“Even the most bitter food, consumed in freedom, is better than the sweetest food obtained in servitude.” I encountered this powerful statement while studying last week, and beyond being an isolated case, it reflects a reality we all experience in our daily lives: some directly and others more subtly; some at specific moments, while others feel like puppets in this life, controlled by a puppeteer who does as he pleases with them.
Without delving into specific topics that resonate with only a few, we can reflect on this when we go against our essence. As José Ortega y Gasset expressed, “Among the various possible selves, each person always finds one that is their genuine and authentic self. The voice that calls them to this authentic self is what we call ‘vocation.’ But most people dedicate themselves to silencing that voice of vocation and refuse to hear it. They create noise within themselves to distract their attention from it, and they deceive themselves by substituting their genuine self with a false course of life.”
“For just $15, you can be the dragon master.”
So, what is this so-called essence, and why is there so much noise surrounding it? You might be skeptical, as some claim to have found the source of knowledge and who, for a few dollars, will teach you how to discover your purpose in life. Or perhaps you’ve encountered others who, as leaders of some movement, “saw something in you” and insisted that you are the next dragon master. We might refer to these individuals as “Dream Pirates.” However, they are not the focus this week; I mention them to clarify that I do not intend to be mistaken for one of them, as no one—absolutely no one—can tell you what you are made for or what your purpose is in this life when the only person living your life is you.
Many have opinions: “Don’t do this,” “Study that,” “Say this,” “Behave like this.” Giving and receiving advice is not wrong, but conditioning your actions is. You lose your individuality if you act, study, speak, and behave as others tell you. Moreover, you—and only you—will bear the consequences of those decisions. Do you agree with that?
Sometimes, it’s not even necessary for someone to tell you directly to condition you; social pressure can do so indirectly. If you don’t act like the group, you’re excluded; if you express what everyone thinks but no one dares to say, you’re labeled a rebel. Here, we return to the “Monarchs of the Shadows,” who point fingers at others as the “town witch” when, in reality, they are the actual witches.
Those bothered by a salmon swimming upstream do so not because it harms the environment but because it can reignite in their companions that spark they have tried to drown. Doing so interferes with the plans of those who wish to keep “everything under control” and return “purpose” to those who, while appearing alive on the outside, are dead on the inside.
From the previous writing, one can understand what “essence” means within each of us. But if the concept still doesn’t resonate with you, don’t worry; that’s normal. This is an elusive idea, almost like a legend, and few recognize it with certainty. But this is precisely how we will come to know and recognize it, as Paula Calleja explains.
The Duende of essences
In the article published by Paula Calleja in the magazine Eighty Degrees, Volume 8, she introduces English-speaking readers to the term “Duende.” At first, I found it challenging to understand, as “Duende” often refers to a mythical being that causes mischief wherever it goes; for instance, here in Honduras, it is said that they kidnap people. However, she presents a second concept of “Duende” as “the inexplicable charm of things and their captivating power of attraction.” This concept can apply to everything that draws us, such as food, drink, fashion, or recreational activities. Just as there are types of pseudoscientists, we could think of the kinds of Duendes.
In this case, we will focus on the “Duende of essences,” which is that inexplicable feeling that defines our tendencies in life. This Duende creates the elixir that determines our inclinations, using what it finds in our “garden,” composed of our physical, cultural, spiritual, and mental ecology.
Every day, the Duende of essences begins its work before dawn, searching our garden for the necessary elements for its elixir. Imagine that this garden is the sum of all our experiences and choices, which constantly nourish our essence, sometimes without noticing. Each small decision, every thought or interaction, is a spark that activates something unique and authentic within us.
At daybreak, the Duende of essences collects ingredients from our physical ecology. The foods and drinks we consume, our medications, and even the air we breathe are its first harvest. If you choose a healthy breakfast or enjoy a cup of tea in silence, you nourish your essence with well-being and tranquility. Conversely, if you rush through your meals, that too reflects in the elixir, affecting your mood and disposition.
Next, the Duende delves into cultural ecology, which encompasses what you dedicate your attention to: social media, books, and conversations. Attention is a valuable resource, and the Duende of essences knows that what you consume in this regard is part of your essence. If you spend time on something that enriches you, your elixir will have a more genuine and luminous note. But if you get lost in distractions, the elixir will dilute.
As the day progresses, the Duende gathers elements from spiritual ecology. Here, it focuses on answering the question: why are we here? The motivations and values we embrace add a distinctive flavor to our essence. Reflecting on your purpose profoundly nourishes your essence.
Finally, the Duende examines mental ecology, where our desire to learn and apply knowledge resides. Each new skill is a spice in the elixir, adding a unique complexity to our essence.
Thus, the Duende of essences works daily, combining what you offer through your conscious and unconscious choices. It is an invisible yet constant labor that gives rise to the elixir of your personal essence, as complex and changing as you are. This elixir does not have a fixed recipe, and in that diversity of ingredients lies its magic.
At the end of the day, each small choice, experience, and reflection becomes an essential ingredient that brings our spark to life, creating something unique and irreplaceable. That essence is not something we can easily show or define; it is what we feel when we close our eyes and find peace with who we are, the drive that guides us when we stray from the paths dictated to us and return to those that resonate deep within our being.
That is our essence: a constant whisper reminding us who we are and where we want to go, regardless of what others say or expect. It is the force that propels us forward without the need to be fully explained or understood, for its magic lies in its mystery. And although the path to understanding it can be both sweet and bitter, remember: “Even the most bitter food, consumed in freedom, is better than the sweetest food obtained in servitude.”
Satoricha ~
References
Callejas, P., & Eighty Degrees. (2022). Duende (Vol. 8). Martin Bohacik.
Greene, R. (2020). Maestría. Editorial Oceano de Mexico.