‘We are inextricably entwined with each other though, all life on earth is. We need to be awakened and made increasingly aware of the effects of every one of our choices on the world at large and all life that is impacted by our activity.’
I've been listening to "Prometheus Rising" on Audible - Robert Anton Wilson's early work.
So worth the effort! In it, he cites G.I. Gurdjieff who made the case that most of us are robotic in our ways. I'm about four chapters in so far. Highly recommended.
We do need to rethink how we interact in the world with nature, animals and each other as well as how we treat the environment and how we can make a positive change for the planet in our own lives that will have a positive ripple effect.
Tackling the plastic problem is a great place to start, but it makes me think about the fabric grocery bags that now replace plastic bags where I live and are not allowed to be reused. One finds themselves with hundreds of them and there’s no way to recycle all of them either. So we have to figure out a way to replace plastic with something biodegradable. Why grocery stores didn’t revert back to paper bags is beyond me. My brain isn’t big enough to figure this out, but I hope someone does.
It is immediate to begin to make choices to make change. 1 for instance-Don’t buy plastic garbage bags. Put the trash in the empty bin and wash as needed. Or, buy compostable ones. Walk in the old woods and listen. Remember where we come from. There is a symphony of birds singing the world awake all day today. I love what you’ve written Hal, thank you. Judi
“Everything is everything”: a mantra my good friend, Mike Stewart, and I would repeat while together hiking mountains near and on the Continental Divide in Colorado. I have been reminded of the three word phrase rather often lately while listening to others share their thoughts—your post here being the latest occurrence.
From a young age, I have been disquieted by any ideology that promotes “man” (and I’ve encountered these worldviews, more often than not, couched in such sexist language) as being distinct from animal. As my own ideology has evolved, so too has my understanding that we animals are no more distinct from other forms of life (and material, for that matter).
I appreciate you sparking some thoughts in me this morning and reminding me that it all is connected.
Any writing that acknowledges our interconnectedness is helpful I think. So, thanks for your start of an inventory. We can talk with each other. The more aware we become, the less we live on autopilot. I think one possible starting point is our shopping patterns. For instance: Why do we shop? To fulfil needs. Yes, but what kind of needs? Authentic needs, like getting food or shoes. Or do we shop to fill an inner hole, to relieve restlessness or to console ourselves. To keep the economies rolling? Needs that shopping cannot fulfil. I guess it can help to talk about these things.
‘We are inextricably entwined with each other though, all life on earth is. We need to be awakened and made increasingly aware of the effects of every one of our choices on the world at large and all life that is impacted by our activity.’
100% this.
Thanks, Deer Girl for the reinforcement.
I've been listening to "Prometheus Rising" on Audible - Robert Anton Wilson's early work.
So worth the effort! In it, he cites G.I. Gurdjieff who made the case that most of us are robotic in our ways. I'm about four chapters in so far. Highly recommended.
Hi, I tried to subscribe to your Substack. I couldn’t do it. Do you only accept paid subscribers? Thanks, from one poet to another. Judi
I just checked and I am subscribed to you fwiw.
Hi, we are already subscribed to each other.
I accept any and all!
I have hit my personal limit for those two whom I can subscribe though. I wonder….Try again?
What a wonderful think piece, Hal!
We do need to rethink how we interact in the world with nature, animals and each other as well as how we treat the environment and how we can make a positive change for the planet in our own lives that will have a positive ripple effect.
Tackling the plastic problem is a great place to start, but it makes me think about the fabric grocery bags that now replace plastic bags where I live and are not allowed to be reused. One finds themselves with hundreds of them and there’s no way to recycle all of them either. So we have to figure out a way to replace plastic with something biodegradable. Why grocery stores didn’t revert back to paper bags is beyond me. My brain isn’t big enough to figure this out, but I hope someone does.
Thank you very much!
It is immediate to begin to make choices to make change. 1 for instance-Don’t buy plastic garbage bags. Put the trash in the empty bin and wash as needed. Or, buy compostable ones. Walk in the old woods and listen. Remember where we come from. There is a symphony of birds singing the world awake all day today. I love what you’ve written Hal, thank you. Judi
“Everything is everything”: a mantra my good friend, Mike Stewart, and I would repeat while together hiking mountains near and on the Continental Divide in Colorado. I have been reminded of the three word phrase rather often lately while listening to others share their thoughts—your post here being the latest occurrence.
From a young age, I have been disquieted by any ideology that promotes “man” (and I’ve encountered these worldviews, more often than not, couched in such sexist language) as being distinct from animal. As my own ideology has evolved, so too has my understanding that we animals are no more distinct from other forms of life (and material, for that matter).
I appreciate you sparking some thoughts in me this morning and reminding me that it all is connected.
I'd be very interested to hear what impact German literature has had, if any, on your thinking about interconnectedness.
Nice writing, Hal!
Any writing that acknowledges our interconnectedness is helpful I think. So, thanks for your start of an inventory. We can talk with each other. The more aware we become, the less we live on autopilot. I think one possible starting point is our shopping patterns. For instance: Why do we shop? To fulfil needs. Yes, but what kind of needs? Authentic needs, like getting food or shoes. Or do we shop to fill an inner hole, to relieve restlessness or to console ourselves. To keep the economies rolling? Needs that shopping cannot fulfil. I guess it can help to talk about these things.