“Everything in our world is connected by the delicate strands of the web of life, which is a balance between the forces of destruction and the magical forces of creation.”
- Fern Gully
I am a well-established quote junky, but my long-running obsession with quotations actually started with the fanciful movie, “FernGully”. I was just a little sea otter and at the time, had no idea why this quote felt so right. Being raised in an Intuu household, I was trained to trust that feeling so I wrote it in my tiny pink diary. I still refer back to it today.
Many college classes, and thousands of books later, I’ve seen this quote in a million forms. Everyone from John Donne to Kermit the Frog has something to say about the way we are connected– silly living beings sharing a home, surrounded by magic and the inevitability and survivability of destruction. Thousands of hours of living have shown me that this quote is, in essence, my philosophy of being.
This was my first exposure to that idea expressed so baldly, and it will always be my favorite.
And you? What moves you?
____________________
Daily Post Prompt: Do you have a favorite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/daily-prompt-quote/
The greatest risk is to not take a risk.
When I first heard it it spurred me to get out and about…I admit I don’t always live by it though
No one remembers Fern Gully! I loved that movie!
I know! It was great!
Poor movie gets left out of “favorite” lists all the time…
I live in Fern Tree Gully in Melbourne
and yes if you drive to the Forest on a summers day that is what it can look like.. that moves me…. a new borns cry moves me.. puppies, horse riding…the list is endless with me ..I’m a bit of mush bucket 
Truly?! That’s magical!
Oh, mush buckets are so necessary to the world. They remind the rest of us to look closer, love more, and enjoy often. 
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Need I saw more?
That says it all!
haha, thank you, Seyi!
“You don’t win silver, you lose gold.” – Source Unknown
It always reminded me to strive for something better & never give up.
As for what moves me? A ton of things. Love, passion for the work I do, my son, dreams, kindness of others.
Very moving post, Rarasaur.
Completely off subject – I need to thank you 1,001 times for pointing me in the direction of Kozo & the whole Bloggers for Peace movement. It’s an amazing thing we’re doing & I’ve met so many amazing people in the span of just a few days. I have a feeling we’re all going to do something greater than us.
& P.S. I love that badge you designed! I plan on placing a credits/reference/special thanks page up later this year & you’ll be included.
I’m just so glad you’re participating!
*hugs* I think you’re right– b4peace is going to make awesome waves!
I’ve never seen that movie, i’ll see if netflix has it. Me? my son, animals, being outdoors, my hubs, chanel!
Chanel, oh yes!
Fern Gully is a cartoon, but it’s one of my favorites. 
Good luck finding it!
Another movie for the to watch list.
Beautiful post Rara!!
Oh yes! I saw the list you picked up at the MatticusKingdom.
I have to say that Firefly and Boondock Saints are on my top 10 things to watch of all times… and so is Fern Gully! 
Of course he’s right… the Boondock Saints is not for everyone. It’s sort of … vulgar/violent. 
Thank you for reading! 
The Fern Gully quote reminds me of “The Force is an energy field created by all living beings. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together.”
P.S. I dream about being and intuu sea otter.
Exactly!!
That idea is everywhere, ever present. I think it’s an idea that transcends generation, race, and hobbies. 
All metaphorical sea otters are Intuu, I think, haha, at least to some extent. 
Unfortunately, most grow up and lose that… (but not all of us grow up, haha!)
Seems to me that now that I’ve grown up, I’m spending all my time trying to “grow back” to the wonderful, loving days as a sea otter pup.
People like you with private lives ‘within’ that capture their imagination move me…!
Rawr…!
Oh, beautiful!
Thank you! Rawr!
That one about well-behaved women seldom making history…. Need to constantly comfort myself with that one.
It’s true for both men and women. The world loves people who make a ruckus, haha!
That’s one of my favorite ideas, too!
Rara, you are a beacon of positivity. I wish I could see the world through the same eyes that you do..
I guess so…
Wow.
Don’t forget the forces of maintainance!
