Out of Perfection, Nothing Can be Made
Destruction before creation.
Out of perfection nothing can be made. Every process involves breaking something up. The earth must be broken to bring forth new life. If the seed does not die, there is no plant.
Bread results from the death of wheat. Life lives on lives. Our own life lives on the acts of other people.
If you are lifeworthy, you can take it.
~ Joseph Campbell
I’ve shared this quote before, but I needed to read it again.
Out of perfection, nothing can be made.
And again:
Every process involves breaking something up.
It’s a hard lesson sometimes.
But if you’re lifeworthy, you can take it.
~~~
The quote was found in this essay from Joseph Campbell at the quality of life project.
The dandelion clock photo is one of mine.
This piece is a contribution to the mini-series on perfectionism.
“Every process involves breaking something up” – how powerful, and oh, how timely for me right now, today. Thanks Jo!
The lesson screams rather than whispers to me.
Thank you Joanna, for yet again showing the striking power of words. The photo is gorgeous.
Conor
When I was a child, we called the dandelion you photographed ‘wishes’. I think my father would have ‘wished’ we wouldn’t have blown them!
Letting something break apart to allow new life is a theme that runs throughout time. Being aware of this helps us to stop grasping and live with open hands.
Karen,
I have a feeling you’re working on something very exciting just now… can’t wait to see what it is!
Conor, re the need for the shout just now… me too
Donna: Letting something break apart to allow new life is a theme that runs throughout time. Being aware of this helps us to stop grasping and live with open hands.
That is a beautiful reflection Donna. It’s something I don’t always manage to remember, but watching the natural world definitely helps me to do so.