Patience. Persistence. Taking your time to drip the wet sand, drop by drip by drop. Planning out the four islands of towers, two massive ones and two smaller ones. Linking each of the islands with small sticks and an open arched doorway, inviting the sea to come take a look.
The word ‘patience’ derives from the Latin, meaning a task that necessitates persistence, staying power, resolve, some little stubborness, and certainly requires a singleness of purpose, possibly demanding one undergo and bear no little burden.
The family I watched on my ocean walk finished its kingdom building. Then with only a few backward glances towards their compositition, they laughingly rushed the sea waves, braving the surf. They knew, as I did, that the impermanence of the task was also the draw for them to create the magical land. Two large towers for each of the parents, and two smaller ones for the children. All connected, enchanting, beautifully articulated, waiting. Waiting for the sea to claim its prize.
Buddhist ceremonies honor the ephemeral through their sand paintings, as do the Navaho in their rituals. Sandplay™ scenes open the mind and heart to perspective. With patience, with the willingness to bear whatever comes – drop by drip by drop, scene by scene, emotion by heart-felt emotion. Thus does wisdom arise, abide…and leave.
Hopefully, what remains is the memory of something quite amazing. Copyright © Dr. Heiko 2011
Sandcastle by William Cho (Singapore), courtesy of Wikipedia.