A single wildlife photograph stops a writer mid-scroll, breaking through the numbness of our image-saturated lives. Confronted by a sloth clinging to a fencepost in fragmented habitat, he explores what it means to still be touched—by grief, tenderness, kinship—and what such moments ask of us.
Blending the insights of Carl Jung, Iain McGilchrist, and indigenous knowledge systems, the piece articulates a path forward that honors both the analytical mind and the symbolic heart. Ecological mentalizing is framed not as regression to a past worldview, but as the integration of ancient intuition with modern awareness.
I’ve been sitting at this pond for ten minutes and have seen only eight dragonflies: my young male, six other meadowhawks, and two great mossy darners. According to my journal, I observed eight different species here exactly a year ago. Although one hummingbird and two violet-green swallows are here hunting them, insects seem scarce.
How can it be that the return of wolves could somehow alter Yellowstone’s rivers and streams? Or that the presence of wolves would result in an increase in songbirds or amphibians? No one saw these things coming. Though still debated, the concept of the “trophic cascade” offers one explanation of what has transpired.
Can we agree to re-integrating plants and animals as they were evolved to live together? We can do this by promoting integrated organic farms, as well as by regreening desertified land. The clear energy efficiency of doing so will actually mitigate climate change much better than simply going vegan—and going vegan will still be just as available an option, side by side with other diets.
The systems which keep all other organisms in check don’t work with us. Why? Why are we overpowering the systems of checks and balances which keep everyone else in check, in harmony with the biosphere. We will eventually be kept in check, of course, but why at such a cost to the entire Earth community?
David’s latest recording projects are focused on collaborations with nightingales. As part of the work, Rothenberg and an international band of musicians perform music in concert with nightingales in Berlin’s public parks.
Sam Lee is a British singer of traditional folk songs, a collector, an archivist, a conservationist, and a radical re-interpreter of the British folk tradition. He is the driving force behind the eclectic, award-winning folk club 'The Nest Collective', and an emerging figure in the Extinction Rebellion movement.
Marge | I believe that humans have a very vital, beautiful role by being part of this planet- this living community. I think our role is to use our awareness, our great combination of intelligence and heart to create a harmonious environment for all living beings and non-living beings.
There has been lots of press around big cats and elephants. Not as many people know about the plight of the rhinos and, in fact, I did not. I said, "Fantastic. If the rhinos need help, then we are here to help the rhinos."