perspective

“From here on, the primary judgment of all human institutions, professions, programs and activities will be determined by the extent to which they inhibit, ignore, or foster a mutually-enhancing human/Earth relationship.” – Thomas Berry, The Great Work

If you want to make a go of it as a functional human being, you had better know something about what keeps you alive. What are the systems and processes that sustain me? What nourishes my life? What gives me my wildness, my health, and my vitality?

In our original hunter-gatherer world of the Paleolithic era, there was never much confusion about any of this. People were fully immersed in habitat and constantly reminded of life-supporting realities. But today, the artificial world lulls us into ignorance and denial with comforting layers of insulation and convenience. In this kind of environment, it’s easy to forget the fundamentals.

Consequently, many people in the modern world are living in a profound state of ignorance. Many of us have no real idea where our food comes from, and with our senses constantly bombarded by digital stimulation, distraction has become the default state for much of humanity. Literally and psycho-spiritually, most of us are completely out of touch with what keeps us alive.

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to understand the basics. Modern science, coupled with indigenous understanding, shows us three distinct circles of life support that surround the human body: habitat, people, and story—especially the cultural narratives that give our lives meaning and direction. From a biological and psycho-social point of view, these three circles make sense—and in a fundamental way, they’re all that humans really need.