106. Earth Day with Derrick Jensen: on Ecological Grief and Reconnecting with Our Wild Nature

This Earth Day, I’d like to honor the importance of our connection to the natural world by welcoming the insightful Derrick Jensen, an author and environmental activist whose work has profoundly influenced me from an early age. We explore the stark contrast between our knowledge of commercial jingles and movie stars versus our understanding of the stars in the sky and the edible plants in our own backyards. How has our relationship with nature changed so drastically over the centuries? And what does this mean for our souls and our future?

Derrick paints a vivid picture of a world teeming with life, a stark contrast to the ecological devastation we witness today. Can we truly comprehend the rapid pace of loss that's occurring right before our eyes? We discuss the concept of addiction, not just in terms of substances, but in how we've become enslaved to technology and convenience. What are the implications of this enslavement for our planet and our very humanity?

Join us as we grapple with these questions and consider the idea of communal decision-making. Could it be the key to balancing innovation with tradition, action with contemplation? And what might we learn from the Okanagan decision-making process that honors the perspectives of youth, elders, mothers, and fathers? Tune in to find out how we might navigate the complex relationship between our technological advancements and the natural world we seem to be drifting away from.

Hailed as the philosopher poet of the environmental movement, Derrick Jensen is author of twenty-five books, including The Myth of Human Supremacy, Endgame and A Language Older Than Words. He holds a degree in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, a degree in mineral engineering physics from the Colorado School of Mines, and has taught at Eastern Washington University and Pelican Bay State Prison. He has packed university auditoriums, conferences, and bookstores across the nation, stirring them with revolutionary spirit.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• A Language Older Than Words by Derrick Jensen

All books mentioned on this podcast can be found at sometherapist.com/bookshop or by following the Amazon affiliate links provided here. Thank you for purchases that support the show!

00:00 Start

[00:02:37] The world we've forgotten.

[00:05:07] Unimaginable abundance of wildlife.

[00:08:10] Love story with the land.

[00:14:27] Decline of Monarch Butterflies.

[00:17:40] Appreciating the stars at night.

[00:23:31] Nostalgia and envy.

[00:24:55] Envy for lost species.

[00:29:25] Communal decision making.

[00:34:27] Technologies shaping social structures.

[00:40:35] Trauma and warfare's impact.

[00:43:28] Deal making with technology.

[00:45:11] Addiction and enslavement concept

[00:50:49] Animistic view of the universe.

[00:53:30] The importance of perspective.

[00:57:33] Racially discriminatory practices in healthcare.

[01:04:25] Forgotten skills and cultural dynamics.

[01:06:12] Connection to Earth through meditation.

[01:10:26] Ecological grief.

[01:14:18] The lost ecstasy experience.

[01:20:28] The source of artistic inspiration.

[01:25:17] Human connection through traditions.

[01:26:53] The power of singing together.

[01:30:53] Nature observation in rainforest.

[01:34:41] The importance of boredom.

[01:39:22] Making music in nature.

[01:42:20] Greeting nature in new places.

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SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.

MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Hal...