One of my favorite days of the year was the day Gregor Mendel came to Class as a guest lecturer. He did much of his work on sweet pea plants, but the basic principles apply to most plants and animals. Usually, he worked in solitude in a monastery with no one understanding what he was … [Read more…]
One of my favorite learning activities of each Biodesign Class was to consider the socio-cultural importance of the plants, animals and people associated with secular and religious holidays, including Valentine’s Day. Valentino of Terni was a 3rd century Catholic Bishop who was beheaded by Roman soldiers under the order of Claudius II. His “crimes†included … [Read more…]
In a normal year, hundreds of millions of Christians would celebrate Epiphany on January 6, in commemoration of the day the Magi arrived at Bethlehem bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Although the word Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “appearance†or “manifestation,†and refers to the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the … [Read more…]
According to the latest Pew research poll on religious preference, 4% of the American population self-identify as atheists. Does this mean that the other 96% of the people are on some form of spiritual path? Do they walk in solitude, or have they joined the caravan of seekers that is very long and very old? … [Read more…]
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.†― Meister Eckhart Paraphrasing fellow “biology watcher,†Lewis Thomas (“The Lives of a Cellâ€) we ought to be greeting each other daily with ecstasy and wonderment by how magnificently we have been created! When was the last time someone told you; “you … [Read more…]
When I began teaching environmental biology (1964) it seemed prudent to join The Audubon Society. The society was formed in 1905 probably inspired by John Muir’s creation of the Sierra Club in 1892. The membership included a monthly magazine that contained stunning Nature photos and relevant current event articles. At the beginning of each issue, … [Read more…]
This letter is a rebuttal to the Sierra Club’s odious attempt to besmirch the legacy and writing of John Muir, their legendary founder. It is my contention that, like every human on Earth, Muir was imperfect yet he achieved the status of two world-renown spiritual paragons. St. Francis of Assisi Indulged by his parents, Francis … [Read more…]
About fifty years ago, long before I knew what a Jungian synchronicity was, I experienced one that still resonates with me on every clear night. I was the father of a two-year-old daughter and on a whim one evening, after her bath, I took her out to see the stars. At the tender age of … [Read more…]
Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, Chap. 11, Matthew II “Who can comprehend a submicroscopic, life-enabling molecule of information that can guide an ant or bee or elephant into making millions of yes/no, life/death decisions? Every one has its miracle story, none of which is humanly comprehensible.” Although 2020 is officially the Chinese “Year Of … [Read more…]
“A spiritual partnership is a partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth. Spiritual partners use their delightful experiences together as well as their power struggles to learn about themselves and change themselves.” – Gary Zukav Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, Forward by Linda Williamson. I now realize that one of the great … [Read more…]