Biodesign class

St. Valentine’s Day: The Miracle of Love.

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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 secretly marrying couples in Christian nuptial ceremonies, which were contrary to pagan Roman law. Also, he boldly and publicly cited the apostle Paul by claiming that love was God’s greatest gift to humankind. When given the choice of renouncing his faith or face execution, he opted for death. He died at the age of 42.

Although Valentine lived before microscopes were invented, they would eventually play an instrumental role in unlocking some of the biological secrets that lead to the sacred act of procreation.

In 1590, Zacharias Janssen invented the first microscope. In 1677, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, was the first to describe, “wee cavorting beasties,” which included  human spermatozoa.

Discoveries in this area led to the discovery of perhaps one of the greatest human mysteries; the union of a single sperm and ovum to produce the human zygote.

According to Lewis Thomas, M.D./ author of The Medusa and the Snail; “The mere existence of that cell should be one of the greatest astonishments of earth. People ought to be walking around all day, all through their waking hours, talking of nothing but that cell.”

Each sperm contains about 3 billion bases of genetic information, representing 750 Mbytes of digital information. The average human ejaculate contains around 180 million sperm cells. So, that’s 180 x 10^6 haploid cells x 750 Mbytes/haploid cell = 135 x10^9 Mbytes=135000 Terabytes!!!! Without this process happening, the human race would die out in one generation.

Contemplating this reminded me of Roger Sperry, M.D./neurobiologist and Nobel laureate, author of, “Science and Moral Priority,” and “Yoking Science and Religion.” We were connected by a huge synchronicity, which occurred in August 1983.  Omni Magazine published an issue that included Sperry’s discoveries of the human right-brain/ left-brain phenomena and a related article, “The Superiority of the Female Brain.”

The article focused on the cerebral hemispheres and corpus collosum, which essentially is a wall between the two sides of the brain. Stated briefly, female brains have verbal centers in both hemispheres with more connections between words, memories, and feelings. Male brains tend to only have verbal centers in the left hemisphere with fewer connections between words, memories, and feelings. This has led to the facetious reference to males as having “reptilian” brains. LOL

During the early years of the Biodesign Class, it dawned on me that the girls had an inside track on spirituality. This was confirmed many times in class, but especially following each epic field trip. When the students presented their post-trip reflections, the girls were often better at describing transcending moments involving mystery, wonder and awe. On those occasions a typical male response was; “That’s exactly how I felt, but I couldn’t find the words to express myself adequately.” They had sincerely identified and described the limitations of their own brains.

PBS aired a program focused on love and the human brain. The speaker was a psychiatrist/marriage counselor, with a record of successfully helping many dysfunctional couples avoid the devastating trip to a divorce court. He asserted that many of the problems that they encounter (including matters of intimacy) are due to their failure to understand the differences between female and male brains. He proceeded to offer some techniques that could be used to improve looking, listening and feeling that would hopefully improve communication skills and not only save, but enrich their marriage.

One example he cited was that most men understand that a box of chocolates (preferably dark) can often spark a romantic interlude.  However, he observed, most men have not made the connection that a trip to a women’s shoe boutique can also trigger a similar favorable result. He admitted that he had no scientific evidence of the connection of new shoes to female libido, but opined that mysteries were always beyond the purview of science.

While the Catholic Church has waffled over whether Valentine is a legitimate saint or not, his living spirit continues to empower millions of lovers to say, “I Love You,” right out loud.

It is a message that has found favor in the retail sector. Valentine greeting card, candy and flower sales exceed 20 billion dollars annually in the US.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

 

Darwin vs. Wallace—Music—Southern Cross

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One of the greatest Biodesign discoveries was that Darwin contemporary, Lord Alfred Wallace, described music as a quintessential component in human spiritual growth and development. Each day Biodesign students were greeted at the bio-lab door with music from quadraphonic speakers. The music could have been Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Folk, Opera, Reggae or Gospel, etc. I had access to 1000s of selections and a variety of genres, melodies and lyrics were used to pique student interest in the correlation of music and Nature; e.g. Verdi’s, “Four Seasons,” Grofe’s, “Grand Canyon Suite,” John Denver’s, “Country Roads.” Sometimes the music was so poignant or appropriate that we had to modify the lesson in order to discuss what the composers and performers were communicating. In some cases the lyrics, apart from the melody, were dry and not inspiring. Conversely, there were times when instrumental versions of a song lacked vibrancy and meaning. Truly great songs often result when great melodies are combined with great lyrics to launch the song into the soul-stirring level.

