Polarity, Duality & Reciprocity
I had a vision. Yes, another one. By the end of this story you might think I’m little crazy, but I promise I’m mostly sane.
In this vision I was a Sycamore Fig Tree, overlooking a river in the bushveld. I had monkeys in my branches feeding on my ripened figs. Any figs which were dropped were devoured by a variety of antelope below me or floated down the river many kilometers away. Of course, this benefited the animals as well as myself in both the short and long term. My seeds were dispersed and in return, animals received nutrition. This, along with many other important ecological processes took place effortlessly. All because I had something uniquely valuable to offer - my nutritious figs. No other tree has these exact fruits. It’s why I exist.
In another scenario, I was a second Sycamore Fig Tree and I felt like I needed to make these symbiotic relationships happen out of a fear of my figs not being eaten. I reached down with my branches and placed figs in front of a passing monkey. The monkey became suspicious. Something didn’t feel right and it moved on to find other trees where it would feel safe to feed from. There was a resistance between myself and the wildlife. A lack of flow ensued and my unique value was now in fact repulsive.
Both trees had something unique to offer the world but only the first tree’s value was accepted. By simply just being a Sycamore Fig Tree, a positive polarity is created and met by the monkey’s own polarity. The tree naturally becomes a giver and it’s gifts are accepted. In turn, by effortlessly accepting these gifts, the monkey also becomes a giver of value. How? By simply being a monkey and doing what excites it, it offers it’s own unique value to the world. A positive duality is formed.
It’s important to note that not everything will accept all of the Sycamore Fig Tree’s unique qualities - at least not directly. You wont find a leopard devouring it’s figs. The tree is directly valuable to who and what needs it at the time. But in the bigger picture, the attracted monkeys become a potential source of value for an opportunistic leopard. I could go on for pages about the ecological domino effects created here, including the roots, shade, river, landscape, birds, fig wasps, elephants… But i think you get the picture.
The Sycamore Fig Tree becomes a vital part of it’s world by being what it is without fear. It has meaning and purpose not only for itself but for everything by being itself. A larger process of reciprocity is now in motion. It’s found by giving without wanting anything in return. It flows and expands endlessly.
I’ll leave you with something to think about. How can this relate to our human experience?