A Tethered Balloon

Today’s reflection starts with a simple question: what are you feeling now? So i close my eyes and let the imagery wash over me. Let the sensations of my emotions firm up.

I feel like a helium balloon tethered in place, softly floating on the wind, I can see the landscape of a new unknown world from the crow’s view. I feel desperate to move forwards but lost at what step to take.

This sensation doesn't immediately hold any meaning to me, I'm just expressing what comes naturally to my mind. I should dig a little deeper. Focus a little more, deep breaths, relax.

I see that the sky is dark and cloudy but sunlight is peeking through in bright bursts of light, the grassy rolling hills are bordered by a wild untamed ancient forest. The balloon is tied to a wooden fence rail, weathered with age and mossy from the wet air. The tether is a shiny ribbon. It's blowing towards the hills in the distance, I think there might be a town built into those hills. As I make this observation suddenly I fear if I can’t release my tether soon, the helium will leach out and slowly the balloon will fall, to lay buried on the side of the path, unseen forever.

Now we’re getting somewhere, but how do I interpret this scene? Symbolism is subjective so I try to put myself in a positive mindset.

The sunlight breaking through the clouds is hope, the beginnings of a transitional state, we are currently on the cusp of a huge change in our lives. We are moving into a new phase of life. It is a good thing. The contrast between the softness of the rolling hills and the rugged wilderness of the ancient forest to me says we are moving away from established systems. Ones that we can’t control or find space in, it’s too crowded for us to flourish. How much of that hopeful sunlight can you see through the canopy? We must move towards something more conductive to livability, do away with survival, where we are free to plant our own roots. Somewhere that we can thrive. The town represents potential and community, a shift away from isolation. The weathered aging of the rail keeping the balloon is place, is belief systems from the past, held still in the present - we are living in survival mode. The shiny ribbon represents the choice in the attachment to once purposeful beliefs, it’s beauty distracting from it’s purpose, to hold the balloon in place. The wind is calm, directional - I know where I need to go, but it's up to me to allow that journey to happen.

I know that I must release this tether and leave behind the security of where I am. Take a chance on where the wind of life will blow us, because being tethered is worthless if the helium no longer fills my balloon.