Boreas (N), Kaikias (NE), Eurus (E), Apeliotes (SE), Notus (S), Livas (SW), Zephyrus (W), and Skiron (NW) were the gods of the winds. The Tower of Winds was an ancient octagonal building with each side facing one of those winds. Wind.
Think not so much breeze or gale; rather, think capacity to evaporate water. If you live in temperate or boreal latitudes, you’ll hear weather forecasters talk of “wind chill.” The concept is a simple one: Air carries energy in its vibrating molecules. That energy can be transferred to a drop of water, exciting the molecules of the drop to such a state that they break free from their environment. They absorb energy from the passing air. The more air that passes by, the more energy transferred. It’s the principle behind hairdryers and blow dryers. Even on a cold day, the air carries such energy, and the evaporation off skin cools the skin because it takes not only the energy from the passing air, but also from the skin. Evaporation, as one learns by experience and by textbook, is a cooling process.
In a world filled with much sadness, tears run round the clock and in every direction. Somewhere someone is sad right now. Maybe you. In a world of tears, we need some help from the evaporating winds. Would it not be comforting to know that the eight winds of ancient times were waiting to provide solace, to take away the tears? Eight directions. No matter where you face as you stand on The Tower of Winds, Eurus, Livas, Zephyrus, and the others would provide the drying energy.
There are the metaphors and references to the winds that push, the ones that fill sails, and, as the lyrics go, lie beneath wings. Maybe a wind in the face isn’t such a bad metaphor. No, it doesn’t allow one to spit, but it does dry moisture on the face. True, that’s not so good for us when the air is very cold because evaporation makes the face even colder, but it can be good when it dries tears.
Shouldn’t sad people be able to get comfort from every direction? Shouldn’t we all be the kind of wind in the face that dries the tears of others?
Think not so much breeze or gale; rather, think capacity to evaporate water. If you live in temperate or boreal latitudes, you’ll hear weather forecasters talk of “wind chill.” The concept is a simple one: Air carries energy in its vibrating molecules. That energy can be transferred to a drop of water, exciting the molecules of the drop to such a state that they break free from their environment. They absorb energy from the passing air. The more air that passes by, the more energy transferred. It’s the principle behind hairdryers and blow dryers. Even on a cold day, the air carries such energy, and the evaporation off skin cools the skin because it takes not only the energy from the passing air, but also from the skin. Evaporation, as one learns by experience and by textbook, is a cooling process.
In a world filled with much sadness, tears run round the clock and in every direction. Somewhere someone is sad right now. Maybe you. In a world of tears, we need some help from the evaporating winds. Would it not be comforting to know that the eight winds of ancient times were waiting to provide solace, to take away the tears? Eight directions. No matter where you face as you stand on The Tower of Winds, Eurus, Livas, Zephyrus, and the others would provide the drying energy.
There are the metaphors and references to the winds that push, the ones that fill sails, and, as the lyrics go, lie beneath wings. Maybe a wind in the face isn’t such a bad metaphor. No, it doesn’t allow one to spit, but it does dry moisture on the face. True, that’s not so good for us when the air is very cold because evaporation makes the face even colder, but it can be good when it dries tears.
Shouldn’t sad people be able to get comfort from every direction? Shouldn’t we all be the kind of wind in the face that dries the tears of others?
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