Having reached what is known in common parlance as ‘a ripe old age’, there occurs to me certain insights about the nature of human beings.

Principally, one is given to conclude that human souls, during their own short but sweet personal evolution, consist of two types;

The first might considered to be ‘stones’; that is having as much knowledge and personal charm as a stone. This is not to ‘put down’ the mineral kingdom through comparison with those who are more obviously ‘alive’ and ‘should know better’. Indeed I have personally a great regard for stones of all kinds, as a result of my scientific theoretical understanding of ‘geology’ and ‘geomorphology’ and an artistic appreciation of the significant contribution of stones to the beauty of landscapes. Indeed I have in my possession companion stones, exhibiting curious colours, shapes, sizes, weights etc., as well as natural crystals of miraculous hues and geometries, precious minerals derived from 0res, and indeed a house made entirely of stones giving me shelter from whatever the weather and life is inclined to throw at me. Stones, in short, rock.

More metaphysically, I am one of those stark-raving-mad-nics who regard the mineral kingdom as having a complete social structure. This comprises of a noble King and Queen, courtiers and other ‘hangers on’ who are likewise, to be found in the human realm, where matters of high office and rank are ‘out for grabs’. It is true for me, and no doubt certain other ‘cranks’ party to ‘outlandish persuasions’, that the entire earth’s crust and what is below, goes about it’s business in a most conscious, caring and controlled manner. What I am trying to say is that the whole mineral kingdom is as much alive as you or I, but slower…look at a geological time chart to see how aeons pass by as stones do, in short, very little. As one who is a mere butterfly in comparison to the length of life of minerals, I believe that conscious evolutionary changes are almost impossible to observe in stones due to their considerable slow rate of change in all aspects of their lives. From another perspective, we to stones are no more than a spark lifted out of a metaphorical camp fire, which exhausts itself on oxygen in less than a second.

It is this particular quality of stones that brings them to mind as an apt metaphor for the subject of this essay; which I promise I shall come to when the twinkle of the moment is ‘right’. You see, in my unique and therefore unusual opinion, there are certain human beings who are born, live and die with much the same enthusiasm, as a stone. Their brief nascence appears to be a complete quandary to them; to and about which they show little curiosity or even care. They probably are not conscious that ‘existence’ is, in contrast, an issue of considerable fascination for others in their society. As a result, their life consists of certain fixed stations and ideas, about all and nothing, with which they bore those who are unfortunate enough to be within earshot of them. The aspirations of these ‘stone people’, one might conclude, are summarised in the word, horizontal.

Such stones are not the type with whom you wish to spend time in awkward situations, such as ‘stuck-in-a-lift’ or ‘drifting-in-a lifeboat’, following the occurrence of a power cut or submersion of a poorly navigated ocean liner.

Least of all to be desired, is the idea of forming a relationship with them if you any have a regard for wonder in life; with all it’s twists and turns and curiousnesses. Should you mention in polite conversation or correspondence to one of these mineralised munchins, a matter of considerable interest to yourself, you can certainly expect a glazed expression in place of an informed response, followed by a ‘passing on or over’ your interests in order to talk about something more agreeable to themselves, such as the price of cheese or cucumbers.

On the other hand, patient reader, as you probably are, up until now, eagerly anticipating information about the alternative human type; ‘champ at the bit’ no more. For there is a type of homo sapien sapien who exhibits a completely opposite metaphorical disposition to life than stones; these are ‘plants’. In a sustainably organic way, these merry souls plough through life, planting seeds, irrigating fields, de-pesting, fertilising and generally invigorating life’s very soil, in extremis. Naturally they pass on this envigoration to all fellow humans with whom they come into contact.

Theirs is a life exhibiting a general compulsion to explore ever aspect of their inner self as well as the eminently curious and absorbing exterior world. If change of direction is needed, they will mentally and emotionally transform themselves upwards, in order to enjoy new vistas and ways of seeing, much as in the manner of a broad bean plant escaping the humdrumness of ‘root consciousness’. One is reminded of the wisdom of Jack and his fabled ‘Stalk of a Bean’ through the ascent of which, he returned with a notable harp and a hen that laid solid 24 carat gold eggs.

Being ‘rooted’ is no more an insurmountable challenge for humans of the plant-like nature, than it is for a physically disabled person to overcome their ‘limitations’ and discover wonderful gifts, that otherwise would have been unknown or unavailable to them.

In summary, plant people are eminently the best to grow with, and if you let them, they will lift you out of any circumstance in which you might find yourself ‘rooted’. They will always find out about some thing or matter if they do not know the answer, because they are aware of the fluid nature of knowledge and the fact that ‘not knowing’ carries no shame or closure of opportunities, but is eminently instructive and a ‘good moist and shady spot to start’. In an entirely organic manner, a plant person will carry you along with a skip in their step and a smile on the tips of their leaves, waiting to respond to a challenge, good or bad, and in so doing, gaining the attitude and skill of being able to overcome anything.

With a small amount of reflection and observation of future meetings and relationships with those whose nature is enclosed in a homo sapien sapien animal body, you should, I advise you; be acutely in remembrance of these two human types.

picture credit: fr.news.yahoo.com

Perhaps this knowledge begins some self reflection as to in which corner you reside? If it does, then it is my personal understanding and belief that we are all to different extents and purposes, sometimes a rock and sometimes a plant and sometimes neither; the latter, from which, nothing good will happen.