Explorers of the Earth's Forgotten Depths

Human will is activated by fear or desire. These are the two driving forces behind human actions, which we could assign a multitude of synonyms. Each person is thus guided by their aspirations and sentiments toward a particular direction. And so began the history of humankind and the exploration of the caves scattered across our planet.

This ancient relationship has recently gained more recognition thanks to the growing interest in speleology among scientists and the most intrepid curious minds. The very word coined for this discipline originates from the Greek ‘spélaion’ (cave) and ‘lògos’ (discourse), offering us a clue about its scope. Speleology is the science of explorers  —  those who wish to experiment and document knowledge of the underground world.

Me descending a cave in Sicily © Marco Vattano

What drives a person to venture into the long caves of ‘living rock’ that resides deep within the Earth?

The idea of descending underground for kilometers and kilometers, or even just for a few hundred meters, may initially provoke fear or rejection. But it is precisely here that a mechanism inside us is activated: the challenge of discovering the unknown.

Some are driven by the desire to explore hidden places and uncover the world beyond the boundaries we’ve grown accustomed to, thus embracing this extraordinary discipline. It’s not so hard to become passionate about it. Others, however, motivated by fears like claustrophobia, choose to face them in an almost unusual way through what could be called ‘shock therapy.’ When we summon the courage to confront the factors that deeply intimidate us, we discover that, in the end, they are not so terrifying after all. The truth is that, once the first step into uncharted cavities is taken, an incredible surge of adrenaline takes over. We feel alive, filled with wonder.

Joe De Waele in the Cave of the Three Levels, Etna, Sicily © Carmen Maya Posta

The sight of sparkling minerals in vast karst chambers or the immense volcanic rooms can leave an indelible mark on the memory of anyone brave enough to experience it. These are unique landscapes that have never been seen before. Inevitably, our gaze nourishes itself; our senses settle into an unusual peace, surrounded by the calm and silence these places generously offer.

Cave of the Cocci, Sicily © Carmen Maya Posta

Cave of the Cocci, Sicily © Carmen Maya Posta

Moreover, in caves, one never goes alone — safety reasons ensure that. This creates deep bonds, fostering simple yet genuine interactions, as life itself depends on the companions who accompany us. Speleology, thus, becomes a form of ‘personal therapy.’ The exploration shifts from the external world to our ‘inner self,’ evolving into a means of self-affirmation and transcending our limitations, helping us understand ourselves better.

Through this personal willpower, we grow stronger, overcoming even our deepest fears, and fulfilling desires we didn’t even know we had. Perhaps, this is what makes this discipline so fascinating.

Olga at Cueva del Agua, Granada © G.E.G

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📝 Thank you for reading! I originally wrote this article in Italian, for the newspaper “Periodico Italiano Magazine” on July 18, 2024. You can also find it on the following platforms, with links to the English and Spanish versions on my website:

Medium in English

Website in Spanish

Website in Italian

PIM in Italian

Choosing Awareness

Everyone experiences some form of self-sabotage. The truth is that, often, the only limit we have is the one we impose on ourselves. It might seem like an obvious statement, something you’d find in a fortune cookie, but it’s not.

Too regularly, we don’t realize the conversations happening within us — those inner voices through which we harshly criticize ourselves. Not to mention the people around us who, like a reflex, repeat to us what they tell themselves.

Phrases like: “There’s no point in doing it,” “I’m not good enough,” “I have no talent,” “It’s too late,” “I’m too old,” “It’s too difficult,” “Only a few succeed,” “It’s stupid,” “Why should I bother?” “It’s a waste of time,” “I’ll never be able to do it,” “What’s the use?” “I’m not capable,” and “It’s too late now” — are the classic thoughts that inhabit our minds, feeding the ego, insecurities, and the deep fear of feeling inadequate or wrong. And so, rather than facing this terrifying 'monster' within us, we lock it up in a cage that exists only in our heads.

We imprison ourselves and, along with us, our inner child, their dreams, aspirations, and desires. We confine everything within that perimeter because we are afraid. But the only real risk is closing ourselves off and getting lost without even realizing it—becoming unhappy, disconnecting from our emotions, and distancing ourselves from the creative aspirations of our souls.

© João Incerti

Maybe it all started with a teacher who scolded us one day at school, or a parent who criticized us without helping us improve, or someone who projected their fears onto us, making us believe they were our own. It doesn’t matter. What truly matters is understanding that once we become aware of it, we can change. Through self-observation, we can realize that our perspective is nothing more than the sum of all the experiences we have lived.

Becoming aware of this gives us a wonderful form of freedom: choice.

We can choose what to keep and what to let go of — everything is changeable, always, when there is a deep willingness to do so. It’s never too late to start something, and it’s never foolish to try. There is no such thing as someone without creativity.

Creativity is part of being human, and it is like a muscle — the more you stimulate it, the stronger it becomes. Draw, paint, write, sew — experiment and persist without necessarily having a goal in mind, except to discover who you are.

We are all creative and unique beings. We just need to create the right conditions to express ourselves freely.

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📝 Thank you for reading! I originally wrote this article in Italian for the newspaper “Laici” on July 12, 2024. You can also find it on the following platforms, with links to the English and Spanish versions on my website:

Medium in English

Website in Spanish

Website in Italian

Laici in Italian