Anime Lectio: The Aquatope on White Sand

                                                              1. Why do Anime Lectio? 

Anime Lectio is a time for us to stop and take a breath. Between work, activities, family life, and social media, our minds are always moving. We rarely take time to contemplate and ask, why am I watching this anime? What’s the point of all this? And, how is this making me feel? 

2. Put away all distractions 

(phones, work, etc.)

We are so enslaved to things that stimulate our minds. Let this be a moment for us to free our minds, look inside of ourselves, and be at peace.

3. Deep Breathing

Take several deep breaths. Let your mind relax. If you’ve had any questions, desires, or struggles that you’ve been hiding or stuffing away, let them rise up to the surface. 

4. Open yourself to God’s Presence

Remember God places all our thoughts and desires inside of us, and He uses them to draw us closer to Himself. God gives us a community to help us understand who we are and what He is calling us to do. The faces of other people you know and don't know are like signs of God’s presence.  

5. Think About What’s on Your Mind in Relation to the Anime

Think about what’s been on your mind in relation to the anime.  The following is an example of such thoughts written by me.

Sometimes you need to lose yourself in order to find yourself again. This is the first thought I remember having while watching the first episode of The Aquatope on White Sand and this thought is also an idea that is seen in the rest of this series. This thought and idea can also be seen in our lives if we allow it. The fact that I allowed it is most likely why I had it in the first place. Doing something you don't usually do, like change jobs from something you thought you wanted to do to something you don't know much about, but like doing, is one way to lose yourself in order to find yourself again. This way is seen with the main characters of this anime. Another way is going on vacation to take a break from what you usually do. Hopefully, I will see this when I go on vacation soon and get back from it in order to find myself again.

6. Brief and written explanation of the anime

Pay attention to how the brief and written explanation of the anime seen on this blog, or seeing the anime for yourself since that's better than any explanation, might “speak” to you or shed light on the things that have been on your minds.

The anime The Aquatope on White Sand starts with a young girl who has decided to quit her idol career. She leaves without knowing what to do next and before she probably realizes it, she comes across a small aquarium. She has a mystical experience at this aquarium that increases her interest in the aquarium. She also meets the person in charge of the aquarium, who also happens to be a young girl (she's doing it to help her grandfather). This aquarium is also not doing well, so the young girl who has just quit her idol career decides to help the young girl in charge of the aquarium to prevent it from being closed. Despite their efforts, the aquarium is eventually closed, but they end up working at another aquarium. It takes time for them to get used to work there, but with the help of each other, as well as other friends, they make it work.

7. Reflect on the anime

Has this brief and written explanation of the anime, or seeing the anime, shed any light on what's been on your mind? The following is an example of a reflection on the anime from me.

In the course of their aquarium work, one of the things that the main characters do on a regular basis is go to shrines in order to pray. I don't think its to pray to anyone in particular, although they do leave offerings in the shrines they go to out in nature and these offerings are accepted by what appears to be a child dressed in a tribal outfit. This most likely involves the religion and spirituality of Shintoism, which is a religion and spirituality that is about nature. This would also make sense considering the interest in helping marine life seen with these characters. Anyway, what they say at these shrines is "do what's right and everything will work out." I guess this could be considered a form of prayer. I think they do this to center themselves and to focus on their aquarium work and lives both inside and outside of the aquarium. This also includes what to do with the people they work with and other friends and family they have outside of the aquarium. But what does doing what's right mean? Is it to do what's best for everyone? Based on what happens in the anime, I would say yes. Everything that happens works out when you do what's right, or what's best, for everyone.

8. Final Prayer

Please voice any prayer intentions for friends, family, or people around the world that relate to this anime. The following is an example written by me.

Let us pray that we can do what's right, or what's best, so that everything will work out for everyone involved in what we do.