The song, “Southern Cross,” is one of those songs. Whenever it was played, students would stop talking and were entranced by the magical union of the melody and lyrics. The song actually began as, “Seven League Boots,” composed by Rick and Michael Curtis. They entrusted it to Stephen Stills who rewrote and renamed it and it became a hit for Crosby—Stills—Nash.

Whether the actual “Southern Cross” conjures up a Christian epiphany or is simply a utilitarian navigational “asterism” (not a constellation) there are countless stories of jaded sea-salts who were humbled by their first view of the mysterious phenomena. It represents a focal point that inspires and guides travelers in the southern hemisphere.

The song might have joined a long list of also-ran lamentations of unrequited love, but the lyrics, rich harmony and soaring crescendos create a triumphant celebration of the healing powers of Mother Nature. It was a perfect fit for the Biodesign goal of seeking Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Alfred Wallace would be proud.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Wintley Phipps—Amazing Grace—Biodesign

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Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, chap 28, “Amazing Faith.”

“His ship survived the storm, and years later he became a priest. He had not forgotten his brush with death and was inspired to write a prayer of thanksgiving, describing his perilous journey. The prayer was actually a poem, which he used as a basis for a sermon. It is unknown who later added the melody. The song “Amazing Grace” has spread world- wide and is considered to be one of the greatest spiritual songs written.”

If I were still participating in the Biodesign experiment, I would play the attached YouTube video featuring Wintley Phipps in a heartbeat. This was even before I learned that he has performed “Negro spirituals” (his words) for 7 US Presidents, Mother Theresa of Calcutta, and Nelson Mandela.

His stunning performance at Carnegie Hall reminded me of the small member of men, whom I have encountered over the past 50 years, who are truly spirit-filled. Those mentioned in Biodesign Out For A Walk were Sasha the potter (Mendocino) “The Muleskinner” (Grand Canyon) and “Moses” on top of Yosemite’s Half Dome. I sincerely hope Henry Thoreau was mistaken when he wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation,” but is rare to see people with sparkling eyes and ebullient personalities.

However my attraction to Rev. Phipps goes beyond his eyes. By his very nature, he demonstrates the immensely important biological process known as biodiversity. There are many biological reasons why people of color have thrived in the equatorial belt where light-skinned people have not. Likewise, there are reasons why light-skinned people have adapted to the cooler northern climes. Understanding the reasons for color diversification renders the argument over racial superiority a divisive “fool’s errand.” Discussions like these added scope and richness to the Biodesign Class.

However, what is extraordinarily intriguing is that Rev.Phipps has taken what has been a stumbling block for millions of black people and turned in into a huge asset. He has not only inspired millions of people with his sermons, humor and grace, he has established the US Dream Academy, that is designed to help at-risk students bridge the gap from poverty to productive citizenship.

Another one of his many talents has been to demonstrate the spiritual power of music, especially Gospel songs. There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence that music helped black people survive the dual hardships of being enslaved and suffering from chronic poverty. Sadly, some of those racial hardships still remain and we desperately need inspired leaders like him to try to achieve Dr. M.L. King’s unfinished dream: “Free at last.”

