Why is it that we are mesmerized by the flicker of flame? The current answer would be something about evolution, bah! Lets just dismiss that, because after however million years it is supposed to have been since we evolved, I am sure we would have lost our 'instictual response' to flame as a life giver. After all, if your mind follows that avenue, we lost the 'instinctual response' to flame as a danger, unlike most animals existing now, who flee from fire.
Sure, fire terrifies us a little, our heart gets going when a bit of flame gets away on us. But at the same time, we are entirely taken with the fluid movement. We can contain fire, to an extent in specific pits, boxes, etc, but the fact is that we cannot catch and entirely tame it. Kind of like a rainbow! Who isn't absolutly moved to see a brilliant, full bow, of glowing color. Maybe thats the key, that we have no way of traping it, saving it. There are thousands of photos taken of fire, and rainbows, ooo oo! and northern lights, none of which do justice. But we continue to try, and we are amazed everytime. Is the illusiveness the pull?
Fire though, fire seems more so. We sit infront of, even a little gas fire place, or a space filled with candles, and our eyes are drawn to the dance of the flames, night after night. Every fire is different, yes, but not so different that we can find something new to admire everytime.
Is it because we know that when unleashed, is distructive, and deadly? Is it a tiny thrill of having something so dangerous, as a veritable pet in our home, like a lion on a chain? Does it charge our ego?
Or are we pulled to the constant light and warmth. As long as we feed, protect, and nurture it, it will respond like a lover, and fill our lives with as much light and warmth that we can handle. We can come home to an empty house, no one waiting with the lights on, but when we light a fire, and bask in its glow, we feel... almost loved. Is that the draw? Substitute affection of sorts?
What, what is it that engages us so?
No comments:
Post a Comment