For time immemorial, people have been drawn to the sea as a source of life – not only in literal ways, such as fishing for sustenance, but also in ephemeral ways. Poets, artists, philosophers, musicians, and entire communities have centered their lives and their expression around the sea, its moods and tides, its connection with the moon, its sheer will and its calming effect. Healers have long sought the sea as a source of physical and emotional strength, whether through thalassotherapy or for meditation, for walks along a shoreline or for more rigorous activities in the water.
Do you remember the first time you saw the sea? Can you recall the first time you noticed the sea’s effect on you? Perhaps you often dream of that feeling.
Explora Journeys believes that our past and present experiences with the sea can be profoundly transformative.
The ocean’s power is both literal and metaphorical. While it’s generally known that oceans occupy about 70% of the earth’s surface, it’s less well known that these vast, mysterious bodies actually represent 99% of our planet’s biosphere, or living space. This is because the depth of the oceans is generally far greater than the height of the space in which land-based life thrives.
This is a staggering fact. To consider that we land-dwellers exist in one tiny fraction of our planet’s inhabitable space, can certainly reset our perspectives. It might be overwhelming, if not for another indisputable fact: the sea is a source of wonder and joy.
Objectively speaking, the sheer size of the ocean, the unknowability of all of the life forms that are contained within it, and the potential for resilience that vibrates through the oceans as we learn more about the effects of climate change, often mean that when the unexpected is found, excitement and hope follow. The recent discovery of a thriving, “pristine” coral reef off the coast of Tahiti is one such example, and is in striking contrast to the all-too-familiar dire news about these priceless ecosystems.
It’s easy to imagine that everyone who has spent time near the sea has been profoundly impacted, and has experienced a sense of awe. For some, every time they see the sea anew, some part of them recalls that very first moment when they realized, with amazement, its effect upon them.
The highly personal, almost zen-like state of tranquility and flow that can come from being in the presence of the sea, is a deeply desirable state of mind. As we continue to face demands and pressures in our daily lives – including many that are far out of our control – being able to channel such a centering, calming sensation, can be essential to our happiness and well-being.
Explora Journeys calls this state the “Ocean State of Mind.” The new, luxury cruise brand is redefining ocean travel for a new generation of discerning travelers who long to connect deeply with what matters most: themselves, their loved ones, and the world around them. Until its first of four ships – which celebrate space, choice, design, and destination experiences – sets sail in 2023, travelers can evoke their Ocean State of Mind by listening to the brand’splaylist, visiting its social media channels, and through a simple yet powerful exercise that requires only a few quiet moments with one’s own memories of the ocean.
Close your eyes. Slowly breathe in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat this, until you feel tension seep from your muscles. Now, imagine yourself as you were when you first sensed the sea’s effect on you. How you felt upon your first sight of endless, shimmering water and an unfathomably distant horizon. What you took of the scent of salt and movement, of light and earth. The sound of waves rolling toward you. The call of a gull above. The sound of your father’s voice, the feeling of his warm hand around your small one, and the ticklish cool of wet sand beneath your feet.
Inhale, exhale. This is your sea.
This is your Ocean State of Mind.
