S O I L A N D S OCIETY
Welcome inspiration – the vitality of natural inclusion in human wellness Alan Rayner Naturalist
Awareness of our animal bodies as dynamic inclusions and expressions of nature, not exceptions from nature, offers us a new source of inspiration to help us understand and care for ourselves, other life forms and our environment. This awareness helps ease away the needless suffering, misunderstanding and strife that arises through estranging nature from human nature. It comes with an appreciation of space and boundaries as natural sources of receptive continuity and dynamic distinction. We can thence live more passionately, compassionately and sustainably.
I am an evolutionary ecologist, writer and artist and was a Reader in biological sciences at the University of Bath from 1985 to 2011. Since 2000, I have been pioneering awareness of 'natural inclusion', the evolutionary source of all forms of life in receptive-responsive spatial and energetic relationship. My most recent book is The Origin of Life Patterns in the Natural Inclusion of Space in Flux. I love helping people become more aware of the diversity of wildlife in their local neighbourhood.
Introduction Is it consistent with your experience and does it make consistent (nonparadoxical) sense to isolate or conflate yourself from or with your natural surroundings? If not, why not? This was the combination of questions I asked myself, which enabled me to become aware of myself as a dynamic inclusion and expression of nature, not an exception from nature.
Here I am, in my element. I have included myself within the embrace of an apple tree and climbed into its canopy. In the process, I have become aware of the life of the tree and its inhabitants in a way that simply isn’t possible when viewing the tree from a distant standpoint. I feel inspired and uplifted in the same way that I did as a child, climbing trees in an African garden. I know what William Blake meant when he said:
Alan in an apple tree
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© Journal of holistic healthcare ● Volume 16 Issue 1 Spring 2019
