Willfulness of Being - Part 2

The Willfulness of Being-Part 2

Some images from Part 1 have been removed and other, more recent, images have been added as the focus of this series continues to evolve.

My exploration of The Willfulness of Being began with the fact that life, our essential nature, is short, and one’s place in the world is small. At the same time it is that which all living things share. It’s a bit like stepping off the Ferris wheel of life and letting another step on for their own ride. Still, there is something missing with this analogy, because in reality we all leave something of ourselves on that Ferris wheel for the future “riders” to enjoy (or ignore, or even resent!). Another important aspect of this understanding is the element of time. As humans, we have an ingrained sense of time during which life unfolds. It begins and ends - the Ferris wheel turns only a few number of times for each of us. Yet, as Robin Wall Kimmerer says in her book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, “To the Sitka spruce grandmother, our being-ness in time is but a bird’s song in hers.”

My journey into the Willfulness of Being has now begun a search for the depth of individuality that resides within each living Being, exploring the essence of what it means to exist and the unique qualities that make each living Being remarkable. The idea of individuality extends beyond just physical attributes. It also includes individual experiences, behaviors, and interactions with their surroundings, which make each living organism unique in its own way. Keeping this in mind, and that all living Beings live with intent, my hope is to reveal the intricate complexities of self-determination and the beauty of expressing their authentic selves.

Let us celebrate the infinite and diverse tapestry of life itself.

Michael Z Taylor