That’s the “living” part… all together it forms the trinity… creation, preservation, destruction. A beautifully solid triangle!
i need to watch that movie.. must’ve forgotten all about it..^^
Oh yes, watch it! I actually haven’t seen it since I was a kid, so it could be awful, haha, but when I was young, I loooooved it!
You move me, Rarasaur.
“You don’t have to have a point, to have a point.” From the movie “The Point” about a little round headed boy who lives in a land filled with pointy headed- people. Great movie (spawned “me and my arrow”
I love the whole idea of that movie! It reminds me of Shel Silverstein’s story “The Missing Piece”… and the video was adorable, and sad all at once. I was ready to dino-squish those triangle kids for being so mean…
I’m moved by people sharing the magical aspects of themselves that make others feel like someone understands them. I think it’s called “being yourself” or something like that
He’s an award for you, because you don’t have enough ya know: http://wp.me/p2LjRv-cc
Yeeeah! Thanks, Glory! I love awards, haha!
Speaking of magical, that’s exactly how I’d describe you. 
Aww shucks Rara. Thank you! Enjoy your prize
Ohhhh Fern Gully I LOVE that movie..battys da dude!!!
If you don’t go within, you go without
Batty was amazing! Seriously, one of my favorite characters of all time.
Mine Too!!!!
The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. Nat King Cole.
Such a nice quote. When you stop and think about it, it’s pretty hard to get your brain around how everyone and everything is connected, fascinating though.
It is! I found a similar quote recently relating to how everyone out there is living a complex life where you might just be a side character in a coffee shop.
That was such an interesting idea!
What moves me? Your quote. And devotion. Devotion moves me every time. Devotion moves me more than suffering.
Devotion is a beautiful thing!!
Have you ever read or heard the Ramayana? Lakshmana’s part of that tale is one of my favorite stories of devotion.
Come across bits and pieces of the Ramayana many times over the years. It’s such a long and detailed and complicated story. Saw some parts of it performed wonderfully in Bali, but not familiar with Lakshmana’s story. Will look it up.
When I go into a sacred place that has been used for devotion for hundreds of years I’m always moved to tears. It’s seems to be about devotion to God or gods or spirit, but it’s all really about devotion to life. Imagine what the world would be like if we all developed a deep devotion for Life, the miracle of Life!
I`ve not heard that quote before but it certainly provides fiid food for thought.
Oh good, always glad to provide brain food, haha!
And you? What moves you?
Music. Always music. Music soothes me, fires my creativity, sways my moods. There is *ALWAYS* a song running through my head. It’s not always one I’ve heard recently, because my brain’s internal mp3 player has a demented sense of humor. When I don’t listen to music for too long, I get *cranky.* And the soundtrack to Fern Gully is awesome, by the way- especially the extended version of Tim Curry’s song as Hexxus. I’m just sayin’.
“Start before you’re ready.” – Steven Pressfield
Living a life of hesitancy, second guessing, over-thinking isn’t allowing me to live my life to the fullest or make it as rich as it could be. I love the idea of just starting, naysayers be damned.
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What moves me? My feet, if I’m lucky. What’s my favourite quote? “Beam me up, Scotty, there’s no intelligent life down here”.
Speaking of Star Trek and connections (now THERE’S a helluva segue!), do you know you are only 3 degrees of separation from Marilyn Monroe? You know me. I know Grace Lee Whitney. Grace worked with Marilyn Monroe on the movie “Some Like It Hot”. So you’re also just 3 degrees from Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, too!
And you’re only 1 degree from Paul Newman!
Now ain’t THAT cool?
Eek!
That’s exciting!! Dave is going to get tired of me reminding him of my fairly close relationship with Paul Newman and Marilyn Monroe, haha! 
And you can’t go wrong with a moving quote from Star Trek! 
