Movement

English is such a funny language. One word can mean diverse things. Or one word can be pronounced differently and mean similar things, such as I read (red) vs. I will read (reed) the book. Or words spelled differently but sounding the same thing can mean different things, such as reed and read. Yet, grammatically it is often much simpler than other languages. There is only one "the" in English. I believe that are at least 4 in German, and which one you use depends on gender.

So, what is movement. It is derived both from French and Latin according to Wiktionary. Wiktionary lists 9 meanings as a noun. Looking up the definition generally on the Internet, I came across this: 

move·ment

ˈmo͞ovmənt/

noun

noun: movement; plural noun: movements

1. 1.

   an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed.

   
   

   "a slight movement of the upper body"

   synonyms:

   motion, move; More

   • an arrival or departure of an aircraft.
   • an act of defecation.

     noun: bowel movement; plural noun: bowel movements
   • the activities and whereabouts of someone, especially during a particular period of time.

     
     

     "your movements and telephone conversations are recorded"
   • the general activity or bustle of people or things in a particular place.

     
     

     "the scene was almost devoid of movement"
   • the progressive development of a poem or story.

     
     

     "the novel shows minimal concern for narrative movement"
   • a change or development in something.

     
     

     "movements in the underlying financial markets"

     synonyms:

     development, change, fluctuation, variation More

2. 2.

   a group of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas.

   
   

   "the labor movement"

   synonyms:

   political group, party, faction, wing, lobby, camp "the labor movement"

   • a campaign undertaken by a group of people working together.

     
     

     "a movement to declare war on poverty"

     synonyms:

     campaign, crusade, drive, push "a movement to declare war on poverty"

3. 3.

   MUSIC

   a principal division of a longer musical work, self-sufficient in terms of key, tempo, and structure.

   
   

   "the slow movement of his violin concerto"

   synonyms:

   part, section, division "a symphony in three movements"

4. 4.

   the moving parts of a mechanism, especially a clock or watch.

Merriam-Webster defines things similarly. 

Movement, to me, also implies (or rather should I say that I infer from the word) shift, change, transition. Some of which can be movement in the heart, mind and soul. Movement does not necessarily mean to me that it is only a physical shift, change or transition. And, when we change ourselves, can we change the world around us, just as a stone thrown in a pond creates a ripple effect?  

There are at least several mediation images in my book, Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be (here) that address, at least obliquely, movement, both physical and non-physical. I'm including the first one as action is movement. You act, something moves or changes.

Next is this one, which says to me, on at least one level, the if you are living in your blood and bones that you are moving. After all, you blood and bones support you in moving your body through your day and your life.

Singing is the action of the mouth, teeth, tongue, lungs, and diaphragm. It is the movement of air. Singing can change our mood. 

Well, dancing is purely and simply movement on one level. But, can dancing bring about not just physical change but also a change of heart, soul and mind? It certainly can lift spirits.

Being playful is having fun, finding joy. Being playful is shifting from the serious to the not serious. Children, puppies and kittens learn through play. They grow and change through play. Maybe we as adults should play more so that we can keep learning. 

My body is no longer happy to move with the abandon of the dancer in the first picture, but I keep exploring how to move my body so that it and I stay active and healthy. Moving helps my mind and brain as well. It's most likely not so good for me to spend the time I do in front of this computer. 

Shall we all move?

The first photograph is by Ahmad Odeh and was found on unsplash.com. All the other images are from my book, cited above.