Weekly Free Association : The Sea

by Paulo Coelho on July 28, 2008

This week’s free association comes down to from the Moon to the Sea.
The Sea is intrinsically diverse and contradictory – given that its waters may be peaceful or aggressive depending on the context.

As you know the sea in certain traditions is linked to the bearer of all life. In Greek Mythology for instance, Oceanus – or Okeanos – the Titan God, ruled over the great earth-encircling river Okeanos, the font of all the earth’s fresh-water: including rivers, wells, springs and rain-clouds. Okeanos was also the god who regulated the rising and setting of the heavenly bodies which were believed to emerge and descend into his watery realm at the ends of the earth. Okeanos’ wife was Tethys, the nurse, who was probably thought to distribute his water to the earth via subterranean caverns.

But the Sea can also be depicted as a dangerous environment. Carl Jung for instance stated that in dreams, the sea represents the unknown region of your psychic sphere, where many dangers stay hidden.
Now, you take the floor : what do you associate with the Sea?

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{ 93 comments… read them below or add one }

marie-christine April 21, 2010 at 12:33 pm

- my unconciousness -

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Carlos Corvo May 25, 2009 at 7:37 am

My life…

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Rombout Vercnocke January 20, 2009 at 8:09 am

Seagull

What are we looking for, since what we
hope to find has always been at heart.
There is a seagull gliding proudly on
the breeze, waving, calling but we keep
on turning our own wheel of fortune.
How then could we stumble on a hidden
treasure if what we hope to find has always
been at heart? We have forgotten how its
beating was a steady compass even during
stormy weather. We have forgotten how
its silent drum never once let us down.
How could we not but tenderly accept
its offering? What are we hiding from?
Is it our fear to be discovered, to be
left uncovered by the wings of Love?
Then what we’re looking for is not our
heart’s desire, but only heart’s disease,
and to be cured we need to listen to the
seagull’s call. When we are looking for
that hidden treasure then the map is
here, we wrote it on the breeze, waving,
calling, gliding proudly,
easily

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Roomi August 6, 2008 at 9:18 pm

I associate the sea with vastness,with depth,with life,with death,with sorrow,with inadequateness.The sea has loadz to say & teach….it depicts both calmness,serenity as beautifully as it signifies death & destruction(who can ever forget the tsunami dec’04).It very well tells us what life has to offer…though u hav the rough waves like u hav rough times in ur life,u should go out there brave the tides & emerge not nly victorious,but also remember to enjoy the ride!

I remember a line i once read “water water everywhere but not a drop to drink”

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Love August 4, 2008 at 2:38 pm

The Sea for me is the Spirit.

The Sea is the one who has stayed with me all these years, from the beginning of my journey.

He wept when I had to stop seeing Him every day.

In my dream, I am His Girlfriend.

But we cannot be together. Not now. The only thing for me to stay close to Him, is to go to contemplate Him every day.

Sometimes it is painful because I would like to be embraced by Him again. Caressing Him. Just touch Him would be a relief. But I cannot.

But the day will come when we will be together again; just One.

Just One.

Again.

I know He Loves me. I know He likes to see me every day, as I like to see Him.

Is like if He would be willing to touch the Moon but … the only way for them to be together is through the Light that She reflects upon Him every night.

But there is a way for the Moon to swimm in His waters. She can do that, She can touch the Sea again through my body.

Las estrellas serán testigo de la noche y estarán riendo allá arriba …

There is always a Way :).

Silence and Magic will be felt again, at night, while the Moon is Shining.

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Aurelia Vie August 4, 2008 at 7:48 am

Sea..it’s a life, a dream, a curse, a love, a happiness, a sadness, a madness,liquid, solid, visible, invisible, a smile, a laugh, tears, wounds, scars..

It’s a sign that shows us everything, depends on its context and situation…depends on us..what we want to see, what we want to hear.. but the Sea itself..it has something beyond what we think of..

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maria August 4, 2008 at 1:35 am

Senhora do lago…
Conversas com o mar…
Amor…

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Ligia Oceanica August 3, 2008 at 4:18 pm

The sea-what a great topic! -represents to me Love, Life, and Happiness. And we must do what we can to preserve it as such, because nowadays it is under threat by overfishing, pollution, hunting, development…Please dont forget to reciprocate its Love and help the Sea in any way you can. Thank you

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rima August 3, 2008 at 4:17 pm

For me, sea is associated with travel ….

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Seri Suryani August 3, 2008 at 2:25 pm

I spent a day near the sea yesterday. In this tiny island, its hard to visualise the soul of the sea and its full expanse. What meets the eye, is not the infinite horizon. Our seas are dotted by passing ships and vessells and depending where you are – a petrochemical complex.

