The Essence Of What Is Seen Beyond The Seen
The focus of the gaze on the distant horizon oscillates between the effort of will and the deterministic vision of triumph, beyond the immediate obstacles.
For a runner, every race becomes a test of initiation into the mysteries of existence, where perseverance guides him to fulfillment, even when the road seems lost. Better said, in the pursuit of performance we become artists of our own destiny, painting the picture of our life with every step we take. And here, the eyes, having nothing to cling to, allow the gaze to peer into the interior of this thrilling, inner and transformative game, so that the race becomes twofold: an exercise in observing reality on a mountain route, not easy, and a transcendent flight into the realm of imagination to each one.
Today, August 4, 2024, I witnessed a "Xenthoria Ulmivent", a fusion between physical reality and spiritual transcendence, at the Teioasa marathon, an experience that will remain engraved in the fiber of my being as a kind of revelation of the truth hidden in the effort. A symbiosis of emotions, perseverance and unexpected surprises accompanied me throughout the whole race, like a composition by Kandinsky, where every element found its place in a game of colors and shapes. Each step of the race painted a new shade on the canvas of personal experience.
Does your reaction at the moment of victory reflect inner enlightenment, between seemingly random events and the ecstatic vision of triumph?
As I ran, and I ran like an artist in search of pure inspiration, I felt each step bring me closer to my goal, but the Great Architect of the Universe had some challenges in store for me. At some point, caught in my rhythm, I realized that I had lost my way, straying from the right path, according to a revelation hidden in the effort: "The path to victory is not always linear". For almost a kilometer, more than I would have imagined, I ran the wrong way, like a modern Odysseus in search of his own Ithaca. In that moment, like a beacon in the night, I heard a voice that became the pivot of my understanding of the race: "Hey, you're going the wrong way!" It was Elena, a mentor of knowledge on the trails, a leading runner, able to get me back on track.
The unexpected surprises of the race reflect the unpredictability of life itself. With my heart beating to the frenetic pace of existence and adrenaline fueling my determination, I got back on track, back with that unwavering determination, thinking that every obstacle is an opportunity for growth. Even though the lost time could have been a millstone, I didn't give in to despair, I didn't get demoralized, no, I didn't try to give up. On the contrary, a mysterious energy, comme une force qui va, propelled me forward with that unbridled passion of an artist whose vision transcends boundaries, beyond any physical obstacle.
Revelations gained through intense effort reshape self-perception. However, the surprise was overwhelming as I began to overtake competitor after competitor, each additional step becoming a victory over self-imposed limitations. Visual clarity intensifies with the deepening of the flow state. In that moment, despite any obstacle, I understood that running is not just a physical competition, but a metaphor for life itself, where every obstacle becomes an opportunity for growth. In this case, the visual perception of colors and shapes in nature is intensified, reminiscent of Kandinsky's art.
How do you experience the congruence between intense physical effort, spiritual quest and perception of your own existence, exploring the subtle interconnections between visual experience and the wonder of self-transcendence?
The main character in the novel "The Geographer's Library", written by Jon Fashman, was none other than an anonymous alchemy seeker named Omar Iblis. At night, Omar Iblis trained his memory: he gathered a handful of stones and a handful of dry beans behind the house, stretched his arms in front of him, let the stones and beans fall, stared at them for a while, prepared dinner and, after eating, he drew the pattern made up of the fallen stones and grains.
Both Omar Iblis, in his solitude, conquering chaos by creating patterns, and I, in my exhaustion, conquering the finnish line, shared the same desire to discover an underlying order in the seemingly randomness of life, a meaning capable of transcending chaos everyday and provide a sense of unity and fulfillment. We both seemed to be searching for a connection between our actions and a larger meaning of existence. Of course, the finish line loomed on the horizon like a promise of fulfillment, simultaneously distant and tangible.
The inner and outer gaze merge to create a unifying visual experience. In the final moments of the race, I felt the universe align in perfect synchronicity, like a Dali painting where time and space merge. With one last effort, I crossed the threshold between effort and triumph, and euphoria washed over me like a purifying wave.
Leadership has, in this sense, only one direction to follow: "The inner and the outer look converge in a unifying vision of reality, when the intense experience of the marathon crystallizes the essence of the search for meaning of personal evolution."
The finish line symbolizes reaching a higher understanding of existence. And individual actions gain meaning in the larger context of personal experience of self-transcendence.
The essence of what is seen beyond the seen captures the patterns of perfection hidden in effort and movement. And if I became Omar Iblis, it is because I discovered in running that personal alchemy that transforms physical effort into spiritual wisdom and artistic experience
Like Omar, who found order in the random patterns of stones and grains, I found meaning in the rhythm of my steps and the ever-changing landscape of the race. This experience has become my own "Geographer's Library", an inner map of self-discovery and transcendence, drawn on the sinuous curve of life, where every kilometer traveled is a new page in the story of my personal evolution.
And, indeed, the artist in me came to life in the midst of physical effort. After all, I am an artist because I managed to turn the experience of running into a living canvas of existence, where each step became a brushstroke on the canvas of my life.