Rev. Phipp’s poignant rendition of “Amazing Grace,” conjured up wonderful memories of the hymn/folk-song being sung around a Biodesign evening campfire at Russian Gulch State Park in Mendocino, Ca. Someone requested that we sing the song and Dianna (who was snuggled next to me) whispered in my ear, “I hate that song!” I was surprised, but quietly asked her why? She whispered that she was an unbeliever and found the song phony and irritating. Panic induced paralysis! This was uncharted wilderness for me and I was clueless as to what to do or say. However, after a frightening pause, a mysterious, almost “out-of-body-voice” began to explain the aforementioned story. “Furthermore,” “the voice” went on to say, “Although Amazing Grace has had the extraordinary power to inspire millions of believers, there are others who have not been equally impressed. Some sing the song as a folk song with little spiritual significance and some “devout” non-believers regard the song as not credible and a source of vexation and alienation. “

This opened a discussion about the greater mystery as to why some people feel the presence of a “Higher Power” and some do not. We weren’t able to even remotely resolve the dilemma, however discussing it openly seemed to reduce Dianna’s angst. She stealthily slid her arm between my arm and torso, gave my arm a hug and whispered, “I think we should sing it.”

As we sang the song, the whole group seemed to ascend to a higher level of awareness or perhaps heaven descended to form a wonderful mandorla. Tears trickled down the cheeks of believers as well as non-believers and I realized that I would never sing the song again in a more perfect setting.

God bless Wintley Phipps

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Dewitt Jones: “The Banquet Is Laid Though Nobody Comes.”

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Although, as a little boy, I attended Sunday school at the little white church in Oakville, Ca., my spiritual search was low-key at best until I was 31 and Lettie asked her fateful question:

“Is memorizing all the parts of a fetal pig really important?”

(Biodesign Out For A Walk, chap. 1. “Genesis: Lettie’s Question.”)

She launched me on a journey that I have been on for over 45 years. This journey has taken me to thousands of wondrous physical, mental and spiritual places and exposed me to some of the greatest naturalists the world has known. One of those people was John Muir, who not only led me to Yosemite, but, coincidentally to the dawning of my spiritual awareness.

However, as a traditional biology teacher, I was intrigued, even a bit conflicted to learn that he kept a copy of The New Testament (plus the Psalms) with him on all of his meanderings. Although I never became a Biblical scholar, there were some puzzling passages that I reencountered over the years. Retrospectively, however, this should not have been surprising. During his trial for suspected heresy, the great scientist Galileo informed his accusers that the Bible contained many metaphors and parables that were often difficult for people to comprehend.

For me, one of those passages was:

The banquet is laid though nobody comes.

Somehow, the seven words were seven fragments that held little meaning.

Evidently, not unlike Dianna (Biodesign Out For A Walk chap. 28, Amazing Faith) I lacked the spiritual awareness of what the phrase meant.

And then recently an amazing synchronicity occurred. A Fb friend was struggling with the woes of modern society and I wanted to cheer her up. She is a Nature lover and so I Googled: Photos: Celebrating the joys of Nature.

The attached YouTube video, by Dewitt Jones, popped up and not only explained the cryptic Bible passage to my often-balky left-brain, but presented another wonderful mystery.

I thought his name was familiar, but I could not recall why. Finally, it dawned on me that I had met him on Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Meadow, 39 years ago. Well, his body wasn’t there, but his spirit was in a book, John Muir’s America, which he coauthored with T.H. Watkins. Watkins did a superb job with the text and Jones added spectacular photos. The book became one of the cornerstones of the Biodesign Class.

However, the intriguing part is that I may not have ever discovered it were it not for the loving members of Biodesign ’79. They purchased the book and presented it to me on the meadow as a birthday/thank you gift. And now, 39 years later, through a miracle of “I-T,” Jones reentered my life and completed the magnificent circle that he helped initiate.

I used to suggest to students that Biodesign was like a wonderful smorgasbord of concepts and ideas. I also assured them that, although some of the ideas may involve human spirituality, I was a biology teacher and not a guru; ergo they were free to agree with or disagree with all physical, mental or spiritual topics. I did caution them that some of the ideas (even John Muir’s) could be challenging, even provocative.

Then along came Dewitt Jones, citing the Bible, suggesting that, for all those many years, we were actually at a spiritual BANQUET and not merely a smorgasbord. The suddenly illuminated passage became perfectly clear.

The countless visual images and emotion-filled moments offered at Yosemite, Grand Canyon and the Mendocino Coast, provided a spiritual banquet which offered food for our souls, far more nourishing than the finest caviar, escargot and champagne. With food like this, it is little wonder that Muir was content to throw a couple pounds of dried bread balls (and some tea bags) into a pillowcase, grab a single wool blanket and vanish into his beloved mountain-wilderness for a month.

