“The animal is the symbol of the eternal, the plant of the temporal.”
What this quote means
This reflection contrasts two realms of the living to evoke two temporalities. The animal, guided by instinct, seems to escape time, frozen in an eternal present. The plant, on the other hand, follows the cycles of the seasons, is born, grows, and dies, embodying the passage of time. It invites us to contemplate our own duality: our animal part, unchanging, and our plant part, subject to becoming. A meditation on what in us is permanent and what is ephemeral.
How to apply it daily
Spend a moment in nature observing an animal and a plant. Reflect on what in you is eternal (your values, your essence) and what is temporal (your projects, your desires). Write your observations in a journal.
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