Beyond the beauty of the terrain, beyond the exquisite cuisine, and beyond the privacy of our B&B, my guests often mention something to me about this place which has always pleased me yet never surprised me.
They say that this area has really good Energy.
What does that mean exactly?
Well, let's just say I am not a religious person. I have very sharp and developed ideas about the spiritual nature of Life which have come to me over time. I am not only comfortable with my ideas but I sit firmly and happily in the middle of them. One of my credos has always been that the Supreme Power lies in the Science. Meaning that science, extrapolated well beyond the point of our present empirical knowledge, will lead to the Source. I was discussing with a Harvard -- sorry, Yale -- PhD student here at the B&B about this a bit and he reiterated to me that what we actually know as empirical science is nano percent of what there is to know. We are at the beginning of the long path of knowledge.
And it is my contention that at the other end is the Source.
So when people have a sense that this area has a good Energy, they are reaching, as I reach, beyond the limits of our empirical selves into what is beyond -- namely, that there are places to which people are drawn which feel right, although that feeling is not logically explainable. That feeling is the Energy. And that Energy propels us forward.
There are many who believe that Italy is comprised of more old souls than most other countries. That souls come back here, life after life after life, to work in the vineyards and olive groves, because it brings so much soul-satisfaction to do so.
Could this be the Energy which keeps bringing people back to Italy? The Energy of old souls, living happy lives? How many people have been here, and have gone home to tell their friends and neighbors, "Italy is so beautiful -- but it's the people that make me keep going back..."?
Could this be the Energy that keeps Italians from stressing out about not having the newest car, the latest Wii or a media room in the basement? The Energy that makes Italians shake their heads with a smile if you offer them double to work on Ferragosto when they had already planned to be with their friends on a picnic?
Is this the Energy which makes Italians seem happier with so much simpler lives?
Is this the Energy which keeps things here so much as they have always been?
One of my goals for the next weeks and months is to allow myself to be filled up with the Energy which so many sense here.
I should be glowing by Spring!
5 comments:
I love being quoted but technically I go to Yale... Nice post!
I completely believe in the concept of old souls. Yoga, in the religious sense of the practice, is the journey of reaching that place beyond reincarnation through mastery of the breath, mastery of the body, and ultimately mastery of the mind. It's completely simple yet so wholly humbling. And even if you don't believe in the tenets of Hinduism, it remains a fascinating spiritual process.
And that is patently obvious in immersing yourself in the culture of that humble little city that it is inhabited by old souls, because they lack the sense of urgency that you see in the U.S., that lack of eternal fretting. It's not that Italians are eternally happy; rather, there is more of an inherent contentment. I know I'd be pretty flipping content if I was surrounded by that amazing food all of the time. :-)
I have to say, though, that the Wii is one of the best technological trappings out there, only because it encourages movement, silliness, and groups playing together. Is it better than having a picnic on a hill? No way. But it is a fun alternative for those days when the outdoors is determined to keep you inside.
aww, shit... i always screw up you ivy leaguers. man. that's what going to a state university will do to you -- let's see--- mike yale, barak harvard, mike yale, barak harvard....
Old souls, yes...Italy would be just the place for them..another interesting post,Diana! Love the Berlesconi post, too...ah...italians!
Back in my early 20s my then boss told me I had an old soul.
Hmmm, maybe that is why I feel at home here.
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