I have remained in contact with a few members of Bio ’79. One of them is Lori Evensen, who could not have known that she would be partially responsible for this blog. 39 years ago, all of the students signed the Jones/Watkins book and she signed it:

“Mr. Young,

I hope your birthday will be as beautiful as Yosemite. (Be sure to read pg. 57, a great description of life). Thank you for being you.

Love, Lori.”

John Muir’s America: Page 57:

“No pain here, no dull empty hours, no fear of the past, no fear of the future. Drinking this champagne water is pure pleasure, so is breathing the living air…”

A virtual banquet indeed!

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Sisyphus-Half Dome-The Superior Female Brain

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“One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.” – John Muir

“Red exhaustion rips at your throat
and salt sweat spills off your forehead and mats your eyelids and brows…
The long distant runner is paid by the snap of a white thread across his chest.
You are paid by the picture at your feet.”
– Terry Russell: “On The Loose.”

One of the greatest spiritual gifts of the Biodesign Program was the most obvious, least understood and was often taken for granted. The gift is the biological process known as “gender diversification.”

Before each trip to Yosemite, I warned:

“If you want to find out what kind of friend you have, take him/her camping and see.” Perhaps, the same can be said about discovering differences due to gender diversity.

Ever since our first attempt (and failure) to climb Half Dome (1976), it became conspicuously obvious that gender differences transcended from the physical to mental and, perhaps most importantly, spiritual awareness. When discussing spiritual concepts proposed by Muir, Emerson and Thoreau et al, the girls were typically quicker to grasp them. However, for the first 10 years these discoveries remained mostly anecdotal and not well defined. Then, in August of 1983, Omni Magazine featured an article titled, “Superiority of the Female Brain.” The author, Carol Johmann, followed up on Dr. Roger Sperry’s discoveries of the split neocortex in humans. The title was probably a bit hyperbolic, however, Johann described the now widely accepted premise, that, because of increased inter-cerebral neural networks, females are typically more harmoniously balanced than males.

Interestingly, when I presented the new evidence to the Class of ’84, they were not particularly surprised or concerned. In fact, they seemed to be relieved that many of the behavioral differences between males and females, that they were already familiar with, actually had biological origins.

Although I lost my original copy of the Omni Magazine, in a recent, wonderful synchronicity, I was able to replace it. Johmann’s article prompted me to create a literary montage of observations from a few girls in the Biodesign Class.

CLIMBING HALF DOME was the hardest thing I have ever done. There were many times when my body was screaming for me to stop. I don’t normally sweat very much, but sweat matted my hair and streamed down my face. Part of me felt grimy and disgusting, but the amazing scenery, and especially my classmates, urged me to press on. Of course, I had seen photos of “The Cables,” but I was not prepared to climb the granite stairway that ascends the Sub-Dome. There were no railings and both sides of the steps seemed to drop off into oblivion. The weight of my backpack added to the trepidation of every step. Although the climb was physically demanding, the stunning views prompted me to think that I was ascending a stairway to heaven right here on earth. It was a relief to get to the base of the cables, that is until I stood at the bottom and looked up.

I REMEMBER Mr. Young mentioning that because girls typically have smaller bodies and weigh less than guys, that they should try to keep their backpacks as light as possible. I weigh 105 lbs. and am not particularly athletic. Suddenly, looking up at the top of Half Dome, my 35 lb. backpack felt like it was full of rocks. I began to cry as wave of fear swept through my body. I was absolutely certain that there was no way I would be able to reach the top.

IN AN ATTEMPT to keep our circles gender-blended, Mr. Young would frequently say, “form a circle; roses and thorns.” It was definitely not “p-c,” though he did not specify just who the roses or thorns were. However, the girls typically felt like they were the roses and the more “macho” guys took a little pride in being considered thorns. In this case, he informed us that we would ascend The Dome in a roses and thorns line. He added that this was not a time for pride, guilt or self-doubt and we should all help and encourage each other.

