Humanity Needs Nature
The function and design of nature is to fulfill the greater vision of creation of life and beauty. And with its simple yet complex existence and state of being, it inspires and reminds us all of what we were created to be here on Earth. We are all in service to this greater vision.
The natural world is constantly unfolding, guided by its miraculous design, seeded with the infinite powers of the Universe, and constantly undergoing regeneration and evolution through the cycles of time. Nature is a marvel and it’s constant presence reminds us who we are, and shows us our greatest potential.
We are all energetic beings and natural creatures: of creation and destruction, birth and death, renewal and evolution. We are all guided by a larger collective life force, and an individual natural expression. We are nature. To suppress this life force is to cut ourselves off from the connection to life. To deny our existence as a part of the ecosystem of nature is to loose ourselves and forget who we are. To sever our connection to nature is to forget our reason for being. To destroy nature is to destroy ourselves.
Nature serves as a mirror for humanity. Its health mirrors ours as we are inextricably linked to one another. On the surface we see the dire condition the planet is in. Undergoing a human-created mass extinction event, with less than 3% of the planet remaining ‘ecologically intact’, and less than 15% of the planet’s natural land protected. Humans have managed to create an infected, polluted and depleted ecosystem. 50% of the world’s living species are predicted to be extinct by 2100. Current extinction rates are already 1000-10,000x the natural extinction rate. 3/4 of known species have and already are disappearing. In order to prevent humans from going extinct, we would need 5 more earths to sustain our current lifestyle and population of 8.5 billion people. And we are already consuming 175% of the planet’s resources and what it can regenerate in one year.
The common message is that we need to save the animals, save the trees…and yes we do. But in the end, it’s really humans that need saving. Without natural resources, clean water, clean air, clean food, without a hospitable planet or a home, we will perish. And perhaps all other life with it, as the system can no longer function as is. The slate will be wiped clean and the planet will go into another long winter of healing and regeneration to prepare for new life. We need to save nature because our lives depend upon it.
The challenge is that our society promotes fear and dependence, and is prolific in creating very easy environments and systems that disconnect people from nature while simultaneously destroying it. It lures people with the promise of a better life and keeps them distracted with shiny toys and mind-numbing stimulation. Meanwhile, nature, the most sacred resource of all, has been sold off wholesale to corporations that extract and deplete until nothing is left and leave a trail of waste without any sense of ownership or responsibility to clean it up. This waste becomes the problem of the people, animals, our ecosystem, and lowers the quality of life for all.
Nature, yes, is calming and peaceful, and has profound health benefits. But on a deeper, more profound level, nature embodies our highest potential and holds higher intelligence for us to learn from. It show us who we really are. Its resilience inspires us to evolve. Its perfection in design reminds us of our own intelligent design. Its cooperation teaches us to co-exist in diversity and harmony. Its seasons teaches to let go. Its presence reflects the love, peace and freedom we all can embody. Its beauty inspires us to be, express, love, and create from a place of honesty and purity. It reminds us to remain connected, to be as we naturally are, and to hold and honor the energy we have within.
When we envelop ourselves in the natural world, we can remind ourselves of all the wonderful things we can be and already are at our core. Something within ignites and sparks an ember of remembering. A glimmer of hope. A whisper of healing and the message that it is never too late.