From E.E. Cummings:
“It is with roses and locomotives (not to mention acrobats Spring electricity Coney Island the 4th of July the eyes of mice and Niagara Falls) that my poems are competing.”
For most people, the “whole,” is conceptual (as a component of thought/thinking). However, what is merely conceptual (i.e., a product of the brain-thought process) is not the whole. It is just a fragment, or series of fragments, constructed of intellectual images/symbols. The whole is imperceptible to a person who is immersed in (and “as”) fragmentation. Yet, a lot of people think that they understand the whole. Words are fragmentary symbols/representations, not the actuality.
Education, in the past, for almost all of us, focused exclusively on intellectual and conceptual things and parameters. We were not encouraged to look beyond mental symbols, fragmentary parameters, and run-of-the-mill mental constructs. We were — early on — molded to perceive conceptually, fragmentarily, with (and “as”) words and ideas. So most of us look with (and “as”) a screen of mental fabrication. Such looking is limited, largely symbolic, and quite robotic.
Encouraging others, later in their lives, to go beyond such mental structures is very difficult. They function almost exclusively in a world of fragmentation and symbolism. However, there is always the chance of real metamorphosis. Surprisingly, perceiving beyond limited concepts and fragmented symbols does not take a lot of effort. It is the robotic attachment to habitual mental effort that prevents people from radically changing. The blind, habitual effort and dependence involving constantly looking with limitation (as mental fragments and symbols) must psychologically end.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
That’s an interesting quote by E.E. Cummings whom I know is a favorite poet of yours. I like the Praying Mantis. Very detailed Tom. I hope it finds some food.
Yes, Linda, Cummings is one of my top favorite poets. His poetry is often very insightful. I have a couple of Praying Mantis specimens fossilized in Burmite amber (from the Cretaceous Period of 100 million years ago). They sure have been around for a very long time! 😊
That amazing that Praying Mantises have been around for that long! They are indeed unique creatures. Did you know they prey on hummingbirds? I learned that when I set up my feeders, so it’s advised to keep them away from the fence.
Yes, Linda, i knew that they could eat birds. A few days ago, i watched a YouTube video on Mantids, and it mentioned that they could even eat birds. I had a pet wild one once. It lived far longer than the ones outside. I fed it thawed out (mushy) frozen brine shrimp (that is sold for tropical fish to eat). It was a female and laid many large egg cases which i placed out by the river. Female mantids don’t need males but — if that is the case — all of their offspring are exact clones of the mother. They sure are alien-like!
Mantids look like a breeze would blow them over, but obviously they are sturdier than they appear. Pretty amazing to think they could eat a bird. Interesting about the female Mantids and that was kind of you to place them by the river so there would be more Mantids after they hatch. Yes, they do look alien!
Tom, your reflection on E.E. Cummings’ quote is profoundly insightful. It captures the essence of how we’ve been conditioned to perceive life through fragmented, symbolic thinking. Your emphasis on the potential for real metamorphosis and perceiving beyond these limitations is both inspiring and thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes, Michael
Much appreciated, Michael! So glad that you are gleaning some things from what i wrote and included. Sometimes i wonder if anyone actually gets anything out of what i wrote about.
OH such a gorgeous praying mantis and an art figure for this last week – predators with machine guns splitting the night into fragments… metal pollutants adding to the whole – I feel as If I have been shot full of holes…. hopefully fragmented I endured… nothing else – hopefully your week was better than mine Tom! And that you are not living in the tropics…
Not sure what you mean, Sara. Are human hunters now active in your area?