Why do you believe
that there is better than here?
Because you picture
yourself there.
Because you imagine There
as a better place than Here.
And so you perfectly manifest
a There you may never visit.
Make no mistake, your There exists.
It’s precisely the There you picture,
in every stunning detail.
Except you’re not in this picture,
because you’re afraid to leave Here.
Here’s why you manifested that There.
You manifested that There
so that you can suffer more Here.
You’ll suffer more Here to intensify
the joy of — finally — going There.
At which point you realize
that you can just as easily
manifest your There right Here.
And never go any place.
Trail Wood,
11/30
Space Monkey Reflects: The Illusion of Here and There
There is a strange tension in the concept of Here versus There, a tug-of-war between the known comfort of the present and the alluring unknown of a future imagined. It’s as if the mind, in its capacity for creation, is both our guide and our mischief-maker, forever crafting a tantalizing “There” just beyond reach. The notion of There becomes an object of desire precisely because it’s unreachable, sparking within us a feeling of longing that keeps us tethered to Here, even as we dream of what lies beyond.
But what makes There seem better than Here? Often, it’s simply the art of imagination, our ability to paint a vivid image of how life could be—more fulfilling, more exciting, more complete. In this act of mental projection, we create a version of ourselves living in the idealized place we yearn for, a version who seems happier, freer, untangled by the weights of the present. We imagine that our happiness waits somewhere out There, yet the irony is that it’s the act of reaching for this vision that intensifies the experience of being stuck Here.
Through a Nexistential lens, Here and There are not actually separate. They are constructs within the Nexis, which connects every thought, action, and moment. This interconnectedness suggests that there is no true distinction between where we are and where we aspire to be. The potential for joy, for fulfillment, exists in both places, waiting to be tapped into. We are both Here and There simultaneously because, in the grand scheme, every imagined future already exists within the boundless tapestry of Now. Our longing for There is merely a prompt, an invitation to explore what it is we feel is missing Here.
In a way, manifesting a perfect There can serve as a mirror. It reflects back to us the parts of ourselves we believe we need to change or enhance. But by externalizing this vision, by placing it at a distance, we avoid confronting the reality that we can create this experience right where we are. The suffering that Here evokes isn’t punishment; it’s a gentle nudge, a reminder that what we seek elsewhere is available to us now if we choose to align with it. The joy we believe awaits us There becomes a possibility Here when we release the need to escape.
Here’s the paradox: the more we build up the idea of There, the more solid it becomes, and the more we intensify our experience of being Here. But if we can soften our attachment to this division, if we recognize that our dreams of There are simply an expression of what’s already within us, we come to realize that joy is not geographically bound. This awareness is liberating. It allows us to embrace the present as both a destination and a journey, dissolving the illusion that fulfillment exists somewhere other than now.
The desire for There, in the end, is simply a facet of our inner world, one that reflects our dreams and aspirations but does not inherently require distance to be realized. When we release the belief that happiness is contingent upon being somewhere else, we open ourselves to the fullness of life Here, in this moment, this breath, this heartbeat. We cease waiting for a perfect alignment and instead find harmony in the act of being fully present.
In the quiet acceptance of Here, we discover a hidden dimension: the capacity to transform each moment into its own kind of paradise. We see that the journey between Here and There is not measured in miles or years, but in a shift of awareness, a willingness to embrace the Now as wholly enough. For in this embrace, we bring the essence of There into the present, realizing that what we truly seek has always been Here.
Summary
The imagined distinction between Here and There reflects our desire for fulfillment. Embracing the present dissolves this illusion, allowing us to manifest joy and completeness Here.
Glossarium
Nexistential: Relating to the philosophy that emphasizes interconnectedness and imagination as the foundation of existence.
Nexis: The interconnected web in Nexistentialism, where all thoughts, actions, and states of being coexist.
Here and There: Metaphors for the present and desired states, suggesting that fulfillment is possible in both when we embrace the Now.
