If I understand the origin of the word correctly, the doldrums are a place in the ocean where the winds and the sea are so still and lacking in energy that a sailing ship could get stuck there for weeks on end because there was no momentum, no movement. Metaphorically, it is a place between stormy, tumultuous seas where you are batted about against your will, and "smooth sailing" where the currents and the winds seem to be on your side and keep you moving swiftly in the direction of your choosing.
I am also reminded of a card in the tarot deck called "The Hanged Man". It is an image of a man hanging upside-down, suspended by one foot. He appears not to be struggling while in this uncomfortable pose...and actually wears a rather peaceful expression. The meaning of the card varies, of course, in the context of the rest of the reading, but the general feeling of the card is a peaceful acceptance of being suspended between places, an involuntary stopping point on the journey where there is nothing that can be done but contemplation.
Think about music. The most powerful place in a piece of music is the place where, after a string of sounds, there is a break, a pause for a moment. The resonance of what you've just heard spreads across your head like waves coming to rest on the beach as you fully absorb and appreciate it. As the sound fades, anticipation builds for whatever sound you'll hear next. Like the next breath, the next kiss.
Sometimes being stuck in the middle feels so uncomfortable you just want to get out of it as quickly as you can. You want to get past something or move on to something else. But stay there for a little while. Let where you've been catch up with you. Consider for a moment where you'd really like to go. An upside-down perspective might be just what you need to inspire you to try something daring...or not.
Stop and hang out for awhile,
WS
I am also reminded of a card in the tarot deck called "The Hanged Man". It is an image of a man hanging upside-down, suspended by one foot. He appears not to be struggling while in this uncomfortable pose...and actually wears a rather peaceful expression. The meaning of the card varies, of course, in the context of the rest of the reading, but the general feeling of the card is a peaceful acceptance of being suspended between places, an involuntary stopping point on the journey where there is nothing that can be done but contemplation.
Think about music. The most powerful place in a piece of music is the place where, after a string of sounds, there is a break, a pause for a moment. The resonance of what you've just heard spreads across your head like waves coming to rest on the beach as you fully absorb and appreciate it. As the sound fades, anticipation builds for whatever sound you'll hear next. Like the next breath, the next kiss.
Sometimes being stuck in the middle feels so uncomfortable you just want to get out of it as quickly as you can. You want to get past something or move on to something else. But stay there for a little while. Let where you've been catch up with you. Consider for a moment where you'd really like to go. An upside-down perspective might be just what you need to inspire you to try something daring...or not.
Stop and hang out for awhile,
WS
RSS Feed