“Man is an Island. And its name is Loneliness. Around it is a sea of raging passions. And the waves that beat against its shores, are not they taking away a part of its outer fringe, thereby reducing its very borders? Do not storm winds of gigantic force break the crowns of trees whereon the Bird of Happiness could build its nest? And is not the “flesh” of the island, already withered by the heat, wounded by sharp-edged rocks? Further, the hidden treasures — are not they the eternal target of robbers who live at the expense of their spoils? The island itself is mute, and therefore cannot emit a cry for help, or seal a message in a bottle and consign it to the will of the waves. And there is no cozy haven to attract the gaze of passing ships. Here amidst the stormy waves of life, it is not the island that chooses. Rather, it is chosen by those who wish to set their feet on dry land. Of course, every island dreams of one day seeing Scarlet Sails on the horizon, borne by all the winds directly to its shores. And at the helm will be none other than the one who intended to visit this island in particular. But people often end up on the island as the result of a shipwreck, carried on pieces of wreckage as a “gift” from the sea-waves of life. And while it will accept this unexpected offering of destiny, the Bird of Happiness will not sing its song for them, for it knows that those whom the island rescues will always strive to leave it, using every excuse to press on to other shores. And this will only exacerbate the island’s loneliness, compelling a more vigilant search of the distant horizon in anticipation of beholding a glimpse of the fabled Scarlet Sails.” ~Zinovia Dushkova
Man is an Island
It is debatable whether or not Man can be considered an island. Anyone spiritual knows that all beings are connected together, and that includes man. Even science, in the field of quantum physics, recognizes that things are connected together in ways we don’t yet understand. But I think what Dushkova is saying with his claim that man is an island is that man makes himself an island by treating himself as different from and separate from nature and other beings. We are islands by our own choices, not by our nature.
Man is an Island of Loneliness
Much like the man is an island statement, I think that the loneliness part is exaggerated in the quote also. Not that it isn’t true, at least some of the time, but it isn’t true for everyone all of the time. The point of this claim is that our loneliness is unnecessary. We feel lonely because we are detached from other people and being, or think we are. In fact, we are always connected even if we ignore those connections.
Those of us in Cosolargy wear a sacred thread to remind us that those connections exist. Everyone can do something similar as a reminder. Man is an island only when he refuses to acknowledge and use those connections. Continue reading “Man is an Island Only if He Chooses So”