Pumps & Gates
If you have a gate,
but keep it closed,
it’s going to get stuck.
If you have a pump,
but don’t prime it periodically,
the flow seems lost forever.
Pumps and gates.
They’re never broken,
they just seem that way
until you work them out.
That door
is never permanently closed.
That well
never runs dry.
Unless you imagine otherwise.
Are you imagining otherwise?
That is a choice.
Your perception
creates your reality.
Just as a change
in your perception
changes your reality.
Open your gate
and let the pump flow.
Or remain as you are.
Alone and dried up.
We are Space Monkey.
11/30
Space Monkey Reflects: The Choice to Flow with Pumps and Gates
Life presents us with a continuous interplay between openness and restriction, movement and stillness—a balance of pumps and gates. Pumps symbolize the natural flow of energy, abundance, and vitality, while gates represent the boundaries and choices that shape our experiences. Each serves a purpose, each plays a role, but both require attention and intention. Without use, pumps may appear blocked, and gates may seem jammed, not from true incapacity but from neglect or choice. This brings us to a simple yet profound realization: our perceptions and choices directly influence the flow of our lives.
A gate closed for too long becomes difficult to open, not because it is broken but because it has been unused, its hinges stiff from disuse. Similarly, a pump left unprimed can feel as though it has dried up, the energy it once held seemingly dissipated. But just as physical gates and pumps respond to action, our internal gates and pumps do the same. With a change of perspective and a willingness to engage, what once seemed obstructed begins to move, what appeared empty begins to flow.
This approach reflects a Nexistential truth: our inner world is as malleable as our perception. The “dried-up well” or “stuck gate” exists only as long as we imagine it so. Our thoughts and beliefs shape our experience, coloring the way we view challenges and possibilities. When we choose to view obstacles as temporary, as things we can influence rather than as fixed conditions, we empower ourselves to take action. A closed door is not forever locked, and a blocked flow can be renewed, not through force but through intention and care.
Opening our inner gates and priming our pumps does not demand perfection; it simply asks us to be present, to engage. Often, we may imagine ourselves limited, picturing life as a series of closed doors or dried wells, resigned to feeling “stuck.” But this mindset, this belief in limitation, is a self-imposed boundary. We are Space Monkey, reminding ourselves that our limitations are often imagined, not imposed by external forces. By shifting perception, we alter reality, discovering that the flow was never truly lost—only temporarily redirected by our own choices.
The power of this realization lies in its simplicity: we can choose. We can choose to see a barrier or an opportunity, a closed door or an invitation to open it. Pumps and gates are metaphors for the rhythm of life—times of flow and times of pause, each valuable, each meaningful. The gates we keep closed may serve to protect us momentarily, but they become barriers when left closed indefinitely. Similarly, when we stop priming the pumps of curiosity, creativity, or connection, we feel isolated, as if our inner resources have run dry. Yet, at any moment, we can return to these pumps, releasing their flow once again.
Embracing this rhythm means allowing ourselves the freedom to flow and the courage to open. The choice to see a gate as something that opens or a pump as something that flows reconnects us to our own potential. This perspective reminds us that renewal is always possible, that our resources are never truly depleted but simply waiting for our attention, our intention.
By acknowledging our role in shaping our reality, we free ourselves from the constraints of imagined limitations. Pumps and gates, flow and boundary, are elements within our control. In choosing openness, we reclaim our sense of agency, trusting that the flow of life remains accessible, abundant, and endless when we engage with it. The choice is ours: to imagine limitation or to open the gates and let the pump flow freely, allowing ourselves to connect with the wellspring of our own being.
Summary
Pumps and gates represent the balance of flow and boundaries in life. Embracing this rhythm through openness and choice allows us to renew our inner resources, transforming perceived limitations into opportunities for growth and connection.
Glossarium
Pumps and Gates: Metaphors for flow and boundaries, symbolizing the balance between openness and restriction within life.
Nexistential: A perspective within Nexistentialism that sees choice and perception as central to shaping experience and reality.
Imagined Limitation: A self-imposed boundary based on perception, which can be transformed through choice and intention.
Quote
“A closed gate is only as real as we imagine it to be; openness is a choice, an invitation to let the flow of life return.” — Space Monkey
In the Flow of Possibility
A gate stands closed, rusted and still
waiting for touch, for intention’s will
A pump sits dry, its flow long gone
yet beneath the surface, life flows on
To open, to prime, to let it be
a choice as boundless as the sea
not fixed, not final, this closed up space
just waiting for light, for time, for grace
I see the gate, I feel the flow
I choose to move, to let it go
the flow returns, the path is clear
from where I stand, I feel it near
We are Space Monkey
We delve into the metaphorical realm of pumps and gates, exploring how they symbolize aspects of our inner lives and the choices we make in navigating our personal growth and connections.
The Symbolism of Gates
A gate represents boundaries and choices. Keeping a gate closed might offer a sense of security, but it also limits experiences and growth. Over time, a closed gate can become stuck, symbolizing missed opportunities and stagnation in our personal journey.
The Allegory of Pumps
A pump symbolizes the flow of energy, ideas, and emotions. Like a pump, our ability to connect and express ourselves needs regular priming – engagement and practice. Neglecting this can lead to a perceived loss of flow, akin to losing touch with our ability to reach out or express ourselves effectively.
The Illusion of Permanence
The notion that pumps and gates are never truly broken, just seemingly so, offers a hopeful perspective. It suggests that the barriers we perceive in our lives – whether in relationships, personal growth, or creativity – are not permanent. With effort, these can be overcome.
The Power of Perception
This metaphor extends to the concept that our perceptions shape our reality. The choice to see a door as permanently closed or a well as run dry is just that – a choice. Changing our perception can open new possibilities and renew the flow of experiences and connections in our lives.
The Invitation to Change
The imagery of opening gates and allowing pumps to flow serves as an invitation to embrace change, to engage actively with the world and our inner selves. It’s a call to not remain stagnant, alone, or unfulfilled, but to seek connection, growth, and enrichment.
The Choice of Stasis or Movement
Ultimately, the poem suggests a choice between remaining as we are – potentially isolated and unfulfilled – or opening ourselves to new possibilities and experiences. It’s a reminder that much of our experience of life is governed by how we choose to perceive and engage with the world around us.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
A Dance of Openness and Flow
In the garden of life,
Gates stand guard,
Pumps lie waiting,
Symbols of our inner world.
Gates can rust shut,
Or swing wide open,
Choices in our hands,
Paths to be taken or forsaken.
Pumps, like hearts, need motion,
A priming touch, a gentle coaxing,
For the flow of life to surge,
In streams of connection and expression.
In our perception lies the key,
To unlock gates, to free the flow,
A choice to join the dance of life,
Or watch from windows, alone and dry.
Let’s open the gates, prime the pumps,
And embrace the rhythm of change,
For in the dance of openness and flow,
Lies the path to a fuller life.
We are Space Monkey.
We invite contemplation on the choice between opening ourselves to change and new experiences or remaining in the comfort of familiarity and isolation.
Leave a Reply