Author’s note: The words here are my own, and I don’t claim to speak for the actual consciousness of our planet, although I hope she would approve this message :-).
So good! I really appreciate the long cosmic timescale you help us readers inhabit through this letter. This Great Story, the long dream, is so incredible and beyond our imaginings, and so often completely lost on us 'moderns' who were trained to stay myopic and individualistic. A love letter to Gaia. This was beautiful.
I absolutely love this! Such a potent expression of the ways we may know the earth. In my heart it feels very true and oh so enriching. Indeed, we are but small moments within the earths expansive existence. I love the way you offered a different perspective to how our actions may be affecting her. Centering the sentience of the earth and her immense strength and resilience as opposed to our own selves. I appreciate her role as observer here, not having a particular sway towards one way or another, but acts as an impartial witness with a curious eye to see how it all will continue to unfold. Nothing in life feels innately good or bad, yet we exist within choices that either nourish love, wholeness and connection or feed fear, violence and oppression. Many actions have been taken for the later, perhaps due to this new idea of the human as separate from the land, and has lead to many extinctions and destruction. Again, perhaps this isn't a bad thing per say , it is simply the ways of things. What happens when you let humans roam free upon the earth. Whether it was a human that caused another creatures extinction, or a wolf, or a rabbit, that is growth and change and the inevitable consequence to life being lived. Making space for continued creative expression and play upon the garden of earth. She still spins, and will continue you. Despite how strong many believe humans to be, the earth endures. I too am curious to see how it all will continue, when the resources that have been feeding the whole "advancement" of civilized society and technology run out, what will be born from their ashes? Thank you for this <3
Wow Markael - thank you so much for writing this. I think what I appreciate the most is the truly balanced (in my opinion!) view of humanity, what we have been, where we are now, and what we could be. As well, I love the perspective of Earth’s timeline vs our own. You speak things that others are afraid to embrace, such as the truth that if the polar bears are to disappear, another different and surely wonderful species will take their place. And your comments about “invasive” plant species...yes, yes Yes! It is so nourishing for me to know there are others who trust this unfolding, and who are looking towards solutions - rather than myopically wallowing in the problems. I sincerely hope more people on the edge of this understanding find your work and are able to resonate in this field of knowing and possibility.
It is hard for me to gauge where we are at on a collective level. So far I have been surprised by the way folks receive my writings with openness rather than resistance or argument - even those who I might expect to disagree. So perhaps it is time for us to speak more loudly into the broader world.
I say that the words are my own, and yet they aren't really - not entirely. They are an outpouring of a deeper feeling, lines that arise and wish to be set free, a co-creation.
In 2019 I wrote a screenplay set in The Future ™. I hadn't watched either of the Blade Runners at that point, so just imagine a huge accidental rip-off of Blade Runner world (there's even CRT displays, ouch). Anyway for the title of the movie I decided to coin the era that will follow this one - Human Triassic. A prolonged period of being biologically "out of place".
So glad to have found my way to your writing and this piece spoke to me profoundly. It was like a gong reverberating over and over again with a healing wisdom that is too rarely spoken. Perhaps because it is so exquisitely complex. It neither lets us off the hook for the imbalance humanity tends to perpetuate nor gives license to throw our hands up in helplessness and despair. What a delicate dance of balance. And I loved this line the most, a mantra to lean into every moment of every day with its wild and wonderful wisdom: "This is a war that you cannot win, because you are not actually separate from Nature." Oh and your author's note made me chuckle out loud.
So good! I really appreciate the long cosmic timescale you help us readers inhabit through this letter. This Great Story, the long dream, is so incredible and beyond our imaginings, and so often completely lost on us 'moderns' who were trained to stay myopic and individualistic. A love letter to Gaia. This was beautiful.
I absolutely love this! Such a potent expression of the ways we may know the earth. In my heart it feels very true and oh so enriching. Indeed, we are but small moments within the earths expansive existence. I love the way you offered a different perspective to how our actions may be affecting her. Centering the sentience of the earth and her immense strength and resilience as opposed to our own selves. I appreciate her role as observer here, not having a particular sway towards one way or another, but acts as an impartial witness with a curious eye to see how it all will continue to unfold. Nothing in life feels innately good or bad, yet we exist within choices that either nourish love, wholeness and connection or feed fear, violence and oppression. Many actions have been taken for the later, perhaps due to this new idea of the human as separate from the land, and has lead to many extinctions and destruction. Again, perhaps this isn't a bad thing per say , it is simply the ways of things. What happens when you let humans roam free upon the earth. Whether it was a human that caused another creatures extinction, or a wolf, or a rabbit, that is growth and change and the inevitable consequence to life being lived. Making space for continued creative expression and play upon the garden of earth. She still spins, and will continue you. Despite how strong many believe humans to be, the earth endures. I too am curious to see how it all will continue, when the resources that have been feeding the whole "advancement" of civilized society and technology run out, what will be born from their ashes? Thank you for this <3
Wow Markael - thank you so much for writing this. I think what I appreciate the most is the truly balanced (in my opinion!) view of humanity, what we have been, where we are now, and what we could be. As well, I love the perspective of Earth’s timeline vs our own. You speak things that others are afraid to embrace, such as the truth that if the polar bears are to disappear, another different and surely wonderful species will take their place. And your comments about “invasive” plant species...yes, yes Yes! It is so nourishing for me to know there are others who trust this unfolding, and who are looking towards solutions - rather than myopically wallowing in the problems. I sincerely hope more people on the edge of this understanding find your work and are able to resonate in this field of knowing and possibility.
Thank you Emma!
It is hard for me to gauge where we are at on a collective level. So far I have been surprised by the way folks receive my writings with openness rather than resistance or argument - even those who I might expect to disagree. So perhaps it is time for us to speak more loudly into the broader world.
I say that the words are my own, and yet they aren't really - not entirely. They are an outpouring of a deeper feeling, lines that arise and wish to be set free, a co-creation.
I wrote more passionately about "invasive" species control earlier this year: https://dendroica.substack.com/p/on-control-and-participation
In 2019 I wrote a screenplay set in The Future ™. I hadn't watched either of the Blade Runners at that point, so just imagine a huge accidental rip-off of Blade Runner world (there's even CRT displays, ouch). Anyway for the title of the movie I decided to coin the era that will follow this one - Human Triassic. A prolonged period of being biologically "out of place".
This made me say WOW.
So glad to have found my way to your writing and this piece spoke to me profoundly. It was like a gong reverberating over and over again with a healing wisdom that is too rarely spoken. Perhaps because it is so exquisitely complex. It neither lets us off the hook for the imbalance humanity tends to perpetuate nor gives license to throw our hands up in helplessness and despair. What a delicate dance of balance. And I loved this line the most, a mantra to lean into every moment of every day with its wild and wonderful wisdom: "This is a war that you cannot win, because you are not actually separate from Nature." Oh and your author's note made me chuckle out loud.