Narcissus Finds Himself in the Muddy Waters.
The puddle, as a mirror of Unity.
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a beautiful young man who fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water. He would gaze at his image for hours, enraptured by his beauty. One day, Narcissus saw his reflection in the pool and became hopelessly in love with himself. He leaned down to touch the image, but it vanished ripple by ripple. Overcome with despair, Narcissus plunged into the pool and drowned.
Narcissus symbolizes self-love and vanity. His myth is a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive pride in one's physical beauty leading to ruin.
Unlike Narcissus who was enthralled by his image, as we walk through a meadow, we are immersed in the reflection of life all around us. With each step, our feet sink into the soft mud, cold and wet between our toes. The clean scent of damp earth fills our nostrils. Looking down, we notice our footprints left in the mud, reminders that we are but passing through.
Up ahead, a small puddle has formed in a dip in the earth. This humble pool reflects the sky above but also holds within it the promise of life. Tiny microorganisms swim in its waters, algae cling to its edges. It is teeming with the shared biological heritage of all living things.
We kneel by the puddle and gaze at our reflection. The face looking back shows the marks of sun and rain, dust and sweat. Reaching down, we immerse our hands in the mud surrounding the puddle. As we scoop and filter the soil between our fingers, we connect with the very substance from which we came. The cells, the DNA - the chemical alphabet spelling out all of life - courses through the soil, the water, and our bodies. Consider that a single bacterium contains about ten million units of genetic information, while a microscopic fungus contains one billion units.
A cow wanders up to drink from the puddle, splashing our image. We reach out and touch her gently, feeling her living warmth. Nearby, insects buzz between slender shoots of grass, birds call from the sky above, and worms tunnel through the earth below. All around us, life proliferates in myriad forms from this shared genetic source.
By reflecting on the puddle, we do not fall in love with ourselves. Rather, we grasp our interconnectedness with all living things, that we all spring forth from the same well of life. The puddle offers a window into this deeper truth, this web that binds us together.
As we rise and continue through the meadow, we carry this insight with us. Though we each have our temporary form, our essence is shared. We now step lightly with reverence for all we encounter - bird, beast, flowering plant - knowing we are reflections of one another. Where Narcissus saw only himself, we find connection, unity, and humility in the puddle’s fragile waters. Its wet mud reminds us where we began, and where we will return.
I have woven tales to share, for any who care to read them. My books await you on Google Books. Check also my stories on Medium.com.
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