53. A nature journey inviting reflection and revelation
It's when we are stretched the most thin, that we most need the power of mindfulness.
suggested reading method
To best savour this artwork, please take a moment to eliminate distractions. Consider minimizing all other windows on your computer; putting other devices (phone, tv etc) aside; taking a deep breath, to the full extent of your lung capacity; and focusing solely on the “artwork” section.
Once you’ve processed that to your satisfaction, the rest of the post is optional reading, provided only to share my own impressions and reasons for choosing this piece.
artwork
I recommend watching this on a large screen (as opposed to your phone) in 1080p, the highest resolution possible.
“棲居在溪源之上 Seeking the Sources of Streams” by Cicada, from their 2023 album of the same name.
interpretation
While I’ve had this track on my playlists for a couple of months, today I gave myself the gift of watching the music video in its entirety.
The meditative melodies and imagery gave me the mental space to float through a few ideas, adding to my appreciation of the song:
The Taiwan Central Mountain Range is vast and varied. From the sun to rain, small details to mountainous landscapes, the visuals complement the peaks and valleys of the song.
The time lapses of drifting clouds, and still shots of streams and waterfalls, reinforce that nature keeps moving and changing – even when we stand still or actively resist such change.
The part from 2:50 onwards is my favourite. The violin and cello strings tug at my heartstrings. I think this could be played at a wedding, graduation, or other celebratory ceremony.
Relatedly, I’ve come around to accepting that I will often tear up at art. I even teared up at The Super Mario Bros. movie! But now I choose to wear this as a badge of honour, because it means I am human and I am capable of deep emotion.
When the work day seems non-stop, or the to-do list never-ending, those moments are the times when I most need to breathe and take in just one thing at a time, like this piece.
Seeing these beautiful scenes makes me want to go for a hike, or even just a quick walk around the block. Noticing similarly small yet touching sights can help me gain perspective, outside of my own head and computer screen.
context
Cicada is a Taiwanese quartet formed in 2009, with members playing violin, cello, piano and acoustic guitar. According to their website, “[the band is] named after Cicada because people are aware of cicada’s existence by their sound instead of forms.” Their compositions draw on various aspects of nature, such as marine life and the mountains.
What feelings and thoughts did you take away from this music video? Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments!