In his book, The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell says, "Myths are clues to the spiritual potentialities of the human life... Myths and dreams come from the same place. They come from realizations of some kind that have then to find expression in symbolic form." Often, that form finds an expression in art. Wind-felled Beech … Continue reading A Walk In The Park With Irish Myths
Thoreau and Thoughts on Nature
Why do we think we can go 'out into' nature and observe it when we are, ourselves, its part? Nature can put things into perspective for us because it puts us into perspective. What has this tree experienced? (my photo) "We can never have enough of Nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of … Continue reading Thoreau and Thoughts on Nature
Spreading the Word: Walking With Forest Spirit
Up a steep trail into the deep forest until you reach a tree thousands of years old. If it sounds like a fairy tale or fantasy, it's not. Take a walk in the ancient forest of Yakushima with filmmaker Steve Atkins's short video. Who knows, maybe you will spot kodama - the spirit of the … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Walking With Forest Spirit
Spreading the Word: Longest Art Gallery
Are we ready to prioritise cultural heritage over commercial interest? It is a question of values. More specifically - it is a matter of deciding how to resolve a clash between an intrinsic and instrumental value. Pondering this may reveal the values we live by, perhaps without fully recognising them. In today's post, I share … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Longest Art Gallery
Spreading the Word: Research on Storytelling
In today's post, I share a podcast episode featuring one of the researchers engaged in a recent project investigating how the art of storytelling can help shift narratives in local communities to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. You can read their report and findings here. Enjoy! Keeping up the "Spreading the Word" tradition, I hope to … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Research on Storytelling
Tension in Enlightenment Project
One of the more striking incoherences characteristic of the Enlightenment is the struggle to establish a naturalistic foundation for morality and ethics. Given the success of the natural sciences and overall confidence in the human cognitive capacities to understand and explain nature in a purely mechanistic way, the hopes of Enlightenment thinkers must have been … Continue reading Tension in Enlightenment Project
Spreading the Word: Henry David Thoreau
This Friday I share with you a podcast on the philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau. I am currently reading Thoreau's great work Walden, and thought it would be interesting to learn more about the man. The podcast is from BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time. I highly recommend it. Enjoy! Link to the … Continue reading Spreading the Word: Henry David Thoreau
The Subtle Power of Beauty
Beauty - in all its expressions - has the power to stop us in our tracks, make us notice what we didn't realise was there, feel what we don't know how to describe, heal wounds veiled from our minds, and reconsider the path we are following. my photo A beautiful International Women's Day to everyone! … Continue reading The Subtle Power of Beauty
Nature, what Are Your Laws?
Recently I have been thinking about the laws of nature. More accurately - about the different interpretations of what it means to be a law of nature. At first glance, all seems to be clear. Right? When you think about it, I am certain you can easily come up with your own rough definition. A law of nature … Continue reading Nature, what Are Your Laws?
Spreading the Word: ”The deep Anthropocene”
Today, I share with you an article that explores something called the Anthropocene - a period in Earth's history where humans have significant influence on nature. There is a growing interest both among scientists and the general public about the idea that we might have enetered into a new age, the name for which is … Continue reading Spreading the Word: ”The deep Anthropocene”
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