Humans, as creatures bound to the Earth, have long been captivated by winged beings. The allure of lifting off from the ground and soaring through the skies is so powerful that we’ve designed airplanes, helicopters, and a myriad of other machines to grant ourselves the ability to fly. When we take to the air, the world below unfolds in a completely new way, revealing vistas and perspectives that are impossible to see from the ground. This exhilarating sense of freedom fuels our desire to experience flight over and over again.
On a metaphorical level, the act of flying symbolizes breaking away from the forces that anchor us to a certain mindset, emotion, or way of being. We experience mental flight when we transcend our usual thought patterns and gain fresh insights—this is what it means to expand our minds. Emotionally, we soar when the intensity of our passion overcomes the barriers that restrain us, allowing us to feel deeply and without limitation. Spiritually, we take flight when we connect with the aspect of ourselves that exists beyond the confines of time and the physical realm. In this space, we touch the boundlessness that characterizes the essence of flight.
Flight, in any form, is about freeing ourselves from limitations, even if only for a brief moment. Whether we are literally flying in an aircraft or a hang glider, or metaphorically rising by opening our minds and hearts, we escape the pull of gravity and habitual patterns. By reconnecting with our true essence, we release ourselves from identification with the fleeting nature of our physical existence. The more we extend our wings, the more apparent it becomes that taking flight is a state of grace, a reminder of our true nature.
