Simplicity & Beauty of the Channelled Whelk by Cassandra Conde
Updated: Feb 18
Simplicity & Beauty of the Channelled Whelk
As I read Anne Morrow Lindbergh book Gift from the Sea, I could not put the book down because I felt as if I related to each specific shell. However, the one I resonated with the most was chapter II “Channelled Whelk”. This chapter reminded me of a current issue I face, which is finding “simplification of life” (Lindbergh 18). When I was 8 years old, my father brought a huge Channelled Whelk, I could not-—till this day—hold the shell with just one hand. I remember the day my dad helped me put the shell to my ear so I could hear the sound of the sea; in that moment, I felt at peace. Now, when I put the shell to my ear again, I can still hear the ocean's melody. Whenever life becomes overwhelming, due to the many responsibilities I take on, I return to the shell to regain a sense of peace, balance, and to “live quite happily” (Lindbergh 26).
I imagine I am still at the beach listening to songs of the ocean and forgetting the responsibilities that have been bestowed on me as an employer, daughter, student, and just being a woman. “What a circus act we women perform every day of our lives” (Lindbergh 20). As I read the “Channelled Whelk”, I realized society puts more on a women's plate than they can handle, which can be exhausting to always do. That is why finding balance and time to recharge for a few hours is important, “to lead a simple life,” even if it is only for a short time (Lindbergh 19). Anne Morrow Lindbergh book Gift from the Sea, teaches us to find a balance between our daily lives, living simplicity, finding inner harmony in simple things, and shedding away the old us; just by listening to the melody of the Channelled Whelk shell.
The Channelled Whelk shell, I consider, is the opposite of my life. The shell is described as, “perfect, down to the finest detail…It’s shape, swelling like a pearl in the center…It’s color dull gold” (Lindbergh 16). The shell as stated by Lindbergh is perfect even down to the details and color displayed on it, and even flawless. Compared to my life, or even to any human life, it is not flawless. My life can be considered “untidy…blurred with moss, knobby with barnacles, its shape is hardly recognizable” (Lindbergh 16). In other words, my life is messy, it has a lot of flaws to it and a lot of development to do. I have a lot of responsibilities as a young adult, that require me to step away from things that bring me peace and harmony. Feeling lost arises from my daily, unchanged routine. There is no balance, nor moments of peace in my life.
Lindbergh states, “I would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God” (Lindbergh 18). This quote highlights how I would also like to achieve to be in grace with what I am doing in life; however, there are many distractions or factors that disrupt this spiritual path. In America, the average woman experiences a life of multiplicity, juggling many responsibilities throughout the day (Lindbergh 21). This shows that women have little time to devote to their entire family, as they often prioritize the needs of others and various commitments. Like me, I have responsibilities to be a full-time student in college, which takes away most of my time because of the amount of homework I must do. I also work part-time in the morning, which then leaves me with little time to interact with my family. Additionally, I have very little time to do things that bring me joy, like creating art or reading books because I am studying. However, the Channelled Whelk teaches women who have a multiplicity life, “in cutting out some of the distractions” (Lindbergh 23). Sometimes, it’s beneficial to take a break from certain tasks in your daily life, even if just for a day or two, to spend time with family or engage in a hobby. This break can refresh your mind and leave you feeling relaxed and ready to return to your routine. The shell provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my life and embrace at a slower pace, as I had been racing through everything at lightning speed.
All my life, my parents have always struggled with money problems, however they tried their best in giving me everything materialistic that they could. I was always happy and excited when they gave me these items, even though I never asked for them. However, after I had these items for a while, my excitement faded. I began to see them as just another thing that everyone else had. I no longer found happiness or peace in these items. I found inner harmony when I was with my friends or during family gatherings. I always felt so happy in those moments. Watching my nephews and nieces run and play while my dad and brothers-in-law cooked on the grill brought me so much joy.
Lindbergh discusses in her book, that her friend that was from France, went to a German prison camp and he stated, “prison life taught him how little one can get along with, and what extraordinary spiritual freedom and peace such simplification can bring” (Lindbergh 26). In other words, he finds an inner harmony in himself because he had little to nothing in prison, but he was still content in having at least the little things that he was given in there. This demonstrates that a human can find peace even when they do not have superficial things. “The unfinished beams in the roof are veiled by cobwebs. They are lovely, I think, gazing up at them with new eyes” (Lindbergh 27). Lindbergh looks with new eyes at her unfinished roof, filled with cobwebs, and finds beauty in it. This quote is important because the roof may not be finished, but she still finds peace in the beauty that nature gave her. For me, I would also like to see beauty in the unfinished, it does not need to be fancy items, but something that perhaps was given by nature itself. I would find harmony just seeing that.
