A Lesson in Circulation: Spiritual Oases in the Concrete Jungle

Aurélie Athan

New York City is the home to countless fountains-- many of which are hidden gems while others are well-known celebrities. What is universal among these diverse oases is the water that flows through them in an endless loop.  Each fountain performs its unique dance or poetry. Some drop from on high in a rushing whoosh or shoot up from bellow in syncopated spurts. Others camouflage themselves as sleek mirrors or pose as flowers. The largest weeps endlessly in memoriam.

The fountain's message is an irresistible one, beckoning us to draw near especially in warmer weather. Fountains speak to the thirst of the parched psyche yearning for renewal of meaning, creativity, or joy (ARAS, 2010).  They arrest our imagination asking us to stop, watch, listen, breathe, and bathe in their spray. Many of us walk by without noticing, too caught up in the pace of the city.

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