Amazingly, after we started up, it wasn’t as scary as it looked. My partner stayed close behind me and offered his support and the reassurance that he literally “had my back.” When we reached the top, my feelings about heaven-on-earth intensified. With tears and laughter, we joined in a massive group hug with a sense of joy and exuberance that I had never felt. I was totally exhausted, but I had never felt better in my life.

ON THE WAY HOME, I was floating on a cloud, filled with wonders, visions and marvels of Yosemite. I guess I thought the euphoric feeling would never end. What a mistake. Back at school some of my friends resented my exuberant behavior. I realized that I was one week behind on homework assignments and some teachers resented my joyful attitude. I panicked when I noted the looming deadline for college applications and my parents seemed to be making excessive demands on my time.

My emotional high crashed and I wondered if the trip were worth the anguish I was feeling. Then I remembered a poster we had on our biology lab wall.

“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.”    Renee Daumal

And then a major epiphany! Half Dome was very real, but it was also symbolic and metaphorical. When I was on the top, I remember turning around and Cloud’s Rest loomed 1000 ft. above me. I realized that if I climbed that, there would be an endless number of Sierra peaks to climb, some nearly twice as high as Half Dome.

So this is what I have learned. Life involves climbing an endless series of Half Domes. I am sure that college will be a gigantic H-D experience. If I decide to marry and have kids, my future husband and children will surely provide many H-D challenges. However, I have discovered a source of untapped power that will enable me to accomplish anything I set my mind on. Some of my challenges will likely be extremely difficult, and require an investment of blood, sweat and tears, however, each new mountaintop experience will provide vistas, joys and sorrows that I could not experience without them.”

Note: One of the greatest blessings that I received as a teacher was to watch young adults express words of wisdom that many adults will never fully comprehend. The last, very perceptive young woman could have likened her mountaintop revelation to the doomed Sisyphus, but she accepted the stress and pain as the price for becoming spiritually alive. She was wise beyond her years and no doubt attended a college or university where many of her PhD holding professors had little (if any) knowledge of what she had discovered.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Ansel Adams-Horsetail Fall-Lori Evensen-Biodesign ‘79

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Although I have never met Dr. Michael Adams, son of Ansel Adams, our spirits were recently engaged in a splendid synchronicity that began nearly 40 years ago. It involves a revolutionary advanced biology class that I was privileged to participate in at St. Helena High School in the Napa Valley. It was revolutionary because the students elected to eschew the traditional practice of memorizing all the parts of a fetal pig in exchange for exploring the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of Yosemite, Grand Canyon and the Mendocino Coastal area.

The class was dedicated to, “the illimitable freedom of the human mind.” Instead of pigs, we considered the great biological scholars, sages, poets, philosophers and artists, including world-famous photographer Ansel Adams. We kept two different coffee-table-format books of his photography in the biology classroom. The evolution of the class was the result of teacher-student collaboration as evinced by this blog.

The great biologist, Louis Pasteur, opined, “chance favors the prepared mind” and we spent much pre-trip time and effort preparing our minds. E. g, before the Yosemite trip, the students were expected to read, “The Wilderness World Of John Muir,” edited by Edwin Teale. Along with wonderful stories and ecological wisdom, the book includes an illuminating chapter on John Muir’s philosophy. Students were also required to select an appropriate topic for an expository essay.

The Class of 1979 included Lori Evensen, a very bright, very curious, highly talented artist. Not surprisingly, she chose Ansel Adams as the subject of her essay. At the end she credited Adams for inspiring her to continue her artwork. She also mentioned that it was now a dream of hers to meet him and perhaps attend one of his Yosemite photography workshops.

Her essay was so spirit-filled that I shared it with Mike Snowden, colleague, fellow-hiker and backpacker. As he read, he laughed out loud and exclaimed, “I know Ansel Adams! In fact, I have spent several weekends in his home and even helped him in his darkroom. My aunt Gerry (Sharpe) was his “Girl Friday” and served as his assistant for many years.”

