This incredible sculpture is an invitation to join the best banquet in the world. Rabbitwoman and Dogman play host to the party. Their guests are ten of the world’s most endangered animals. Two empty seats around the table are ready for us to take our seats with them.
To solve our ecological crises, our human consciousness must expand to connect with all Life, with its multitude of wisdoms, intelligences and spirit. We need to connect deeply, to fall in love with other life forms.
We understandably feel we must “do” something for our Earth in these difficult times. But first, we have to “be”—to feel our connection to our Earth. The biggest gift we can give ourselves and our Earth on Earth Day—and every day—is to give ourselves time with some aspect of nature. It can be any natural thing, from a house plant to a tree, a local pond or a wild mountain stream. This nourishes us, gives us a chance to restore ourselves, and prepares us to find action that will truly help our Earth. If our action comes wholly from our minds, without consultation with our heart, instinctive wisdom, and Earth connection, the solutions we arrive at will not work with the natural systems we were formed by and are embedded in.
That is the “be” part, which has to come first. For the “do” part, consider a recent book by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence. It is called Ecological Intelligence: The Hidden Impacts of What We Buy and offers powerful guidance for individual actions. It lays bare the complex web of impact everyday products have upon people and habitat, and how we can radically alter our consumption patterns from destructive to constructive.
From another angle entirely, there is an increasing awareness of joy and its powerful impact on our health. Life itself is a celebration; there is beauty and joy available to all of us, all the time, from the natural world of which we are a part. Countless opportunities exist to connect with that natural world and be eased, healed, encouraged, and energized by it.
Yes, on Earth Day, we need to focus on action. But equally important is the need to focus on gratitude for the beauty and Life we share with the multitude of living beings on this journey with us.
