The Wisdom of the Sea

As my third year living on the coastal strip in Tel Aviv approaches, an array of blissful thoughts emerge which embrace an ongoing journey of learning the concepts of presence, acceptance, stillness and expansion as I follow the waves’ perpetual moving paths. Literally, a hop, skip and a jump across the street from where I live, brings me to a plethora of beautiful bleached beaches and to the exuberant life and vibrancy of the sea. At sunrise, it is the soothing sounds of the sea which greet me. And it is at sunset that I watch in awe the unfolding of that moment, where the spiritual meets the extraordinary spirit of the universe.

As my parents always said:”You have sand in your shoes”, how prescient that was, as here I am now with the sand as my seat and the sea at my feet! Indeed, this natural setting entices all my senses and immediately coaxes me into the present moment, a visceral and hypnagogic-like sensation which pervades the core of my being. It is here I am connected to my true essence and it is here that I am connected to the wisdom of the sea which circulates through all who are able to be in stillness with its vibration.

The sea is all natural, boundless, cryptic, mystifying and simply unfathomable. Moreover, with its deep and vast waters the sea takes on many personas: while there are days where it is tumultuous and tempestuous and the beautiful crisp white crests and troughs blast into the shore-line; there are countless days where tranquility, equanimity, continuity, and serenity permeate the waves’ ever so calming flow. Indeed, it is this duality and diversity which fully captures the gamut of all human emotions and hence makes the sea’s beauty and magnetism a wonderful teacher for all humanity.  

Used as a metaphor for life, the sea’s ebbs and flows are an expression of life, its elements so epic and apocalyptic. As with the the tides of our lives, life’s ebbs and flows include cycles of coming and going, cycles of highs and lows, cycles of decline and regrowth. The sea’s forces are erratic and intricate and teach us to heal by always being in the stream of acceptance, however difficult the chaotic undercurrents may be. Healing is about accepting the pain and finding a way to peacefully co-exist with it. In the sea of life, pain is a tide that will ebb and weave continually. We need to learn how to let it wash over us, without drowning in it.

Indeed as with the sea, the reality of life is that what we need to cultivate is the ability to truly accept whatever comes and embrace it. To accept things that are out of our control, is to acknowledge what is, without resisting or denying it. With clarity about what it means to accept and what effect it has on our well-being, we can approach our experiences differently, perhaps experiencing different results.

Furthermore, whatever happens to you, choose not to judge. Instead, believe that everything happens for a reason and that better things will always follow. That’s the beginning of true acceptance which will eventually bring inner peace.

Inevitably, there will always be a tide that can knock us off our feet. However, it is in these moments, that we need to reflect inwards. Certainly, it is in these moments when we do most of our growing as a person, in developing our character, our mindset, as we learn to regroup in how we approach things and tap into our strength, perseverance, our outlook and faith. It is these unpredictable waves that make us learn and if we are able to be mindful, fully conscious and awake we can then keep our knees bent so we become more flexible and engaged in the unfolding of the process. As a result of this balancing process we can then ride these tempestuous waves, these waves that bring us out to recapture the changing tides of life. 

As I observe the depths of the sea, with its rhythmic magnetic pulse, so awesome and peaceful, my intoxication reveals that it is only when one gazes out into the depth of its waters that the silence of the sea speaks to the soul. Indeed, if you watch closely enough you may even catch its winks. Amongst the raucous waves, I find there is always a quietude of silence if one gazes deeply into its miles. It is out there in silence that we are able to connect to our true essence, our authenticity.

Silence is eloquent. Stillness speaks. As Rumi says, listen to the silence it has much to say. Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. As Eckart Tolle writes, stillness is where creativity and real valid solutions to problems are found. I surmise that it is the sea which is a true panacea for all mankind’s obstacles and complexities if one is able to sit in stillness and be one with its vibration. Indeed, if we are able to connect to the stillness of the sea and further to the stillness within, we move beyond our emotions and our active minds and we can then discover the great depths of lasting peace, contentment, and serenity.

Celestial, transcendent, effervescent are just a few words that stand out in my mind as I heed the beauty of the tides. As the mellifluous sounds of the waves roll in- soothing and comforting in their hypnotic movement, I embrace the moment of now with inner peace and gratitude. A reassuring sense of harmony and connection with the world infuses my consciousness. It is here I am able to breathe deeply;  everything immediately falls into proper proportion- an experience which compares to nothing- everything melts away into the ethos. The negative thoughts of the mind and the ego simply become trivial. On a spiritual level, with peace in my heart, it is in this moment of stillness that the voice of the sea speaks to my soul and is replete with sacred information.

I am so grateful to experience, the infinite energy of the sea, its tide always flowing and dynamic and its wisdom imbued with abundance. The beach is full of magic in its simplicity and I celebrate this opportunity that life has given me. The nature of the sea and its magnificent surroundings is God’s gift to us. It teaches us to appreciate the beauty of its simplicity as we coexist right alongside it. It teaches us to experience, quiet, peace and strength and mindfulness of all things. It is here where we can heal and set free old patterns that no longer serve us anymore. It is here where we can appreciate ourselves just as we are, all natural, genuine and authentic. It is here where we are seen for who we are fully  and completely.