Heroes Not Zombies

This sea holly caught my eye. Not only is it beautiful, and isn’t beauty one of the most fundamental and important creative attractors in our lives? But it also got me reflecting on the apparent paradox of attraction and repulsion.

The beauty of the plant, its colour and its form, attracts. It draws us to it. It draws pollinators to it too! But the pointed leaves act like thorns and if you get too close they’ll prick your skin. They keep predators at bay too!

We, and by “we”, I mean we living organisms, need both. We need good defences to protect us from harm, to keep others at a distance. But we also need to connect, to call to others, to attract attention and bring others closer.

And not or.