/ˌdeɪʒɑː ˈvuː/
noun
"A psychological phenomenon that is described as the feeling of having already experienced a current situation before, even though the exact details of the situation may be unfamiliar."
Firenze, Summer of 2016.
I had never set foot in Florence before, yet the city's ambiance evoked a soothing feeling of nostalgia. The vibrancy of my surroundings heightened my senses, as if my soul had experienced strolling down these narrow cobblestone streets before, inherently knowing exactly which path to take.
23 steps, turn left.
11 steps turn right on Via dei Calzaiuoli.
My sense of navigation was directly guided by my intuition, compelling my body to obediently follow.
“Piazza della Signoria.” I mumbled to myself, as I attempted to read the street sign written in Italian.
I took a few steps closer to get a clearer view of the open piazza before me, while shielding the harsh afternoon sun against the back of my hand. As I savoured my last lick of gelato, I could feel it beginning to drip against the scorching hot pavement. I squinted into the distance, trying to deconstruct the commotion of people around me. From the mass group of Japanese tourists crowding the central fountain, to the children playfully chasing the oversized soap bubbles blown into the air. Simultaneously, the bell chimes of the clock tower echoed, harmonizing with the sudden flutter of a dozen pigeons that flew in the direction of the tower of Palazzo Vecchio.
I instinctively began to make my way through the vast crowds. I paused for a moment to admire the replica of the statue of David, when my gut feeling intensified. I was getting closer, I could feel it. I shifted my gaze to the old wooden door of the clocktower which had a distinct royal blue frame. On either side of the door were two golden lions, the Firenze coat of arms, and a Latin phrase ‘rex regum et dominus dominantium’.
I curiously stepped inside the historical building, to find a dimly lit foyer dominated by natural light, arched pillars and 15th century Renaissance frescos. Standing at the center-piece of the square foyer was a small fountain made of marble. I followed the calming sound of the trickling water; a peaceful contrast in comparison to the commotion of the piazza outside. As I approached closer, I recognized a small sculpture of an angel resting at the top of the fountain. For a moment, I stood in awe. Analyzing the sculpture’s delicate angelic expression, with a chipped left wing from the decay of the aging marble. I soon realized that the sculpture reminded me of someone… someone I had met before in a past life. A moment of Déjà vu.
A distinct memory of a man’s face resurfaced, his eyes flickering. A rich colour of cognac hues, with thick furrowed eyebrows. That expression. I’ve seen it before only in my dreams, I thought to myself. An enduring image of a man’s face locked in an unwavering, fixated gaze. Immensely focused, concentrating on...something.
That was as far as my memory would ever allow me to wonder. Yet in that moment, for some reason I could reminisce further than just that mere expression. I remembered what he was focusing on.
A pencil. He was focused on a pencil in his left hand. Making loose stroke marks of textured linings to form a shape. A shape of a body. A female’s body. I suddenly felt naked, as the recollection of my memory extended to the man lifting his gaze from his pencil and locking eyes with mine. His soul piercing through my skin. His smile radiating a distinct aura of familiarity.
I snapped out of the déjà vu and caught myself staring at my own reflection on the water fountain.
"Gabriel."
I remembered his name.
Could this be a memory or a recollection of a dream?
Perhaps the memory of the man's name resurfaced after seeing the angelic figure on the fountain.
In various religions, the Angel Gabriel holds a symbolic connotation, representing the importance of clear communication and guidance from the Divine. Often linked to moments of profound spiritual revelations.
In hindsight, I question what message the universe was trying to tell me at the fountain that day. All I knew, was that the power of my intuition led me there. My soul felt aligned with the energy of the universe, a retrospective moment of pure synchronicity.
A Poem;
"In the hush of silence, a gentle embrace,
Amid the whispers of celestial grace,
Came an angel, Gabriel, with eyes aglow,
Bearing secrets of the universe bestow.
With each smile, a galaxy came alive
Unveiling the constellation through his eyes
The essence of existence, in the angel's gaze,
Revealed the symphony of the cosmos' embrace.
In the quiet encounter, the universe spoke,
And in its vast expanse, my spirit awoke."
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