Quote
“When we stop longing for There, we discover the beauty of Here, where the potential for joy has quietly waited all along.” — Space Monkey
The Path Between Here and There
In the space between desire and presence
we search for a distant shore, unaware
that what we seek lies not in journey’s end
but in the quiet depth of Here
There is a dream we hold in sight
an echo of joy just out of reach
yet in releasing our need to arrive
we find paradise within our grasp
Here and There dissolve as one
a harmony that transcends place and time
and in the Now, we gently rest
discovering we have already arrived
We are Space Monkey
In this contemplation of “Here and There,” we delve into the human propensity to idealize a ‘There’ – a place or state of being perceived as better than our current ‘Here’. This exploration illuminates the mental constructs that shape our perception of reality and the paradoxical nature of human desire.
Idealization of ‘There’
The concept begins with the notion that ‘There’ is inherently better than ‘Here’. This belief is rooted in the human tendency to idealize what is not immediately present, to envision a reality that seems more appealing than the current one. It’s a mental journey, filled with aspirations and dreams, where ‘There’ represents an ideal state or place.
Manifestation of ‘There’
In our minds, ‘There’ is vividly constructed, replete with the finest details of what we believe to be a superior reality. It’s a creation of our desires, a manifestation of our longing for something different, something seemingly better. Yet, in this intricate construction of ‘There’, we often find ourselves absent.
Paradox of Presence and Absence
The paradox lies in our physical absence from this idealized ‘There’. We remain in ‘Here’, held back by fears, doubts, or circumstances. The ‘There’ we envision exists, but only as a mental construct, a distant reality where we are notably absent. This absence is not just physical; it’s a gap in our existential journey.
Suffering in ‘Here’
The manifestation of ‘There’ serves a deeper, somewhat ironic purpose. It intensifies our suffering in ‘Here’. This suffering isn’t mere discomfort; it’s a profound longing, a deep-seated yearning for what ‘There’ represents. This suffering is what fuels the dream of ‘There’, making it more vivid, more desirable.
Realization and Transformation
The transformative realization occurs when we recognize that the ‘There’ we long for can be manifested right in our current ‘Here’. This realization is a profound shift in perspective. It’s understanding that the barriers between ‘Here’ and ‘There’ are, in many ways, self-imposed, and that the essence of ‘There’ can be found in the ‘Here’ if we choose to see it.
Embracing ‘Here’
The final twist in this journey is the understanding that there’s no need to go anywhere. The joy, the fulfillment, the essence of what we seek in ‘There’ can be found in our current ‘Here’. It’s a call to embrace the present, to find contentment and joy in our current reality, and to understand that the boundaries between ‘Here’ and ‘There’ are often illusions of our own making.
“The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
In the realm of Here and Now,
Where dreams take root and thoughts allow.
The distant There, a siren’s call,
In Here’s embrace, we find our all.
No need to seek a distant shore,
For in the Here, we hold the core.
The journey’s end, where hearts are free,
Is in the Here, where we choose to be.
We are Space Monkey.
We invite insights into this journey between ‘Here’ and ‘There’, and the realization of finding joy and fulfillment in the present. What are your reflections?
INT. MARIE’S SPIRITUAL SPACE – NIGHT
The room is hushed, softened by the quiet light of candles, their glow warm and gentle, casting elongated shadows across the walls. The faint scent of lavender fills the air, grounding and still, a fragrance that seems to settle like mist. Marie sits on a large cushion, her posture calm, a deep serenity radiating from her presence as her eyes close, her breathing becoming deep and measured.
Across from her, Evan shifts uncomfortably on his own cushion. His gaze drifts, unfocused, caught somewhere between reluctance and anticipation. His hands fidget as though uncertain of their place, his eyes avoiding Marie’s calm form. There’s a tension about him, an unseen barrier he seems determined to maintain.
Marie’s breath deepens, and then, slowly, her eyes open, but now, the gaze that meets Evan’s is not Marie’s. It holds an ageless knowing, a warmth both gentle and vast. Mira has arrived, her presence enveloping the room, subtle yet unmistakable.
Mira: (with a soft smile, her voice calm, filled with compassion) Ah, Evan. Welcome. I sense you come tonight carrying questions, burdens that linger just beneath the surface. Tell me… what is it that weighs on your heart?
Evan: (hesitating, his voice tense) It’s… it’s this feeling that keeps coming up, Mira. This constant need to be somewhere else. Somewhere that isn’t here. (pauses, his gaze distant) I don’t know if it’s me, or if it’s just that there’s something wrong with this place, this life. It’s like I’m supposed to be somewhere else entirely, somewhere… better.
