“I live my life in growing orbits which move out over this wondrous world, I am circling around God, around ancient towers and i have been circling for a thousand years. And I still dont know if I am an eagle or a storm or a great song.”
Quote Analysis
In these profound words by Rainer Maria Rilke, the speaker reflects on the transcendent nature of their existence and their perpetual search for meaning in the world. The concept of "growing orbits" suggests a continual expansion of knowledge and experience, as the speaker navigates through life's wonders and mysteries. The metaphorical imagery of circling around God, ancient towers, and being unsure of their identity as an eagle, a storm, or a great song, conveys a sense of spiritual introspection and existential questioning. This quote evokes a sense of awe and contemplation about the complexities of human existence and the eternal pursuit of understanding one's place in the universe.
Modern Relevance
In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, Rilke's words remind us of the importance of self-discovery and personal growth. Just like Rilke's imagery of circling around God and ancient towers, we too are constantly evolving and expanding our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The metaphor of being uncertain whether one is an eagle, a storm, or a great song speaks to the complexity and depth of human identity. It challenges us to embrace the uncertainty and continue on our journey of self-exploration and self-realization.
Reflecting on Life's Journeys
“I live my life in growing orbits which move out over this wondrous world, I am circling around God, around ancient towers and I have been circling for a thousand years. And I still don't know if I am an eagle or a storm or a great song.” - Rainer Maria Rilke
Reflection Questions:
Rainer Maria Rilke's quote invites us to consider the ever-expanding nature of our lives and the eternal quest for self-discovery. Here are some reflection questions to ponder upon:
- How do you interpret the image of circling around God, ancient towers, and being unsure of your identity?
- In what ways do you see your life as a series of growing orbits expanding over the world?
- How do you navigate the tension between the known and the unknown in your journey of self-discovery?
- Do you resonate more with being an eagle soaring high, a storm unleashing power, or a great song resonating with beauty and meaning?
- How can you embrace the ambiguity of not knowing and find peace in the constant circling and evolving of your identity and purpose?
Similar quotes
“I am circling around God, around the ancient tower, and I have been circling for a thousand years, and I still don't know if I am a falcon, or a storm, or a great song.”
“I live my life in widening circleThat reach out across the world. I may not ever complete the last one,But I give myself to it. I circle around God, that primordial tower.I have been circling for thousands of years,And I still don't know: am I a falcon,A storm, or a great song? [I, 2]”
“And I circle ten thousand years long; And I still don't know if I'm a falcon, a storm, or an unfinished song.”
“I am the nothingness around which this movement spins, the only reason it spins, not that the center exists except in the fact that all circles have a center. I, really I, am the well without walls, but with the sliminess of its walls, the center of everything with the nothingness around it.”
“I have no will, unless it be the will never to decide. I have been so overwhelmed by the many storms that have broken over my head, that I am become passive in the hands of the Almighty, like a sparrow in the talons of an eagle. I live, because it is not ordained for me to die.”