An Ode To Imagination

I never completely subscribed to the popular notion in the western developed world that only what we can percieve with our physical senses is real. I grew up n the Philippines. It is still customary there, even for city dwelers, to ask for permission from Nature Spirits, if one is "intruding" into an unfamiliar terrain. We ask for permission before cutting flowers or picking fruits or anything such as a piece of stone or wood along the way. And we give thanks to the spirits for allowing us. We explain that we intend to do no harm. And if we unintentionally do, we ask for their understanding and forgiveness. I still do this often. Although now I "understand" that there are such phenomena as apophenia and pareidolia, I still consider this as a futile attempt to label something far beyond our common manner of comprehension. I am convinced that if we allow ourselves to listen, not with our ears, to look, not with our eyes, to hear, not with our ears, we will be able to connect to a far greater reality than we can imagine. Yes, imagination is a wonderful tool. Afterall, the amazing thoughts that we picked up from our minds have led to the creation of so many material things. However, as we have already experienced, not all of our creations are always for our good. In fact, a lot of what we have produced are wreaking havoc to our own habitat. Maybe not immediately, but we know that in the long run, if we do not change our ways, there may be no place for us in the future. Being in harmony with nature is not just using our imaginations. The mystics and the yogis have always been telling us that there is another way. But the modern world, mis-led by our temporary sense of control and affluence, have been arrogantly dismissing such wisdom as primitive or non-scientific. It is good that now, due to additional findings especially in neuroscience, more people are becoming more receptive to the possibility of other types of realities.

Thanks for sharing the Philippine wisdom. I sure like it and agree with it. The famous psychiatrist Carl Jung said, "It is almost an absurd prejudice to suppose that existence can only be physical."

YES- let us ask permission from all the spirits of nature before we enter in to any more bad choices for this planet-