The Blue Cave, Biševo
For those of you with a hint of an explorer’s spirit within yourselves and a desire to see, discover, and understand, prepare yourselves as we descend into the world of darkness…
Here, in eternal darkness, the life of stone endures, a life measured in centuries and millennia. Crystals grow here and an endless silence reigns, or perhaps streams and waterfalls gush, while colors in every shade cascade over the most incredible stone formations. And behind every path, beyond every bend, something new, unseen until then, is hidden: mysterious passageways and halls, enormous columns, lakes and waterfalls, stalagmites and stalactites, all adorned with beautiful calcite formations.
Using geological terminology, we can say that a cave is formed by one or more main channels created by the action of water on limestone masses, with a series of side channels attached. But, that certainly does not say everything. It doesn’t say anything about all the decorations on the ceilings, the crystal fountains, stalactites and stalagmites that take ten to a hundred years to form.
One day they will grow one millimeter. It is not said because not everything can be expressed in words.
Each cave is different from the others, not only in shape but also in the way people experience them. Somewhere it feels like home, somewhere it feels like entering a fairytale world where one might see a bearded dwarf with a hammer and chisel at any moment… or one feels small and weak in a vast hall, like in a cathedral. Sometimes there is a sense of mystery and fear of the unknown, and one would prefer to escape immediately, while in other places everything urges joy and laughter.
Crystal Cave, Naica, Mexico
Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Postojna Cave
Many cultures consider caves as the archetype of the womb, a place of birth and renewal, as evidenced by numerous myths about creation, rebirth, and initiation rituals. For example, in ancient Egyptian, Pythagorean, Dionysian, and other initiation rituals, candidates enter the cave, where… by temples built above ground, but the symbolism remains the same. The inverted triangle represents the hidden truth within the visible world. Just as the stalagmite and stalactite merge to form a pillar that holds up the vaulted ceiling, the wise person gradually bridges the gap between earth and heaven by confronting and overcoming obstacles. Eventually, the boundary between the two worlds blurs, and they become a mediator between the physical and spiritual realms. The buildings represent a mountain in whose heart there is a cave. This imitation of a cave-temple can be seen across different civilizations in India, Egypt, and America.
On the other hand, the cave is also a symbol of the deepest essence of being, both in the macrocosm and the microcosm. In the Kotha Upanishads, which deal with the foundation of Upanishadic teachings, the god of the underworld, Yama, tells Nachiketa, who embarks on the path of knowledge: “I will reveal this to you: I know the flame that leads to heaven, the flame that is the way to the infinite worlds and the foundation, know that it is hidden in the depths of the heart.” The abyss uses the Sanskrit phrase Nihitam guha yam, which means “hidden in a cave”.
Finally, mention should be made that all traditions also associate caves with their guardians, nature spirits, to whom we should thank for the appearance, atmosphere, and decorations of each cave, and they are often connected with the mysterious treasure they guard. Those who would enter the cave for any reason would bring gifts for these beings and also strictly ensure that they do not break or unnecessarily dirty anything inside.
Today, only mere superstition about witches, dragons, devils, and similar beings inhabiting caves remains from this tradition, as countless rural stories mention.
In any case, and regardless of these stories, cave decorations should be understood and treated as works of art. Therefore, do not break them, do not write on them, nor in any other way destroy their beauty.
Instead of taking a material souvenir from the cave or leaving proof of our visit there, let us leave a positive impact on the environment, take nothing but photographs, and preserve the natural beauty for future generations. Let’s try to feel and embrace what such a place can offer and convey, because such memories are more beautiful and precious souvenirs.