I am in love with the whole idea of connectedness, maybe even the idea of being one with everything on earth and in the universe. There are times, basking in this thought, that I feel I have the key to the mysteries of existence but when I try and hold down the thought, it spirits away, like water in my palm. I have a feeling that these mysteries cannot be solved, should not be solved by anybody or else what is the point of living on? Enlightenment, I think, is just moments in our consciousness, not a state of consciousness. We have a lucid moment, fleeting and changing, when we look at life as if though Go’d eyes, but the moment passes and we’re back to being mortal, hungry for wisdom, going through life clueless as to what we can make of it beyond mere survival or success or longevity or fulfillment. Life is a journey and you never arrive at anything because the journey has to go on, maybe until you die, or maybe never — maybe these mysteries must keep us on a quest forever, in this life, in the after life, where who knows what we “become,” as souls, as entities, as a figment in this great vastness of possibility?
Oh I love this! Hurrying off to look at your blog
Thank you rarasaur – you attract wonderful commenters
Alison, it’s true! I’m surrounded by brilliance and kindness.
Yes you are. As am I
AA- This is beautiful! Certainly worthy of it’s own blog post, or one of those picture quotes… it’s really quite lovely and it makes perfect sense.
Yes, the journey must go on… but we’re connected all the while. Thanks for such a beautiful thought right before my bedtime. 
That we are all connected has never been more true than it is now. I wish we all could remember that.
LOVE Fern Gully and have not thought of it in quite sometime. I always thought that when people experience the notion of “grace” it is really just getting into that universal connected energy. Kind of the flow…an athlete’s peak performance, an artist’s masterpiece, a mother’s bursting heart looking at her children with pride. Something is so….human about it.
Cool, thanks for this, and obviously it made many of us think.
Here are some indian connections who would love your help, Rara.
Thanks for checking it out.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/indian-gang-rape-victim-jyoti-1521178
http://subhabratadasgupta.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/redefinig-damini-a-crucial-step-for-voices-for-damini/#comment-2293
I have a tattoo that symbolizes the intertwining of everything in life.
Such a fabulous part of life that is far too often over looked.
Beautiful! I’d love to see it. My hubby and I have played on the idea of a tattoo with this concept. I love the idea of the symbol being part of me. I could never quite come up with a symbol that I liked, though!
Its a celtic knot that I saw at a museum carved into a rock. I had never scene a celtic knot like it before, so I was smitten.
The labels that I claimed as me were no more than a skin
I wrapped around my consciousness as if it had an end.
The calendar that gave the date was no more than a sign
I walked beyond to find myself in present state of mind.
The minute or the moment,
how you think is your opponent.
If you’re listening to this right now,
close your eyes and count to
WOW!
~Saul Williams (one of the greatest poets of our time)
Song: Look to the Sun
Album: Volcanic Sunlight
The Dead Emcee Scrolls (and all of his books) are also amazing.
Apologies, I left out the entire middle of the poem:
The labels that I claimed as me were no more than a skin
I wrapped around my consciousness as if it had an end.
The calendar that gave the date was no more than a sign
I walked beyond to find myself in present state of mind.
The 13 moons divide themselves,
cycles of 28.
The Farmers write their almanacs,
the moon is never late.
But how we count the days and hours place walls,
confine the mind
We live in doubt and debt where there is never enough time.
The minute or the moment,
how you think is your opponent.
If you’re listening to this right now,
close your eyes and count to
WOW!
~Saul Williams (one of the greatest poets of our time)
Song: Look to the Sun
Album: Volcanic Sunlight
Sorry about that, lol, thought it didn’t sound right the first time!
It’s amazing!!!
Thank you for sharing it!
I believe I am a little bit Intuu also. I know when someone is about to die or get seriously ill. It has happened a few times with members of my family.
I completely understand that feeling. It’s nice when you can recognize it and accept it– it makes life feel so much more purposeful and … natural.
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Oh my god I love Fern Gully! Want to watch it right now. I always thought that tree chopping blonde dude was super bad ass. And it made me really want a walkman. I haven’t seen it for like a hundred and twelve years.