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没有价格的交换

仔细审视事实,人类的赚钱能力影响其渴望的能力,这一点似乎毋庸置疑。购买力使我们成为销售话术的猎物,而销售话术又会迷惑我们灵魂深处的渴望。动物没有购买力,它们不容易被操纵去渴望那些与自身本质不符的事物。这就是为什么广告商对它们敬而远之的原因。动物不会受到广告牌、谷歌广告或产品植入的影响。在它们的世界里,推特不过是电线上三只或更多只鸟的互动。所谓“网红”,不过是任何可能让你心动或成为你午餐的人。动物无需将自己的渴望从潮流和大众营销的迷宫中解脱出来。它们非常擅长遵循玛丽·奥利弗的忠告: “你只需让你身体里柔软的动物去爱它所爱的东西。”然而,对于人类而言,面对滚动字幕、电话推销、超链接和一键下单,我们很难找到深藏于骨子里的那份野性而温柔的本性。身无分文、赤脚却无比狂热的人。头发蓬乱、四处流浪、永不停歇地歌唱的人。

所以诀窍在于像动物一样训练你的感官,越来越敏锐地觉察并回应你周围无处不在的、无需付出任何代价的快乐。就像紫水晶般的日落、雪花石膏般的月亮,还有孤挺花(Amaryllis Belladonna )……你对后者不熟悉吗?让我来介绍一下。但首先,莎士比亚问道:“名字里有什么?”却无人作答。读者朋友,他虽是吟游诗人,但这并不意味着他提出的所有问题都是反问,或者他得出的所有结论都成立。名字里有什么?如果你足够幸运,它蕴含着丰富的诗意。因为在过去(也就是在我们失去想象力的直觉天赋,开始炮制诸如调制解调器、信用卡和主席之类的平庸名称之前),我们拥有通过命名来唤起事物精神的天赋。名字如同咒语般在空气中流淌,世间万物瞬间被赋予生命,被精准的振动召唤到光明的存在状态。如果把玫瑰称为臭菘,它几乎肯定会失去一部分生命力。

朱顶红(Amaryllis )这个名字真是名副其实。它源自希腊语,意为“闪耀” 。如同许多希腊事物一样,它的起源可以追溯到一位美丽的仙女。美丽的希腊仙女大致可以分为两类——受人追捧的和痴情的。朱顶红就痴情于一位冷漠的牧羊人。如同希腊传说中被抛弃的女子一样,她求助于德尔斐神谕——这位神谕以非线性的指引著称,擅长让事情充满趣味。神谕建议朱顶红进行为期30天的仪式:站在心上人的小屋门口,用一支金箭刺穿自己的心脏。她照做了。在这场颇具风险的仪式的最后一天,溅落在地上的鲜血化作了宝石般鲜红的花朵。这戏剧性的炼金术最终融化了牧羊人的冷漠。当他拥抱那个自残的爱人时,朱顶红那颗像针垫一样的心脏立刻痊愈了,纤细花喉、新生的花朵也成了她的名字。然而,并非所有的朱顶红都是血红色的。

我们的朱顶红是前面提到的颠茄品种(颠茄的意思是“美丽的女士”)。它们是珍珠般的淡粉色。严格来说,它们并非我们所有,或者说,并非任何人所有。有一天我们醒来,发现它们像一支华丽的军队一样,将我们家的四周都包围了起来。如果注定要被围困,那就让这围困永远发生在花丛之中吧。它们在枯黄光秃的茎秆上,头颅如此优美地倾斜;它们的花瓣尖端如此温柔地卷曲;你会原谅它们此刻以及永远的过错。

因为它们高耸的茎秆上没有一丝绿叶的遮蔽,又因为它们芬芳馥郁的多朵花朵花蕊纤细柔美,所以它们也被称为“裸女”。如果你觉得这说法有些离经叛道,请记住,每朵花的生命都离不开艳遇,离不开在天鹅绒密室里的秘密幽会,离不开各种各样的来来往往。花朵无需拘谨或端庄。或许,任何人都不必拘谨或端庄。如果你想就此得到一些指点(或者说,让你心生敬畏和眩晕),不妨去问问旋转舞者。

