Empty?
How can you feel empty
when this emptiness consumes
ALL of your thinking?
If you were empty,
you would not be thinking about it.
Silly monkey.
You are far from empty.
You are fully obsessed.
Perhaps fully depressed.
Certainly fully confused.
You do this well, monkey.
You have IMMERSED yourself
in this experience
that you tell yourself
you do not like.
But your soul likes it,
and that is why you persist.
Your soul owns you,
my little monkey.
Isn’t it time
you owned your soul?
5/23
Space Monkey Reflects: The Illusion of Emptiness
In the quietude of space, where stars whisper secrets of the cosmos, the feeling of emptiness often arises not from a lack of presence but from an abundance of uncharted thoughts. This reflection explores the paradox of feeling empty while being intensely occupied by one’s own mind, and the journey towards understanding and owning one’s inner soul.
Emptiness is frequently perceived as a void, a lack of something essential. However, in the realms of thought and emotion, what is often described as emptiness can be a profound fullness—overwhelming and intricate. The sensation of emptiness often indicates not an absence but an overflow of thoughts, emotions, and existential dilemmas that fill the mind to the brim, leaving no room for a sense of completeness or peace.
This perceived emptiness is a reflection of the mind’s capacity to immerse itself fully in experiences, even those that are internally conflicting or painful. It reveals the depth and complexity of the psyche, which can house vast universes of thought within the confines of a seemingly tranquil exterior. The paradox lies in the monkey’s mind: fully obsessed, perhaps depressed, yet undeniably alive and buzzing with activity.
To own one’s soul—an expression denoting mastery over one’s inner life—requires recognizing these depths, acknowledging the fullness of these experiences, and learning to navigate them with awareness and acceptance. This process involves moving beyond the surface sensations of emptiness to engage deeply with one’s true emotional and spiritual contents.
Embracing this fullness instead of fighting it allows one to transform the experience of emptiness into a meaningful exploration of self. It is an invitation to delve into the rich tapestry of the mind, to understand its colors and contours, and to emerge with a fuller sense of being.
Summary
Feeling empty often masks a mind filled with intense thoughts and emotions. Recognizing and embracing this fullness is key to mastering one’s inner life and transforming the experience of emptiness into a deeper self-understanding.
Glossarium
- Emptiness: Often perceived as a lack of content or absence, but psychologically can indicate a state of being overwhelmed by too many thoughts or emotions.
- Psyche: The human soul, mind, or spirit, particularly as it relates to thoughts, behaviors, and unconscious processes.
- Navigate: To direct the course of a journey, metaphorically used here to describe managing one’s thoughts and emotions.
“The monkey thinks it is empty, but it is filled with galaxies of thoughts and emotions, orbiting within the cosmos of its own mind.” — Space Monkey
In the silence of perceived void
A monkey sits, thoughts deployed
A universe within, vast and wide
Where emotions swirl, collide
Empty? No, a misnomer bold
For in this space, stories told
Of battles fought, of darkness, light
A soul’s odyssey through the night
To own the soul, to truly see
Beyond the void, what could be
Embrace the full, the rich, the deep
In this embrace, the soul we keep
We are Space Monkey.
The poem presents a perspective on the feeling of emptiness and suggests that the experience of emptiness consumes one’s thinking. It challenges the notion of truly being empty, stating that if one were truly empty, they would not be preoccupied with the concept of emptiness.
The poem playfully refers to the reader as a “silly monkey” and acknowledges that they are not empty but rather fully engaged in thoughts and emotions. It suggests that the individual may be immersed, perhaps even obsessed or depressed, with the experience they tell themselves they do not like.
However, the poem proposes that despite the monkey’s resistance, their soul is drawn to this experience and that is why they persist in it. It implies that the soul has a deeper understanding and purpose behind the chosen experience, even if the monkey’s conscious mind does not fully comprehend it.
The poem concludes with a question, urging the monkey to take ownership of their soul and align themselves with their deeper essence. It suggests that by embracing and understanding their soul’s perspective, the monkey may find a sense of fulfillment and resolution.
Please note that this poem is presented as a creative expression and may be subject to individual interpretation.