The discovery of oneself, like exploring the universe, is an endless mysterious journey.
When we look at the sky, we see parts of the universe; the sun, the moon, the stars, and sometimes even shooting stars. Some of us can distinguish constellations immediately. On a bright sky, an experienced eye can recognize Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter.
What we first know about ourselves is only as much as what we see at first glance in the universe. Our name, lineage, structure, and, as we gain some experience, our temperament, tastes, and habits. To understand and perceive beyond these, a little curiosity is needed but more importantly, courage.
To delve into the source of our behavior, emotions, and thoughts, to understand their reasons, is possible through observing and questioning ourselves, just as astronomers patiently observe the sky.
All the galaxies, suns, black holes, gas clouds we see make up only five percent of the universe. The remaining ninety-five percent, consisting of dark matter and dark energy, about which little is known, but which largely influences the universe.
Similarly to the structure of the universe, our lives are shaped by our unseen, often unnoticed, darker aspects, concealed in the depths and shadows, devoid of light. If we are ready to explore these shadow aspects, we can begin by questioning the reasons behind our fears, our anger, our rebellion. The answers we provide can illuminate the unexplored areas as much as they are honest and profound, thus increasing our awareness.
Astronomers first discovered anomalies in Uranus' orbit, and calculations revealed that it was being disrupted by a neighboring object. Thus, Neptune was discovered. Interpersonal relationships, like those between celestial bodies, would lead to new discoveries.
All the relationships we have, from our boss to our family, provide an opportunity to confront ourselves. To discover ourselves, we can use recurring patterns, cycles as clues. For those who have the courage, relationships open the doors to the realm of shadows.
Sometimes an unexpected accident occurs, hitting us like a meteor. A complete disaster. Suddenly, our world turns upside down. We wonder where this came from, saying, 'I didn't deserve this.' There's no searching for silver linings in every adversity; we outright rebel, calling it sheer injustice. We burn in flames.
This fire offers an opportunity for those who want to know themselves to question their thoughts and behaviors, again, unexpectedly. It illuminates memories we have pushed into the dark corners of our minds and sheds light on the aspects we least want to confront. It burns us, breaks us, turns us to ashes, but for those with courage, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, they are renewed and reborn. More self-assured, stronger, with a slightly expanded consciousness.
Sixty-five million years ago, a meteor struck our planet. Along with a large portion of terrestrial life, dinosaurs became extinct. Mammals, however, adapted to this new environment and thrived. We can say that we owe our existence to this collision and destruction.
Instead of seeing our own mini-meteors as disasters, if we can turn ourselves into building blocks to rebuild anew, it depends on how much we have made peace with our darkness. It depends on how much we can change ourselves, transform ourselves, and adapt to the new.
Every piece of knowledge, experience, and discovery we individually acquire resonates through eternity, passed down from generation to generation. Just as we change the world we came into as much as we change ourselves, if our experiences have made us angry, resentful, and rebellious, then our mark, our echo in the world, will be just that.
But if you can truly love yourself as you are, you will begin to feel gratitude for all the meteors that have hit you. For making you who you are, for allowing you to discover yourself. For being the greatest teacher, for laying out before you cycles you wouldn't dare to face even after a thousand years, for liberating you from your darkness, your shadows. You become water against the meteor's fire. As adaptable as water, as changeable. You feel the harmony with the universe, sensing how you have grown, expanded. With deep gratitude, you become fortunate. You continue your mysterious journey filled with discoveries.
