Biophilia “To explore and affiliate with life is a deep and complicated process in mental development. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion, our existence depends on this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hope rises on its currents.” ― Edward O. Wilson
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ome call it Vitamin N, the Japanese set aside areas for silent forest bathing, nature advocate Richard Louv warns against nature-deficit disorder, and E.O. Wilson, called the Darwin of the 21st century, coined the term “biophilia” and believes the need for it is deeply woven into our natures. Gross generalization: today’s focus on technology and striving for external, material rewards has left us in 28 a lonely world. We have created a culture where enough is never good enough, where there is a hierarchy of worth that makes factory farms, chemical destruction of our soils, deforestation, dumping of toxins into our waters, racism, classism, and warfare acceptable. As long as it’s profitable. We’ve broken our own hearts as we’ve created a world walled off from “others.” Poet, naturalist, and suicide hotline counselor Diane Ackerman says, “… much of our loneliness and despair comes from trying to exile ourselves from nature. which of course we can’t do.” This rather odd life I’ve chosen without really knowing why is beginning to show its form as I bathe in forests, meander though meadows, and delight in feather gifts.
My thread to the financial world is tenuous, however, every day I grow a bit richer in spirit and, just perhaps, a tad wiser as I follow a patient teacher.
