Considering Hinges

I have always loved words. I wrote little poems and stories when I was young, in the new language I was learning telling of my angst, loneliness and longing from within my shyness. From there, I went to writing articles and various pieces of work, then to a book in 2012.

Words. Sometimes a word comes to me, and I am driven to explore its dictionary definition, as well as the other, metaphorical meanings that we don’t always hear or think about. From there, I seek to bring understanding for myself as to how it might fit into my life.

The word that has come to me recently is “Hinge”. As we know, generally, it’s a mechanical piece of strong metal that connects two solid objects—doors, gates, lids, etc. that allows them to open and close, swing or rotate. Yet, as I explored the definition further, a “hinge” is also defined as the “deciding factor on which something depends”.

Because everything is interconnected, and nothing happens on just one level, I began to inquire with curiosity: why am I feeling that this word has some meaning right now? What layer of life is it pointing to? Is it the personal—that which is going on in my own life, my concerns, problems, situations or relationships? Is it within the next circle of influence out from me, my friends, family, and others who are close to me? Could it be about something going on in my community, my state, the country I live in, the larger world, or perhaps the cosmos? Maybe, it’s something transpersonal, having to do with the world of spirit or the natural world?

When I look at my own life, I think, hmm, what is a hinge factor in my life right now, what am I waiting for to happen so that I can make a next step? Or is there a next step? Is it possible that I may not know until it happens? Or, perhaps, there is a need for me to check in with inner guidance, to go to that quiet inner place inside of myself and just listen? I’m also aware that given my current way of being, I need to simply let go of my need to be in charge or to find the answer. Letting go then becomes the hinge—the point where something happens, allowing for something to begin to form or to manifest by waiting, trusting some unseen process.

We live in a world that tells us we need to get out there, keep looking, keep seeking, keep trying to find answers wherever we can. Yet, what if the hinge is a place of letting go, of allowing for the opening of the door to our own inner sanctum, our private, secluded, internal place where our higher self resides, where our wisdom resides, where we come to touch into our own divinity.

Many of us were taught to believe that the divine was/is out there somewhere, up there away from us. Yet, perhaps, another hinge is allowing us to consider that maybe, just maybe, that inner sanctum is where everything is found, a place where gentle loving divine guidance finds us, in this place of quiet calm and peaceful solace where we can simply be, receiving much needed respite from a fast and noisy world.

Other times, we create a hinge, with or without our conscious knowing by taking a walk in nature to feel Earth beneath our feet, a breeze on our skin, the sight of the clouds or stars above in the sky, hearing the sound of a bird, or even further taking in all of the sensual delights of whatever season or time of day we might find ourselves in. These hinges can sometimes bring forth inspiration, creativity, awe, or tap into long-held emotions that otherwise may not have had an outlet, along with fostering that deep connection we have with Mother Earth.

Perhaps a hinge is something else—journaling, singing, napping, dancing, or moving in a way that feels good, in a way that allows creativity to flow, gives space for a feeling of deep connection to something larger than ourselves, or others, or brings deep joy, release, and/or love. In this connection with ourselves, our capacity to care for others is heightened and nurtured.

Still other times a hinge comes in the form of a dream, or the magical way in which sleep offers not only rest, but a time of unconscious quiet so profound that messages come through in dreams, or upon waking, an inner clarity regarding a previous question or concern we might have had before sleep took us. What does your body, mind, or spirit need to initiate an internal shift, to feel better, to feel more whole, peaceful and/or connected?

Let’s go back to the other meaning if hinge, the one having to do with doors and gates. What happens when we or others in our world become unhinged? To think more deeply into this is unsettling in a very present now sort of way, eh?

As we open our own inner gates and doors to the unconscious we find wonders waiting there for us. In these ways, opening, and stepping through can be the first and necessary step. There are so many openings, closings, beginnings and endings in our lives, that happened as we opened a door or gate and stepped over a threshold into…what?

What are your hinges?