Nevertheless, I’d say its hard to beat a day at the beach, with the little kid, and sand on your feet.

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Mirela Baron August 2, 2008 at 9:20 pm

For me,
See represents where Life (in material way) kamme from.

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Tomi Itkonen August 2, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Considering our first living moments during foetal development phase happen in water, and our bodies are mostly water, I hereby have the courage to rephrase:

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou drink water, till thou return unto the sea; for out of it wast thou taken: for water thou art, and unto water shalt thou return.”
The Book of W

Plus, one of the current evolutionary views is that the ancestors of us human beings come from the sea.

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Heart August 2, 2008 at 1:43 am

The sea means a possibility to travel far, far away to new continents, to meet new people. My dad used to paint the sea. Oil paintings of wild waves with white foam, washing up to the sand dunes onshore. The North Sea. Oil industry offshore. Helicopters, platforms, pollution. Once, I was 25 years old, we parked a car on a snow covered beach, and ran out in the ice cold waives, dipped and returned to the running car. The sea actually felt warm in contrast to the cold beach. Another time, I was 18, after sun bathing too long, ending up with a sun stroke, some Greek men carried me and dipped me in the turquoise Mediterranean sea, to cool me down. Soon I felt better.

I grew up in a shipping nation. The Vikings. Erik Leif Erikson discovering America long before Columbus. Thor Heyerdahl. He built a raft he called Kon-Tiki in 1947, and proved that ancient people could have crossed the Pacific Ocean, traveled 8000 kilometers across the sea in a raft! In 1970 he built another boat from papyrus, the Ra, and crossed the Atlantic. He kept building boats and demonstrated migration routes. Thor Heyerdahl spoke out about the environment. In an interview he talked about how much cleaner the sea was back during his first journey, then decades later, when he often saw trash and pollution in the oceans.

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Lisa August 2, 2008 at 1:10 am

the sea is the embryonic fluid/life, the cradle which we emerge from.. mother, hip sway, cauldron, subconscious, the salt/the tear,
we are made up of mostly water, it is our source, are origin, things from the deep give off their own light, we travel upon it, it washed up treasures, it is a symbol of all potential, all creation, tides/phases/moods/time, and also love..passion..venus on a half shell..creatures that change shape, that ancient of ourselves, memory perhaps, the spirits always arrive upon the waters, we are baptized with waters..God moves upon the waters..sea/see?

Apple a star hidden
oceans of dream explored
the heart a compass
the soul a sail
open
I have traveled breathlessly
the distance
wave upon wave of desire
beaten by the sun
the depths calling to me
even now
the pearl is on the inside
never lost on my wake
break the bottle
Christen this voyage
love a beacon
the map above
my treasure below
my trident eyes unwavering
in the storm
X
cross my heart
to pull you from the wreckage
the kiss is recovery
love’s tide
shimmer & scale
I have been in the bark of dylan
silver wheel turning
heavenly bodies aligned
you taste of salt and brine
the elixir of transformation
a blue hue
what are words?
but being stranded on the shore
you have doubts?
take my hand
a thousand years in each direction
mobius strip
past present future one line one stream
like skipping stones
hear me..
I have touched you
a hundred times
without hands
flashes, whispers, moments
of recognition
shards of memory
stained with my images
written off as dream
hear me..
in silence
calling from the shell
tossed & tumbled
smooth to the touch

my lover
my other
my night

can you hear me

between the sounds speaking

doorways

appearing in thin air

feel your way

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J.S.H. August 1, 2008 at 4:31 pm

YouTube: Lemuria/Mu – (2008 English edition)

YouTube: Japanese Atlantis – Japan

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J.S.H. August 1, 2008 at 3:13 pm

YouTube: Documentary Yonaguni – Underwater Ruins

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Lorna Beduya August 1, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Horizon..Endless…Peace or Chaos.

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Irina August 1, 2008 at 2:51 pm

The sea/water! Means life and dead; movement and traquility; night and day; up and down; inside and outside; light and darkness; sweet and salty; hope and end; beggining and end……
It’s what ever you wanted to be because is you, me, hers, his, them.

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Ruth August 1, 2008 at 9:11 am

The ocean (I prefer the word ocean) is like a mirror of me. “Just” a reflection of my soul, my emotions and feelings and my life and wishes. I love the ocean and since several days it is like calling me, because it is quite a long time ago since I have “met” him the last time (comparing with the past).

And the sea is most beautiful in combination with the moon and sun. The signs of male and female. Sunset, sunrise, full moon, tides, storms, wideness the life inside, all belongs together.

Today is new moon and a partial lunar eclipse. The ocean could be strong in its expression today, similar the sun and moon.