Lindbergh also states that America has a choice between choosing a simplicity life or a complicated one; we mostly choose a complicated life (Lindbergh 26-27). I believe as an American myself, we are designed to choose the complicated lifestyle, in the end, to gain money. That is why having a simplified life and living in harmony is quite difficult because sometimes we do not know how. “By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony” (Lindbergh 17). This quote from the book reminds me that as I observe the channeled whelk, I see a beautiful shell that evokes a sense of harmony within me: the sounds it carries provide a feeling of inner peace, as if I am still at the beach. I believe this shell teaches us to find beauty in the simple things in life, which ultimately leads to a state of inner tranquility.
The Channelled Whelk can symbolize shedding off the old shell we carry and moving towards an improved one. “It once housed a whelk, a snail-like creature, and then temporarily, after the death of the first occupant, a little hermit crab, who has run away…and left me his shell” (Lindbergh 15). Like the hermit crab, I have shed old shells to move into another shell as i grow as a person. When I got my first job, I had to adapt to a new environment and learn how to navigate working alongside people my age with different personalities. It was challenging at first, but I realized I needed to break out of my reserved and quiet nature to fit into this new role. I had to run away from my old shell to move into a new shell, and till this day I am still moving into new shells to adapt to the environment. “So much of social life is exhausting; one is wearing a mask. I have shed my mask” (Lindbergh, 26). Similarly, in my first job, I was a cashier in both the front and in drive thru. It was tiring socializing with many people and trying to go along with what type of attitude they had.
During a recent day at the beach, I was able to shed the mask I often wore and truly be myself. This experience made me realize that I needed to quit my job, as I wasn't feeling happy there anymore. I was ready to leave the old shell behind and embrace a new beginning. “I am looking at the outside of a shell, the outside of my life – the shell” (Lindbergh 29). In other words, there are moments in my life when I need to be in a place that brings me peace and helps clear my head. This allows me to reflect on my life and assess whether I am in the right place. “But the outside can give me a clue, can help one to find the inside answer” (Lindbergh 29). Looking at my life from an outside perspective made me realize that my job was causing me more stress and headaches than peace. I understood then that it was not worth my time to be in a position where I felt unhappy. That realization was my inner answer. Looking at the Channelled Whelk shell can make you shed your old shell, so you can explore better opportunities in life. Just look at the outside of a shell, and you can find the answers there.
I identify with the Shell Channelled Whelk because it symbolizes the balance between regular life and simple life. By hearing the melody of the shell, it reminds me to always take a break from daily life and refresh my mind by doing something I love or being in a place where I can relax. Hearing music carried by the shell reminds me to find inner harmony in the simple things that life offers. Observing the exterior of a Channelled Whelk reflects my outer life and provides insight into my inner self. It helps me determine whether I am in the right place and encourages me to shed my old shell to embrace a new beginning. The Channelled Whelk significances in places where people find inner harmony in life; they discover an unexpected sense of peace, calmness, and tranquility.
Work Cited
Lindbergh, Anne. “Channelled Whelk”. Gift from the Sea. Pantheon Books. 1955,15-29
Who is Cassandra?
Cassandra is a student who found herself within making personal connections with her readings. She was inspired to submit her own work after reading Gift from the Sea, a book that reminded her of herself as she searched for unlimited peace and moments of freedom. Writing about this book motivated her to share her experiences that others might relate to.
This process didn't come easy to Cassandra, as she faced many challenges such as revising her grammar. Although she dealt with difficulties she never gave up and made such her work was clear. This experience not only helped her grow as a writer but as a person as well, she learned how to express her thoughts and realized how much power a reading can have once you've made connections to it.
Her favorite part of her writing is her introduction, where she shares the purpose of her writing which is when her father placed a whelk shell to her ear so she can hear the ocean. Cassandra hopes her writing helps others overcome the fear of sharing their work, since it may lead to many opportunities for them.
Comments