Interdependence Day

I was born into a culture of individualism, but I come from a culture of collectivism. All indigenous societies understand that we are inextricably connected, only colonization has us believing we are somehow separate from each other. There is no independence that I celebrate today…instead I cherish my interdependence with all life.

A lot of the problems we struggle with as a society including war, illness, relationship issues, and religious and political divisions are the result of a violent collective human ego. If only we could accept the harm we have done to each other, and love every member of our human and non-human family, can we move into a state of higher consciousness that all other beings have already achieved.

We say we are the most intelligent species, yet due to our complexity I believe we are actually far behind in terms of our self-actualization. Although we have the capacity to create more than other animals, we lack the humility to act upon the fact that our existence is predicated on the rest of nature, including the bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and natural elements that we are made of. By destroying nature, we continue to destroy ourselves because we cannot be at peace. Always needing more and more toys, more and more validation. This will lead to our self-destruction which nature would be forced to accept.

Flowers pictured: Iceland poppy, wildflowers, rose feathers poppy, zeolights calendula, chocolate cherry sunflower, false spirea, red poppy, Swan’s Down poppy, leda ageratum, opium