Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ve tasked myself with exploring the concepts of pronoia (the belief that the universe is conspiring to shower us with blessings), quiety (serenity) and peace -all through the lens of unusual, obscure, or simply delightful-to-me words.
C is for… Cloudland.
This gentle word is defined as 1) the sky 2) dreamland 3) A region of unreality, imagination, etc.
Doesn’t it somehow shift your perspective to think of clouds living in cloudland? Cosmic travelers moving hither and yon, allowing us to sometimes catch glimpses of them on their journeys and yet, really just going about their own business. Delivering rain sometimes; providing a bit of shade sometimes; shape-shifting at whim. Even with storm clouds hustling wildly, I imagine cloudland to be a spacious place of peace.
I also like the idea of dreaming occurring in cloudland. I prefer to think the definition means literal night-time dreaming. And the perspective that it is indeed a literal other dimension we go off and visit delights me. I certainly know the law of physics behave quite differently for me in dreamland, and I’ll happily assign that to the fact that I’m visiting cloudland. Obviously things are much different there.
Back in the waking world, watching clouds is a quintessential pastime, inviting us back into slow time. It’s an opportunity to connect to wonder, to engage our imaginations. It can be a reminder to hold things loosely – as we watch clouds morph and shift we can allow some spaciousness and perhaps loosen our own grip on things we might be holding too tightly.
Lightness of thought doesn’t translate into lightness of weight though. Wispy appearance can be deceiving – even a small cumulus cloud can weight as much as two elephants.
I find it delightful that elephants have many associations with clouds. There’s a charming tale suggesting that elephants once had wings. One elephant, tiring after a long flight, thought he’d rest a bit by landing in a very large old banyan tree. But alas the tree couldn’t support him, and the branch he landed on cracked and fell upon a meditating yogi who was sitting under the tree. The man lost his temper and cursed away the wings of all elephants, who thereafter had to resort to walking.
The Divine Elephant Aryavata, whom Vedic god Indra rides, is known as “the one who knits or binds the clouds.” Ayravata is considered the progenitor of all earthly elephants.
The association of elephants and rain is also reflected in the story of the goddess Lakshmi. As she rose out of the ocean seated on a lotus, the elephants of each quarter of the sky took up their pure waters in golden vessels and poured them over the goddess. She, too, is pictured with a Divine Elephant, or Megha (cloud).
If you love clouds you may wish to become an official member of The Cloud Appreciation Society, or simply do your appreciating solo.
But whether you’ve got your eyes to the skies, or your head in the clouds, I do hope you find some peace, some quiet, and some joy in cloudland.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.”
What cloudland do you belong to – the sky, your dreams, the land of imagination, or perhaps the more pragmatic land of file storage? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Your mention of dreaming happening in cloudland brought back wonderful memories of my childhood. I remember reading a story about Cloud Cuckoo Land in one of our fairytale books. I don’t recall the details, only that it was one of our favourites. Thank you so much for making me smile 🙂
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings – Shapeshifters and Werewolves
Cloud Cuckoo Land – oh my! I’m going to have to see if I can track that one down. How fun.
Cloud Appreciation Society? I love it!! 😀
I also tell the story about the flying elephants. It’s great fun. I also have a Hungarian folktale about a boy who dreamed of walking on the clouds… nobody believes it’s possible, but he achieves his goal in the end. Very inspiring story 🙂
The Multicolored Diary: WTF – Weird Things in Folktales
Oooh a cloud walker – how fabulous! I often think what a fabulous place your brain must be – filled with amazing folktales. I imagine quite an enchanted forest with all manner of twisty trails.
I love the sky! Yes, I love the clouds too! And I love sitting in the sun and just dreaming. Yep, I’m in the clouds, always!
A most excellent place to be!
I spent a lot of time in cloudland. It’s my favorite place. 😉
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
A lovely land indeed!
I don’t sleep dream much but daydreaming is a staple 🙂 I used to lay on my back on the grass and watch the clouds go by when I was younger. Now I can’t get back up if I lay down on the grass – LOL. Every time I read something like this it makes me stop and look up more often. Thanks for the reminder, Deborah!
Yay for looking up. I’ve seen some extraordinary clouds in the past couple of days (and a rainbow too!)
Speaking of dreaming, I once had one where whenever I wanted to lay on the ground, it would rise up like a little massage table to be the perfect height for whatever I was doing.
Hi Deborah – I love clouds and watching them change; I’ve seen a few programmes on them and a couple of years I go I heard the Founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society give a talk here … fascinating subject. At the moment I’m sitting with a variety of greys … just one of those days! Cheers Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/c-is-for-cattle-and-cow-cooper.html
I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets ever through storm clouds from an airplane last night. All gray and purple and brilliant reds and golds. Spectacular!
Poetic post Deborah thank you! I LOVE clouds and many a dreamy time was and still is passed in just looking and letting go. Nature provides such a magnificent skyscape … and sunrise clouds, and sunset clouds as they change Colour makes all right with the world in that magical space. And of course, seeing shapes in the clouds – it still enchants me. When it rains I give thanks to those clouds – well, I could go on and on – I love the story of the elephant and how he lost his wings …
Clouds really do encourage that looking and letting go don’t they? That’s such a necessary and important practice I think for many things. And they are most magical indeed.
I can make a career of laying in the grass watching the magic of clouds.
LOL – me too Toni!
I love the term “cloudland.” At some point I learned that the average cloud is equivalent to over million pounds of water. I’ve never been able to look at them the same way since.
I know – it’s such an incredible paradox!
Thanks for stopping by – and happy cloud watching.
I love cloud gazing. There is nothing better than a warm breeze, a grassy spot, and clouds floating by. Donna from Girl Who Reads
The most perfect pastime indeed! I hope you get to indulge frequently.
I love watching the cloud formations and find it very relaxing. Flying elephants have long fascinated me too, beginning with Disney’s Dumbo, but your tale lends a whole new twist to the subject. Interesting post!
“Female Scientists Before Our Time”
http://shells-tales-sails.blogspot.com/
If we never get to see real flying elephants, I hope we can continue to see them in the clouds. Thanks for stopping by Sharon, and enjoy the cloudland.
Daily bread of the eyes – how true! And maybe even butter for the soul?
Nilanjana.
Madly-in-Verse
LOL – absolutely perfect!
My mind is prone to wander–mid-conversation with people sometimes. As a teen, we’d joke that I’d gone off into “la la land”. But now I think I’ll consider it cloudland, as I love the imagery that brings. Clouds are wonderful. I prefer partially cloudy skies to clear blue ones, as the lighting can become otherworldy and dramatic. Perhaps I should join the cloud appreciation society. 😉 I love the elephant’s connection with clouds, and it’s somehow comforting to think of dreamland as another dimension. So many wonderful tidbits in this post. Thank you!
Oh yes Sara – I think you can joyfully claim citizenship in cloudland.
The transient nature of clouds piques my imagination. They give moods to the sky, making it lumber overhead with foreboding, or whisk by in wisps of whimsey or anything in between. Thanks for this lovely word.
What an enchanting way to think of clouds Sue – “giving moods to the sky.” Now I’ll never think of them in the same way.
It’s always so peaceful to watch clouds, I find. Even in the middle of a thunderstorm, I love seeing the different patterns and colours. There are some astounding formations that look otherworldly!
This is my “C” post 🙂 http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/captain-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer
Yes, formations can be incredible. Eyes to the skies can be quite the experience!