Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Op-Ed: Author of ‘Wild Soul’ talks about a need to plug into nature (Includes interview)

This past March 5, dozens gathered at Readers Books to listen to author, lecturer Mary Reynolds Thompson. Her latest book, “Reclaiming The Wild Soul – How The Earth’s Landscapes Restore Us to Wholeness,” talks about the dire need for humanity to “unplug from technology” and take time to tune into the natural world.

“We need to incorporate nature more into our daily lives and find constructive ways to put nature first—our relationship with the Earth is primary,” she said. Thompson talked with this reporter after the gathering at Readers Books and wanted to re-emphasize her message. “I see a direct correlation between humankind’s control and domination of the earth and the suffering that has resulted. ‘The wild’ is part of nature, it is part of us and all of creation. To subdue it or damage it in harmful ways actually harms us humans. People need to really understand this,” she said.

Originally from the United Kingdom, she was charmed and delighted by the United States. But it was California, and the San Francisco Bay Area that she decided to make her home. She does make trips “across the big pond” as they say. But there is something special she sees and experiences here in California, specifically in Marin where she now lives. She explained some of her journey to this current point.

A rare but beautiful site of wild California Poppies growing freely on Mt. Burdell  near Novato in M...

A rare but beautiful site of wild California Poppies growing freely on Mt. Burdell, near Novato in Marin County.
Courtesy of Mary Reynolds Thompson


“I was up on the Marin headlands above Tennessee Valley Beach on a stormy day and I had this moment. It was 1983 she said and looking out at the ocean, I had a sense of a unity, as if I was completely at one with nature,” said Thompson. “It was this profound moment and even though I said to myself I would hold on to it, when I got back to my regular routine, I forgot about it,”

It was almost 20 years later, studying as a certified poetry facilitator, and inspired by nature poets like Joy Harjo, William Stafford, Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver, that she reconnected with the memory of that moment back in 1983.

“I became conscious of how when we look at the natural world, we are returned to the world of our inner nature; this is what the nature poetry does and what happens when we spend time outdoors,” Thompson said. “Connecting with the natural world can be a challenge for modern high tech people, but nature is about re-energizing ourselves.”

“I kept listening more and more to the natural world, she said. And, I discovered the earth speaks to us. It might begin with a feeling but then it presents an image and then it lets us articulate that feeling with words as we begin to integrate earth’s wisdom. The earth is telling us a story, a history, a reality that is here now.”

Carole Peccorini has been conducting transformational meetings and ‘conversations that matter’ for more than 10 years. “I use much of what Mary talks about in her ‘Wild Soul’ book in my gatherings.” Peccorini was referred to Thompson’s work by local writer and realtor Catherine Sevenau. “I trusted Catherine, she said. And, when I started reading the book, I knew right away that Mary’s book would be the one I would use. What I love most about Mary’s ‘Wild Soul’ book is the reflection, awareness and introspection.” Yet as Peccorini noted, “it’s important not to get stuck in the abstract. Much of what Mary talks about goes beyond what is in the head.”

“There is a tangible reality to the five landscapes of the earth that Mary writes about,” said Peccorini. “Mary does a great job at sharing the metaphors of these landscapes and helping us to find aspects of them within ourselves,” she added. “When Mary says, ‘to hear the stars singing’ that is a completely different approach, looking at the world as a whole where all parts are one together.”

Mary Reynolds Thompson  read portions from her book at Reader s Books in Sonoma this past March 5. S...

Mary Reynolds Thompson, read portions from her book at Reader’s Books in Sonoma this past March 5. She recognizes how all things in nature are connected and humanity must acknowledge that if it is to survive to the next century or millenium.
Courtesy of Mary Reynolds Thompson


Peccorini explained that in her work she deals with mostly professional women. “For over a decade, I have been working with women who have careers and make money, all the things that men do. But they are not happy.” This is the situation for women over 50. “They look back and they wonder what is life really about?” “Is this it?”

Peccorini believes the reason why a lot of professional/successful women are not happy is because “the rules are such that the innate wisdom and true power is devalued. All the things that give people their uniqueness as humans, especially women is not valued or truly understood in the corporate world.”

