Heroes Not Zombies

In her book, “Big Magic”, Elizabeth Gilbert tells the story of a botanist friend who teaches environmental biology in New York. She begins by asking her students two questions – “Do you love Nature?” (every hand in the class goes up) and “Do you believe that Nature loves you in return?” (every hand goes down).

Sad, that, isn’t it?

The myth of the heartless, uncaring universe has dominated our cultures. Even worse, the myth that “wild nature” actively works against us so needs to be “tamed” and “controlled” feeds the climate of fear which is used to control us.

What choices might we make if we took a different view?

What might our societies become if we both loved Nature and believed that Nature loved us in return? (Of course, I take it for granted that you accept Nature isn’t something separate from us. We are inextricably a part of Nature)

Two recent photos came to mind as I thought about this. The one above, which is lunch one day in my home. Look at the yellow tomatoes, the cheese, the butter, the bread, the salt and pepper and the water. Look at the delicious bowl of “potiron” soup.

Then, how about this photo I took in Regents Park in London last weekend?

Taken facing the sun (as the photography books tell you not to!) and revealing both the glow of red flowers in the life-giving sunlight and the longing of the purple ones as they reach for the sun.

What do you think?

Do we live in an essentially hostile or uncaring universe? Or are we part of a loving, nurturing and caring one?