What if we wrote a new story, the way we wish to see it? 
 
Maybe it would be a sentence, a paragraph, a short story, novel, or an epic series, but we don’t care, we just choose to write, to co-author the orbiting of our worlds for however long or fleeting that may be.  

What if we let go of the idea of time all together?  Surely knowing the ending isn’t more important than being in the present in the unfolding of the story.  Does not the question of where it will go feel crushing?  Is not moving with the inspiration of the soul, more alluring?
 
What if we traded the script, the script we’ve been given, for the script that emerges from the heart, from a place of freedom and full choice?  Instead of asking: 'What one does, interests, even goals', we asked instead: ​

'What does your heart say now?' ​

 
Peaceful, contented, curious. Delicate…
 
These were the words that came out during a talk with a cherished friend yesterday, when asked
​​– how is your soul feeling?
 
Delicate was in reference to a state of knowing a difference of feelings before now and knowing of the potential change of feelings to come. The state of delicacy is perhaps always present – yet in this moment it was particularly and poignantly so.

Oftentimes throughout this year paradoxes have come into focus – they have been welcome moments of conscious discerning. Contemplation of Contrasts was / is an intentional exploration of such. Space will be held again for this, onward into the new year in some form – yet to emerge….
 
One such paradox that has come in and out of focus is that of significance and insignificance… Of our insignificance – and our significance: That life is (or seems) simultaneously, paradoxically and ultimately significant and insignificant. Holding these two apparently contrasting existences delicately in balance (even in harmony) whilst not diminishing (nor cherishing) one or the other – is something, a pursuit in which is asking to be explored some more. I’m looking forward to this pursuit and the exploration ahead.    
 
I’m conscious still of the delicate contrast that exists inside me. Reflecting on time, and on energy – the waves that flow and connect us all… the expanse of universe – the sea of life.

On the eve of a time of giving; of gifts. I sit with this present – being in the moment, while delicately discerning and being within touch of the past and of the future. Now.

Thank you for all the gifts of being human over the year.

by ​Natalia Kavourinou

What is it to be human?
 
For me, what best describes what it is (or better, feels like) to be human
is Caliban’s monologue in the S01E08 episode of Penny Dreadful:

“What dreams I had of my mate, of another being looking into these eyes, upon this face and recoiling not. But how can that happen? For the monster is not in my face, but in my soul. I once thought that if I was like other men I would be happy, and loved. The malignance has grown you see, from the outside in, and this shattered visage merely reflects the abomination that is my soul. Oh, my creator, why did you not make me of steel and stone? Why did you allow me to feel? I would rather be the corpse I was than the man I am. Go ahead, pull the trigger. It would be a blessing”.

So, what I understand from Caliban’s speech is that what human beings long for the most is connection. But we look for it in the wrong place.

We look for it externally, rather than internally. We set some expectations, based on what we see around us, as to what life we should live to be happy. But we are asking the wrong questions. We focus on set expectations, without leaving enough space for imperfection. We expect to feel wholeness, but there is no such thing, as there is always space for improvement. Something that is set. Instead of looking for meaning in the journey, in the learning, in the experiencing, in the thinking, we are looking for meaning in the having.

We actually don’t even look for improvement, but for perfection. We look for ways to fit in. At best, we look for ways to sell ourselves, an idea, so that we will get others to accept the reality we prefer. Slightly better than fitting in but still quite limiting. What we rarely look for is ways to extend our being, to disprove what we know. To allow a different reality to creep in. A reality that could help us grow.
​
So, yes, we are looking for connection, even when with our behaviour we may end up disconnecting. Because this approach doesn’t allow us to explore our uniqueness, generously offer that to the world, and then allow the world to add to it. We are desperately trying to interpret what the world expects from us, and then we try to be it. How can we connect with others, if we cannot connect with ourselves first?

[remaining anonymous]

Another sharing from Steve:

My first instinct was to define ‘soul’ … but I soon retreated from that rabbit hole.

My second instinct was to attempt to represent soul using words and/or images. I came to think of this as another mission impossible.

And so, if I can’t tell you what it is, or show you using wordless symbols, how can I share from it?

And still, instinct continued to prompt me to share something of the soul. Although stumped by this insistent voice I spoke with a friend who posed several searching questions:

Q. Why does it matter?
A. Because I really value the person/people who posed the question.

Q. How deeply am I looking at this?
A. As deep as I can go – this feels like an initial inquiry into what might become a ‘rest-of-my-life’ question.

Q. If I did know what soul was, what would it look like?
A. It would look like a mystery. This of course begs the question of what a mystery looks like and I remembered a childhood TV programme in which the Mysterons featured. Their presence was only apparent when circles/hoops of light appeared on the bodies or the environment.

All I can say for now, with some certainty, is that I don’t have a clue – and somewhere in this unknowingness lies my soul. To misquote Rumi – out there beyond what we imagine to be a soul, is a field, I will meet you there.

I would like to say that my attempt at soul sharing is a work in progress but, as you can see, progress would be too high of an accolade. Maybe you could watch this space, but please don’t stare – my next thoughts may be a long time coming ….

Offered from a friend of What is it to be human? - Steve:

This article is my response to the call from ‘what it is to be human’ for ideas worth sharing. The suggestion that not all such ideas need to be converted into a TED talk appealed to me.

From the many definitions of ‘idea’ available two shone out:
· A vague notion or indication; inkling
· A groundless supposition; fantasy.

As I attend to the first of these ‘definitions’ and write out my thinking, I suspect that I may be unwittingly demonstrating the accuracy of the second one. I have always been attracted to being vaguely right rather than precisely wrong. This maxim allows me the freedom to express myself from within without feeling the need to slavishly follow academic processes.

I am soothed and stimulated by Richard Feynman’s words:
“I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.”