Re+Centering Earth

Within the Abrahamic Religions some people are in the year 1447. Some people are in the year 2025. Some people are in the year 5785.

But if it’s known Earth is around 4.563 billion years old, then aren’t we in something closer to the year 4,563,918,725?

Now that's an astronomically big number which I still have a hard time wrapping my head around. Let's put it in perspective.

If Earth’s history were scaled down to one year, single celled life appeared in the year 1 billion, sometime in March.

Humans appeared at 11 PM on December 31. 1 hour before midnight.

Recorded human history starts at 11:58 PM. 2 minutes before midnight.

Premise : Story :: Foundation : Building

The premise to a story is like the foundation to a building. It dictates what kind of structure can be built and the, ahem, stories it can support.

So what happens when I revise the premise to THE foundational story of Western Judeo-Christian society?

Changing what happens 'in the beginning' transformed more than just my worldview. It transformed my selves.

In "The" Beginning...

When 'God' speaks to humans, it was not traditionally received as a suggestion. It was not an polite invitation. It was not a friendly request. When 'God' spoke, it was a command.

"Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over every living thing in the air, every living thing in the sea, and every living thing that moves upon the earth."

- Genesis 1:28

I've heard an interpretation suggesting this passage is about self control. Control over everything in the air is a metaphor for controlling one's thoughts. Control over everything in the seas is a metaphor for controlling one’s emotions. Control over everything in the earth is a metaphor for the body, controlling one’s actions. Filling it with spirit. Multiplying the spirit within.

Plausible. Poetic. But that's not how it’s largely interpreted, currently nor historically. The vast majority of people, now and traditionally, read and interpret the Bible literally. And so the first words 'God' spoke to humans in the bible, ie the first commandment, explicitly tells humans, in order to be worthy? Conquer and take control over the world. “subdue it; and have dominion over…”

A premise which has been passed on to present day. Cue musical interlude ... 'Eeeve-ryyy bo-dyyy waants to ruule thee wooooorld!'

Now how might the passage read when 'everybody loves to love the world'? Where 'God' explicitly affirms humans are perfect and complete as they nurture and are connected with the Earth?

"You are fulfilled and unified, feeling the Earth and sustaining her; and being in communion with every living being in the air, every living being in the sea, and every being thing that lives throughout the Earth."

- ReGenIsis 1.28

‘fill the earth’ ...overpopulation much? Urban development? Suburban sprawl? Manifest Destiny? Notice 'earth' in lowercase.

‘feeling the Earth’ … Uppercase tends to signal a title, something of importance.

‘subduing it’ …ie. conquering it. Killing IT. Earth regarded as an inanimate thing.

‘sustaining her’ …ie. caring for, nurturing HER. Earth as a valuable being.

‘and have dominion over every living thing on the earth’ … a clear articulation for power and control.

‘and having communion with every living being throughout the Earth’ … a clear expression for presence and connection.

It's unmistakeable how the above lines have been acted out through all of recorded history.

However the most subtle and insidious part of the passage happens in the very beginning. Didn't truly recognize it until this writing.

Not the ‘fruitful and multiply’ versus ‘fulfilled and unified’, confident the reader can make that connection in light of what’s been shared.

I’m now referring to, “Be” vs “You are”.

Consider ... “you are” is an explicit affirmation that you already are. Hence no need to struggle or strive to be more, do more, or have more. You already are.

To tell someone ‘be’, implicitly means they ‘are not’. They have to do something or be something they aren’t already.

'Why don't you be more like your brother?'

Is it a coincidence we live in a world where underneath poised and polished appearances, the VAST majority of people feel they aren’t enough? They don't feel they do enough or have enough?

Where people speak of certain aspects human nature and the human condition as fact I wonder now, "is that really the human condition? Or is it a consequence of a particular cultural conditioning?"

"Are humans really a disease of this planet? Or are have the minds of 'domesticated-civilized' humans been infected with a destructive idea?

Am I sane? Have I found my Gaia blessed mind?

Didn’t realize the risk I was taking until I was already deep down the rabbit hole. It gave new meaning to the phrase, “a mind once stretched to a new idea can never return to it’s original dimensions.”

Imagine your mind as a complex of IDeas, IDeals, IDeologies, and IDentities.

Changing IDeas, changes IDeals.

Changing IDeals, changes IDeologies.

Changing IDeologies, changes IDentities.

Changing IDentities, changes IDeas.

What happens when humans aren’t ‘born guilty of original sin’, but instead are 'born joyful in original bliss'?

What happens when we stop defining 'life as suffering with moments of serenity' and instead define 'life as serenity with moments of suffering'?

What happens when we step out of 'homo-supremacy / anthropocentricity' and move into 'bio+autonomy / gaia+centricity'?

What happens when we stop carelessly saying we are 'ONLY human' and embody the fact we are 'mostly multi dimensional'?

What happens when biocracy, the rule of life, replaces democracy, the rule of people, as the pinnacle of political ideals?

What Would Gaia Do?”

Of course being in human form, especially one domesticated within urban civilization, it’s difficult to know for sure, “What Would Gaia Do?” How would she think?

Is she even a ‘she’? Or is fixation on gender another artifact of cultural conditioning and language?

The biggest critiques of this work is the same critique I have for Genesis.

1) No one story speaks for all. And by 'all' I mean ALL LIFE.

2) All stories are made up. Sometimes based on true events, but parts have been added, edited, and/or omitted for dramatic effect or political intent.

3) 'The' truth isn't singular, black and white, cut and dry. The truth is plural, complex, and multi dimensional.

Can one simplified passage on human origins and destiny truly convey the rich histories of thousands of cultures throughout the world? Doubtful.

But since the roots have been significantly altered in the ReGenIsis, what fruits will this tree bare?

The biggest revelation I've had?

'Nature' is all around us. Even now, in the very place you’re reading this.

You feel nature when you breath in … when you exhale … when you feel your heart beat.

The walls surrounding you, the city you live in, doesn’t exist out there some where. They exist on Earth, within the ecosystems of Earth.

There used to be a forest or an open field full of life where those building now stand.

We’ve never left the garden. And the garden never left us.

12,000 years ago (around 5 seconds to midnight), chance circumstances lead a few Mesopotamian tribes to stray from the garden where return was never an option.

Now, a conscious choice by groups of environ+mentalists, eco+sapiens, intra+terrestrials, and a+originals are recognizing and embracing their presence within+Eden.