The Cycle of Life

Tory Quintero
3 min readJan 22, 2021

The way our culture can transform into the next stage, is by allowing all which does not collectively serve us, to die.

decomposition

the inevitable

process

of decaying material to release

its last vestiges of form

is the only and necessary manner by which

rot

ultimately gives up its last stench

to an outcome of

unlikely

glory.

first a layer of moisture over a misshapen

mat of what singularity died there

and then under a thick field of fungus fur

the carcass dissolves

in final quiet

teaming with nutrients

nourishing millions of new life forms to proliferate

from the ground up

fertilizing seeds

from mulch

enriched with

bone powder

blood meal

mixed with scat of hungry creatures

somehow a magic occcurs

blessed by prayers for the ancestors

for the cycle of life

for the spring which returns from each winter

god’s breath

floats in on the wild fresh air

amidst buzz of hummingbirds and cackles of woodpeckers

with the early bird getting the worm

a bright yellow dusting of pine pollen decorates sunken and unrecognizably lost surfaces

of both what was

and what is to be

and then

what appeared dark is no longer dark

what was still is no longer still

what stirs forth

could be heralded as a

miracle

a rebirth

from a soft shoot of potential

emerges such power to live

it can no longer contain

but must self-unfurl

strong, and courageous

flourid, and festive

the next generation of life

determined to expand consciousness

beyond what never before was thought

possible

so let go

right this minute

in earnest resolve

give up what is no longer serving you

walk away and bathe yourself in

a clean flowing river

free from contagion

of misbelief

this world will heartily re-use and re-purpose

all the energy you have put into

endless fighting

all the judgments creating your miseries

and the rationalizations you’re cloaked in

which provide no protection from shame

the soil that we walk on can neutralize

all the poisons which have broken you down

from the inside

crumbled integrity

left you limp and depleted

empty and desperate

compost receives all things and treats them the same

revives and renews all nature

through the cycle of life

so

stumble and

purge your intestines

and lay down

and when you awake

stand both feet on the ground

turn your face to the sun

greet the stars like your brothers and sisters

and your sisters and brothers like stars

we all need each other to see

we all need each other to feel complete and not anxious

we are part of a biological experience of yearning,

of learning

our connection means everything

and that connection is key to survive

and to thrive

because without it we perish

and the earth will revise our intentions once more

destroy and re-write all “me” stories into “we” stories

reduce lives built on ego and stature into soggy heaps of unnamed associated wet molecules

therefore we might pause before rushing again

along well worn tracks heading straight off the edge of the cliff

fueled by deluded diseased thinking towards resultant fragmented demise

sacrificing the sacred purpose of life

by method of designing personal plans

thwarting our greater purpose and best use

knowingly harming others for our short term advantage

only to die repeatedly and too soon

our culture’s assignment, if we choose to accept it

is to inhale what allows us to breathe

and exhale all toxins that must pass away

to live the principles we see which succeed all around us

and join to be stronger and more than the sum of our parts

conjure ourselves whole again

by respecting each other as much as ourselves

and think act live breathe work love

create

and express

one solid effort

through many together

interwoven securely and tight for shared benefit and maximum pull

one endeavor

to take hold of and colonize

the true meaning of civilization

planting our ubiquitous flags in the sand, on the plains, and on mountaintops

declaring the true honor of capturing and guarding

a brave honest future for all

one model society

one species

one dream for justice

one voice for peace

both arms and all hearts

extending out to encircle

one planet

one planet

calling to all of us equally to commit to this process

this requirement

to evolve here and now

calling for balance and purpose again

calling forth the regeneration of life

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Tory Quintero

Off-road driving to seek solutions and point the way.