The Meaning Of Emptiness

Nothing!

By Snarky LisaPublished 24 days ago • 3 min read

Emptiness. The void. The ether. Called by many names, this mysterious lack of…well, existence is quite the phenomenon. Present yet not, common yet subjective, this concept has plenty of applications and appearances around the world.

Sometimes, it’s taken to be literal. This could be the vast void of outer space — when it’s not filled with stars or planets or some sparkling nebulae to light the sky at night. It might be fresh air, which isn’t quite as empty in the literal sense but for all of basic life’s intents and purposes, is. It can even be a simple lack of substances within a closed space, such as a box or a bucket.

Other times, it’s more metaphorical. Think of the times when recently dumped ex-lovers feel a void in their hearts, or when one’s mind fails to perceive anything clearly due to a lack of cognitive function. Sure, there’s still something physical there. But the essence, the sensation of presence? That’s gone.

Yet, the meaning of emptiness can even be a mix of both the figurative and the literal of this Earth and universe. For some examples, think of hunger or thirst.

Yes, there may very well still be biological substances in one’s body such as various acids and fluids while one craves nutrition and/or liquid. However, the main kinds of matter intended to fill up one’s body to placate those desires simply aren’t there. As such, you end up yearning for more — no matter how much you try to fight it.

At the same time…all sorts of emptiness have something in common. A lack. When something or someone isn’t filled — be it in physical matter or energy or more abstract contents — consequences can and do arise. The balance is thrown off, after all, in some way. Whether this is good or not? It depends.

Sometimes, things need to be emptied in some sort of way to be better fulfilled. From untidy rooms to minds and tables of clutter, unclean objects and matter proliferate. This does not do one much good in the long run, and it can accumulate over time as well. In the end, cleaning up after oneself is truly the best way to go, be it physically or mentally (even if it’s a hassle at first).

Other times…it’s more ideal to leave things filled. Think of a mechanism which seems basic at first sight, yet is perfectly functional. Perhaps it looks somewhat boring and dull, and you want to make it fancier. Tempting as this may be, it might not be the best option — especially if you don’t have much experience or talent in its matters and affairs. Change can be messy, after all.

There are even times when one must leave something both filled and unfilled. Keep in mind partially filled measuring cups, or half full boxes both full of future use for newer material and present utility for the old.

Sure, striking the balance can be tricky — especially when one needs to find somewhere else to store away their unused supplies. However, it can’t just be fulfilled all at once or emptied dramatically. It must be carefully handled, lest its leftovers be rendered truly and utterly unusable in the future.

In the end, the void is a multifaceted state of affairs. It has its highs, it has its lows; it has just about everything it could possibly have in between as well. It’s kind of ironic, considering the void is supposed to be, well, nothing. But that’s just the way the universe rolls. Without it, matter would have no place to stick around in.

Any other thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments!