A New Earth, Ch. 1, Rylla’s reflections, section 1.1
Eckhart Tolle - The Flowering of Human Consciousness
1.1 Evocation
Evocation: the act of bringing or recalling a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind. Or, the action of invoking a spirit or deity
You know that feeling you get when you see something that inspires awe? Maybe it’s a night sky so full of stars it seems unreal; a sunset over water that somehow takes you out of yourself; the contentedness of snuggling with your favorite animal or human.
Or maybe it is seeing a flower. Eckhart begins with flowers, imagining what it must have been like when a human saw a flower on the planet for the first time…not edible, not useful, and yet…has the power to evoke a feeling within.
Humans didn’t need flowers for survival, and yet took a new kind of joy from them. They inspired poets, artists, and mystics, and most of the rest of us too. Flowers and other elements of nature have an almost magical way of getting us to pause and realize we are part of something bigger than ourselves, some kind of mystery that works in ways we can’t fathom. And that feels good.
It’s interesting that we use flowers for celebration and in times of sadness and loss. Their beauty brings a comfort that soothes. Jesus says to contemplate flowers and the Buddha gave a silent sermon with a flower.
And, there is so much more to inspire awe. What of birds, dinosaurs that have taken flight? Or crystals? From something seemingly dirty and common there can be a transformation into amazingly strong clear stones that allow light to pass through. Is it any wonder that we are drawn to them? They remind us we are more than ourselves with all our self-involved worries.
These ethereal items that are almost beyond our understanding cause us to awaken to the wonder of it all, the wonder of life, it’s unlikely occurrence and our place in it. They remind us that we are part of something bigger, something mysterious, complex, and wonderful. They remind us to stop thinking of ourselves and our problems, and invite us to step into a bigger game, the whole of humanity, the awakening of our souls. Perhaps that is their role in our consciousness, our awakening.
I like it. シ
More reflections coming your way in the next couple of days. 🙏🏼