Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – The Way of the Wild
Posted By Randy on July 18, 2012
“No organism can afford to be conscious of matters with which it could deal at unconscious levels.” ~ Gregory Bateson – Steps to an Ecology of Mind
Every living thing in Nature, flora or fauna, has a Way that defines its ideal state of being. That balanced equation of form and function forged by generations of evolution against the anvil of environmental reality. This ideal state of being is, for each species, its own unique expression of the greater, all encompassing Way – the Way of the Wild – the Way from which all others spring.
The Way of the Wild deals with Life, Death, who gets each, and when. For successful organisms, embracing this Way is not a choice, and of all things on the Earth, only one kind flirts with living as though this were not so – Man. For the most part, human society does not embrace Wild in its Natural sense, viewing it instead as representing all that is wanton, dangerous, and out of control. An unpredictably unacceptable condition fit only to be tamed or eradicated for the greater; i. e., human; good. Down that path lies a disconnection wrought by an artificially orchestrated thing called “civilization”, built on a foundation of conflict with the Way of the Wild. This will one day resolve itself, one way or another, and of that resolution only one thing can be said with certainty – the Way of the Wild will prevail, as it always has and always will.
And does this mean the end of all Mankind? I sincerely doubt it, because a state of balance and harmony is not found by living in a continuous state of discord with Nature. In our work with troubled Dogs, Mrs. LFM and I must seek to restore and cultivate the Way of the Wild as it sincerely expresses itself in that so familiar and yet so misunderstood of animals. Wild is not the same as unpredictable or dangerous. Far from it. Wild is purity of spirit and perfection of action, in harmony with the Nature of things, and the nature of every thing, free from conscious thought and attendant paralyzing indecision. This is not to imply that all in Dogs and Men is or should be a matter of instinct. Rather we need Nature to nurture as training proceeds. Wild is a return to first principles from which training can begin on a foundation that is known and understood.
The Way of the Wild, then, is the ultimate in predictability. If the Way of the Wild is suppressed, denied, or otherwise forced into hiding, trouble follows. That too is predictable. And thus endeth this Wednesday’s lesson.
Thanks for the refreshing, thought-provoking article, Randy! I enjoyed it a lot.
I’m glad you did Laurie. Having read this week’s “Natural Healing Talk Newsletter”, and your comments on the subject of conflict, I would very much enjoy a discussion with you on the subject, in all its applications to Living in the world. Some day soon!
[…] Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – The Way of the Wild […]
[…] my 18 July 2012 article, Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – The Way of the Wild, I said, in part: Every living thing in Nature, flora or fauna, has a Way that defines its ideal […]
[…] “The Way of the Wild, then, is the ultimate in predictability. If the Way of the Wild is suppressed, denied, or otherwise forced into hiding, trouble follows. That too is predictable….” ~ Worldly Wisdom Wednesday ~ The Way of the Wild […]
[…] kids, Dogs, or any other creature in Nature, this is not in accordance with the Way of the Wild, nor with any definition of morality we want anything to do with beyond rooting it out and tearing […]
[…] The Way of the Wild is that point of convergence for the Ways of all things. With the exception of Man, all Nature’s creatures exist in oneness with the Way of the Wild as it is meant to express itself through their kind. For them, no road to understanding, as we would define it, is necessary. Only Man can live out an entire lifetime in blissful ignorance, or even in willful refusal, of the Way of the Wild as it is meant to express itself in human endeavour, but this is a temporary thing for it is only made possible through reliance on potentially transient conditions and influences that lie outside yourself. […]
[…] … Wild is not the same as unpredictable or dangerous. Far from it. Wild is purity of spirit and perfection of action, in harmony with the Nature of things, and the nature of every thing, free from conscious thought and attendant paralyzing indecision ….” ~ Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – The Way of the Wild […]