Heroes Not Zombies

Sometimes change is more obvious than it is at other times. I know that in reality nothing stays the same. We, and everything in this universe, constantly changes. The two seasons of Spring and Autumn make that so obvious, don’t you think? They are also the seasons where change can appear most beautiful, whether with new buds and blossoms in Spring or with gorgeous golds, yellows and shades of Autumn red.

Since I moved to the French countryside I’ve spent more time outside than I’ve done in any other period of my life. I notice flowers, trees, birds, much more now, and I’ve become much more aware of the seasons and cycles of Life.

I realise now that we humans are suffering from a profound disconnection. We’ve developed a way of living where we privilege consumption so much we actually refer to people as “consumers”. And we have been telling ourselves that “nature” is something different from us, that it’s “out there”, just waiting to be exploited and controlled.

It seems to me that the wheels are definitely coming off that bus! From climate change, to loss of diversity, and pollution of the entire planet, we should be able to see we need to change direction.

But which way should we go? Increasingly, I think the answers lie around and within us. When we get a better understanding of the complexity and interconnectedness of reality, we get more in touch with the need to privilege harmony, beauty and flow over consumption and control.

It’s easy to think the systems we have created are impossible to change, but we humans made them, and with imagination, will and love, we can make different, more satisfying ones. Can’t we?