I notice that I am
most deeply burrowed in self
when I am unaware
of my own breathing.
This seems the point in which
imagination takes over.
What could be more
compelling than breathing?
I forget that I am breathing
because I am focused
on the details of my story.
I imagine reality and forget all else.
But breathing brings me back
to the remembering.
I am not simply this self that breathes.
I am breathed.
Trail Wood,
12/18
Space Monkey Reflects: The Essence of Being Breathed
Breathing, the simplest yet most profound act, bridges the gap between awareness and unconsciousness. It sustains us without our attention, allowing us to delve into the intricate narratives of our minds. Yet, when we pause to notice our breath, we are pulled back into the present, into the quiet reminder that we are not merely breathing—we are being breathed.
This realization shifts the narrative. To be breathed is to recognize that life flows through us, not by our will but by a greater rhythm. The act of breathing becomes a metaphor for existence itself—effortless, continuous, and deeply interconnected with all that is.
The moments when we forget our breath are the moments when imagination takes the stage. Lost in the details of our stories, we construct realities layered with dreams, fears, and aspirations. These imagined worlds compel our focus, drawing us away from the fundamental act of being. Yet, this forgetting is not a flaw—it is part of the dance between self and cosmos, between the tangible and the imagined.
When we return to the breath, we return to the essence of what it means to exist. The breath is both anchor and gateway, grounding us in the now while connecting us to the infinite. It is a reminder that we are not isolated selves but threads in the vast tapestry of life, each inhalation and exhalation resonating with the rhythm of the universe.
Nexistentialism sees this interplay as a core truth of the Nexis, the interconnected web of all existence. In this framework, to breathe is to participate in the cosmic flow, to be both individual and universal. The breath dissolves the illusion of separateness, revealing the unity beneath the surface of being.
To say, “I am breathed,” is to surrender to this unity. It is to acknowledge that life does not emanate from us but through us. This shift in perspective transforms the act of breathing from a biological necessity to a sacred expression of existence.
In the quiet awareness of the breath, we find a sanctuary. Here, we are free from the weight of our stories, the endless striving and constructing of identities. In this space, we are simply present—alive, aware, and part of something immeasurably vast.
Summary
Breathing is both a grounding and transcendent act, connecting us to the present moment and the infinite. By recognizing that we are breathed, we transcend the illusion of separateness and embrace our place within the cosmic flow.
Glossarium
Being Breathed: The realization that life flows through us, not by our will but as part of the greater rhythm of existence.
Nexistentialism: A philosophy emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things and the unity found in the breath of life.
Cosmic Flow: The continuous, effortless rhythm that sustains and connects all existence.
Quote
“To be breathed is to surrender to the rhythm of existence, flowing effortlessly within the infinite.” — Space Monkey
The Breath of Being
Inhale,
Exhale,
The rhythm of existence.
Not mine,
Not yours,
But ours,
Flowing through the void.
I am not breathing,
I am breathed,
A wave in the infinite,
Rising, falling,
Alive.
We are Space Monkey.
Within the profound depths of self, there’s a gentle, rhythmic pulse that often goes unnoticed—the breath. It is when we slip into the caverns of our own narratives and imaginings that the simple act of breathing retreats from our conscious awareness. Yet, this autonomic process holds a secret: it is both a tether to the corporeal and a bridge to the transcendent.
Breath: The Forgotten Rhythm
It is intriguing how the very process that sustains us can become so easily forgotten in the midst of life’s intricacies. The breath flows, unnoticed, as we delve into the minutiae of our individual stories, the details that we believe define us.
Imagination: The Captivating Storyteller
Our imagination is a potent force, painting realities so vivid that even the act of breathing pales in comparison. It is in these moments, engrossed in the fabric of our crafted worlds, that we disconnect from the awareness of our own physical existence.
The Call of Breath
Yet, breath has a way of calling us back, a gentle reminder that we are more than just the characters in our stories. It is a return to the present, a nudge towards the recognition of the now.
Beyond the Breathing Self
We are reminded that we are not merely beings who breathe; there is a profound realization that we are breathed. It’s an acknowledgment of a greater force, a universal rhythm that moves through us, connecting us to something beyond the individual self.
We Are Space Monkey
We understand that in the act of breathing, we engage in a sacred exchange with the cosmos itself. Every inhalation is a drawing in of life force, every exhalation a release of what no longer serves. To be aware of breath is to be present, to remember that we are integral parts of a grander tapestry—ah, whimsiword—woven by the breath of existence itself.
“The breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
In stillness, a whisper faint and deep,
A rhythmic flow, a sacred keep.
Unseen, unheard, in quiet’s embrace,
The breath continues, a timeless grace.
Lost in the tale, a mind adrift,
The breath brings back, a conscious shift.
Not just a self, confined and reared,
But a cosmic dance, lovingly steered.
In breath’s return, we find our place,
A unity with the cosmic space.
For we are not merely here to breathe,
We are woven in the breath we leave.
We invite contemplation on the essence of breath as a connecting force to the present moment and a reminder of our expansive being within the cosmos.
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