The bluebird carries the sky on his back

Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The bluebird carries the sky on his back”. What did he mean?

A small little creature, free and beautiful, blue above and brown below, and living between heaven and earth. Above it, the sky is open to infinite adventure; below, the solid earth offers nourishment and company. A wee, small bird it is, and yet it can explore the blue expanse above, descending ever so often to the brown earth to purchase a ticket for the next ride. It has everything it needs to fulfill its’ spirits.

Someone bound to the earth may look at the bluebird and say, “Ah! Look, the poor littlebluebird carries the weight of the blue sky on it’s back, what a vain little creature”, and they would judge the bird for this lofty conceit. But who amongst us carries the sky on our back? Why, those of us who live only in the solid reality of this world carry an even heavier responsibility — do we not carry the weight the world on our shoulders?

Who is more conceited than us, thinking that the world relies on our works to sustain and propagate itself.

The yogi looks at the bluebird and immediately recognizes his kin. Both are creatures of two worlds. Heaven, Earth, and the bluebird that carried the sky on his back and a yoga mat in his backpack