He went on to say that his aunt and Mom (Jane Snowden) have several of Adams’ original prints, which are quite valuable. He also mentioned that Adams was very gregarious and would probably welcome a visit from an aspiring young photographer. I was astounded by the conversation, but doubted that it would yield any results. However, Mike called either his aunt or Adams and arranged a suitable time for a visit. Apparently, along with his willingness to share his artistic philosophy, he was planning to demonstrate some of his darkroom skills. A mutual friend of ours owned a small airplane and volunteered to fly Lori down to Carmel, Ca. for the day. All was in order. Sadly, however, a few weeks before the scheduled visit, Adams suffered a heart attack and all scheduled meetings had to be canceled.

Lori graduated and I taught for 20 more years until I retired. After several years of reflecting on the mystery, wonder (even small miracles) experienced during 63 trips into the wilderness, I decided to attempt to write a book and share a sample of the student discoveries.

Shortly after “Biodesign Out For A Walk” was released, we created a website to expand our reader base. A couple of years ago, I started writing blogs for the site. After a friend shared a photo of this year’s luminous reappearance of Yosemite’s mystical “Horsetail Fall,” I decided to write a blog about it. Of course, I had no foreknowledge that, while viewing a Youtube video on the extraordinary fall, Michael Adams would appear and complete this fantastic synchronicity.

I sent Lori a copy of that letter and assumed that the multifaceted synchronicity was complete. It was not! Recently, without knowing what I was thinking, she began sorting through a collection of her high school memorabilia. Much to her delight and surprise, she discovered a letter from Ansel Adams that she had totally forgotten. She was not alone. Even though the letter was addressed to me, I also had no memory of it.

Although the letter is intriguing, perhaps more importantly, it reveals the quintessence of Adams. He was facing a potentially life-threatening open-heart surgery, yet cared enough about a total stranger (high school student) to express his regrets and offer her hope for a possible post-surgery meeting. The meeting never happened, however, his spirit has become immortalized in both Lori and my hearts.

I sent a modified version of this story to Dr. Adams, expressing my deep appreciation and gratitude for the inspiration his father provided for our students and me.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

Half Dome: Half Way To Heaven?

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“What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.” – Renee Daumal

EVERY HUMAN BEING should be fortunate enough to sleep at least one night on top of a mountain, under a starry blanket. John Muir exhorted his followers, “go to the mountains and get their good tidings.” He minced no words describing the potential power of mountaintop experiences to be transcendental, perhaps connecting hikers with heaven. Loren Eiseley noted that, although adventures like these may or may not connect hikers to God, they often result in hikers having a vision or seeing a marvel. Although results cannot be predicted, the limitless possibilities range from subtle to profound to sublime.

There are 1000s of mountaintops, tors, buttes and mesas in the US where a high school biology class could camp out for a night. However, few (if any) can compare with Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome. Twenty-four Biodesign Classes eagerly accepted John Muir’s challenge to climb Half Dome, perhaps in search of a “born again” experience.

In the 1970s, our idea of challenging students to stretch their physical, mental and spiritual wings closely paralleled the goals of the highly successful wilderness program called, “Outward Bound.”

Although each new class had seen countless images and heard numerous stories about the world-famous Half Dome, nothing could prepare them for the view they saw when they arrived at Glacier Point. The view was so extraordinary that it often rendered students speechless. On one trip, while looking up at Half Dome, a male student exclaimed to a classmate, “He’s freakin’ nuts if he thinks I am going to sleep up there!”

Although 20 Biodesign classes made it to the top of Half Dome, only 16 were fortunate enough to sleep overnight (before the practice was banned by YNPS).

I have to admit that, before each of those 16 trips, I questioned my own mental stability.

Those fortunate enough to succeed were offered an extraordinary spectacle that most will never see again. Typically, the Big Dipper loomed above to the north with Merak and Dubhe lined up pointing to Polaris (the north star). Those having trouble sleeping could watch the handle of the giant dipper slowly tick off the changing hours of the night.

Of course, each trip was unique and depended on countless variables. However, when the stars aligned favorably we were able to sit in a circle, read some passages from Muir and share what we were seeing, thinking and feeling. During these events, my role as leader shifted to the role as observer. I often marveled at the innate wisdom that the students exhibited.

