Human Beings and Nature

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Humans are influenced by the natural cycles

I recently saw a Facebook post that drew parallels between human experience and nature. It did so through a series of AI generated images. The comparisons included images of a kidney and a kidney bean or a tomato and the human heart as well as a peacock feather and the human eye. It was an interesting array of pictures.

What struck me most was the implication that human beings are not part of nature. We have created a separation between the human experience and the natural world that does not exist. Despite our concept that nature is plants and animals, weather, land, and bodies of water, humans are also an inherent part of nature. We have divorced ourselves from nature through technology. Whether the technology of the past such as uses animals to assist us — horses plowing, or dogs herding and guarding all the way to space stations, we see this as making us separate.

As an acupuncturist, I see the devastation of this separation. People think they are immune from the need for sleep and good nutrition. Many patients come in wondering why they are more tired in the winter. We learn from what is happening in the world around us. Winter is a time of cold and darkness, teaching us that it is a time of going inward and resting. However, we believe that we should continue our long days of work and other activities as if our bodies are not attuned to the season.

Human development was part of nature until relatively recently in the grand scheme of time. We are influenced by the world around us, seasons and weather impact us. East Asian medicine was built on the concepts of the seasons and our dependence on them. Once, before the advent of the Industrial Revolution we lived more in harmony with nature. Our lives were driven by how the seasons impacted our routine. Planting was done at certain times of the year, harvesting at a different time.

Only by paying attention to our bodies can we avoid many of the ills that plague the modern human experience. Are you aware when you’re tired or hungry? Do you listen when your body tells you to rest or eat? Is accepting that we are part of nature too high a price to pay for better health and potential longevity?

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By Hunter Thompson • 18 Oct, 2023

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” —Lao Tzu It is often said that the only constant in life is change. In my nearly seven decades on this earth, I can attest that changes come whether we’re prepared or not. One of the most frustrating aspects of change is that most of the time we aren’t in charge of where, when, or how it happens. Of course, there are changes that we initiate. Even those don’t always go off without a hitch. Taking the time to look at the changes that are occurring with fresh eyes can make a huge difference in how we relate to that change. The lens through which we are looking at any given point in time determines what we see. Everything we see is interpreted through our past experiences, expectations, and desires. If we remember the story of the Taoist farmer it can assist in handling the events of our lives, welcome or not. It is only in hindsight that we can be aware of the real impact of any change that had occurred. Think about the fish surrounded by water, it is to some extent oblivious to the water because it is immersed in it. Likewise, when we are in the midst of change, we often can’t see beyond the immediate situation. When we take a step back and allow ourselves to look at the big picture, it often looks much different. One of my teachers in acupuncture school, John Sullivan, told us that there are two ways of looking at a situation, small mind or large mind. Small mind looks at the world through a narrow lens and is unwilling or unable to see beyond that lens. Large mind allows for more of a vista view, thereby providing a sense of the greater possibilities and how the situation impacts us and others. As Dr. Sullivan would repeat to us, “Choose Large Mind.” Is there a situation in your life now that large mind would benefit? If so, how will you apply this philosophy to it? What would be different if you did?