It is a rainy day and time enough for dreaming and feeling. But I am not just a dreamer, I am a scuba diver too. I was many times around and in the sea and sometimes on the bottom of the sea and on the ground of me. A kind of meditation, just by the way.

We call the earth sometimes “mother earth”. The (warm) sea is able to hold you like a mother at the beginning of your life.

My conclusion is: The sea is the same than me. A miracle including everything and a mirror.

My other kind of conclusion: There exists moments behind the possibility to bring them to words. The sea gave me many times the chance to have that.

Ruth

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X August 1, 2008 at 7:22 am

ooopsss… falha minha…já atualizei…desculpe…

x

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X August 1, 2008 at 7:18 am

Eiiiii….vamos voltar para a terra ??? não tem internet em Milão ????

X

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German Fafian August 1, 2008 at 6:27 am

Emotions
Energy
and surfing. I used to live in a beach town and used to go surfing quite often so it is har coded in my emotional body)

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Orko July 31, 2008 at 11:20 pm

I associate peace, serenity, advanture & beautiful women with sea

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THELMA July 31, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Cyprus is an island. Aphrodite was born from the foams [Aφρός] of the sea at the Aphrodite’s rock on the way from Limassol to Paphos. Since, I was a child, whenever I was walking near the sea I felt ..horror… Once, when I was three years old, my mother said to an older boy, to put me into the sea so that I wouldn’t be burned by the Sun..He was so wild with me..I still remember the water coming into my eyes, ears, mouth.. loosing my breath.. I was almost drowned.. I love our beautiful Mediterranian sea, I am happy to be in her arms, but terror is her name. It is the Element that I cannot ‘tame’… I was born under an Air Star sign…LOVE, THELMA

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luce July 31, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Yesterday I forgot to add this about The Sea :
It is my Mother’s Womb, it is my best friend !

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Agnieszka July 31, 2008 at 4:57 am

Beautiful legend dear Oksana, I heard about it before too..a while ago.
love
Agnieszka

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Ann July 31, 2008 at 3:26 am

This is rather difficult. When i’m at the beach, my feet in the sand, it is peaceful, tranquil and i feel at ease.

however, for the past two years, i have been having reoccuring nightmares about the ocean. typically, that i’m on a beach and a giant tidal wave comes at me. i never actually die in these dream, but it’s always the same beach, same people involved, same terror and waking up in sweats.

it’s quite disturbing. the past several times i’ve been to the ocean i try to reassure myself. i’ve never been afraid of water…i’ve always loved it. so my dreams must represent something…somewhere else… though i have yet to unlock it.

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rosa July 30, 2008 at 11:41 pm

Sea just make me think about fear.

Close to the sea, in the beach, I fell peaceful. But the sea scares me, the waves, big waves, they make my nights miserable (dreams) since I was very young.

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Elena Montiel July 30, 2008 at 10:41 pm

GOD

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Monika July 30, 2008 at 10:24 pm

The sea is like my soul – my soul is like the sea: Vast and deep -
stormy and calm – treasure chests and sharks under its surface.

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luce July 30, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Dear Paulo,

Sea = Freedom, Sea = Love, Sea = Life, Sea = Joy, Sea = Unknown, Sea = Respect and most of all Sea = Perpetuum mobile !

And since I read The Valkyries Sea is part of my Gardian angel that envelopes me together with Sky above.

That is Sea for me.

Love
Luce

P.S. Only now I shall read what others have written !

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Liz July 30, 2008 at 5:19 pm

The sea is a bridge that connect people from one another. I also view the sea as a source of life.

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a Muslim July 30, 2008 at 3:37 pm

ASSALAM O ALIEKUM!
Well sea..sea signifies the might of GOD..
the killing waves, unlimited water in the sea..awl these thnigs actually show us the power of GOD..it shows the brilliance of our GOD,,

nd i relate sea to anoder world…a world of thousands of creatures who r living inside the sea,,,just how opposite those creatures r..v cant breath in water and they cant breath in air..so i relate sea 2 awl dose who r living inside it.,who r used to of awl da ups and downs ov the sea..who enjoy the thrill of scary waves,,,who r just so differnt..i relate sea to every single creature living in it!!

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Santosh Kalwar July 30, 2008 at 9:23 am

What is Sea ? Is it associated with God or is it associated with fear in our dreams ? Good question Paulo, My personal view on this matter is that-

Let us break down the word called “sea”. S of the word could be Season, e of the word could be Earth and a of the word could be adaptability. Now, Once I combine these words and try to make give some meaning to it. It becomes- Based on Season, the earth adapts. Now it is up to you to decide how does this statement connects with the sea. The message drawn from this word Sea, has great deal of importance.

