In the Kathmandu valley the pilgrims circle the stupa clockwise, candle after candle, and on certain nights they lead an ox around with them — because the point of circumambulation is that the sacred does not move and you do. You walk the circle until the difference between the walker and the walked-around wears thin and then away. The whole species has been circling this animal, in one temple or another, for as long as there have been temples to circle.
put this on to focus and forty minutes later realized i had been swaying in a slow clockwise circle in my kitchen
"you walk the circle until the difference between the walker and the walked-around wears away" is just the whole thing, isn't it
my sister whirls. these pilgrims circle. same madness, different rpm. the ox at the center holds still either way.