The linear passage of time is the focal point of modern society, completely replacing the cyclical pattern of time our ancestors viewed as intrinsic to the relationship between humans and nature. Does that sound like a good idea?

This post will discuss the value of cyclical time, what it means to forget it, and the opportunity we now have to realign with it.

 

There is more to the story of time than the one we tell ourselves.

At the end of the 19th century time as we know it was for the first time, becoming affordable to the common household. Having a clock was a mark of sophistication, a sign of the times if you will. Back in the 1890's in the US, they were just clocks, not Grandfather clocks, and having one in the home was how you connected with the industrializing world. 

As we gradually and then all at once adopted our current short-term linear perception of time, our awareness of a time before telling time with ticking clocks began to vanish.

The cyclical nature of time is deeply rooted throughout the entirety of human history and culture. It was always a part of our past and foundation by which we created a shared future. In contrast, modern society's linear view of time isolates us from a holistic acknowledgement of the past and future, as well as from nature and its cycles.

What we lost in this gradual trade off from cyclical to linear time was a sense of interconnectedness with the natural world; a way to see our lives within the continuity of eternity.

For instance, the seasons reflect cyclical time and speak to the forms of change we experience continuously throughout life. As the seasons change, so do we, gradually yet inevitably. Embracing the pace of cyclical time helps us gain perspective and appreciate our own nature.

The Consequences of Forgetting Cyclical Time

 

How is the trash on this beach related to losing contact with cyclical time? By disregarding the very essence of time as it plays out in nature, we've lost touch with the ways in which our every action ripples through the gravitational waves of time. Disconnecting from the natural world is a prerequisite to scouring it for resources and pretending our every move has no long term impact on the health of the health of the planet, or our own menta health for that matter.

When we are unaware of our connection to the environment, it makes it easier to disregard how our actions can cause damage to our ecosystem and result in short-sighted catastrophes like overfishing, deforestation and countless tons of trash in our oceans and on the sands of our beaches.

  

This ignorance of the cyclical patterns of nature can also cause us to become overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed. Without a grounded sense of the nature of change as it plays out in the living world, we judge our lives against the relentlessness monotony of industrial time; severing the human experience from the natural spectrum of time in favor of a binary, industrialized, easily indexable vis ion and ultimately meaningless vision of time.

The Value of Reconnecting with Cyclical Time

By rediscovering the rhythms of life, we can learn to lead mindful, sustainable lives and coexist with the natural world. A more relatable and inviting connection with  nature encourages us to be conscious of our environmental impact and fosters mental wellbeing, as it aids us in better taking care of ourselves and adapting to life's curveballs.

As we find new ways to immerse ourselves in the nature of cyclical time, we give ourselves a deeper comprehension of both the world and our own inner selves. With that understanding, we become capable of riding the waves of life with grace, understanding, and ultimately, an admiration for the wonders of the present.

Making time

Acknowledging the cyclical time is critical to advancing a more holistic vision of the role of human life on the planet. By rebuilding our link to nature's cycles and understanding our ties to the planet, we can gain a more profound appreciation for the wonders of life. 

Making the time to appreciate and respect the cyclical nature of existence offers a welcome sense of balance to the singular story we tell ourselves about time. Through the adoption of both linear and cyclical time, we can give ourselves the tools we deserve to remember what is meaningful about time.

In the future people will have more time in their lives because so many of us are choosing to give ourselves more time in the present. This website and the functional works of art it promotes are tools to help us adapt to a healthier, mutually beneficial approach to life on Earth; in the present and far into the future.