Gogyoshi Poem, Nr.12 — Planet of the Apeshits

This is why I am a vegetarian, Josh. When people ask me if it's for my health ( though that is a consideration considering what animals are fed and injected with ), my answer is simply because I love animals. When I look into the eyes of one, I see a soul.  

Hopefully I am reaping some good karma here, and won't be encaged. . .  

Very powerful write.

Thank you 'Vati. I agree, when you 'see' an animal, can you eat it? Though meat is also best avoided due to the "stressed" treatment of animals that goes into their 'meat' and then into the humans that eat it - means & ends - it's all one thing. And that's even before you think what they are injected with to 'maximise' profitability.

The same though is happening to fruit-'n-veg "production". It may look like a tomato but it has little nutritional value when grown 'a la aquaponics. Healthy food draws intelligently from humus-rich chemical-free soil and that's before you take into account the Findhorn factor of life-force in the fruit-'n-veg and the contribution of nature-spirits. But the Finhorn and other examples show what is possible even in conditions of poor soil, when one works with Nature, not against Her. Chemicals are not needed; balance and understanding are.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0850nn0/was-this-humanity-s-biggest-mistake-

this reminded me of the above....

Thank You Josh..for a poet/artists' role is to ask the deep and many a time's disturbing questions.

Thanks CF - I've just watched the link. It reminded me also of Yuval Noah Harari's book "Homo Sapiens" which I read a month ago, {I then immediately read his other two books ("Homo Deus" [excellent], and "21 lessons for the 21st century" [also very good])}. He too takes the view that the change to agriculture about 10,000 years ago brough with it significant negative consequences but also the wonders of culture and technology. He's ambiguous if the advent of agriculture was a 'good thing'.
Mind you, there is no reason that animals have to be treated the way they are to "feed the population" -- that's a lie perpetuated by the meat industry. Animals can be treated well and be 'productive' - like at my brother's small-scale organic beef farm which he's just retired from after many years.

Dear J,

Some days I fear it’s already happened. ie these past eleven months. This poem is very thought provoking and scary but I’m convinced there is a certain universal order that will be maintained no matter how hard we as humans try to cock it up. Right?
H🌷

I agree, the last 12 months seem to be revealing and highlighting the underlying and pre-existing problems in society - especially inequality in the U.K - as well as political perversity.
I agree there is a bigger picture (universal order). I've long been searching for a 'cosmology' that makes sense to me of suffering (both animals and humans). In this repect I have found my recent reading of David Spangler's book "Apprenticed to Spirit" very reassuring and helpful.
( https://book4you.org/book/5932226/ffc3c0 )
Honoured again by the RL. Cheers, Josh

This is a very powerful view on how we as humans take so much for granted .. how we believe we are above everything on the planet  and it is all ours for the taking without considering the consequences.  Or how our treatment of animals and plants is justified. One of my favorite images is of a lion holding a hunting rifle .. if the tables were turned. I do believe Nature will always succeed. She does not need us for survival ...

Thank you Jemac; grateful for RL too. It seems that humans are abusing their position of having (usurping?) 'dominion over' over the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms -- or should I say kinships -- but it's now back-firing, not least in that in trying to control Nature, (forgetting humans are also part of Nature), it ends up with a few humans at the top lording it over the rest of us - like animals.

So true Josh ... in the last year of self quarantining I find myself drawn to the smallest details of nature .. not ever overlooked,  just not studied .. my mind view has changed. Seeing the buds and first leaf unfurling, a single raindrop on the tip of a branch .. frost on glass .. so beautifully subtle .. rocks that seem to call to me for attention.  I feel so much closer to nature now .. brings memories of my childhood. So when I see others abusing her in any way ..it ignites a fire in my belly

I think you have a good response there - the lockdown opens up the opportunity to 'see' more what's all around us. For me, I'm noticing bird-song a lot more. We have a lot (of bird-song) since the variety of plants, and large composting zone, attracts the birds. One robin comes to me nearly every time I step outside. It's quite amazing; I feel quite honoured that a bird should take interest in a human.

I always recommend vegetarianism...to always see the similarity of all animals and try and develop compassion. A beautiful write Josh. I recently purchased David Cooper's book, " Animals and Misanthropy". An excellent read by a very well respected philosopher. Hope you are well my friend.
🙏 Harry

Thank you Harry; honoured by RL too. I'm finding in the last few months or so I am developing (through no particular 'work' on my part) an increased compassion for all living things - including rocks/minerals on my quinta. Thank you for the book tip; I'll check it out. You might be interested in David Spangler's "Apprenticed to Spirit", an amazing man (now in his 70s) who had a life-long communicating journey with a spirit-guide. Fascinating. Hope you're adjusting to lock-downs o.k; I seem to have a lot less fear of life than previously - perhaps it's all part of some bigger picture (opportunity) to fast-forward in consciousness, that's what it's felt like to me the last year or so.   🙏

My pleasure Josh. Yeah those blank writing moments appear out of nowhere. I am very well down here in Adelaide, we have the virus under control at the moment so we have no lockdown, just social distancing...but the pubs and cafes are all open. Melbourne have just gone into a 5 day lockdown with 18 new cases. You stay safe my friend.

Return to the  Planet of the Apes and such.......

Yep, it could be scary.

It's a different world when we turn the tables around and experience what they experience. Be it philosophical or just metaphorical, if the world were to  go through a cataclysmic event, animals are faster to adapt to the harsh conditions than us humans.
Great write Josh.

Thank you Wally. Yeah, when it comes to adapting to new situations, human psychology can work either for or against sensible adaptation. At the moment it seems there are strong forces pushing both ways - not sure how it will pan out - I'll guess we're all wondering 😊 whether common sense will 'win' or not.