Hermann Hesse – An everlasting source of inspiration

Hermann Hesse (1877-1962) is one of the most influential German writers of the 20th century. His psychologically profound novels, stories and poems have lost none of their charisma and relevance to this day. For me personally, Hesse's books were an inexhaustible source of inspiration in my youth and a constant companion on my journey of self-discovery.

The multifaceted work of the Nobel Prize winner

Hesse was born in 1877 to a pietistic missionary family in Calw. His literary talent was evident at an early age - he published his first collection of poems at the age of 16. His literary work is characterized by a great variety of styles and themes: from romantic youth works such as "Unterm Rad" to psychological novels such as "Demian", "Der Steppenwolf" and "Narcissus and Goldmund" to spiritual stories such as "Siddhartha".

You have to try the impossible to achieve the possible

Hesse himself once wrote, and this statement is reflected in his broad literary spectrum.

Especially in his major works of the 1920s, Hesse dealt with the great existential questions of human existence in an ingenious way: the search for identity and happiness, the constraints of bourgeois society, the conflict between spirit and nature. In doing so, he combined Western philosophy with Far Eastern mysticism and wisdom teachings to create a unique whole.

What initially fascinated me as a young reader was Hesse's masterful use of language and powerful imagery. Whether in his novels, short stories or lyrical poems, Hesse knew like no other how to express complex emotions and thoughts in words of captivating beauty and sensuality.

His descriptions conjured up fascinating landscapes in my mind's eye, which became living characters in his stories. Hesse's protagonists seemed like soul mates to me, with whom I could resonate on a deep level. Their inner and outer conflicts in the search for individuality and freedom reflected my own longings.

For me, Hesse was a true teacher of self-discovery in my youth. With great psychological subtlety, he described the transformation processes of his characters, who had to free themselves from social conventions and inner blockages in order to develop their uniqueness.

His works were signposts for me on the path to more mindfulness, intuition and trust in my own abilities. The wisdom and depth of his sentences always made me pause and encourage self-reflection.

In addition to the captivating novels, Hesse's poems also exerted a deeply moving fascination on me. With their atmospheric density, their musical rhythm and their melancholy, they seemed to put the great mysteries of life into words.

Hesse’s poetry – mantras for the soul

It is as if these verses, even more than the prose, capture the essence of his thoughts. In their atmospheric density, they unfold a world of their own in which one can immerse oneself and lose oneself.

Levels

As every blossom fades and every youth
As age gives way, every stage of life blossoms,
Every wisdom and every virtue
In its time and must not last forever.
The heart must be at every call of life
Be ready to say goodbye and start anew,
To be brave and without mourning
To give to others, new bonds.
And there is magic in every beginning,
Who protects us and helps us to live.

We should cheerfully walk through room after room,
Not attached to anything like a home,
The world spirit does not want to bind us and restrict us,
He wants to raise us up and expand us, step by step.
We are barely at home in a circle of life
And having settled in comfortably, it threatens to weaken;
Only those who are ready to set off and travel,
May paralyzing habituation break free.

It may also be the hour of death
Send us young into new spaces,
Life’s call to us will never end,
Well then, heart, say goodbye and get well!

The musical rhythm of the words has a hypnotic effect and carries the soul away as if on gentle waves. Hesse's poetry is permeated with a melancholy that is not gloomy, but rather comforting. It is the melancholy of a deep thinker who considers the beauty and transience of life in all its facets.

These are poems that seem to capture the great mysteries of life in words: the longing for the unknown, the search for meaning, love and pain, joy and sadness. Hesse's poetry is like a mirror of the soul in which one can recognize oneself and find comfort. They are mantras for the soul that accompany us on our path through life and give us strength in moments of doubt and uncertainty.

Sometimes his verses read like meditative mantras that put me in a state of clarity and peace for moments. They opened my heart to the beauty and tragedy of our existence and allowed me to sense the deep vibrations of existence in awe.

A lifelong companion

Even though many years have passed since I first encountered Hermann Hesse, his books have lost none of their meaning for me. They have become faithful companions that I always pick up when I need inspiration, comfort or a stimulus for self-reflection.

In Hesse's work I continue to find perspectives that broaden my view and remind me of the essence of life. For me, these books are an everlasting treasure from which I can always draw new layers of understanding and knowledge.

Hermann Hesse was a master of language and a visionary thinker who created extraordinary things. His rich literary legacy will continue to touch, inspire and guide readers on the path to self-discovery for generations to come.