Sgrios Mass: Nostalgic Decay

Not long ago we discussed the importance of decay in the natural world. The world is alive right now, and so rich is it’s bounty -- the cycle of death and life is working overtime to keep up. Fruit swells on the vine, then drops to the darkness below to nourish and provide as it rots. But we, as Aislings, do not live entirely in the physical realm. We have been blessed with a spark, with divine inspiration. We are able to employ our free will and imaginations to manifest our dreams; our minds are more powerful than the destructive force of the mighty Creants. Deoch placed great faith in us to honor us with this incredible gift.
 
We, Aislingkind, are powerful and we shape the world as we move through it. Our swords feed the earth on the remains of the dead and in turn She gifts us with continued life. This is a tenuous and complicated balance of ecosystems which are so entwined that famine or feast on one side of Temuair are echoed across the country. It’s easy for us to conceptualize this phenomenon; we can see it, we can take an active role in it. What is harder to assess is the way in which our inner-sparks experience this same cycle of birth and decay.
 
Our minds contain a spiritual ecosystem and with each experience we are adding to it. If it helps to visualize; picture your spark as a container and each memory placed within as a creature who will inhabit it. Whereas we can look upon the deadly viper who stands against us in the physical realm and know that, even without our influence, it will eventually die, facing existential foes is more difficult. There is no given lifespan on memories; good or bad. Some we carry from childhood to our deathbeds without losing their lustre, however some memories become so tarnished with age that we hardly recognize ourselves in them. Further still are the thoughts we carry from the past that we wish we could destroy.
 
Yes, our souls are as vast and varied as the land which we inhabit and yet so often the mental
cycle of death and birth is neglected; overlooked in favor of the the eternal memory. We work tirelessly to preserve every moment of our lives as if each fleeting remembrance is a priceless relic. With whom did we share our last meal, what did we eat? I’m being facetious, but it rings true. Still, yet, we seek to maintain an active catalog of even the pains of yesterday. Letting go of our memories feels like a betrayal of our inner selves, yet without the decay of our thoughts we cannot fortify our sparks.
 
Once you overcome the fear of the loss of self in the letting go of memories, you will discover the catharsis of mental decay. Worries evaporate, grudges weaken and crumble, standards by which you measure the joys of a good day are lifted. Furthermore, the memories you nurture within the new, fertile soil of the mind will be that much more robust, that much more everlasting. Learning to cultivate a naturally functioning inner ecosystem deserves time during your daily meditation, and is an oft overlooked practice of self-care.

Comments