Why all the focus on the science of relationship
and connection? Because the research tells us we are “wired for”
connection, compassion, communication, and cooperation. In fact, all of life
appears to be wired for connection even across species. Research into the
intricacy of biological communication mechanisms across multiple disciplines is
showing that all life has mechanisms for communication and connecting and the mechanisms are remarkably similar across very different species. Animal
behaviorists have shown that mammals, insects and reptiles all have similar
mechanisms for communication, with many able to communicate across species: dogs
have been shown to understand complex human language concepts. Baboons can learn
words. Chimpanzees, our
closest relatives, learn to use sign
language to communicate with
humans.
Mycellium, the intricate root system of fungi
that runs throughout the earth’s surface, communicates using many of the same
neurons that are found in the human nervous system. Scientific American recently reported that for all intents and purposes, plants feel,
see, smell, hear, and remember; they too are wired for connection and communication.
Scientist Daniel Chamovitz
writes, “If a maple tree is attacked by bugs, it releases a pheromone
into the air that is picked up by the neighboring trees. This induces the
receiving trees to start making chemicals that will help it fight off the
impending bug attack. So on the face of it, this is definitely communication.”
The Australian Aborigines, Shamanic cultures, and
many indigenous peoples form deep connection with all of life that includes
cross-species communication. Lynne McTaggart, the award-winning author of The
Bond, The Field and The Intention Experiment, discusses the Andaman
tribes who escaped the Tsunami using their intuitive relationship with nature.
In this interview with Nicholas
Beecroft, McTaggart advises us to move towards a more connected, conscious,
intentional, holistic, relational way of being with all of life.
My thought is that when we look out of the lens of our egoic mind all we can see us the body and ego but when we step back and look at our part in a bigger picture we see that perhaps, like the tiny cell or the tinier atom, we are just part of something bigger and then that bigger thing is part of something bigger--so the idea is just to shift our focus to what we're part of and how we function together as a bigger unit that to look at our individual function and lives. This can be applying to our work culture, our neighborhood, our family, our ecosystem, etc.--we have a choice as to the lens we look out of and this affects our choices!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you describe stepping back and looking at a bigger picture. That simple reframe is so important and is relatively easy for us to train ourselves to do. Yes, we do have a choice about lens. Thanks for the comment!
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