13/09/2024
"Head"
- a ritual performance in Krakow
On the way to my holiday destination, I changed flights and spent a day in Krakow. I arrived in the evening and went for a walk. The main square was captivating with its grand space and elegant architecture but overflowed with tourists.
In the middle of the wow impression, something hypnotically took my attention. It was as weird as over-enlarged lips on a woman's face that I can not refrain from staring at.
An iron sculpture of a giant Head with bandages over it was resting on its right side.
A vibration came to me, lightly electrifying: “See me...”
Children were climbing in and out through a big opening where the neck was. They were cheerfully playing and peeping through the holes, eyes of the sculpture.
I was standing nearby mesmerized as many small contractions came from the inside as a protest. Something was amiss...
I felt anger starting to boil and became nauseous.
People were queuing beside the Head to take photos with it; kids were climbing on it… Noone! No a single one paid any attention to the Head, nobody really cared.
It was treated just as an object, used as a playground or a picture-perfect holiday proof for social media.
That was a bizarre, never-ending commotion. I wanted them to stop, to go away! But feeling nauseous, I had to go away.
But I promised to come back to the Head early in the morning and see it more, hopefully with no people around.
The square was empty and peaceful, in contrast to the previous evening. There were a few delivery vehicles parked nearby and few people minded their business.
I carefully approached the Head and was magnetically pulled to touch it from the outside. Slowly circling around, exploring its surface, gently touching its many engraved details. After the second round, I stood in front of the entrance, a big hole where the neck was. I had to go in with my whole body. With a deep breath, I climbed in.
Once inside I instinctively squatted, hugging my legs, chest tightly pressing my thighs. I was holding myself, making myself as small as possible. And I was afraid to be seen, so I kept quiet.
My body was in the Head, afraid to be seen! - what an insight.
To my surprise, there was so much space around, but first I explored with my eyes only. The inside was empty. Its surface was uneven, like rocky cliffs by the sea that were hit and sculptured by the waves. It was so symbolic. Waves as thoughts, opinions, judgments…
My body was shaking with fear, but it needed to stand up anyway. Slowly I raised and discovered I did not touch the ceiling with my head when standing straight. It made me happy as an innocent child who found a treasure. There was enough space to rise, and it felt safe. The feeling of not wanting to be seen was still there but it did not matter so much. It was fading.
A need to move and explore took over.
Then my voice, as sound resurrected from within, started chanting:
“I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry….”
Not for any specific reason, but for many unknown reasons, connected to its use and abuse, misunderstanding.
My personal sorry was that it was (over) used in the old power game (being knowledgeable, worthy, clever, eloquent, capable, fast, desirable, pleasing, …)
Another sorry was for blaming it for separation from the Truth, Body, Soul, Me…
It was also a sorry for many collective concepts (culture, religion, spirituality) built around Head as they were only concepts and nothing else, merely bandages trying to wrap it.
A Head is just another body part, equally brilliant as others, not more or less. And it is filled with emptiness.
Suddenly “I am sorry” changed into “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you….”
Thank you, my Head, thank you, thank you, …
Thank you for the space where I can stand fully, where I can move freely!!!
When my exploring came to an end, I climbed down, speechless, and deeply touched.
I left the Head behind, feeling lightness as never before.
A beautiful morning in an empty Head!
It was so easy to wake up early, just to be with it before all the tourists came. Before all the hustle...
Recommending a visit:)
