Last week, we were immersed in watching birds and the natural beauty of the Desert National Park in the Sam Desert, and the year changed without any big bang.
When we finally reached Jodhpur, I found that my social media and the streets were filled with overwhelming celebrations. The contrast between the quiet transition of the desert and the desperately loud declarations of human civilization made me wonder—what are we really celebrating?
The Earth knows nothing about our glorious change of date.
Nor do trees, animals, birds, bugs, or any of her creations—other than the lost Homo sapiens—go wild over the idea of the New Year.
Even among them, those who are closest to the natural cycles of life and death—like little children, indigenous tribes, or elders at the later stages of life—don’t sweat over this imaginary threshold.
Earth renews itself every night, every day, and every moment, without any bounds of time.
We, humans get weary of the old—old patterns, old habits, old ideologies. We feel stuck in our old selves and long for renewal. Perhaps our illusionary lives need an imaginary threshold.
Earth, however, knows a deeper secret.
When an old leaf has fully served its purpose, it lets go and transforms itself into manure for the rest of the forest.
New is not a step change.
New is an inevitable evolution.
It is the “letting go” that creates the space for the new.
Honouring the empty space between cycles lets nature innovate and rediscover itself.
And transition happens naturally when we graciously accept our place in serving the whole.
Perhaps we can wish each other—
“Happy letting go of the old”,
Celebrate the empty moments of not knowing,
Renew our commitment to serve the whole,
And let the new naturally emerge— every day, every night, and in every aspect of our lives.
Wishing you quiet transitions and renewal like Earth.
— Manish Srivastava
(from the Sacred Well)
PS: All images were clicked by Samay Srivastava at the Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. Read his eBird trip report here. More on this trip will be published soon.
the sacred well 
Manish
your lament seems to signify a pain with a certain kind of soullessness in man.
We were going back to our roots as family in the time frame you mention. Not because we are soulful. We paid no mind to earthly frenzy over its physical revolutions.
We heard accounts of oneness. From families who withstood the 2018 floods. Of a pujari who offered a Christian family abode. Of migrant labourers who deep cleaned house interiors and external compounds to desilt living tenements. And so on
Today’s soullessness is of a geriatric demographic. Even if medical care comes home, emotional succour does not. The same society tired in another stupor. In human nature there are patterns that could do with interruptions.
I am hoping it’s not going to be another cloudburst or landslide.
LikeLike
Happy new moment, much love from Germany 🥰, Dheera
LikeLike