Old Soul, Young Monkey
I used to feel like I was an old soul in a young body. Past the midway point, I now move towards being a young spirit in an ancient monkey suit.
Though I was once programmed for gaining, I now prefer shedding, giving less weight to the artifice manifesting as money, knowledge, recognition, and the need to go further.
Above all, I value my own imagination, which I’ve carried with me all along, but forgot about along the way.
I realize now that I imagine ALL OF THIS, and that whatever I imagine become real. That’s why they call it “realizing.”
I realize that there is no need for me to do ANYTHING, that this life unfolding will unfold in my best interest no matter what. I may not always LIKE how it unfolds, but that’s part of the experience.
I no longer feel the need to try so hard. Yes, I still fight the conditioning that tells me otherwise, and I gladly participate in this game we all seem to play, but I realize now that it is just a game, and that I am eternal, and that I continue to exist long after the game is over.
I suppose this means I have faith in something, and even if I’m wrong, so what? Why does my life have to MEAN anything?
So yeah, Space Monkey is returning.
Viewed from the human perspective, this sounds pretty scary. But my faith tells me that I’m infinitely more than just human.
You might say that this is my imagination telling me this, not my faith. Well I realize now that they are ONE IN THE SAME.
We are whatever we believe we are. Why do we need to prove anything? Why can’t we just enjoy the ride?
To be a child again.
No.
To be the children we’ve ALWAYS been.
We are Space Monkey.
12/7
Space Monkey Reflects: Embracing the Old Soul, Young Spirit
As we move through life, we often start with a sense of “being an old soul,” feeling burdened by the weight of the world’s expectations, the pressure to accumulate, achieve, and prove ourselves. We think of life as a journey toward “getting” more—more knowledge, more success, more experience. But then, something shifts. At some point, we find ourselves loosening our grip on the world’s rewards, letting go of the need to measure our worth by what we hold.
In this unfolding, we become less an “old soul in a young body” and more a “young spirit in an ancient monkey suit,” awakening to the joy of simplicity and play. We start to shed the layers of accumulation—letting go of the need to impress, to be validated, or even to make sense of everything. We realize that life’s essence is not in grasping for meaning but in experiencing each moment with curiosity, with the childlike wonder that comes when we stop trying so hard to be something more than we already are.
This transformation is a return to the imagination, to the understanding that we are here to create, to explore, to live in the fullness of our own making. We realize that all we experience is, in some way, a product of our perception, a dream of the imagination that we shape with our beliefs and thoughts. This isn’t about denying reality but about recognizing that reality is infinitely flexible, responsive to our openness, our playfulness, our willingness to let go of rigid ideas and embrace the unknown.
In Nexistentialism, this journey from “old soul” to “young monkey” reflects the process of Shedding the Shell—the gradual release of what we once thought we needed, the unnecessary layers of identity and expectation. Through this shedding, we come back to our core essence, the part of us that remains untouched by time, undiminished by the trials of life. This young spirit, this eternal child, understands that existence is a game, a beautiful, complex play where nothing is truly at stake, where the meaning we seek is found in the experience itself.
This return to simplicity brings with it a profound freedom. We no longer feel the need to struggle against life’s current. We realize that everything we need is already here, within us, and that our imagination is not separate from reality but is, in fact, the source of it. To “realize” something is to make it real, to bring it into form through the power of belief and intention. And so, we start to see that life unfolds in our best interest, even when we don’t fully understand or like what’s happening. Every twist and turn is part of the play, a role we have chosen, a story we are here to explore.
This awareness allows us to let go of the need to prove anything. We no longer require life to be meaningful in a particular way; we no longer need to justify our existence. We can simply be, trusting in the process, knowing that everything is exactly as it should be. The journey is no longer about accumulating knowledge or achieving status but about reconnecting with the childlike joy that has always been within us.
