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The Empty Space in the Sustainability Equation

Tracks Around the Sacred Spring

It is said that you should write what you need to know, but what that really comes down to is to write what 'we' need to know... imagine that the Great Tree of Life is showing signs of blight that will lead to the destruction of all life as we know it. No, no, no, our mind says. We won't let ourselves do that but will admit to a persistent feeling of threat. And so we tout the idea of sustainability about without really getting to grips with the resources that might eventually make that possible, that might make the parts of the tree that surround us vibrant and well again. For the concept of sustainability is flawed. It is as though there is a hole in it, a leak, so that it won't float on the tide of existence. And this is not new: mankind has been coming up with ways to block up that hole by reducing the known dimension of life, but soon the hole reappears and looms larger than ever. So the hole is here to stay and yet, for the moment at least, our minds still may have the power to make use of the hidden potential in that space. We have it in us to imagine the creation of a microcosm of existence that might come to reflect the macro plane of existence.




Part of the solution is following the Way, doing the Right thing, but more than that is required. We still need to ACT; we still need to hunt and gather, but, in a way that doesn't cause permanent damage, but replenishes.




And so here I am, in the thick of it, trying to exemplify the process consciously while attempting to access the collective unconscious – the virtually infinite thought patterns that make up all known life. Jung pointed to archetypes such as Mother Nature, with a special focus on Animals, and the Green Man - the Ancient in us or the Old Man - and his relation to Creative Fantasy, which we may become progressively aware of by means of dreams and other means if worked through.




But as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. My 'pudding' is shaky and more at food for thought than physical nourishment. Wild boar churned up the Spring Garden the night before yesterday so that I needed to tend to it and make adjustments and improvements – make significant change a daily part of life, they would tell me. 

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Notice the change in flower produced by this camellia. Is this a new direction or a throw back to an old one? It doesn't really matter. What is important is that unforeseen possibilities present themselves. Life is very much about maintaining a readiness to notice qualitative change and benefit from it, to get providence to work in your favor. Hence, I have marked the different branch and will take cuttings from it in April – the best time for cuttings here – and, in this way, a different variety of camellia is created.

 
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Yes, more thoughts on providence. Providence is often expressed as windfall gain. Any creature makes use of it... Especially, the buzzard. A buzzard is always on the look out for a new opportunity or a place or situation that offers one. Could one have a nest in the roof? You are thinking 'on' the roof, but that is the unexpected part.




Yesterday, I saw a buzzard lifting off as I came back to the house, but where did it come from? You see, because of the enormous temperature shifts we experience here, the house has a special open window, or vent, below the roof big enough for a big bird to enter.




Later, the same day, I saw it once more flying low close to the forest floor. Again I was surprised. My point is that it was not where buzzards are supposed to be, and yet it was well and thriving. This buzzard knows a thing or two about 'providence' and how to make the best of it. How is it one never learns lessons like this at school!






 
Yesterday, I took time out to listen to an interview with Daniel Quinn. It seems so many years now that I read all his books. The key notion is that, for mankind to continue to exist, we are going to have to change our mindset to 'stay-ability'.  It was quite a powerful message that doesn't seem to have a solution or does it? You see, Daniel found his inspiration and vision from 'providence' - a dream of a deer that suddenly springs out in front of him to tell him something vitally important - yes, that Mother Nature's ways are sacrosanct. And so, perhaps, what we need to be on the look out for is 'Providence' in whatever shape or form she comes to us ... as she has done from the beginning of time.



horses, camellias, paradigm shift, perspective, innovation,