Gases Rise, Solids Sink

The lighter the substance, the more it rises—gases being lighter than solids, they naturally rise.

Can this metaphor stand for our spirits? The lighter, the less burdened we are, the higher we can rise to spiritual heights. Is this detachment?

Yet, is there even value in being higher or lower? As romantic as the eagle in the sky may be, is that animal better than the humble mole who burrows deep? Higher or lower—in some respects, at some level of disorientation—doesn't matter. We all occupy our space, and notions of "good" or "bad" or "higher" or "lower" are all relative.

That said, I resonate with the idea of lightening our load to more easily climb and fly. It reminds me of the Bahá'í quote:

"Ye are even as the bird which soareth, with the full force of its mighty wings and with complete and joyous confidence, through the immensity of the heavens, until, impelled to satisfy its hunger, it turneth longingly to the water and clay of the earth below it, and, having been entrapped in the mesh of its desire, findeth itself impotent to resume its flight to the realms whence it came. Powerless to shake off the burden weighing on its sullied wings, that bird, hitherto an inmate of the heavens, is now forced to seek a dwelling-place upon the dust. Wherefore, O My servants, defile not your wings with the clay of waywardness and vain desires, and suffer them not to be stained with the dust of envy and hate, that ye may not be hindered from soaring in the heavens of My divine knowledge." —Bahá’u’lláh, Hidden Words Persian 26

Our attachments and defilements can keep us low. Each day is the work of letting go and cleaning our wings to be light enough to fly again another day.