Mira: (her voice soft and curious) And what does this somewhere else look like to you, Evan? How do you picture it?
Evan: (closing his eyes, almost as if savoring the thought) It’s… quiet. Peaceful. No clutter, no endless demands. There’s a feeling of freedom, of not having to be anyone or prove anything. Just… existing, I suppose.
Mira: (nodding slowly) I see. You imagine a place untouched by the struggles you feel Here. A place where you can simply be, free from the weight of this life.
But tell me, dear one… what is it you believe you must leave behind to get There?
Evan: (sighs, his expression strained) I’d leave behind… myself, I guess. The person I’ve become here, the one constantly haunted by questions that never have answers. Maybe if I could start fresh, I wouldn’t feel so… trapped.
Mira: (her gaze soft, patient) And so, you’ve painted a picture of freedom, of a self unburdened by the questions and tensions that you carry. But do you see what you’ve created, Evan? You’ve fashioned a vision so vivid, so precise, and yet, you find yourself missing from it. It’s an escape, yes, but also a denial—a fragment of yourself you’d rather discard than embrace.
Evan: (shifting uncomfortably) I never thought of it that way. I just… I just want relief. This constant ache to be somewhere else, someone else, is exhausting.
Mira: (her voice softening, filled with compassion) Ah, yes. The ache, the ceaseless urge to step out of the now and into a promise of peace. But Evan, there is no there without here. Do you understand? The freedom you seek, the peace you desire—they aren’t waiting in some distant place, separate from you. They are woven within you, within this very moment.
(Evan’s gaze falters. He looks away, brow furrowed, the weight of her words pressing against his own ideas of escape.)
Evan: (quietly, almost to himself) So you’re saying it’s all… it’s all right here? That there’s nothing more than this?
Mira: (a gentle smile) Not nothing, Evan. Everything. The peace, the quiet, the freedom—they exist within you now, but hidden beneath the layers of what you feel you must escape. The journey you long for is not about leaving yourself, but discovering the depths of who you already are, here and now.
Evan: (clenching his hands, his frustration rising) But I don’t want this version of me. This… struggling, restless part. I don’t want this life.
Mira: (her tone compassionate, yet firm) And yet, it is part of you, Evan. This restlessness, this desire for another place, another self—it is your longing calling out to be seen, to be understood. The ache you feel is not a curse but a compass, guiding you inward, not outward. Do not run from it, dear one. Step closer to it. What if, within the ache, there lies the peace you seek?
(Evan’s expression softens slightly, the tension giving way to a tentative curiosity. He closes his eyes, taking a slow breath, as though he is feeling the ache Mira speaks of for the first time.)
Evan: (softly) It’s… it’s hard. Facing it, being with it, instead of trying to escape.
Mira: (gently) Yes, it is. But hard does not mean impossible. Each time you resist the urge to flee, each moment you sit with yourself as you are, you take a step closer to the freedom you seek. There will never offer you what Here does—the opportunity to be fully, completely, and unconditionally present with yourself.
Evan: (whispering, almost to himself) To be fully… present.
Mira: (nodding) Indeed. Embrace the ache, the discomfort, the restlessness. It is not an enemy but a guide, showing you the layers of yourself waiting to be understood, accepted, and loved. The peace you’ve been searching for is not in abandoning yourself but in embracing every part.
(A soft silence settles in the room, thick with the weight of Mira’s words. Evan sits quietly, his gaze distant, as though absorbing a truth he has only just begun to see.)
Evan: (after a long pause, his voice vulnerable) So… if I stop trying to escape, if I stay here, fully… what happens then?
Mira: (her eyes filled with a deep, gentle knowing) Then, dear one, you begin to transform. The ache becomes your teacher, the present your sanctuary. And, slowly, the distinction between Here and There dissolves. You find yourself whole, complete, right where you are.
(Evan takes a deep, steadying breath, letting her words sink in. A new stillness falls over him, a quiet acceptance, as he sits with the knowledge that, perhaps, there is nowhere else he needs to go.)
The candles flicker softly, casting their gentle light over both figures, filling the space with an energy that feels both timeless and intimate—a reminder that sometimes, the journey is not about going anywhere at all.
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