Rewilding Our Minds

Fall is nearing, and as the leaves of trees begin to exhibit a brilliant array of colors and the weather begins to cool, mindfully observing nature during this time of change can help us to realize the beauty of the world. By focusing our attention on nature, we become more cognisant of its importance. We become more aware that we would not be able to enjoy the beauty of life without the natural environments of the Earth.

Throughout human history, certain civilizations have demonstrated a reverence for natural environments. Their relationship with the Earth was one of reciprocity. The Mesopotamians, Native Americans, Egyptians, Incas, and ancient Chinese demonstrated a respect for the Earth by timing crop harvests with environmental events (such as floods) and climatic cycles; by telling spiritual stories depicting elements of nature (animals, plants, the sun, etc.) as divine entities; and by developing religious philosophies of interconnectedness such as Yin and Yang.

In a context of modern neoliberal capitalism, we have experienced a disconnection from the natural environments that sustain us. Capitalistic societies foster an exploitative relationship with the Earth. Utilizing a system that depletes the Earth of finite natural resources and produces unusable waste is characteristic of powerful modern economies. The distance that exists between areas of production and places where consumers buy products also exacerbates a growing alienation from nature. The environmental destruction that is wrought to make products is not clearly visible to the eyes of consumers, producing an “out of sight, out of mind” effect. Establishing a healthy relationship with nature will help to attenuate the growing alienation that we are experiencing in a consumption-based economy.

The first step toward rewilding our minds is to spend more time in nature. There are numerous scientifically-proven health benefits that result from being outdoors. Physical inactivity has been associated with higher rates of mental disorders, obesity, and chronic diseases such as type II diabetes. Spending time outdoors lowers blood pressure and has been associated with a healthier immune system. When people move their bodies more often and spend more time outdoors, their risk of chronic health conditions lowers.

To rewild our minds, a paradigm shift must occur. Put simply, we must transcend the idea of being an individual self and become aware of the interconnectedness of all that is. Overcoming the notion of self involves acceptance of interconnectedness, relinquishing an intrinsic focus on oneself, and expanding our awareness to all that is. The biological processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration that make the survival of organisms possible elucidate the interdependence of the universe. We are connected with the natural environment and we will never be separate from it. Self transcendence is when we realize that being interconnected means that we and the natural world are not separate, but one. Research has also indicated that cultivating a sense of interconnectedness with the natural world is linked with greater environmental stewardship and selfless action. Thus, rethinking what has been described as the “cult of individualism” will be necessary as we combat environmental degradation. We must move beyond ourselves, and direct our focus outwards to the beauty of the world to truly rewild our minds.