I wandered lonely as a cloud
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.—William Wordsworth
Many of us encounter at some point in our lives a sense that we are all alone in the world. No one identifies with us. We don’t fit in. We don’t have a mate or true close friend. We haven’t yet found our tribe, we have no community to speak of. It’s an isolating feeling and one that usually comes as a result of or is a contributing cause of depression.
But the truth is, we are never alone.
I mean, yes, we are separate beings, each of us “unique in all the world” to quote Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The paradox is that we are also part of the great cosmic continuum. We can consider the interconnectedness of all things: Einstein’s “spooky action at a distance.” Or John Bell’s “nonlocal communication” of two particles that came about at the same point and time and continue to communicate even when separated at a great distance.
As a result of the Big Bang, we are all connected, according to quantum physics. We all communicate energetically (matter is really energy anyway). So, yes, technically, we are not ever truly alone. We are always humming with the energy of the universe, and it with us.
So why, if we are always vibrating with our energetic siblings, do we feel so alone at times?
Part of it is our level of awareness. We look around for someone to vibe with and there’s no one around.
But perhaps we’re not looking closely enough. If everything in our universe is connected, then everything around us is there to communicate with.
Let’s take a simple example: Plants. Plants are highly intelligent beings. Their roots will seek out water by sound alone. They pick up on the acoustic vibrations of water running and grow toward it. But here’s the interesting thing. Here’s how smart they are: The plants can tell if the water sound is recorded or live. They only grow toward the sounds of the real water flowing through a faucet, not the recorded sounds of water running. What does that mean? Even the plants around us are highly sensitive energetic beings that communicate.
Now, I’m not suggesting hugging a tree will alleviate your need for human connection, although I’m fairly sure the tree would appreciate the gesture. What I’m saying is that in the absence of human contact, do not despair; there is life all around you. There are animals and insects and fungi and plant root systems that are extremely busy communicating with themselves and each other.
They are not alone. Neither are you.
Even if you feel isolated in your human life, you can be sure that what surrounds you in nature is buy and active and alive, just like you.
Here’s something to try the next time you feel terribly alone.
Go outside and sit under a tree (maybe the same one you were just about to hug). Think about the roots under your body making their way through the soil toward a water source.
Look up. The clouds are making rain.
Look down. The grass is photosynthesizing.
Later, a bird is going to pick up the string you ripped from your cut-offs and make a nest with it. Then it’s going to sing a song. Listen for it.
All this is happening around you, with you. You are part of it.
You are never alone. There is ecstasy in that. And it’s yours.
This is from Kashmiri poet, Lalla, translated by Coleman Barks:
Dance, Lalla, with nothing on
but air: Sing, Lalla,
wearing the sky.Look at this glowing day! What clothes
could be so beautiful, or
more sacred?