{"id":13644,"date":"2025-01-29T19:38:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T19:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.earthempaths.net\/wp\/?p=13644"},"modified":"2025-02-05T08:55:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T08:55:15","slug":"nostalgia-the-longing-that-can-never-be-fulfilled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/?p=13644","title":{"rendered":"Nostalgia | The Longing That Can Never Be Fulfilled"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Enjoy the mystical clouds of joy nostalgia brings.<\/em> \u2014<em> Unknown Author<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I started musing about nostalgia the other day, this longing for something in the past, and wondering what it served. Like most folk I do feel nostalgia from time to time\u2014it comes in moments of recalling walking through ancient groves. The Redwoods along the California coast and how many times I walked among the Giant Sequoias, their towering silent grandeur\u2014protectors of silent secrets from times that came before. They whispered from a rustling bough or the heavy snow slipping off its lofty perch falling to earth with a muted sound. There are other nostalgias, moments when I am transported back to the Danube listening the the water splashing on the kayak&#8217;s sides under a silvery moon. These moments come not as longing but as part of me, a remembering that does bring a mystical joy. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sequoias-in-snow-766x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13650\" width=\"766\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sequoias-in-snow-766x1024.jpeg 766w, https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sequoias-in-snow-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sequoias-in-snow-112x150.jpeg 112w, https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sequoias-in-snow-768x1026.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sequoias-in-snow.jpeg 898w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><figcaption>Giant Sequoias, a path through majesty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My pondering on nostalgia came about because there are so many voices crying out for the good ol&#8217; days, when life was simpler, secure, and seemingly sane. What I see is that many people are confronting what is before us with a backward look, <strong><em>if<\/em> <\/strong>only. Memories are hued with rose-colored glasses; longing tugs at the heart to go back. Turning up the radio when oldies but goodies play\u2014carried away by the music&#8217;s lyrical beat one momentarily relives their youth, their hopefulness, romantic notions, and <strong><em>if<\/em><\/strong> they were lucky the feeling of their invincible nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not to be condemned\u2014<strong><em>if<\/em><\/strong> one is living it in the now without the wistful feeling that things were better then. What has been shuffled away into a dank back room or dusty attic is that those good times also had bad times; within them compromises were often made\u2014decisions were taken without the benefit of age, wisdom or sage guidance. Indeed <em><strong>if<\/strong><\/em> one allows for memories to be teachers, <strong><em>if<\/em><\/strong> one takes the good with the bad, the sorrow with the joy, the successes with the failures the gift bestowed can become a coherent wholeness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As humans, born into a false construct, our Way was lost, the sacred no longer spoke to our being except, perhaps, in brief moments before it was tucked away and the people complied with the rules, accepting the false gods of materialism and celebrity. We are where we are today because of this. There are and always have been those seers and sages who incarnate here to keep the sacredness of life alive. This divine spirit can never be snuffed out, nor can it be chained nor corralled into a dystopian nightmare reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So<strong><em> if <\/em><\/strong>you look back, don&#8217;t become lost in nostalgia. Each one of us have a personal history, while some remember epochs of seeming time, others maybe only this lifetime. I&#8217;ve come to see that it makes little difference in how a human being will suffer, meet challenges, change course<strong> <em>if <\/em><\/strong>true to a higher call building character on nobler goals and aspirations.<em> <strong>If<\/strong><\/em><strong> <\/strong>Know Thyself becomes a prime directive it will ultimately lead one to know their divine nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As is commonly quoted: <em>&#8220;Those who don&#8217;t learn from the past are bound to repeat it.&#8221; <\/em> There is no doubt that we are facing epic changes, earth shattering revelations, near impossible obstacles to overcome. Our screens are splattered with the blood of other human beings, specters are dancing demonically on our screens and those of us sitting in the comfort of a home, dinner on the table and physical pleasures still at hand recoil inside. Think of recoiling like the tension on a spring that needs to be set into action, don&#8217;t turn away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our good times are splattered by rivers flowing with the blood of innocent people and natural life; ancient trees were honed, millions of buffalo slaughtered and millions of carrier pigeons were targeted to extinction. This was promoted during the founding of the Make America Great manifest destiny. Sit with it\u2014what does this tell you? And don&#8217;t leave out the 2,000-pound bombs funded by &#8220;good citizens&#8221; paying taxes raining down on people across the world even as I type these words. What does that tell you? This is the space where nostalgia has no purpose other than to turn a human into a pillar of salt, for<strong><em> if<\/em><\/strong> you can&#8217;t see the larger cosmic picture, you long for something long gone. Dust in the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is one true longing, one that brings tears to the eyes from somewhere deep inside. It comes unbidden in moments when the defenses are let down. Most describe it as a longing for home, a longing for what was lost. A longing that won&#8217;t go away until it is fulfilled. Perhaps each individual&#8217;s conception of home is unique, perhaps it needs to be that way. Yet one thing is certain, all people are longing for love, real true, sacrificial love, love unbound unconditioned not clouded by nostalgia. A heart that hasn&#8217;t been pierced to its depth will not know of what I speak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are entering a new epoch of human history; it holds the most severe challenges ever confronted and yet! it is the most epic of times. I know of no one who has nostalgia for the hard times. ;-) Nor would anyone of heart project a future of more of the same. Sit quietly now, my friends, listen as long as it takes to hear the silent yet mighty voice that is your one true guide. Now uncoil that spring and let your heart and soul fly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"56\" src=\"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/small-grey-flourish-e1678928459433.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7205\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>If\u2014 by Rudyard Kipling<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can keep your head when all about you&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But make allowance for their doubting too;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or being lied about, don\u2019t deal in lies,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Or being hated, don\u2019t give way to hating,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And yet don\u2019t look too good, nor talk too wise:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can dream\u2014and not make dreams your master;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you can think\u2014and not make thoughts your aim;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And treat those two impostors just the same;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can bear to hear the truth you\u2019ve spoken<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And stoop and build \u2019em up with worn-out tools:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can make one heap of all your winnings<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>And lose, and start again at your beginnings<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And never breathe a word about your loss;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To serve your turn long after they are gone,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>And so hold on when there is nothing in you<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Except the Will which says to them: \u2018Hold on!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or walk with Kings\u2014nor lose the common touch,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If all men count with you, but none too much;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you can fill the unforgiving minute<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With sixty seconds\u2019 worth of distance run,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Yours is the Earth and everything that\u2019s in it,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And\u2014which is more\u2014you\u2019ll be a Man, my son!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"56\" src=\"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/small-grey-flourish-e1678928459433.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7205\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Love unbound, fierce and free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Christine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you would like notifications of my writing you can sign up for free on Substack:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/aure0sky.substack.com\/\">https:\/\/aure0sky.substack.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enjoy the mystical clouds of joy nostalgia brings. \u2014 Unknown Author I started musing about nostalgia the other day, this<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13646,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,72,88],"tags":[80,453],"class_list":["post-13644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dreaming","category-friends","category-wisdom","tag-love-unbound","tag-nostalgia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13644"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13709,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13644\/revisions\/13709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthempaths.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}