Mission Statement
The idea behind Circles In Space.
Hello Friend!
I’m Keith, the creator of Circles In Space.
When I started this newsletter back in 2022 I wanted to give it a name. I began thinking about a broader mission. I looked within my self and to nature. I ruminated on the idea that throughout my life I’ve found that I live in a cyclical pattern.
Most of the world moves in a straight line from point A to Point B while I revisit things from the past, move away, then circle back. Things have different meaning at different stages of life. This pattern has been a theme throughout my life and has become my personal philosophy.
Here’s a note I wrote in a journal which formed the basis of Circles In Space:
Instead of moving from point A to point B in life or when trying to reach a goal, what’s so bad about moving in circles towards something? This sort of movement occurs naturally for me. Sometimes I reach the center and then leave it, circle around, and return to it later. For example, a song - I may hear a song but it doesn’t grab me in the moment, but later, perhaps years later, I find the song is perfect for that moment.
In a previous newsletter I looked at how labyrinths can help us slow down and meditate by following the winding path until we arrive at the center. I learned that my local park has a labyrinth. I see it almost everyday but never realized it’s purpose - I thought it was just an interesting design.
This idea of returning to something I’d seen before and understanding it in a new light, along with the labyrinth itself which doesn’t follow a straight path to the center, helped form the idea of Circles In Space.
Here’s a few examples of Circles In Space:
Walking. I walk to explore but also to think. I usually follow the same route with slight variations. By doing this over time I experience the same street, park or neighborhood throughout the year, noting the change of the light on the trees and buildings throughout the year.
Time. I can really only experience the passing of a year through the changing of seasons. When winter comes around again at the end of the year I can deeply feel that another year has gone by.
Nature: We can find examples of cycles, spheres and circles in nature. The fibonacci spiral, the golden spiral and more appear in plants, animals, galaxies, even our own bodies.
Universe: Eastern religions also describe time as circular or cyclical. There is no beginning, no end, and time marches endlessly on as souls are reincarnated, continuing the cycle.
Writing: When I absorb new information, I take notes, return to it later, review, and take more notes. I learn by repetition. This newsletter is a perfect example of how I jump into a topic I’m clueless about and return to it later for a closer look.
“…the power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round.. The sky is round … the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power whirls, birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.” -Black Elk Speaks
Even while writing this, and revising it years later, I find myself returning to this philosophy, refining my ideas and my writing, moving towards the center of the labyrinth and back out again.
After all, I’m just making circles in space.
I look forward to reading whatever you have chosen to write about. In fact, I prefer to defer to your judgement re what to choose rather than interfere by suggesting what you should choose!