On one particular occasion, the level of communication and spiritual camaraderie rose to such a height that it felt surreal. We were snuggled in a tightly bonded circle. The autumn air was chilly and the stars were so brilliant they appeared to be close enough for us to reach out and pick a basket of them.

And then suddenly “it” happened. As students shared their deepest reflections, without warning, they were presented with the dilemma of wondering whether the whole class mysteriously levitated upward toward heaven or if heaven mysteriously descended down to engulf them. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the term, “mandorla,” (almond shaped design) to depict sacred moments which transcend time and space, including the overlap between heaven and Earth. I am not a religious scholar, but this experience seemed to match the Greek concept.

The next morning during breakfast, it was clear to me that the students had changed. The countenance of many of the girls was subtly radiant, not unlike da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The mood of the guys was unusually quiet, more contemplative; some looked a little spooked. I didn’t comment, but imagined some of their private conversations included questions like: “What the heck happened during our circle last night?”

They were in good company. Muir cautioned us that there were no Earthly words that could adequately describe spiritual events.

The students were not the only ones with a beguiling mystery. I too pondered over the event. It was only after returning home that it occurred to me that, aside from my wedding day and assisting with our youngest child’s birth, my star-struck experience on Half Dome was the most intense spiritual awakening in my life.

So, Muir came down from Yosemite’s mountains with, “Thoughts and deeds that moved the world.” Each year, our students came down from Half Dome having seen wonders, marvels, even little miracles or perhaps being gifted with a glimpse into heaven.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

John Muir’s High Altar

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img_0957“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Many of the older Scots claim that they can communicate spiritually with deceased family members and friends by a process they call “kything.” If this is so, I am guessing that John Muir recently did the Scottish version of the “dance of joy” in his heavenly habitation (“God And The Angels Be True”).

Muir believed that Yosemite’s Half Dome was a high altar, appropriately situated at the east end of what he regarded as a natural cathedral, seven miles long by one mile wide. Altars are natural or man-made shrines that have been consecrated by the hearts of men for the purpose of religious or spiritual ceremonies or events. Muir expressed deep concern that many have forfeited their God-given gift of spiritual celebrations at these altars. Although regular church attendance in the US may be declining, for those who make the 5,000 ft. climb up to the top of Half Dome, it is not uncommon for them to triumphantly raise their arms.

With this being so, Mark Salvestrin recently committed a personal rite of sanctification by simply raising his hands (and a book) to the heavens. The book was inspired by John Muir and written by over 700 very curious and very courageous high school students. In the letter previously posted he wrote:

“Some of the concepts we learned and the ideas we shared took shape as threads that would be intricately woven into the fabric of my life.”

Following John Muir (and a plethora of mentors) Mark has immersed himself in Nature, evinced by the recent pilgrimage that he and his wife made to the top of Half Dome. Two weeks later, they doubled up with a hike to the top of El Capitan. The views from “El Cap” are as impressive as those from Half Dome and can be reached without experiencing “Disney Land” throngs of people crowding the trails.

My best guess is that Mark chaperoned at least 10 Biodesign trips.  He will deny it but, in a splendid irony, the book he is offering to the cosmos would not have been possible without his loving support and guidance.

Furthermore, what he did not mention was that he, and over 700 other students, added threads that were woven into the fabric of the author’s life. Soul building was part of what we were about, along with accepting Muir’s challenge to get as close to the heart of Nature as we could.

The photo of Mark holding up a summary of 24 years of wilderness adventures gave me goose bumps. None of the adventures would likely have happened without a very perceptive girl asking a simple yet profound question.  As Muir feared, I could have missed over 30 celebrations at his High Altar and spent my career dissecting fetal pigs.

It is my sincere wish that some of the lessons that Mark and I and hundreds of others experienced on our wilderness excursions, will be shared to lift the spirits and gladden the hearts of readers.

Thanks, Mark.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

young.lowell@gmail.com

100 GLORIOUS YEARS OF US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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teddy-yosemite-PThursday, 8-25-16 marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. The NPS has often been described as, “America’s Greatest Idea,” and if this is so, John Muir may arguably be considered “America’s greatest naturalist.”

