One of the main shifts in perception that ecophilosophy asks us to make at this important time in our history, is to turn away from our myths, our world views, our way of living here, that place us above and apart from nature and other life forms. Instead, we are asked to re-vision ourselves as one with the "Web of Life" that exists on Earth, and to act with gratitude, reverence and respect for all of life and the Earth's delicate balances.

How does one make this shift in perception, this shift away from our familiar, routine, and perhaps complacent ways of experiencing life? How do we begin to reconnect consciously with all of life around us, reverently, and with understanding? How do we begin to fully appreciate the delicacy of its checks and balances, and the intricacy of life's interconnections and interdependencies? How can we make the shift from human centred to Web of Life centred thinking?

Henryk Skolimowski, drawing on the concepts of Dharma and Wisdom ("As we understand, so we act.") talks about the need for reverence, responsibility, frugality and justice. Joanna Macy, in telling the story of The Shambhala Prophecy from twelve centuries ago, stresses two important personal responses needed in this time of "The Great Turning": compassion and insight.

Here are some stories that demonstrate what this shift in perception might look like in our daily lives. May we learn to understand more deeply what this means to us personally by sharing these and other stories of our gentle awakenings.

external links:

Ecopsychology explores the human-nature relationship: looking at ways we are disconnected from the natural environment and ways to reconnect with the web of life, for our health and the planet's.
A collaborative blog from the International Community for Ecopsychology. New articles are posted daily on a variety of subjects to do with personal growth into "web of life" thinking. There are some wonderful insights here about how others are managing their personal "great turnings" into new ways of thinking and behaving on the planet. It happens one person at a time.
What is wildness? Dr. Beetle explains. (Some humourous Web of Life wisdom.)
Molly Young Brown writes about Deep Ecology and the "Ecological Self": "the fruit of a natural maturation process."
What humankind is capable of loving from mere duty or moral exhortation is, unfortunately, very limited… The extensive moralizing within the ecological movement has given the public the false impression that they are primarily asked to sacrifice, to show more responsibility, more concern, and better morals… [But] the requisite care flows naturally if the self is widened and deepened so that protection of free nature is felt and conceived of as protection of our very selves (Seed, Macy, Naess, Fleming. 1988).
A free ten minute activity in "Natural System Thinking Process" from Project NatureConnect that can open the door to a deeper felt sense of belonging in our natural environment, wherever we are. Try the activity and share your experiences here?.
An activity to help us learn to trust our senses, and nature's wisdom deep within us.

Threads: Web of Life


Page last modified on June 10, 2005, at 06:35 PM