Bears Repeating: May 2008

Thread of Life

Thread of Life

Perception is really a pattern of sensory inputs that repeat over time.

Unique events would be imperceptible to us. We couldn't observe, associate, recall or communicate them. Events must repeat strongly and frequently enough to bear preserving a pattern that is built up into a palpable, enduring sensation.

If a truly singular event occurred, it wouldn’t be meaningful — to us. The mind seeks patterns.

When we perceive something as unique it's actually a variation, or novelty that persists and forms a cohesive pattern — a pattern within a pattern.

The overarching structure is another pattern.

Within structure, content becomes uniquely and endlessly reorganized into dynamic patterns that form meanings.

Meanings are the threads that weave together the fabric of our experience.

And so, I repeat.

In the rain forests of Hawaii, 'Iwa'iwa, Maiden Hair fern adorns vertical cinder walls in graceful layers. Hapu'u, the Hawaiian Tree fern unfurls it's fronds into lacy overlapping arches.