Finding reflection

Finding a place to reflect upon life often revolves around the outdoors for me; A remote place where I can't hear societies' noise, won't run into people and can feel closer to the planet and myself is preferable to things like meditation. I have a tendency to overthink things so finding a little balance is always welcome; It's time to shut down and find peace, solace, relaxation and reflection. It's something I actively and often seek.

Some find that solace through religion but I'm not even remotely a religious man and don't feel the need for that type of spiritual guidance or support - I've seen enough life to know my actions determine my outcomes and have seen devout and religious people come to grief just as often and easily as those who don't hold that faith or belief. Live and let live and each to their own though right?

So, that begs the question, how did I find myself in a cathedral?

One of my methods of finding relaxation and reflection, besides seeking the outdoors, is knowing stuff. I need to know things and often that leads me to delve into history. I know many aren't the least bit interested in it but I find history fascinating. Because of this I often find myself in places I'd not normally go, just because I'm chasing down detail, fact or information to satisfy that curiosity. This is one such place, Salisbury Cathedral, UK.

I actually came to view one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, a very old and extremely important historical document. See below from Wikipedia:

Magna Carta is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton to make peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons. Neither side stood behind their commitments, and the charter was annulled by Pope Innocent III, leading to the First Barons' War.

It is held in the 13th century Chapter House just to the side of the Cathedral itself and due to my love of history, and almost insatiable desire to know stuff, it was high on my list of things to see when I was in the United Kingdom. But I found other value too.

I knew I'd find the cathedral interesting but it also made me feel quite reflective and relaxed too. I don't know why, maybe just because it was cool and quiet inside. I wonder how many people felt the same since the year 1220 when it began construction? What was very cool though was the font which perfectly reflected the cathedral on its surface.

It was made by William Pye, constructed in bronze around 2008. You can learn more by following that link if you're interested. 👉SALISBURY CATHEDRAL FONT. The cool thing is that it's so perfectly level that the water flows evenly from its four spouts and the surface resembles a perfectly smooth piece of glass. I'm sorry my pictures don't do it justice - You'll have to trust me that it's cool!

In the pictures you can also see a flock of white paper doves flying away overhead which was placed there for an exhibition and I thought it was kind of cool reflected in the font, what do you think? Cool yes?

I spent about ninety minutes in and around Salisbury Cathedral and enjoyed my time there. I ticked off seeing the Magna Carta and was pleasantly surprised to experience a nice reflective moment standing by that font feeling small and insignificant beneath the massive and incredibly old structure above me.

No, I didn't see the light and all of a sudden become devout, in fact I'm rather surprised I didn't get struck by a bolt of lightning and sent to the underworld where I probably belong the very moment I stepped into the place. I'm pleased about that. It was a nice little moment of reflective thought though and satisfied my need to know stuff. A win-win scenario...Old stuff and a little self-reflection.