Here’s a random thought I had as you talked about potatoes being produced to be fries, or trees grown for lumber… I wonder if humans have deliberately diminished some spiritual essence of these plants so we feel fine unconsciously consuming them? I know for me, I don’t think twice about buying local pine lumber cuz I know those trees would have just died from beetles anyway, whereas if lumber came from old growth trees, I’d have to question every project and whether it was worth it.
I know that’s pretty random and probably the “spiritual diminishment” is just the byproduct of industry, but I do wonder if it could be deliberate. If we humans don’t feel any spiritual connection to what we consume, then we are bound to consume more. Maybe change can start by admiring every pine 2x4 or savoring every single French fry.
Yes! I often wonder similarly. I think “the other” is this diminishment. I think another way of achieving this is to laser focus on only a few particulars, like soil health or biodiversity or carbon or nutrients…if those are the only particulars we consider or talk about, this animacy takes second chair or, worse yet, no chair at all
Good stuff!
Here’s a random thought I had as you talked about potatoes being produced to be fries, or trees grown for lumber… I wonder if humans have deliberately diminished some spiritual essence of these plants so we feel fine unconsciously consuming them? I know for me, I don’t think twice about buying local pine lumber cuz I know those trees would have just died from beetles anyway, whereas if lumber came from old growth trees, I’d have to question every project and whether it was worth it.
I know that’s pretty random and probably the “spiritual diminishment” is just the byproduct of industry, but I do wonder if it could be deliberate. If we humans don’t feel any spiritual connection to what we consume, then we are bound to consume more. Maybe change can start by admiring every pine 2x4 or savoring every single French fry.
Yes! I often wonder similarly. I think “the other” is this diminishment. I think another way of achieving this is to laser focus on only a few particulars, like soil health or biodiversity or carbon or nutrients…if those are the only particulars we consider or talk about, this animacy takes second chair or, worse yet, no chair at all
This is a great one. Really appreciated the friendly, yet serious, tone throughout. Less fries, more potato.