Sevenau agrees as she has recently published a book called “From Behind These Doors.” The experience of being able to express her deepest feelings and connect to her past has given her an empowerment she never thought she could have. Sevenau contacted this reporter to explain how much Thompson’s book inspired her. Because she has connected, her new work has begun. It was something totally unexpected and has taken her far beyond what a career in real estate as a top producer had done.

When focusing on nature and the tremendous power it has all on its own, the result can be more than profound as Thompson described, it can be life-altering. “When taking time to reconnect with nature and to recognize our feelings our health begins to return and compassion is able to empower us,” said Peccorini.

“The problem with the ‘power-man’ role is there is no room for compassion. Power strictly from that sense has no compassion, it can’t empathize,” Peccorini said. Focusing on nature and listening to it, experiencing it restores health and helps us humans to find the true power within.”

Thompson believes “technology is not the solution, we must shift our consciousness.” She enjoyed meeting everyone at the gathering at Readers. And while the later news from owner Andy Weinberger that close to 30 copies of her book got sold that night, what made Thompson happiest was that so many showed up to listen. “People are interested in what’s going on with the earth.”

Her thoughts about wild soul and mother earth have resonated with many who read Thompson’s regular newsletters. One such person is David Gray, who has been receiving Thompson’s newsletters for years. “ It is important that the talk about the damage we are doing to earth goes beyond just ranting,” he says. “I have been following Mary for a while. She uses allegory, metaphor, and some would probably say anthropomorphism, in her work to try and convey how much we have in common with the rest of creation.”

“And how vital the rest of creation is to us all, he said. Mary, I think, is trying to get us to see how much of the rest of creation constitutes our human make up. And she allows others to do their own verification of this by encouraging them to explore for themselves via writing, poetry, and journal-keeping in the workshops she offers.”

Appreciative of people’s interest and support, Thompson wanted to clarify, as she said, “I am uncomfortable with that word anthropomorphism. What I don’t like about it is, that I think the landscapes I describe in my book, such as deserts, forest, oceans and river, mountains, and grasslands; these help to mirror, through metaphor, aspects of our own nature. Slightly different than believing that when a dog looks at you that he feels the same kind of love as a human.” That is why Thompson avoids using that term and doesn’t like it. But she also understands people are going to have differences of opinion about the concepts she shares with her audiences.

Published by Whitle Cloud Press  Mary Reynolds Thompson s book is working to raise the consciousness...

Published by Whitle Cloud Press, Mary Reynolds Thompson’s book is working to raise the consciousness of the people to recognize that without nature humanity can not survive.
Courtesy of Mary Reynolds Thompson


And Gray understands that. Yet as he said with regards to Thompson’s overall philosophy and environmental point of view, he believes it to be simple. Yet, very powerful. It is all about a shift in consciousness. “Some might say this is a subtle difference. But, I think it is actually significant, said Gray. We start being a little less arrogant and a little more humble and grateful when we see our connectedness to each other and to our surroundings.”
“And Mary, is excellent at demonstrating how to get the distinction. Her work is experiential and transformational. She is not simply loading us up on more information. Knowledge hasn’t saved us from ourselves, so far. But knowing, that’s a big difference,” Gray said.

What is really ironic about the way things are these days, is that, as Thompson pointed out, “people today are so wired with technology. So, that the new luxury is to be able to afford to go somewhere with no Internet.” Thompson said she hopes as the consciousness keeps moving and rising more and more people will come to an important realization. “Our life on this planet is not about stuff. Our primal connection is with earth.”

Published by White Cloud Press, “Reclaiming the Wild Soul: How Earth’s Landscapes Restore Us to Wholeness” is now available. For more information about the book and about author/poet Mary Reynolds Thompson visit her web page. Or see her page on Facebook.

Written By

You may also like:

World

Calling for urgent action is the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Business

The cathedral is on track to reopen on December 8 - Copyright AFP Ludovic MARINParis’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, ravaged by fire in 2019, is on...

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal infers that some workers might be falling out of the job market altogether.