Yesterday someone commented on how I was on Cloud 9. I could not disagree, lately I had been rather jubilant, and I have always liked this saying, however I must admit, I could not say I knew exactly what it meant. So, while I should have been doing 1 of my 5 assignments due next week, or working on my applications... I researched it!
And here is some of what I found.
The Meaning: In a state of blissful happiness
Origin: Apparently, whenever a phrases uses a number, then the clues to finding its derivation usually focus on that number. (who knew!)
A commonly heard explanation stems from the cloud classifications from the US weather bureau in the 1950's, which depicts "cloud 9" as the fluffy, cumulonimbus type that are considered attractive (personally my favourite are the storm clouds).
Of course there is another popular explanation that has to do with the levels of enlightenment in Buddhism.
While these hold much of the world's beliefs, neither of them seem to hold much water. Both the cloud classifications, as well as the levels of enlightenment actually have 10 levels, not 9. To single out the second last stage seems silly.
Also, 9 is apparently far from the only number that has ever been linked with clouds. There has been a Cloud 8, Cloud 7, and Cloud 39. It has only been since the 1980's or so that 'Cloud 9' has been the predominant used cloud number. Of course that may be because of the term being used in popular music.
So what have we learned... that the origin of "Cloud 9" remains a mystery. While there are speculations as to its roots, one cannot be certain.
While the origin of the saying may remain a mystery, how I got to 'Cloud 9' is clear as day.
~You're as free as a bird in flight (Cloud nine)
There's no difference between day and night (Cloud nine)
It's a world of love and harmony (Cloud nine)You're a million miles from reality ~
- The Temptations, Cloud Nine
And here is some of what I found.
The Meaning: In a state of blissful happiness
Origin: Apparently, whenever a phrases uses a number, then the clues to finding its derivation usually focus on that number. (who knew!)
A commonly heard explanation stems from the cloud classifications from the US weather bureau in the 1950's, which depicts "cloud 9" as the fluffy, cumulonimbus type that are considered attractive (personally my favourite are the storm clouds).
Of course there is another popular explanation that has to do with the levels of enlightenment in Buddhism.
While these hold much of the world's beliefs, neither of them seem to hold much water. Both the cloud classifications, as well as the levels of enlightenment actually have 10 levels, not 9. To single out the second last stage seems silly.
Also, 9 is apparently far from the only number that has ever been linked with clouds. There has been a Cloud 8, Cloud 7, and Cloud 39. It has only been since the 1980's or so that 'Cloud 9' has been the predominant used cloud number. Of course that may be because of the term being used in popular music.
So what have we learned... that the origin of "Cloud 9" remains a mystery. While there are speculations as to its roots, one cannot be certain.
While the origin of the saying may remain a mystery, how I got to 'Cloud 9' is clear as day.
~You're as free as a bird in flight (Cloud nine)
There's no difference between day and night (Cloud nine)
It's a world of love and harmony (Cloud nine)You're a million miles from reality ~
- The Temptations, Cloud Nine
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