First, May be during those times humans had Natural resources and they do not understand the meaning of their existence. Therefore, the god gave them a Sea which will remind them that Based on the seasons the earth adapts. “The statement itself gives lot of meaning for human existence too”.

We are living in this earth as the sea in the earth. We are burning every day or struggling every day and trying to protect our existence. In case of Sea, sea is also getting heated up daily and it is protecting its own existence. We are then becoming cool in nights and relaxing with the tiredness of our burning entire day. Similarly the sea is very cold and chilly in the nights. The clouds moves to the cooler place near some mountains. Now again in the morning we wake up with the early morning rise of sun. The same process counties with our existence too.

I think Carl Jung idea of sea which is fear, is associated with those minds which lack knowledge and those minds can easily be directed in any ways. We have group of community and group of people or humans doing a common task that is based on the rule of one intelligent mind over thousand common minds.

Therefore, To conclude your comments I would give you one quotation and that quotation is derived from your question. The quote is- “Based on Season, the earth adapts.”

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Ghaida-Saudi Arabia July 30, 2008 at 8:57 am

To me, the sea was and still related with Mystery.
I think sea represents the humanbeing mood with its everlasting instability.
I always think that If I could dive as much as deep inside the sea and discover its uncertainties, I will be able to get over life’s diffculties, come in terms with my deepest feelings, and clear away my fears and doubts.
In our ancient Arabic culture, there’s a folkish song that starts with ” The sea is disloyal”.
I don’t completely agree with it, but till today there’s kind of truth.
Because even the most professional divers in the world could be a victim of drawning.
Nothing is sure about sea, as well as our feelings.
that’s my point =) Thank u 4 time

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Lina Exarchou July 30, 2008 at 8:54 am

Dreams….the hand that uplifts the worries from my shoulders….serenity….wisdom…silence

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dina July 30, 2008 at 4:37 am

I am the sea. Had the sea not created a walking version of itself I wouldn’t be in this form here today. My womb has a salinity similar to that of the sea, which responds to the gravity of the moon.

My life is the sea, the rising and falling of waves, while I break through the surface and touch the spirit, change form, and become the gasious part of the sea, leaving behind my salt, my doubts and fears.

My life is the sea when I stay buried deep at the bottom of it, insulated, safe and without experiences the surface provides me with, when molecules and particles come and settle at the bottom, making me fearful and parinoid. I am governed by the gravity of the moon and sun, a force, a mystery, that while I exsist as a sea I could never understand.

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Walter July 30, 2008 at 1:36 am

Prezado Paulo,
sou dono de livraria e adoro o seu trabalho, por que ele vende. Caso contrário eu atiraria seus livros no abismo das obras sem significado e carentes de qualidade. Você é um fenômeno, isso não há dúvidas, e um comentário negativo no mar dos seus sucessos não vai virar uma página das suas memórias do lugar. Mas como todo fenômeno você vai passar. Não acho que a culpa seja sua, afinal, todo mundo precisa de glamour e um fardão da ABL pra viver. A culpa é do povo, que carente de magia bebe da sua fonte sem saber a origem dessa água milagrosa que você vende aos quatro cantos da Terra. Continue assim. Escreva mais porcarias. Vamos transformar essa coisa sem graça chamada literatura num bordel de anjos e caminhos mágicos. Vamos por borboletas e bruxas em cada livro, vamos afastar a qualidade narrativa e dar lugar ao brilho dos pozinhos e poções. Você é ótimo no que faz, afinal, alguém tem que ser.

Cada época tem os escritores que merece.

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gypsy July 29, 2008 at 11:07 pm

The Secret to Rebirth/Reincarnation/Consistent Growth. It’s been around for ages & we’ve all consumed so much of it, but it’s still there. And, I think it will be there forever.

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Luz July 29, 2008 at 10:23 pm

I had many dreams of tidal waves. I would be terrified and see the water coming, with dead bodies floating in the water. I read somewhere that if you dream of clear water, it is a good thing. If the water is muddy, watch out.
My waves always had clear water.

When I have visited the ocean, I like to swim in the salt water. I feel cleansed and refreshed even though the crabs bite my toes.

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claudia July 29, 2008 at 9:27 pm

although the sea terrifies me st… (maybe I drowned in my past life… who knows) represents a constant change, combinations of everything… good and bad

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Lizzy July 29, 2008 at 8:23 pm

I live on an island in an archipelago surrounded by the sea. I never got used to looking at the sea even if I see it everyday. Whenever I look at the sea, they seem to calm me or hypnotize me or even lull me to sleep.

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The man in the moon smiling July 29, 2008 at 8:20 pm

The sea of tranquility of course!
Aybe sea.

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