Summary

The text is a poetic reflection on the desire to live a life mirroring the fluidity, adaptability, and transformative power of water, from its humble origins to its grand convergence with the ocean.

Abstract

The author expresses a profound yearning to embody the qualities of a river, beginning with humble origins in unseen places and growing in strength and purpose. This desire includes embracing the softness and flexibility of water, allowing life to carry one forward, and merging with others to create a force of change. The piece draws inspiration from philosophical and psychological perspectives, quoting Lao Tzu and Carl Jung, to illustrate the subtle power and spiritual depth of water as a metaphor for life's journey. The author aspires to live with the fluidity of water, embracing the unknown, nurturing life, and experiencing the full spectrum of existence, from tranquility to the tumult of storms.

Opinions

The author admires the strength found in water's gentle nature, aligning with Lao Tzu's philosophy that water's softness can overcome hardness.
There is a belief in the transformative journey, starting from insignificant beginnings and growing into something powerful and life-giving.
The author values the idea of surrendering to life's flow, suggesting a preference for adaptability and openness to change.
The text conveys a deep appreciation for the life-giving and nurturing aspects of water, emphasizing its role in sustaining and invigorating the environment.
Carl Jung's perspective on water as a symbol for the unconscious is embraced, hinting at a fascination with the depths of the human psyche and the potential for self-discovery.
The author expresses a desire to experience life's fullness, including its surprises, challenges, and the beauty found in diversity, such as the mixing of fresh and saltwater.
The aspiration to become one with a larger entity, like the ocean, reflects a longing for connection and dissolution of the self into something greater.

POETRY

I Long to Flow, Like Streams into Ocean

Living a fluent life

I want to live like a river. I want to become.

I want to rise up, small, insignificant, from the darkness.

I want to begin in hidden places, beneath the ground, pushing up in cool newness.

“Nothing under heaven is softer or weaker than water, and yet nothing is better for attacking what is hard and strong.” — Lao Tzu

I want to let go, and fall, without resistance.

I want more movement and sparkle in my life.

Water has such subtle power.

I want to be carried.

I want to start small, and join with others to become something unstoppable.

“Down by the water [you can] experience the working of the living spirit.” — Carl Jung

I want to be the water. I want to move in flow of life’s spirit.

I want to be surrounded by trees.

I want to hurl over rocks in the forest, and roar.

I want to give life, to bring life to those around me.

I want to live for the journey, without any real understanding of my final destination.

I want to be cool and calming.

I want to follow the routes carved out by those before me.

I want to live in a flowing way, open to change

I want to see a surprise around every bend.

I want to be the meeting point of difference, where salt kisses the fall of freshness

I want to become one with the ocean, to be the ocean. I want to know the depths and the storms.

“Water means spirit that has become unconscious.” — Carl Jung

There is so much spirit in me, in the depths. So much to explore, so much unknown.