it is hard for us to trust and let go!
While mind is crazy and heart howls,
Let me hold and possess what I wish,
How can I sing along, ‘let it be! let it be!’
Sipra Roy has published poems, essays,short stories and memoir in SCN, Amazon and Eber & Weins.