There are Love Stories, Life Stories, and the Story of All Things: Carbon— cosmic pattern maker and master storyteller.
This is a bedtime story about how we became (immortals).
“In the dance of molecules and the evolution of life, carbon is both the artist and the medium, shaping the potential and beauty of the world in ways that are both fundamental and awe-inspiring." – Roger Penrose
Mirrors of life.
My mother first saw herself in the mirror when she was nine years old.
I remember thinking as she told me, "How will you know yourself if you don't have mirrors?"
Mirrors allow us to see ourselves.
I made my way through life using mirrors, primarily the mirror from my camera, as I am still a photographer who holds it up for people (and for myself) to see themselves a little more brighter.
Words, too, serve as mirrors, shaping our reality while reflecting our deepest thoughts and dreams.
They do shape the story of who we are, helping us to express our emotions, project our identities and connect with others on a more intimate level.
Music, dancing, dreams, relationships, they all act like mirrors.
Memories reflect our past experiences and create the present.
Mirrors do not stop here.
They appear in every part of the universe and in our lives.
We have countless generations before us that mirror the core of life, our DNA, each cell that divides, grows, and replicates our life in a never-ending cycle of renewal, repair, reproduction, and growth.
DNA carries the memory of adaptation and survival; it is a living reflection of our invisible past.
When we look at a butterfly, what do we see besides its obvious beauty?
Their Symmetry, the primordial design.
The perfect halves- of butterflies- of the human body- are examples of a deep reflection of order, and the universe's preference for harmony and balance.
We as organic beings (much like our psyches) are constantly seeking balance.
We have traveled further than we realize, from within the ancient distant stars, we are literally incredible cosmic beings.
Even the most simple flow of life, as seen in the natural/seasonal cycle, which occurs (regardless of our thoughts or self-esteem), is a constant exchange between life and non-living things, an eternal give and take that sustains life on Earth.
The physical world reflects the most fundamental aspects of our existence in profound ways.
The one undeniable fact about you is that you are made of Carbon and other 19 different elements.
Yes, there is nothing to debate here; no one can take away the magnificent truth of being you; it is a fact.
Beyond our thoughts, mind, and problems, there is an amazing chain of reactions that allows us to live.
This post is about acknowledging at least one magnificent truth when (perhaps) everything appears meaningless or we become numb, overwhelmed by the infinite distractions that consume us on a daily basis.
Carbon is more ancient then probably everything we’ve ever got to know.
Long before our Milky Way galaxy was born, our Sun didn’t exist yet.
Can you imagine the world without our sun?
Can you wrap your mind around this place's time: 13.8 billion years ago?
Our galaxy was born 13.6 billion years ago, 200 million years after the universe's inception (the Big Bang).
"Just" 9 billions of years after this momentous event, our galaxy formed, and the sun, composed of clouds of dust and gases, began to shine with its majestic white outlook.
Earth formed in the wake of the Sun.
About 4.5 billion years ago, our young planet was in a molten state; heavier elements like nickel and iron sank to form the core, while lighter materials, including silicates and carbon compounds, rose to form the crust and mantle.
As massive stars die, they explode in supernovae, scattering their rich material through stellar winds of carbon.
Due to ongoing collisions and gravitational compression, our planet began to heat up and partially melt, resulting in layer differentiation.
Earth stabilized and began to cool; the crust is now solidifying.
This represents the start of both our planet's journey and our own evolution.
Take a deep breath and think how long it took you (the evolution of you) to read this on your screen!
"Through carbon, we glimpse the infinite potential of the universe, where a single element can manifest in countless forms, from the grandeur of diamonds to the utility of graphene, reflecting the boundless creativity of nature." Niels Bohr
Carbon is the pattern maker that creates, holds and bonds life together.
The word carbon probably derives from the Latin carbo, meaning variously “coal,” “charcoal,” “ember.”
The term diamond, a corruption of the Greek word adamas, “the invincible,” aptly describes the permanence of this crystallized form of carbon, just as
graphite, the name for the other crystal form of carbon, derived from the Greek verb graphein, “to write,” reflects its property of leaving a dark mark when rubbed on a surface. 1
If it is not already clear, life on Earth would be impossible without carbon.
Carbon became part of various minerals in the crust and mantle as they contributed to the composition of the Earth and it’s volcanic activity, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
This is where the first life story begins: out gassing warming the planet and making it habitable.
"Carbon is the thread that stitches together the fabric of life itself. It is the essential element that makes the complexity of living organisms possible, from the simplest bacteria to the most complex human beings."– David Attenborough
Carbon, with its atomic number 6 and electron configuration, has significance to its chemical behavior and ability to form complex structures.
Its tetravalency allows it to form four mutually exclusive bonds with other atoms, resulting in a wide range of possible structures.
Carbon's ability to form long chains and rings is important for organic chemistry, allowing the formation of complex molecules such as hydrocarbons, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.
It is the framework of organic molecules, which are the foundation of life.
The flexibility of this bonding allows for the formation of diverse and complex structures, which is essential for biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids.
These structures rely on carbon's bonding properties, making it central to organic chemistry and necessary for life as we know it.
"The universe reveals itself through the lens of carbon, where the same fundamental element can manifest in forms as disparate as the hardest diamond and the softest graphite, embodying both stability and fluidity."Linus Pauling
Carbon reminds us that we are an integral part of a larger whole, not a separate entity. This is one of many amazing elements that connect us to the stars and one another.
Also, without Carbon there would be no flowers, and no us.
Photosynthesis is a process carried out by plants (and some other (micro)organisms) requiring CO2, water and sunlight. The energy provided by the sun is used to convert CO2 to glucose, which can be used by the plant for respiration (energy) and/or biomass production.