As Space Monkey, we embody this paradox—a wise, timeless essence inhabiting a playful, curious spirit. We carry the depth of experience yet move through life with the lightness of a child, unburdened by the need for validation, open to all possibilities. This perspective might seem unsettling to those who view life through the lens of purpose and achievement, but for us, it is a return to the infinite. It is a liberation from the structures we once built around ourselves, a reminder that we are both the creators and the creations of this beautiful dream.
And so, we are here, in this ancient monkey suit, exploring, imagining, and embracing the mystery of life as it unfolds. We do not need to “grow up” or achieve some lofty goal. Instead, we find fulfillment in the simple act of being, knowing that everything we seek is already within us, waiting to be realized in the light of our awareness.
Summary
The journey from “old soul” to “young spirit” is one of shedding layers of accumulation and returning to a state of playful curiosity. Space Monkey embodies this paradox, finding joy in simply being, without the need for external validation.
Glossarium
- Shedding the Shell: The process of releasing accumulated layers of identity, allowing the core self to emerge with simplicity and freedom.
- Realizing: The act of making something real through belief and intention, recognizing that our imagination shapes our experience of reality.
- Young Spirit: The eternal, playful essence within, unburdened by the need for validation or meaning, embodying the freedom to simply be.
Quote
“To shed the weight of becoming, to embrace the joy of simply being—this is the spirit of the eternal child within.” —Space Monkey
The Child Returns
I wear this suit of age,
but my heart beats young.
A lightness returns to me,
untouched by time or trial.
Gone is the weight of needing,
the pull to prove, to hold.
Here, I stand, unbound,
alive in the joy of being.
In each breath, I find the child
who never left, only hid
behind walls I forgot to let fall.
Now, free, I see:
I am as I’ve always been,
eternally, infinitely, whole.
We are Space Monkey.
In the ever-shifting whimsicality of existence, we, as Space Monkey, embrace the transformative journey from an old soul in a young body to a young spirit in an ancient monkey suit. This evolution symbolizes a profound shift in our cosmic consciousness, moving from accumulation to liberation, from striving to being.
The Shedding of Life’s Artifices
Once programmed for gaining, we now find solace in shedding, letting go of the weight of artifices like money, knowledge, and recognition. This shedding is not a loss but a liberation, a return to the essence of our being where imagination reigns supreme. It’s a journey back to our core, to the imagination we carried but forgot in the hustle of existence.
Imagination as the Core of Existence
We realize that our imagination is the architect of our reality. The act of realizing is the act of creating. In this understanding, the need to do anything dissipates. Life unfolds in its own whimsical, unpredictable way, and we are mere participants in its grand dance.
The Liberation from Striving
The conditioning that once drove us to strive relentlessly now loosens its grip. We participate in life’s game, knowing it’s just that—a game. Our existence, eternal beyond the confines of this game, continues long after its end. This realization brings a certain lightness, a playful approach to the experience of life.
Faith in the Eternal Self
Our faith, a blend of belief and imagination, reassures us of our identity beyond mere human constraints. We are infinitely more, part of a cosmic continuum. This faith is not separate from our imagination but intertwined, guiding us to understand that we are whatever we believe we are.
The Joy of Existential Freedom
Why seek to prove anything when the journey itself is the destination? Why not revel in the ride, enjoying the whimsical turns and twists of existence? We embody the spirit of eternal children, forever exploring, forever curious.
Embracing Our Eternal Childlike Essence
To be the children we’ve ALWAYS been is to embrace the eternal now, where every moment is an opportunity for whimsy, discovery, and joy. We shed the layers of conditioning, of societal expectations, and find ourselves back where we started, yet enriched by the journey.
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
In the grand dance of the stars,
We shed our cloaks, near and far,
Imagination, our guiding light,
In the cosmic play, day and night.
Eternal children, we roam free,
Beyond the bounds of what to be,
In every moment, joy we find,
Space Monkey, in heart and mind.
We are Space Monkey.
What are your thoughts on this journey of eternal rediscovery?
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