from the ground up

The idea of nested systems has been particularly resonant in the recent developments of my understanding of the universe. Through discussions and readings in and out of class, I have begun to think of mass and energy existing in layers. From the infinitely large universe to the infinitely small sub-atomic particles, each layer seems simultaneously connected and distinct.

It is through this lens that I have been gradually adapting my view of the world around me. From my standpoint I am only exposed to a limited range of the infinite, able to comprehend only a fraction of the layers in which I reside. Further, within the scope of my awareness, there is but a fragment of reality where I might exhibit influence.

From my minute perspective of this existence, I have come to sense a building tension within the systems we are a part of. Holmgren describes our age as defined by uncertainty. In response to the apparent crisis that overshadows our lives, I have been led to wonder what choices might we make as individuals to cultivate balance and peace with the fragment of influence we may have.

In the introduction to Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability, Holmgren gracefully presents permaculture design as an integrated approach to human life on this planet that asks us to consider all life in our choices. Permaculture, in many ways, calls us not only to pause and consider this, but also to apply our deductions in humility and wonder. This praxis, however, would not seem complete unless it permeates all the layers we have access to.

As we are propelled by the momentum built over centuries toward the finite capacity of our planet, many facets of our growing predicament seem far beyond the scope of our choices as individuals. But to claim ownership of our choices

“Is not to deny the inequities and oppressions that exist and that need to be addressed within our societies, but rather to acknowledge that each of these can be traced to collective and individual patterns of behavior, which if not changed will continue to wreak havoc with our precious planet, our societies and our individual wellbeing” (Hill qtd in Holmgren, xxii).

In this sense, I think we might subvert the impending doom upon us if we were to adapt our culture to promote personal responsibility to the extent of its reach (Holmgren, 6) within a framework that accepts all life forms as “valid parts of the living earth with intrinsic value” (Holmgren, 5).

As each moment offers the opportunity to forge new patterns of behavior, to exercise our sliver influence conscientiously, I believe that we might honor life’s intrinsic value more fully and claim considerate responsibility if we rooted these patterns in a foundation of love. M. Scott Peck describes this practice, as “the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth” (qtd in Hooks, 4). By choosing to engage with Life as agents of love, it seems that we can embody its transformative power to heal and are reconnected to the wholeness of which we are a part.

Perhaps this foundation of love will afford us the grace we need to survive the decent.