To Move or to Be Moved
Asking the questions that take us further
I stare up toward the heavens, almost stumbling backwards as my gaze takes me for an unintentional journey across the brilliant night sky. Living in the middle of New York City, the full spectrum of constellations is not often available to me. Were it not pitch black, not doubt a casual passer-by would observe the palpable awe that emits from every cell of my body. I soak in the view from the middle of the desert, unsure where I end and where the sky begins.
For a moment I am launched back to the reality that before GPS and phones (and my Dark Sky app) to help decipher the messages and stories I glimpse in the great expanse around me, this was our navigation tool. In that which existed beyond true comprehension (yet in full view), maps through which to explore the world were created. And astronomy and astrology still to this day serve as guides for curious seekers. Stumbling to my left to avoid falling, I can barely ignore the desire to just lie on the ground and take it all in.
Thoughts rush through my head - first, how small and insignificant I feel - quickly followed by the fascinating realization that this glorious snapshot I am taking in as if it were a painted canvas hanging in a museum was - is - actually in motion. Slowly, imperceptibly to the human eye, the concept of a static snapshot is completely blown open to reveal a dynamic tableau that is always, always in action.
In his famous soliloquy, Hamlet reflects on the existential question: “To be, or not to be.” The simple, yet profound inquiry is one that is not without substantial consequence - Hamlet isn’t sure whether continued suffering makes it worth living. But it does pose an interesting reflection on the inevitable choices along our path when we come to forks in our roads while navigating and exploring our world. And yet, the stars remind me: we are always moving.
And yet who I am in all this? What choice(s) do I have? What do I do when all I know is that I don’t know much at all? I sit with these questions and my own seemingly existential inquiry arises: “to move or to be moved”?
The term “movers and shakers” points to the quality of action (and results) by those who actively move. And although moving can take many forms, it does imply a level of choice. And if I’m being honest, this can get exhausting. More to do, places to go, and people to see leaves us moving, but sometimes so fast that we forget where we are going. If we remember to choose our pace, chart our path, and decide where we want to go, does this give space for our movement to be more full of ease?
On the flip side, anyone who has ever tried to get a stubborn animal (or even a strong-willed child) to move against their will knows that being moved is not always the most comfortable phenomenon. But what if there could be relief in being led? Not having to worry so much about the process may just open up space for curiosity to rush in, and perhaps we have the chance to see things in a way we haven’t before.
If the choice is simply whether to move or be moved, we risk losing our connection to a bigger picture. No matter what choice we make, we can create the experience we want to explore by asking important questions:
Where to I want to go?
What do I desire to experience?
Who does this help me become?
Although these inquiries can sometimes feel like a never ending labyrinth, the maze of empowered choice turns binary questions into an open field of possibility. As much as I feel relief at this insight, I’d be lying if I didn’t also mention what else escapes my system: a deep sigh. Because after all, another word for moving is…change. And with so much going on in the world, there are so very many moments where I just want to stop. Want IT to stop. Be still. (And not have to do one more thing.) What would be so difficult about a period of time where things just stayed the same and didn’t have to go anywhere?
A smirk escapes my lips as I catch myself trying to bathe in my own illusion. Though imperceptible, Earth is always rotating. We may think we are standing still, but we are simultaneously moving AND being moved. Our lungs still breathe, our blood still flows through our veins, and neurons furiously fire inside our brains.
Questions continue to flood my mind as another sigh escapes my lips, but this time one of a different quality. Whether we walk, run, skip, or are led toward our next threshold, we have the ability to partner in mapping out our journey. This isn’t just aspirational - it’s an honest knowing that comes from the truth that as hard as we try, we can never truly stay still. Either way, the world keeps turning. And so do we. And each question inches us further, helping us write new stories. So let’s welcome in new ideas about what moving (and being moved) really means, and grab hold of the chance to author these new constellations. And if all else fails, we’ll always have the wisdom in the sky to guide (and inspire) us.