13 March 2008
ReEnchantment
Posted by Aether under: Community News .
“If this fascination, this entrancement, with life is not evoked, the children will not have the psychic energies needed to sustain the sorrows inherent in the human condition. They might never discover their true place in the vast world of time and space.” ~ Thomas Berry
Our Patron Eco-Saint Thomas is referring to one of the most fundamental keys for our species to begin the healing necessary for our re-establishment within the greater community of life, and the means through which we will discover the healthiest possibilities within that path. He often speaks about the necessity of re-enchanting ourselves with the world that we live in, and that through our enchantment with our surroundings we will walk an integral path of respect and honor. Children are naturally enchanted with the world that we live in, and are profound teachers along those lines, but it is our job as adults and parents to reinforce and actively support that, not only with them, but with ourselves.
Experiences I’ve had of pure enchantment with the world usually have had to do with groves of old growth forest, sunrises and sunsets, beaches, and the like. That’s easy. But like any real relationship, it’s how we are able to remain present in the day to day functioning of our paths where we are challenged to not get lulled by the familiar and remain open to the numinous (T.Berry’s favorite word!) aspects of creation. That’s where a little bit of help from the folks at the BBC can come in.
BBC’s Planet Earth series is easily the most impressive awe inspiring documentary of our lovely home that has ever been attempted. To watch it is to fall in love with where we live. It is so monumental in scope that it is worthy indeed of it’s name. And I have to admit, I have never been a huge fan of nature programming. I have always said I would much rather get out in it and talk a walk or some such than sit and… well, I think you may know what I mean. This series has elevated the genre to new heights, utilizing technology in innovative ways that in many cases has never before been possible. All in all, to watch this show is a powerful prescription to allow enchantment to re-enter our lives if we’re not fortunate enough to personally adventure to the ends of the earth and back. And at the very least, these programs give glimpses of facets of our greater community that have many things to teach us if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.
“Until technologists learn reverence for the earth, there will be no possibility of bringing a healing or a new creative age to the earth.” ~Thomas Berry
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