The Ocean

We know more about outer space than we do about our own oceans. Let that sink in for a moment. The vast deep blue that lies just beyond the shores that we tread has been the subject of countless studies, stories, songs, and works of art, and it will continue to fascinate and inspire man kind for generations to come. Even once we've explored every square inch of the waters of this planet, I think we will continue to be inspired by the consistency of changes that are bound to occur therein. I sincerely doubt that we'll ever truly conquer the sea. I think that it is a force of nature greater than man kind that deserves our utmost respect and admiration. I've always thought the ocean had a sort of majesty to it. Whenever I've gazed upon its vast expanses over the horizon, I've always been overcome with a strong sense of humility and awe. It certainly isn't a mystery why pretty much every ancient civilization had a deity that embodied the sheer mass of natural power that is the ocean. The Greeks had Poseidon, the Romans had Neptune, the Hatians had Agwe, and the Celts had Manannan, and the Nordic peoples had Aegir just to name a few. The ancient peoples had these deities because they recognized that there was something profoundly godly and spiritual about the waters of the world. I think that even today, the ocean, while we know it isn't sentient, still deserves a form of respect. It is one of the most powerful forces in nature and I doubt that we'll ever actually "conquer" it. Old sailor legends about the ocean are equally fascinating, going all the way back to stories such as the Odyssey and the other various journeys in myth and legend. Of course there's also the scientific side of the ocean, which is just about as astounding as the mythological and historical aspects of it. Reality is often equally or stranger and even more fantastic than legend, and this is especially true when talking about the ocean. Scientists are discovering new things about the waters of this world every day and it seems like every time we learn something new, we find several more mysteries to unravel. The ocean is not unlike the mythological hydra in that sense; if you cut off one head, two more will take its place. The seas aren't just amazing in terms of myths and science, there is also a profound aesthetic beauty of the waters that has been an effective muse for countless artists. Paintings, sculptures, poetry, and an innumerable amount of other mediums have found inspiration in the sea, and will continue to do so for as long as the ocean exists. The ocean isn't just beautiful, it's also a terrifying force of nature that has taken as many lives as it has inspired. In ancient times as well as the modern age, people have lost their lives to the dominion of Neptune, they have gone to "Davey Jones Locker" as many old salts would tell you. The ocean is majestic and powerful. It is beautiful, but deadly, and it is a formidable force that will undoubtedly contribute even more to human culture in the future than it has in the past and present. Amazing and powerful as the ocean is, by some means man kind has found a way to begin its destruction. With pollution, oil spills, and the looming threat of climate change, we are effectively launching a war on one of the most amazing things that this world has to offer. I remember wanting to vomit the first time I heard about "trash island", a mass of garbage that has accumulated in the ocean the size of many countries. However, it gives me hope to know that there are so many people who have dedicated their lives to preserving marine environments. It's because of them that future generations will be able to see and appreciate the vast oceans of this world just as ancient man did.