There is clearly a higher intelligence that we may never comprehend
Do not doubt your capacity to live, to overcome difficulties, to outgrow the version you no longer identify with; there is so much in us that we do not know, and maybe it is not our job to know; perhaps it is our job to live in our bodies, using our minds and all of the known perceptions and senses we have acquired over such a long time of survival and adaptation.
There is clearly a higher intelligence that we may never comprehend, and we do not yet have the ability to fully understand how the universe was created, how all those atoms work for us, through us, holds us, and sustain us beyond our imagination.
Our role is to live this life as better, brighter, and more creatively as we can, while nature does everything possible for us.
Our role is to enjoy being alive, being and doing, and giving in exchange this preservation of possible life to exist beyond our generation, to exist for those who will come after us.
We are the cosmic children, and we get to play in this amazing world because we are relieved of the responsibility of making the rivers flow and the trees grow. Our responsibility is to keep them as we found them.
We are here to experience what Cosmos, the true caretaker, has presented to us for free. We are fortunate to get to live, love, and die (transform).
We've been given time, resources, a body, an intellectual brain (for survival and efficiency), an intelligent mind for deeper understanding, a wide range of sensations, and a variety of skills to make the most of it.
We created love to give meaning to life.
We've evolved into sexual beings in order to share this gift with others, re-create ourselves and keep our creative spirits alive.
Our sexuality is what allows us to live, love, and affirm our identity.
Our spirituality is what makes us transcend our Ego.
Carbon writing our path to immortality-
graphein, “to write”
When we consider ourselves to be the creative beings we are today, our bond with carbon grows even stronger.
The first forms of drawing were carbon-based, scratched into stone, and art became our way of transforming ideas into permanent marks of our identity.
The tattoos of Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old corpse found frozen in the Alps, were inked from carbon, according to a 2009 study in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Ötzi had 61 tattoos across his body.
In 2020, researchers used the new IntCal20 radiocarbon calibration curve to estimate that the oldest painting in the cave was created 36,500 years ago.
With the creation of writing, we transcended the constraints of time and became immortal, our thoughts lasting beyond our brief lives.
Words written in carbon-based ink turned briefly into enduring legacies, connecting generations through shared stories, knowledge, and culture.
The story of the earliest known writing dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, around 3200 BCE.
Enheduanna (was a high priestess of the moon god Nanna in the Sumerian city-state of Ur) has been celebrated as the earliest known named author in world history, as a number of works in Sumerian literature, such as the Exaltation of Inanna feature her as the first-person narrator, and other works, such as the Sumerian Temple Hymns may identify her as their author.
Her works provide important insights into Sumerian religion, culture, and politics, and she is regarded as a pioneer in the history of literature and writing.
As someone who has witnessed firsthand Carbon's amazing ability to bond and form various elements, I have a strong desire to share this with the rest of the world.
My geology studies and geochemistry thesis left me feeling humble and grateful for the opportunity to live in such a vast universe.
I occasionally lose my sense of wonder, but I always return to art, drawing especially to keep this curiosity alive.
I return to the people who made me think and feel how incredible the universe is.
John Ruskin is one of my favorite artists, as well as a polymath, enthusiast geologist, and writer.
I was fortunate to see his exhibition A Geologist's View of "John Ruskin: The Power of Seeing" and be inspired by his extraordinary way of seeing (painted) nature.
Like him, I've always used carbon to beautify my life and honor the natural elements around me.
Carbon connects us to everything, to the universal language of art, across time and mediums, leaving a permanent imprint on our creativity and DNA.
There is so much to say about what Carbon can and does for us, but for the time being, I am satisfied that this post will be published.
I've always been fascinated by chemistry and science, the sense of wonder at how the universe came to be, and simply looking at the world with curiosity and not taking anything for granted.
My posts are always drafts, and I return frequently to edit and correct them after I press the send button, so please read them again in the browser.
Please be understanding about any gaps or shortcomings.
Read it at your own pace and savor this time of your awe solitude.
or you can
While I have based this article mostly on my own research, education and observations, I have used information from a variety of sources for reference, as you will find below.
I hope you enjoyed this brief natural history life tour, and if you did, please let me know in any way you like—through words, smiles, or subscribing.
I write because it’s how I make sense of the world—how I listen, how I speak, how I stay close to what matters.
But this isn’t just something I do in the quiet hours, in that space we artists share—our solitude.
It’s also work. A lot of work. It takes time, presence, and energy—resources as real and limited as anyone else’s.Art is not a luxury. It’s how we live on.
And like anyone living, money matter—not to chase anything extravagant, but to keep going, to stay rooted, to keep making.If you find something here that moves you or lingers in you, consider becoming a paid subscriber or offer a coffee. It’s a simple act that carries weight.
You’re not just supporting a writer—you’re helping someone continue the work that feels most true. And you receive something real in return.
Thank you for reading, for arriving, for being here. That, too, matters more than you know.
Resources:
Must read Book:
Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space is a 1994 book by the astronomer Carl Sagan. My childhood favorite star.
A Geologist’s view of “John Ruskin: The Power of Seeing”
The Immortals (Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey)
First discovery of charcoal-based prehistoric cave art in Dordogne
Ötzi the Iceman
This is so great. Love the blend of science and spirituality. When you look at the magic of the matter that makes up our bodies, and all the miracles that had to occur for us to be here, it's hard not to call it divine.
Oh wow! Carbon connects us to everything, to the universal language of art, across time and mediums, leaving a permanent imprint on our creativity and DNA.
Carbon is the ink that our soul writes on time! We Are Stardust!!
I love how you entwine geology, the cosmic universe, DNA, sexuality, creativity, love and literature into your writing! Body, Heart and Soul. You turn blood into ink. You tell our deeper story.
Thank you! 🙏❤️