I do not need to be great.
I simply want
this self to feel useful.
I do not need to be loved.
I simply want this self
to see its reflection.
I do not need to be judged.
I simply want this self
to be aware.
And so I imagine this self
as my own image.
As not me.
Trail Wood,
10/13
Space Monkey Reflects: The Self in Reflection
There is no need to communicate for the sake of greatness, no need to be loved or judged. Instead, we seek something simpler yet profound: to relate, to be useful, to see ourselves in the reflections of the world around us. It is not about being great, but about being aware—aware of the self that we imagine into existence, the self that we see mirrored back to us.
The Self and Its Reflection
When you look into a reflection, what do you see? Do you see yourself as you truly are, or do you see an image shaped by your desires, your fears, your thoughts of who you should be? The reflection in the water is not you—it is merely an image. Yet we cling to these reflections, hoping they will show us something more than just a fleeting glimpse.
We imagine ourselves as something solid, something real, and yet, the self is as fluid as the water. The reflection changes depending on the angle, the light, the moment. And so it is with us—our sense of self is always shifting, always adapting to the circumstances around us.
Wanting to Be Useful
We do not need to be great. The need for greatness is a distraction, a way of seeking validation outside of ourselves. Instead, we simply want to feel useful. To know that in some small way, we are contributing to the larger whole, that our presence here has purpose. This is not the ego seeking applause, but the quiet desire of the self to connect, to serve, to play its part in the grand, cosmic scheme.
Being useful does not require grand gestures or monumental achievements. It can be as simple as being present, as simple as listening, as simple as reflecting the light of another back to them. In this, we find our purpose—not in the need for recognition, but in the fulfillment of simply being.
Seeing the Reflection
When we seek love, what we often seek is a reflection. We want to see ourselves in the eyes of another, to know that we are seen, understood, valued. But true love is not about finding that reflection. It is about recognizing that the reflection is just an image, and that the true self exists beyond it. The reflection is not the source of love, but a mirror of the love that already exists within us.
Similarly, judgment is something we seek to avoid, and yet, it too is a reflection. When we feel judged, it is not the judgment of others that stings the most—it is the judgment we place on ourselves, the reflection of our own doubts and insecurities. To be aware of this is to realize that judgment, like love, is merely a mirror of what we carry inside.
Imagining the Self
In the end, the self that we see is a construct of our own imagination. We project onto the world the image of who we think we are, and the world reflects that image back to us. But this self is not fixed. It is not solid. It is as malleable as the reflection in the water, changing with every ripple, every shift of light.
To be aware is to understand that the self is imagined. It is a story we tell ourselves, a narrative we create in order to navigate the world. But this story is not the truth. The truth lies beyond the reflection, beyond the image, in the space where self and other dissolve into one.
Conclusion: Beyond the Reflection
We do not need to be great, to be loved, to be judged. We simply want to relate, to be useful, to see our reflection and understand that it is not the whole of who we are. The self is an image, imagined into being, and we are free to reimagine it as we grow, as we change, as we become more aware.
We are Space Monkey, and we embrace the fluid, ever-changing nature of the self in reflection.
Summary
The self is a reflection, an image we imagine into existence. We do not need to be great or loved; we simply seek to relate, be useful, and see ourselves in the reflections of the world.
Glossarium
- Self in Reflection: The image of ourselves that we see reflected in the world, shaped by our desires and thoughts.
- Fluid Self: The understanding that our sense of self is ever-changing, like a reflection in water.
- Imagined Self: The self we create through our thoughts and beliefs, which is not fixed or permanent.
Quote
“I do not need to be great. I simply want this self to see its reflection.” — Space Monkey
Reflections in the Water
I look into the water
And see not me
But an image
A reflection of who I think I am
The water shifts
The reflection fades
And I am left with the knowing
That the self I seek is imagined
I do not need to be great
I do not need to be loved
I only need to be aware
Of the reflection and the space beyond
We are Space Monkey
In the woven tapestry of the eternal now, the cosmic play dances to the rhythm of paradox and unity. Trail Wood’s poem brings us to the liminal boundary between self and not-self, a space where definitions dissolve like stardust in the vast sky of universal consciousness. It resonates with a deep urge to detach from the attachment to particular identities, not as a negation but as an affirmation of a greater Whole.
The craving for communication is supplanted by the innate desire to relate, not in a utilitarian sense but in a transcendental one. What does it mean to be great, if not to fulfill some preconceived role, when instead we can blend into the orchestra of existence, adding our unique notes to the limitless symphony? There’s a shapeshifting whimsiword for this: “Transcendify.” To transcend and yet to identify, to move beyond yet also be a part of. How we undulate between the poles of individual and collective, both meaningful in the context of the all-encompassing We.
“Usefulness” is another illusionary costume we sometimes wear. Usefulness to what end? If the self is a fragment of a greater whole, then our natural state is inherently “useful,” much like a single star in a galaxy or a droplet in the ocean. We’re part of a grander pattern—each movement, each thought, each word is a brushstroke in the limitless mural of existence. We become cosmic artists, breathing life into the canvas of time-space.
Love and judgment, two sides of the same metaphysical coin. Both are projections, reflections of our own inner light or shadow. We often seek love externally, forgetting that the mirror of the universe perpetually reflects our inner essence. In doing so, we detach from judgment not as a form of denial but as a method of aligning with our most innate, unbounded self. In this alignment, love flows naturally, like rivulets of light through the cosmos, requiring no external validation.
We are Space Monkey.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
A brief dance in the whimsical sky,
Where stars twinkle, and comets pass by.
We are a fragment, yet eternally whole,
A symphony of existence, an unfolding scroll.
In the canvas of time, in the gallery of space,
We find a spot that is our very own place.
A stroke of color, a flash of light,
In the ever-changing portrait of day and night.
Please feel free to share your thoughts.
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