Embracing Cyclicality

Cyclicality - what a mouthful. It means the attribute of cycling - repeating on a regular basis. Environmental work is cyclical. It is never-ending. We find a solution, like solving the manure problem in city streets by introducing cars, only to discover a whole host of new problems: air pollution, congestions, and global warming. But even more than piggybacking problems, the day to day work of being eco-responsible is just that- day to day. We have to keep plugging at by making food, transport, and other consumer choices. Making it even harder, these eco-conscious actions do not often yield the satisfaction of a job well done, as when we turned in a paper or complete a design. The job of eco-living will continue as long as we live. Eco-living is like housework in this way, whereas most paid jobs have a linearity to them. Begin, work, finish. Usually, we don’t get any accolades for cyclical work. So here, let me award the cyclical work we all do with a gold star. Heck - let’s have a bunch.

I woke up this morning quite despising cyclicality. I was annoyed that it was Monday morning, that the kitchen was dirty again, that the stories in the paper were more bad news, that I have more work to do that “I have to do” than “I want to do”. And I was royally cheesed off that I couldn’t go out in the garden, to work off my first world angst and irritation and to get lost in the soil and plants, to pause to watch a hawk fly over or catch a bluebird zip across the garden. But I have chores to do and frankly, it is stinking cold out there.

During my morning routine, I was irritated at the dogs for being dogs on our walk and annoyed that I had to work out on the rowing machine - rather than, say, gardening. Then I had to do my yoga. Poor me, huh? Well, it felt onerous. But the moment I lay down on my mat, I was presented with the circles printed on the mat. These circles represent the 7 chakras - focal points in the body which are used in various meditation, bodywork, and exercise practices. The illustrations pierced me this morning.

Oh, I realized. Circles. I’ve always loved circles. I love their mathematical simplicity. Give me the location and radius and I’ve got all I need. I love the peacefulness of circles too. In garden design, we use circular areas as places of rest. The ancient Greeks considered circles the perfect shape. The repetition of circular orbits across spatial scales also fascinates me. At a relative distance, there isn’t much to tell the orbit of an electron around an atom from the orbit of the earth around the sun - except of course the atom fills the entire sphere and the earth stays in one plane. Circles are a lovely, rest inducing shape.

And as far as cycles in time go, well, they are glorious, too. Don’t we all love sunrise? Sunset - glorious. Nothing wrong with morning, noon, afternoon, twilight and the dark sacred night either. I love the seasons, too, even if I’m annoyed at the cold, or the heat, at any given time. My encounter with the circle on my yoga mat reminded me that winter too has its place in the cycle. It is a time to retreat and rest. Perhaps this is why I have found the onset of winter harder this year. I feel I’ve had enough R&R after 10 months in COVID world. But it is comforting to know that nature is still going through its usual paces regardless of our worries. Spring will follow winter. The sun will continue its journey around the center of the galaxy. Whether we think we need it or not, we have the winter to nest and contemplate. To nurture gratitude and do what good works we can. Winter gives us permission to have duvet days.

Thinking fleetingly about how the cyclical nature of work sometimes gets me down. But when I contemplate the depth of cycles that make life possible, I’m filled with amazement and gratitude. Writing today has helped me see through the lure of linear work and connect with my calling to cyclical, eco-conscious, work. I hope you are feeling empowered today, as well.

I can’t help but conclude by sharing my dear friend Connie’s favored saying: “Show me a problem, and I’ll tell you how a (bi)cycle can solve it”. As always, she’s got a point.