I mentioned that I would write more about our separation from Nature in this blog. Now I am having second thoughts. It is such a huge subject and we have been doing it for a long time.
It is not a new phenomena. The Cedars of Lebanon were destroyed to build temples. Gilgamesh ordered forest to be destroyed because he thought they contained evil spirits. The early Christian Church demonized people for worshiping Nature. People were accused of witchcraft and killed, even though they may have discovered an herbal cure for some affliction. All our cures came from Nature. When was the herbalist on safe ground and when were they in danger of being accused of witchcraft?
We must have had a natural order, at one time, when we experienced our oneness with Nature. It appears that many so-called pagan peoples were far more in touch with Nature than their Christian contemporaries. We can speculate that people who understand their place in Nature have a sense of their sovereignty and a skeptical view of human authority that makes them less manageable from their so-called civilized peers. When we study history, we are impressed that the major religions suppressed our connection with Nature. The religion, itself, wanted to be the authority on all things and did not want people to go directly to Nature for answers. It is puzzling that religion taught, God created all things, yet it pictured Nature as somehow separate. In many periods of history nature was pictured as evil.
Distancing ourselves from Nature is a common theme as far back in history as we can peer. We have had many people, who lived on Earth and were very close to Nature, and we probably still do. We could learn from them, but unless we are anthropologist and can observe with an open mind, the learning isn't particularly available to us.
Everything about our culture is separate from Nature. We live increasingly synthetic lives. Some of us live in little artificial capsules that could be transported to any planet in the universe and if we didn't have a window to look out of we wouldn't know it.
How do we discern what is real from what is synthetic? How can we discover what has been lost? I don't think we want to go back to being naked and running across the forest floor in bare feet. But, hey, that would be a nice experience and I have thought that there should be a place where we could do just that. It is obvious we are different from the other animals on the Earth, in that our bodies cannot exist without protection, except for certain tropical and semi-tropical areas.
It is not any inherent difference from the rest of Nature that is the problem. It is the disregard and contempt we have for anything natural that is the problem. It is a universal that native peoples of the world viewed Nature and the Earth with reverence. Our culture treats the Earth as if it is some alien form to be exploited as much as possible.
It is tempting to see technology as the problem. It is clear that we have become more and more alienated from the Earth with the proliferation of technology. Yet, it is a two edged sword; technology can help us be more intimate with Nature as well as separate us. I sit at this computer. I can communicate with people all over the world. I can explore the natural world. I can view my fellow creatures from earthworms to whales. Much of the knowledge of the Earth and Nature is at my fingertips.
Discovering what we have lost and reordering our thinking is a group project. I only know one place to begin and that is treating the Earth and Nature with love and respect. Why would we want to eat synthetic food when Nature provides us with a healthy product? How could we possibly think we know more than Nature? Do we really alter crops because we think they are better for us or does it make somebody more money? Why do we tear up the Earth and dispose of containers, once used, that would probably last a thousand years? How many times have we looked at a glass bottle and marveled at its heaviness and construction and then dropped in the trash or recycling? How can we stand by and observe a forest being destroyed for someones greed? How can we allow animals to be raised in an unnatural and often bizarre fashion just so some people can get richer? I could fill a book just with this kind of question. We have to face it. As a culture we are insane! Not a little crazy, but stark raving mad!
We need to understand that thinking with our brain without our heart has been a huge mistake. Logic as a function of brain activity, only, seems to lead to destruction; and it is not logic. Every decision we make must be made with our heart. Without love we are lost. And love must be real love; not love of money or power. We know what real love is, even if we have a hard time describing it.
Discovering who we are and learning to appreciate our authentic nature, and the rest of the natural order, is something we need to do together. We can reverse our suspicion and disregard for our Mother Earth. We can learn to love her as the Mother she is to us. That will be a beginning.
Happy Monday.
Love and Peace, Gregg
No comments:
Post a Comment