by Dawn Massey
I found Maureen Wild’s presentation on Thomas Berry’s book Sacred Universe very inspiring. For me, Berry’s teachings are a welcome reminder of the power of nature to reconnect to us to our innate sense of wonder and mystery. And what better time of year than early Spring to “listen” to the frogs, to “feel” earthy soil warmed by the sun, to “hear” salty waves splash our shores, to “see” stars shoot across the night skies…?
Thomas Berry reminds me that nature is a great healer, an abundant source of wellbeing and spirituality – a truth that I have experienced and have known since early childhood. Though it seems odd that we should ever become disconnected from something so integral and fundamental to our being, our embodied being-ness, there are countless ways, as you know (fill-in your own blanks), doom scrolling, headline news, endless accessibility of television moves/made for tv series, the rising cost of living…not always so easy to ignore…especially when you’re feeling down and broody.
Late this last November my dad died after a lengthy illness. Thankfully, Maureen’s presentation reminded me of how much my dad loved nature. He especially loved adventures and explorations in nature. As a child my dad, escaping from a troubled home life, found great refuge and healing (and inspirations) alone in nature. I feel fortunate that my dad shared this knowledge with me and always provided me with ample opportunity and freedom to explore woods and shores on my own. A gift.
But grief is a funny, not so funny, thing because, while sometimes you feel deeply connected to the wisdom and sacredness of everything, and at other times you feel mercilessly cast adrift…violently disconnected, and alone. I should clarify here that there is a vast difference between being alone (at one with) and feeling all alone (desolate).
While grief is a journey unto to itself, solace can be found in nature and in our interconnectedness. (Not unlike the heroes journey, a journey embarked alone but never truly alone; individually unique but collectively similar.) When I/we connect to the spirituality in the earth, I/we connect to the spirituality in myself/ourselves. And ultimately, feel reconnected to the greater cosmos – being at one with and a part of something greater than ourselves.
Yes, I know Maureen said Thomas Berry was a great brooder, and there is certainly much to fret and brood about in our modern world. But, there is also hope. While I tend to prefer philosophy to brooding, I realize that brooding has potential to pull us towards ethical, tangible, action. As such, it’s never too late to make a difference for positive transformation. Look. Listen. Feel. Wonder.
So it is, after the dark days of winter, Spring is here again. I have emerged with greater appreciation for life and death.
See you in the Commons garden soon Maureen.