"tie noun (attachment...band...bond...connection...fastener...hookup...network...
outfit...rope...yoke)
verb (anchor...attach...band...do up...fasten...join...knot...make fast...moor... marry...rope...secure...tie up...wed)
TIE. A simultaneous endeavor, free-spirited art, a friend's idea. A friend who maps words through city blocks. On Sunday, April 6th, we "tied the world together". When I first explained the tie-day to my husband, he couldn't understand that I'd want to tie with others around the world...and not strengthen my ties to him. I'd since explained that it's also a day for the two of us. Already, we're connected for life. By tie-ing together, we could strengthen that bond, regardless of the romantic outcome between us, together or not. He's already tied into my being. Aren't we all already tied?
In the morning, Mo' surprised me by gathering the materials for the tie-ing. Long, thin, green grassy blades. We'd walk a path through a northern part of Taipei, tie-ing grass randomly as we go. A path that literally spells t-i-e. A free, green path. People around the world would also be spelling t-i-e in their city blocks. So, we met up with friends through a mutual contact (the tieing mastermind). Two American friends, joined by four locals. We walked, talked, tied. At first, the thought of tieing felt like a strange, planned, pseudo-synchronicity. Yet with each knot, with each bow, it was real. Realized connections, new connections, old ties. Fresh days and moments. As we walked the route, we noticed pre-existing ties. Bows, ropes, and things, some worn beautifully... but still there. Some like new. Some held structures together, others were merely decorative. Ribbons, rope, wire, string, and grass. We tied grass and some ribbon to gates, doors, cars, trees, spigots, a stranger's tie. We tied motorbikes and people together. Our walk was relaxing. The weather was sweet, the streets were quiet, there were plenty of green trees lining the path. We walked an honest t-i-e in about three hours. One of the guys had a photographic memory of the map, so we waited for his cues to turn. "Oh! We're still walking the top of the 't'?"...
It was a silly thing to do, it was a beautiful thing to do. There are ties in life that are deteriorating... and there are ties that never come undone. Take away dualities, and we are one. Living, breathing life, each of us a part of Pure Awareness. Already tied together. Here was the expression. Thanks, esn, and anyone who tied."
slideSHOW and words by Patricia Dempsey
photos by Michael Poulton
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