MY LIFE IN A HONEYCOMB
Between 2019-2022, I lived in a honeycomb. Like a worker bee, I looked out of a cell of perfect golden hexagons. I’m not much of a math/science kind of gal; the opposite is true. I’m all music, art and emotion. So, I didn’t know the relevance of the hexagon in nature and science. I never gave it much thought, until one morning I was taking a shower and the walls of the shower turned into perfect yellow hexagons. I was a bee inside a honeycomb, except it was my shower.
I thought at the time that it was odd, but I had been experiencing so much “odd” at that time with autoimmune disease, RA, Sjogren’s, and ocular migraines, that I shrugged it off as just another bizarre ocular visualization. I’m not sure if I even mentioned it to my ophthalmologist or my primary care doctor.
It didn’t stop at just one visualization. For a time, I would see it every time I was in a light-colored room. Eventually, I began to see a patch of hexagons at night in my central vision, in both eyes. I was told by an ophthalmologist, if you see a strange object in both eyes, it’s likely to be ocular migraines. For three years, I saw these layers of hexagons, sometimes three levels deep.
I was inspired to study hexagons and what I found was intriguing. The pattern must have 6 equal sides, 6 vertices and 6 angles. The word hexagon is derived from the Greek words "hexa" meaning six and "gonia" meaning angle. To quote the father in the movie, “My big fat Greek wedding”, “So, there you go!” From the honeycomb, basalt columns of the Giant’s causeway in Ireland, the gigantic hexagonal cloud storm on Saturn, soccer balls, turtle shells, to the microscopic heart of a snowflake, hexagons are here to stay.
Apparently, the hexagon is the powerhouse of symbolism, it communicates balance and trust. If I were a graphic designer, I would use hexagons in flyers to show reliability and solid foundation showing trust and professionalism. The shape is pleasing to the eye and fits well into design concepts. From interior spaces adorned with hexagonal tiles to futuristic-looking structures featuring hexagon-inspired facades, the hexagon is a symbol of balance and harmony.
The Middle Ages saw the honeycomb symbol take on a more spiritual meaning, particularly within Christian contexts. The hexagonal cells were often seen as symbols of the divine order and the universe's perfect design. The bees were on to something; ancient civilizations recognized the hexagon's symbolism and used it as a means to connect with the divine. By infusing their art and architecture with hexagonal patterns, they sought to create spaces that are ordered and fit together efficiently. Beyond its religious and geometric significance, the hexagon also holds profound meaning for personal growth and self-discovery.
During a vacation in Norway in 2019, I ended up in the ER. When I explained the dizziness and visualizations I was experiencing, they sent me to a very lovely ophthalmologist. I was tickled at her words, “Well, your eyes…how you say? They are not dangerous, but they are disturbing.”
Those hexagonal visualizations were out of my control during that season of life. Eventually, when I woke at night or took a shower within the beehive, I learned not to freak out, but to reflect on harmony, take calming breaths, and connect with my maker! But I must admit, I am sure glad those days of being a worker bee are over!
