When I write, I have a favorite spot in my home that looks out on my garden, the inspiration for which came from my early childhood experiences in my Grandparents backyard.
That same wild world rubs edges with my own, serving as scaffolding of order in an often confusing human world. From that scaffolding, I can peer beyond the mountain of news and social drama that unfortunately insidiously hijacks our sense of "reality.
So how can we cause this link to Nature to bubble up into our daily lives? How can we begin to fully appreciate that we truly are all an intentional result of Nature’s creative expression, rather than a pernicious invader?
With all the news about pandemics, sputtering financial markets, global warming, the shrinking ice caps, disappearing species and the like, it is easy to believe that mankind has become an unwelcome interloper to a once pristine wilderness. A brief biological experiment that has gone terribly wrong.
And it is true, human beings have and do exert tremendous pressure on the planet. Pressure that science tells us is causing rapid changes to our climate, oceans and biome. And I have no doubt that it’s true.
But the fact is, throughout our planet’s long history, many dramatic shifts have occurred, tilting the tenuous environmental balance in favor of certain species and against others. Volcanos, meteor impacts, shifting land masses, etc, have all wrought dramatic and lasting changes to the way our planet now looks and functions. Yet still, it remains a shining gem in the universe.
Our home is perhaps the only place we will ever know that is capable of supporting life in such abundance and it shows no sign of throwing in the towel. Should humankind take better care of our precious Earth? Absolutely.
And thankfully, many of the world’s governments are discussing and developing legislation that will cause a shift to more renewable energy sources, the curbing carbon emissions, the prosecution of environmental crimes and the restoration of critical habitats, so that the plants and animals with whom we share the planet can thrive along side us, on land as well as in our oceans.
From this perspective, it becomes possible to redirect our emotional posture over our changing planet from one of guilt to one of innovation.
Conceiving of new ways live more sustainably with Nature. Drive less, use water and other resources more thoughtfully and most importantly, find a patch of terra firma where you can begin to cultivate life.
Our incredible planet is endlessly productive and with a little help, every place on Earth is capable of supporting plant and animal life.
Pour all your love and care into that sacred ground and watch it respond with abundance and gratitude. It is through this change in your perceptual relationship to Nature and your intimate involvement with it, that you will begin to discover and become acquainted with your inner Wild Self.
Author of "The Happiness Tree"
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