#looseanimals

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford

to let alone.                      -HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Can we relearn the lessons of stewardship from those who came before us? Clearly, we have the ability, but, presently, we lack the will. Just as endangered creatures like the Humpback Whale make remarkable comebacks from the brink of extinction, there are hundreds of species that disappear quietly without any apparent regard for their beauty or worth. The father of modern-day conservationists, Aldo Leopold wrote, “When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” Our “civilized” world needs to regain the vision to coexist with the natural world. That would mean adopting an older and wiser, more profound way of thinking.

Our Mother, the Earth, weaves for us a bright garment with the white light of morning and the red light of evening. The fringes are the falling rain and the border is the standing rainbow.

Our Mother, weaves us a garment of brightness so that we may walk fittingly where the birds sing.                --Based on Pueblo Song

Native American artwork suggests a large spiritual universe that gives meaning to ordinary life. One of the great Navajo arts is blanket making. The Navajo believe that human beings should not dominate the earth, they must achieve balance by living in harmony with their surroundings. The desert tortoise lives in extreme conditions in southwest North America. The number of desert tortoises has decreased by as much as 90% due primarily to human activity.

White crane dancing slow

great wings lift gently skyward 

and float back to earth.

A lovely young girl

an answer to a prayer

bears a priceless gift.

Weaver’s gentle touch

changes her feathers to silk

outshining the moon.

Price of unmasking 

the child again becomes crane, 

flying to heaven.

-Haiku based on Japanese folk tale “The Crane Wife”

The forests are alive. The knowledge is saved for you who have lost the understanding.    -BASED ON THE STATEMENTS OF A KAYAPO ELDER

To many forest dwelling peoples, the rain forest is a sacred place. Over centuries, they have acquired valuable knowledge which allows them to live in harmony with their environment. The brightly colored skin of a Poison-Arrow Frog signals to others that its coat is deadly poisonous. One small frog can supply enough toxin for 50 blowgun darts or poison-tipped arrows. A hunter will rub his darts on the skin of a frog to transfer the toxic secretions to weapons which will be used to gather birds and animals for food. Afterwards the frog can be released into the jungle where it can create new poison.