Reflection of Discussion 4/18 - Trey Walton

 Dr. Redick spoke of a hole encountered on a hike in a trail.  I loved the thought that the hole was almost cleansing both literally and metaphorically.  It reminded me a lot of forest bathing and how nature has the ability to practically baptize you. 

"even seeds and water bodies have souls" - Such an interesting quote.  

"Needing to eat and drink as bondage.  I wanted to be free" 

I loved the section where a vison was held about the body decomposing into the soil.  This really stuck with me as it was a reminder that even though we are humans and we are at the tippy top of the food chain and live in towering skyscrapers, we are made up of the same compounds as water, animals, and even the soil.  We will eventually go back to the food cycle when we are decomposed in the soil.  Broken down by fungi and tiny animals.  Fertilizing the soil and starting the whole cycle again.  It's truly fascinating to think about.  

Humans no longer live "water in water".  Humans drive for that intimacy.  We have become alienated and animals are seen as objects.  Meanwhile the snake sees a mouse its eating as a fellow.  I wonder how this came to the case evolutionary that is.  Like how did humans get to this point where we are almost an entirely different kingdom.  Do we see other humans as fellows?  Is this the root problem with racism.  We see the "undesirable" race as "an object not a fellow?"  I think this could definitely y be the case if we look at the way different racial groups treat each other.  It's like they aren't even human to the ones enslaving.  

"death even comes to the bear" - I loved this quote and the pictures showed.  " Death stands before me and brings me to an ultimate halting" 

" death brings be fellowship to all creatures" - This directly mirrors the point I had before with the vison of being eaten by the forest.  Death is the ultimate equalizer.  Everyone will die at some point.  No matter if your a house fly or a Galapagos tortoise , rick or poor, black or white.  We will all become like the bear skull in the ground or the half eaten baby deer. 


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