When Instinct was born, he was all alone. As he slowly became accustomed to the realm of time and space, he was introduced to Reason. Reason first came to him as a friend, but as time went on he began to control Instinct with the logic of the world. Reason knew the rules of the game and he could keep score. These were things that Instinct lacked for he was pure in the eyes of the gods. However, without Instinct, Reason could not exist because Instinct had created Reason without knowing it.
When Instinct was a child, he ruled himself. Reason was there with him and he often asked Reason for help when making decisions. But Instinct would often cast Reason off and mock him. Instinct was free to do and say as he pleased, though he retained Reason as his trusted advisor.
As Instinct grew older, Reason began to tighten his grip on him. Reason did this in a sly, trickster way that made Instinct unaware that he was being thwarted. Reason did his best to control Instinct, but there were parts of Instinct that he simply could not contain. But Reason did his best and he kept Instinct in the dark, a prisoner of his own logic.
As Instinct grew near to manhood, Reason’s grip on him grew tighter than ever. However, Reason had also begun to lose himself. Reason, the logical advisor, the analytical genius, the compass and calculator, had become reckless. He had let his mind wander with the aid of drink and women. He had broken his own rules and unbalanced his own equations. Reason had lost his instinct.
Reason, in his carelessness and stupor, had become disoriented and loosed his grip on Instinct without realizing it. Instinct awoke with the force of the gods. He threw off his chains and let out a mighty cry. Reason, who was weak and tired from his reveling, cowered on the floor while Instinct stood to his full height. He had grown considerably while the chains held him, but you could not see it. When he stood tall, his stature was commanding and he grown mighty wings.
Instinct was furious with Reason for containing him and conquered himself with a force only matched by nature itself. However, without the help of Reason, Instinct was lost in the world. He didn’t know which direction to turn. He was mighty and strong but his body stumbled and ran through the realm of time and space, trying to find a way out.
He slept in alleys and stole from the carts. He was blind to the ways of the world and he could not balance the scales in his favor. The night grew darker and darker for Instinct. He was tired and hungry. He was weak. He ran and ran this way and that way looking for clues. Reason slept at his feet, for he was injured when Instinct had broken out of his chains. Whenever Reason began to lift his head, Instinct beat him down, for he was afraid that Reason would use his logic to restrain him, as he had done before.
For many years, Instinct ran though the streets of space and time. He feet grew bloody, his legs grew weak. He was broken. He was lost. He was alone. Sometimes would stop running and sit on a stoop or a park bench and he would cry. But then he would stand up and run again because he didn’t know what to do. At one point, Instinct’s feet left the earth and he was hurled through the galaxies, frantically trying to hold onto something. By a miracle of the gods, he landed back on earth, only to begin tumbling down a giant mountain. He tumbled and tumbled down the mountain, bruising his soul on every stone and even some of the pebbles. At the bottom of the mountain, he landed in a stream. The currents in the stream were too strong for him. He tried to swim but eventually they had their way. At long last, the stream carried him to a still pond. Instinct could keep himself above water in the pond, although it was hard work.
He stayed in the pond for some time and reflected on the days he had spent in the realm of time and space. Instinct wanted to live by the scales of the earth. He wanted to balance the equation of his life. He wanted to live. There was one problem. He was afraid. Instinct was afraid of reason because Reason had tricked him and he was wary.
Instinct stayed in the pond for many days. The days turned into weeks and he swam there still, reflecting. After some time, he looked over toward the shored he saw Reason standing there with his hand held out. Reason called out to him, “Come now, old friend! Let us go forth and conquer the world. I have no more chains and I will fool you no more.” As he said this, he held out his hands and Instinct could see that he was empty handed.
Reason called out again, “One of us cannot exist without the other! We are the yin and the yang! We must learn to cooperate and live as one body. Without me, you are a lost, hopeless soul, devoid of the visions and desires of the living. Your soul is free but you are a beggar and no one can tame you. You have no mind and you barely have a body. You float around with no anchor to hold you the earth’s surface. Your soul is free but who are you? Who are you, I ask you Instinct?”
Instinct knew everything that Reason said was true but he was prideful and he called back, “And what of you Reason? Who are you?”
Reason replied, “Without you Instinct, I am a cardboard cutout. I am dimensionless. I am nothing but a set of facts and figures. I have no depth. I have no feeling. I cannot be without you! You made me Instinct, do you not remember?” His voice was full of passion and longing.
“I am nobody. I am nothing. I am frivolous and inconsequential without you. I have no meaning or purpose. I am convention for the sake of convention,” Reason called. “Only together are we somebody! Only together can we walk the earth and be whole. You made me Instinct. We are one and the same. I will put down my chains and you will fear me no more.”
And like two lovers, separated by fate, the two ran to each other, neither one aware of himself.
Many years went by on the earth the realm of time and space changed in many ways that it always has and always will. Somewhere in some time and place, in one of the many corridors of the universe, in a run down coffee house, on a dusty dirt road, a man walked in. He wore a long, tan peacoat and dark sunglasses. He opened the door with a flourish. His eyes swept the cafe. You could tell at first glance that this was his world. He walked up to the counter and ordered a coffee with perfect poise. You could tell by looking at this man that he was possessed of himself and he was carried by an ease and grace that suggested that he was enlightened in a way that no other was or ever could be. As he sat down to drink his coffee, the sun could be seen setting at the end of the sand laden dessert’s horizon and the scene faded from view.
Instinct and Reason.