The River in You: Listening to the Symbols of Life
The other day, I was on Kijiji, excited to find a reliable trailer for hauling stone and supplies—something that could also double as a camper for family trips. I found the perfect one: enclosed, sturdy, and complete with a fold-out tent. Just as I was waiting for the green light from my wife, it was gone. Sold.
Determined, I tracked down the same model, brand new. The price was $2,500 more, but I was willing to bite the bullet. Then, a week before I planned to commit, it disappeared again. Now I’m waiting to hear if they’ll restock, but it feels like a closed door.
This kind of thing has been happening a lot lately—missed opportunities revolving around my stone carving. It’s frustrating, even maddening, when everything seems to go wrong. A planned execution fails, a perfect piece of stone cracks, or something entirely unrelated throws off the process.
But here’s what I’ve learned from years of carving: these moments aren’t random.
Resistance and the Internal Struggle
When things fall apart, it’s tempting to push through, forcing the pieces back together. But resistance—whether it comes from within or the world around us—is like dragging a boulder tied to your feet. It demands attention. Sometimes the obstacles in front of us are just reflections of the ones within us.
Call it “woo woo” or metaphysics, but I believe these challenges carry meaning. Thoth, the ancient Egyptian figure of wisdom, taught that the universe is mental—a manifestation of thought. And while the universe may feel “mental” in the chaotic sense, there’s truth in this idea. Resistance often mirrors something unaddressed in our lives, something asking for clarity.
I’ve seen this happen firsthand. Once, I made the conscious effort to resolve an issue before the sun went down—a longstanding grievance I’d ignored for too long. That night, two lingering physical injuries healed overnight. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t think so.
Dreams as Guides
Recently, my dreams have echoed this theme: pulling boulders, struggling against invisible weights. The imagery feels frustratingly familiar, but it’s also a clue. Dreams, like life’s obstacles, are symbols of our internal state. They point to what needs addressing.
When I finally stop fighting the current—when I face the resistance instead of running from it—I find that things start to flow. Doors open. Opportunities return.
The River in You
This process of listening, interpreting, and acting isn’t just a lesson for life—it’s the foundation of my art. My latest piece, The River In You, illustrates this point. If you look closely, you’ll see the interplay of artificial shadows and dark water, the tension between what’s seen and unseen.
The river symbolizes the flow of life, but also the blockages we create. It’s a reminder that every external struggle carries an internal message. And when we address the source—when we clear the boulders in our path—the river runs free.
Life, like carving stone, is an act of persistence, patience, and faith. The obstacles we face are part of the process, shaping us as much as we shape them.
Listen to the river in you. It will guide you where you need to go.