There’s something oddly comforting about bubbles. Today, I find myself thinking about the little 'bubbles' we create in life to manage the tidal wave of information that seems to crash over us daily.
It reminds me of the story behind the Crystal Skulls—both in the Indiana Jones movie, Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls, and Manda Scott's novel, 2012: The Crystal Skulls.
For many of us, the life bubbles we create become little retreats. It’s not as simple as avoiding things we don’t like...
...it’s about creating a space where we can breathe, feel safe, and not lose ourselves in the torrent of too much information.
These bubbles help us stay anchored, even if they’re invisible to the outside world. For some, these bubbles are carefully designed through relationships. Here, a bubble for family, there, a bubble for work, and over there, bubbles for the world around us.
Some consciously design bubbles around self-care and well-being, limiting their interaction with negative news, conflict-driven relationships, or environments that drain them.
Thinking about these bubbles, and information overload, brought to mind the legend of the Crystal Skulls, created by ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, like the Maya and the Aztecs. The skulls, usually made from clear or smoky quartz, are rumoured to have mystical properties and are believed by some to hold the secrets of humanity’s future or past.
I remember, a few years ago now, watching an Indiana Jones movie, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and reading a book about crystal skulls by Manda Scott, which made me think of the information overload we seem to have become accustomed to, and in fact, demand.
In the film, the pursuit of ultimate knowledge and its overwhelming nature leaves those who seek it utterly undone, illustrating the danger of exceeding one’s mental limits. Similarly, in Scott’s book, the Crystal Skulls serve as a focal point for the balance between ancient wisdom and modern chaos.
In both narratives, the characters grapple with the challenge of holding knowledge and discerning its use—a struggle we face today as we navigate our information-rich world.
We live in a world now where micro-learning is almost a must. Short snippets of news, social happenings, and even books, simply because we do not have the time to take in the enormous amount of information available.
Retreating to the safety of our bubble, or bubbles, as the case may be, helps us cope.
These bubbles are like selective filters, allowing us to engage with only what feels manageable. And yet, much like Indiana and the antagonist in the movie, we’re always teetering on the edge, caught between what we know about the world, and a world hurtling toward the future.
If you've seen the movie, you might remember when Indiana faces off against the power of the crystal skulls, trying to make sense of something vast and otherworldly. It’s a perfect metaphor for what we do every day.
In his quest, he isn’t just dealing with a physical relic, but with the psychic weight of knowledge that could shatter his mind if he isn’t careful. What happens to the KGB agent at the end is literally, mind-blowing!
I think we all have our own 'crystal skulls'—things that spark curiosity and make us want to know more, to explore the world beyond our bubbles. But there’s a line between curiosity and overwhelm.
The power of the skulls is intoxicating yet potentially destructive; similar to our relationship with information today. We all have an innate need to explore; to understand, to learn more.
With endless information at our fingertips, however, we risk losing the magic of discovery if we let ourselves drown in it.
Creating these bubbles is our way of self-preservation, of finding balance. They allow us to slow down and take in the bits of the world that enrich our lives, rather than trying to consume everything.
In a way, they’re our modern-day shields, our defences against becoming overwhelmed. It’s not about shutting out the world but choosing to live mindfully within it.
Like Indiana, I reckon we just need to approach the world with curiosity, yet set boundaries, something to keep us grounded.
Enjoy your day, and remember... take some time to smell the roses, watch a butterfly dance, listen to the sounds of nature, and perhaps, create a beautiful bubble.
Namaste`
Deb xx
Read-A-Book
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