如果你以为朱顶红是在花期前才出现的,那就大错特错了。它们在你注意到它们之前很久就已存在,最初深埋地下,以奇形怪状、凹凸不平的球茎形态示人,然后在冬末破土而出,伪装成翠绿的带状叶片。生机勃勃,充满希望——但希望的是什么呢?叶片不透露任何信息,在春天的花苞萌发之前,这些象征着美好前景的叶片便会突然枯萎、凋零、消失。所有那些绿色的宣传,如今只剩下光秃秃的土地。如此多的期待,最终却化为乌有。一种莫大的失望。而这正是认知偏差的开始。考虑到我们生活中很多事情都像谈判一样,这种误解也就不难理解了。在谈判中,透明度和具体性至关重要,除非是极其容易上当受骗的人,否则不会接受含糊不清的局面。聪明人不会说:“我会付出我的血汗和泪水,而你却给我一个惊喜。”不。聪明人会敲定清晰明确的条款和细则。但神秘——神秘总是按照自己的方式行事。神秘永远是最后的赢家。

有时,它会在孤挺花(Amaryllis Belladonna)喇叭状的花朵中发出笑声。这些花朵挣脱了花苞的紧紧束缚,从挺拔而坚韧的茎秆上高高绽放,如同神圣的复活,从光秃秃的土地上拔地而起,即便在你早已放弃所有希望之后。多年(真的多年!),你都无法将这一切联系起来。这些娇艳欲滴的粉红色美人,竟从那些令人失望的绿叶的坟墓中升起。发现它们,如同神圣的启示,令人震惊不已。

缺席是对无形存在的误解。此刻,隐藏的浩瀚正在黑暗中蜕变。生命与太阳之间永无止境的爱恋,无人能够掌控。所以,亲爱的,别再为琐事操心了。你不是赏金猎人,你是宝藏。亲爱的,别再苦苦思索了。你是源泉,不是磨刀石。挚友——够了,别再忙碌了。换个方式吧。

记住 -

花儿不配拥有四季,河流也不配拥有奔向大海的道路。

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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

15 PAST RESPONSES

User avatar
Susanne Jun 5, 2023
This is so beautiful, I had to read so many lines over and over, to be sure the beauty would sink in.
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Janessa Jun 5, 2023
Pure poetic prose. So, so good. Love the belated gift of the amaryllis, “stems that rise from bare earth like holy resurrections, long after you have given up all hope.”
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Rieke Hollander Jun 4, 2023
I'm sorry but many male animals kill to gain power! The kill newborns so the females can have baby's from them instead of from another male.
Your story is nice, but a little to optimistic.
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Fateh Singh MONDER Jun 3, 2023
It is sheer poetry! To be read and reread and enjoyed. Thank you.
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Sr Marilyn Lacey Jun 3, 2023
Pavi, this is an extraordinary essay. I plan to revisit it again and again: immersing myself in each sentence, rolling around inside the words like a bumblebee flopping amid precious pollen, emerging changed, perhaps even unrecognizable. Thank you for sharing your gifts of perception, reverence, and writing!
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Guri Jun 3, 2023
This is a beautiful ode to the gorgeous Amaryllis and, even more importantly, an antidote to the status quo of capitalism. Inviting us closer to our authentic, natural selves. A world unscripted, without price tags, and reminding us of the grandeur of life's real pleasures.
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Nalini Jun 3, 2023
Hello Pavi. I enjoyed reading your article. Wish I could be a great writer like you. I’m a grandma. Do I have time I wonder. Yes I do your essay this time reminds me of a great book. The language of flowers by Vanessa diffenvbaugh. I love flowers too. Thanks again. And have a lovely rosy day
Reply 1 reply: Alin
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Alin Jun 3, 2023
Just begin and continue, your sacred relationship with Creation will guide you.
Just my thoughts.
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Teresa Jun 3, 2023
Thank you for this eloquently written ode to Invisible Presence. And for the reminders of all the beauty that surrounds us, if only we take time to notice. As the Little Prince says ,"It is only with the heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."❤️
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Paula Jun 3, 2023
Beautiful reminder of the essence and essentials of life, thank you Pavithra, a lovely gift 🎁
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Kristin Pedemonti Jun 3, 2023
Pavithra, thank you for such beautifully languaged reminders of presence, of what's invisible in time and what may bloom.
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Jane Jun 3, 2023
Words that wend their way
to hidden pockets of joy—-
Delighting the heart

Thank you❤️
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Patrick Jun 3, 2023
TikTok goes the clock—you’re wasting time young people. }:- a.m.

And yes, I cultivate Amaryllis all over our yards here at home, and even in random vacant public places abroad. 😉
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Jam Brown Jun 3, 2023
Reading this was pure delight and a comfort to my mind and soul this morning. Thank you and the graces that bestowed the eloquence to speak such loveliness into my heart. I have never longed for a wish as this but honestly it would be that we were close and friends and could converse daily 😊 I have enjoyed you so much today. Thank you! Continued blessings 🫶 🙌
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Wendy Jun 3, 2023
An absolutely beautiful read to start my morning. Thank you