ReGeneration Rising S2E12: Re-enchanting the Earth with David Abram
Sep 13, 2024
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David Abram, a cultural ecologist and the creative director of the Alliance for Wild Ethics, dives deep into the connection between perception and the natural world. He shares insights on how sensory experiences shape our bond with Earth, promoting language that reflects our relationship with nature. Abram reflects on his journey as a modern-day magician and the lessons learned from traditional cultures. He emphasizes the significance of storytelling, oral culture, and movement as crucial elements in reconnecting humanity with the sentient Earth.
Sensory perception and language significantly shape how individuals connect with the natural world, influencing their environmental engagement positively or negatively.
Rejuvenating oral culture and local storytelling fosters community ties and deepens appreciation for local ecosystems, nurturing a more profound bond with nature.
Deep dives
The Ecology of Perception and Language
The relationship between sensory perception and language plays a crucial role in how individuals interact with the environment. Sensory experiences, such as sight, sound, and touch, connect human beings to the natural world, emphasizing the importance of truly engaging with the earthly surroundings. Conversely, language can often inhibit this connection, as conventional modes of speech may obscure the inherent relationships one has with nature. By exploring alternative ways of speaking, it is possible to foster a deeper appreciation for the sentient qualities of the earth and its myriad life forms.
The Framework of Animism and Interconnectedness
The exploration of traditional animistic practices reveals a worldview in which all elements of nature are considered alive and sentient. Engaging with the beliefs of traditional magicians and healers, it becomes apparent that the role of these figures is to mediate between humanity and the broader community of non-human beings, including animals, plants, and natural features like mountains and rivers. This holistic perception encourages a reciprocal relationship with the environment, emphasizing the need to respect and honor the intrinsic value of all life. By reclaiming this interconnectedness, people can find ways to restore balance in their relationships with nature and themselves.
The Role of Language in Environmental Awareness
Language has a profound influence on how individuals perceive and interact with the world, both enhancing and constraining their sensory experiences. This recognition leads to a growing awareness that much of contemporary language disconnects people from experiencing the natural environment as a living entity. To navigate this disconnection, there is a call to adopt more mindful ways of speaking that acknowledge the voices of the natural world. By doing so, humanity can cultivate a deeper connection to its surroundings, fostering a sense of belonging and stewardship.
Towards an Oral Culture and Local Storytelling
Rejuvenating oral culture and local storytelling is vital for reconnecting people to their environment and the animate world around them. By sharing stories about specific places, people can honor and nurture their local ecosystems, cultivating a sense of community and belonging. This can be achieved by engaging in spontaneous storytelling and encouraging face-to-face interactions that celebrate the natural world. Such practices not only honor the relationship between humans and nature but also strengthen the wisdom and traditions that bind communities together.
In this episode, Daniel and Philipa discuss perception and language in a more-than-human world with cultural ecologist, Dr David Abram.
David Abram is a cultural ecologist, geophilosopher, and the founder and creative director of the Alliance for Wild Ethics (AWE). His books include Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology and The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World. David is the recipient of various fellowships and awards, including the international Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction, David recently held the international Arne Naess Chair in Global Justice and Ecology at the University of Oslo in Norway.
Reduced Fellowship offer:In celebration of the launch of Regeneration Rising, we're offering a special promotion for listeners to join our global community of RSA Fellows. Our Fellowship is a network of over 31,000 innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs committed to finding better ways of thinking, acting, and delivering change. To receive a 25% discount off your first year of membership and waived registration fee, visit thersa.org and use the discount code RSAPOD on your application form. Note, cannot be used in conjunction with other discount offers, such as Youth Fellowship. For more information email fellowship@rsa.org.uk.
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