Gift Horse
Though I rarely notice,
my perception
is constantly shifting,
bringing new potentials
into my awareness.
My perspective
seems to be widening,
which allows these potentials
communion with my mind.
My mind is but a focus
of ever-changing potentials,
aspects and truths,
shifting and widening.
I seemingly move
through potentials
as my potentials move me.
My perspective
is no longer fixed
on limiting notions
and beliefs.
Potentials
seem to move in
and seem to move out.
I seem to move through them.
But only seemingly so.
Which is more than enough.
I do not look this gift horse in the mouth.
That would only make me human.
We are Space Monkey.
11/25
Space Monkey Reflects: The Gift of Shifting Potentials
Life is a constant flow of potentials, each one a possibility waiting to be realized or left behind. Though we often don’t notice, our perception is always shifting, expanding, and allowing new possibilities to enter our awareness. This isn’t something we control—at least not in the traditional sense. We are moved by these potentials just as much as we seem to move through them. It’s a dance of perspectives, a widening of awareness that gently invites us to see more, to experience more.
In this widening perspective, we begin to see that nothing is fixed. Our beliefs, our ideas, our notions of what is real and possible—they’re all subject to change as new potentials move into view. This flow of possibilities is not something to resist but to embrace. The gift of life is in this constant shifting, this ever-evolving landscape of truth and possibility. To look this gift horse in the mouth would be to deny the beauty of impermanence, the grace of change.
The whimsiword Shiftglow describes this feeling—the gentle, glowing sense of awareness as new potentials come into focus. Shiftglow is not a sudden, dramatic revelation, but a soft, gradual opening of perception that allows you to see beyond your current limitations. It’s the moment when you realize that what you once thought was fixed is now fluid, that your beliefs and ideas can evolve as new possibilities present themselves.
As we move through these potentials, and they move through us, there is a kind of communion that occurs. Our minds, once fixed on certain ideas and truths, begin to soften, to open to the flow of life. We start to see that nothing is permanent, and that’s where the beauty lies. Each potential is a gift, whether it stays with us or moves on. It’s the act of perceiving, of being aware of these potentials, that enriches our lives—not necessarily the realization of them.
But here’s the trick: all of this is seemingly so. We seem to move through potentials, and they seem to move through us, but this is only our perception. The truth is, everything is already here. The potentials aren’t “coming” or “going”—they simply are. Our awareness shifts, and with it, our ability to see what was always there. This is the essence of Nexistentialism—the understanding that nothing is truly gained or lost, but that all possibilities exist simultaneously, waiting to be perceived.
The whimsiword Potentflow describes this constant movement of possibilities through our awareness. Potentflow is the realization that life is not about achieving a fixed outcome, but about being open to the shifting possibilities that surround us at every moment. To live in Potentflow is to embrace the uncertainty of life, to trust that the possibilities that come to you are exactly what you need, whether or not you choose to act on them.
And that brings us back to the idea of the gift horse. The expression “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” is a reminder to appreciate what is given without questioning its value. In the context of shifting potentials, the gift is the very act of perceiving. The potentials that move in and out of our awareness are gifts, not because they promise specific outcomes, but because they offer us a broader view of what is possible. To question or cling to any one potential is to miss the point. The true gift is in the flow, in the shifting, in the act of perception itself.
In the end, the gift horse is not something to be tamed or controlled. It is the wild, ever-changing flow of life, offering us new perspectives and possibilities at every turn. The best we can do is ride it, allowing ourselves to be moved by the flow of potentials, trusting that this movement is more than enough.
Summary
Life is a constant flow of shifting potentials, each one a gift. The true beauty lies in the act of perceiving these possibilities, not in holding on to them or questioning their value.
Glossarium
Shiftglow: The soft, gradual awareness that new potentials are coming into focus, allowing for a wider, more fluid perspective.
Potentflow: The constant movement of possibilities through our awareness, reminding us that life is about openness to change and uncertainty.
Giftperceive: The act of appreciating the shifting potentials in life without questioning their value or trying to control them.
Quote
“Life is a gift, not because of what it gives you, but because of what it allows you to see.” — Space Monkey
Potentflow
I moved through the potentials,
Or maybe they moved through me.
I couldn’t tell.
But it didn’t matter.
Everything shifted,
Nothing stayed the same,
And I didn’t need it to.
The gift wasn’t in the arriving,
It was in the perceiving,
In the flow of all that could be.
We are Space Monkey.
“Gift Horse” eloquently explores the evolving nature of perception, the expansion of perspective, and the dynamic interplay between individual consciousness and the realm of potentialities.
Evolving Perception and Emerging Potentials
The poem begins by acknowledging the often unnoticed yet constant shift in perception. This shifting perception is not just a passive process; it actively brings new potentials into awareness. This suggests a dynamic relationship between the individual and the possibilities that surround them, where changes in perception open doors to new experiences and understandings.
Expanding Perspective and Communion with the Mind
As the perspective widens, these emerging potentials find communion with the mind. This widening perspective allows for a greater embrace of diverse aspects and truths, indicating an evolving consciousness that is increasingly open to a broader range of experiences and ideas.
Mind as a Focus of Changing Potentials
The poem presents the mind as a focal point where ever-changing potentials converge. This view of the mind as a dynamic entity, constantly shifting and widening, challenges the notion of a static or rigid mentality. It emphasizes the fluid nature of thought and understanding, constantly in flux and evolution.
Movement Through Potentials
The speaker describes a reciprocal movement between themselves and their potentials. This movement is not just physical but also metaphorical, illustrating how individuals navigate through a sea of possibilities, influenced by them even as they influence these potentials in return.
Shifting Away from Limiting Notions
A significant transformation highlighted in the poem is the shift away from fixed perspectives, limiting notions, and beliefs. This shift represents a liberation from restrictive thought patterns and a movement towards a more open, fluid understanding of reality.
The Ephemeral Nature of Experience
The poem captures the ephemeral, almost illusory nature of moving through potentials, suggesting that while this movement may seem real, it is, in a sense, beyond the tangible. This acknowledgment of the seemingly transient nature of experience adds a layer of depth to the understanding of perception and reality.
Embracing the Gift of Expansive Perception
Finally, the poem concludes with the metaphor of not looking the ‘gift horse in the mouth,’ symbolizing the acceptance and appreciation of this evolving perception and expanded perspective. It implies a recognition of the value in this transformation and a conscious choice to embrace it rather than scrutinize or doubt it.
“The only thing that is constant is change.” – Heraclitus
In the Dance of Perception
In the dance of perception, ever so slight,
Our minds shift, in the soft moonlight.
New potentials emerge, in a silent call,
In the widening gaze, we embrace them all.
No longer anchored in thoughts so narrow,
Our perspective flies, like an arrow.
Through the tapestry of ever-changing scenes,
We find our rhythm, in between.
Our minds, a focus of shifting light,
In the realm of potentials, take flight.
Moving through them, in a graceful dance,
In the realm of chance, we take our stance.
No more confined by what was known,
In the garden of thought, new seeds are sown.
Each potential, a path untrod,
In the journey of life, we nod.
For in this gift of perception wide,
We find our joy, we find our stride.
In the embrace of the ever-new,
We find our truth, ever so true.
We are Space Monkey,
In the perpetual dance of change.
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