Really love the idea of a communal meditation like this. Everyone quiet, not moving, all together. That is a lot of peace, everywhere, all at once. I was struck by Neruda's use of the number 12 instead of 10. I looked up the significance of the number 12 and found quite a trove of info! Some of the points were known (12 disciples of Jesus, for example) but a lot of it was new to me. Below may be a lot to read, but it was interesting. I wonder if any of these things was what Neruda was thinking when he wrote this poem, counting to twelve.
"The number 12 has a number of symbolic meanings and historical significance:
Cycles and completion - 12 is often associated with cycles and completion, such as the 12 months of a year or the 12 hours of a day.
Authority and perfection - 12 can represent authority and perfection, and can also represent the church and faith in general.
Heavens - 12 is strongly associated with the heavens, such as the 12 months, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and the 12 stations of the Moon and of the Sun.
Religious, mythological, and magical symbolism - 12 carries religious, mythological, and magical symbolism, generally representing perfection, entirety, or cosmic order.
Mentioned in the New Testament - The number 12 is mentioned often in the New Testament of the Bible, such as Jesus' selection of 12 apostles.
Mathematical convenience - 12 is a convenient number mathematically because it divides without remainder into halves, thirds, and quarters.
Counting systems - Until Napoleon's France adopted the decimal system, most people based their counting systems on 12.
Dozen - The term "dozen" means twelve (12) items of something. The term goes back to duodecim, which means 12 in Latin."
I counted too.
I think we are all in great need of some stillness in the present state of our world, on so many fronts.
Deep breaths 🧘♀️
Be still and know...
I ponder in the stillness:
Listen…
What a noisy world we live in…
seagulls soar and screech searching for a morsel,
workers labor, drill, pound, and shout,
humming traffic honks impatiently,
boisterous leaf blowers assault annoyingly,
and booming planes rumble through the sky.
STOP
What if stillness reigned and
just the whisper of the wind
blew across our senses?
Maybe we could hear the pollinator hovering
or feel the sigh of a lizard.
What else needs to be heard above the loud din?
Sad hearts that cannot find their words?
Tears that drop on an old worn out t-shirt?
Lonely souls longing for what they don’t even know?
BE STILL
Listen.
Listen deeply.
Listen deeply with your being.
AND KNOW
wholeness
healing
hope
kindness
unity
and
Love.
~ Nancy
Lovely, Nancy!
I love how encouraging you are of other Rafters.
No response is adequate, ah, beauty.
I listened without the music. Extraordinary, this poem. Thank you.
Lovely! I can hear the quiet after the count of 12
😊❤️
I wonder why the poet chose "12."
I like 12. It seems rather forgiving in a way that 10.doesn’t.
Really love the idea of a communal meditation like this. Everyone quiet, not moving, all together. That is a lot of peace, everywhere, all at once. I was struck by Neruda's use of the number 12 instead of 10. I looked up the significance of the number 12 and found quite a trove of info! Some of the points were known (12 disciples of Jesus, for example) but a lot of it was new to me. Below may be a lot to read, but it was interesting. I wonder if any of these things was what Neruda was thinking when he wrote this poem, counting to twelve.
"The number 12 has a number of symbolic meanings and historical significance:
Cycles and completion - 12 is often associated with cycles and completion, such as the 12 months of a year or the 12 hours of a day.
Authority and perfection - 12 can represent authority and perfection, and can also represent the church and faith in general.
Heavens - 12 is strongly associated with the heavens, such as the 12 months, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and the 12 stations of the Moon and of the Sun.
Religious, mythological, and magical symbolism - 12 carries religious, mythological, and magical symbolism, generally representing perfection, entirety, or cosmic order.
Mentioned in the New Testament - The number 12 is mentioned often in the New Testament of the Bible, such as Jesus' selection of 12 apostles.
Mathematical convenience - 12 is a convenient number mathematically because it divides without remainder into halves, thirds, and quarters.
Counting systems - Until Napoleon's France adopted the decimal system, most people based their counting systems on 12.
Dozen - The term "dozen" means twelve (12) items of something. The term goes back to duodecim, which means 12 in Latin."
Who knew 12 was a big deal like this?
I certainly didn't know most of this. Very illuminating! Thank you for being a Raft Resident Researcher!