It is impossible to imagine how the Park Service would have evolved without his vision, passion and dedication. After camping in Yosemite with Muir, Teddy Roosevelt was so profoundly moved that after he returned to Washington, D.C. he set aside an astounding 230 million acres, which became the beginning of the National Forest Service and National Parks Service. Annual visits to all NPS facilities are approaching 300 million, with nearly $30 billion being generated from recreation and “ecotourism.”

In the fall of 1973, under the guidance of principal Dr. William Noble, St. Helena High School initiated a revolutionary advanced biology curriculum that included examining the life, wisdom and spirituality of the legendary Muir. The new class considered contemporary biological and ecological concepts, and following Muir’s lead, students were invited to consider the possibility of their own spirituality.

Not surprisingly, the new class called, “Biodesign,” became a lightning rod, not only drawing criticism from non-believers, but surprisingly from some local Christian clerics. In an ironic disconnect, critics were generally in favor of National Parks, however some of them vehemently objected to references to Muir’s spiritual invocations in a public school. They were not persuaded by the fact that he became widely known as the, “Father of the National Park Service,” a sobriquet not lacking in spiritual overtones.

John

The Biodesign Class lasted 24 years and involved 63 wilderness adventures including trips to Yosemite, Grand Canyon and the Mendocino coast. Following Muir’s guidance, many students exulted in spiritual awakenings that were not necessarily associated with any particular religion.

Several years after I retired, I decided to follow John Muir’s model and attempted the impossible; describing nature-induced epiphanies. The process resulted in a book whose title reflects the essence of Muir: Biodesign Out For A Walk.

After the book was released, I fully expected to be challenged from aforementioned critics, including secular scientists. After all, suggesting that Carl Sagan’s explanation of the origin of life was purely science fiction was tantamount to challenging the humanist’s god.  Surprisingly, all of the reviews and comments I have received have been positive except for one.

The lone critic was an ex-student who informed me that Henry Thoreau was historically far more important than John Muir because of his intellectual superiority and writing style. These are legitimate, arguable issues, however, he went on to describe Muir as lacking an “inquisitive mind.”

Every man’s opinion is his sacred privilege, however, I was intrigued that anyone who had studied John Muir could possibly arrive at that conclusion.

Both men became literary giants who agreed that nature was a pathway for human transcendence. Both engendered thoughts and deeds that influenced world history. Muir emerged from the wilderness like a bearded prophet proclaiming the healing power of Nature.

Thoreau emerged from Walden Pond and described the importance of “civil disobedience” as a way to avoid the “galling harness of society.”

Muir’s legacy led to raising worldwide recognition of the importance of conservation and “eco-spirituality.”

Thoreau inspired millions, and prompted Mahatma Gandhi to lead the ousting of the British Raj government in India and later encouraged Dr. Martin Luther King to peacefully protest the cruel injustice of racism in the US.

However, in terms of an “inquisitive mind”?

After moving to the US, at age eleven, Muir would go to bed at 9:00 PM, sleep until 1:00 AM and get up to carve various inventions. Then he would work from dawn to dusk on the family farm. He attended the University of Wisconsin without graduating, but became a self-taught mechanical engineer. Eventually, he invented over 50 mechanical tools, devices and machines that improved the efficiency in woodworking mills. Interestingly, he refused to take out any patents believing that all of his inventions; “were inspired by God and therefore belonged to all mankind.”

When he nearly blinded one of his eyes, he vowed to “stop studying the works of man and begin to study the works of God.” He began with a 1,000 mile-walk to Florida and planned to follow Baron Von Humboldt’s studies in South America. Unfortunately (or maybe not) he contracted malaria and his doctor advised him to move to the dryer climate of California. His discoveries and descriptions of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada Mts. became legendary and were widely distributed around the US and even abroad.

Muir founded the Sierra Club, which became a powerful voice in California conservation and was primarily responsible for saving the remaining 5% of the virgin redwood forest. However, his greatest contribution was his vision of the US National Park Service. Today there are over 400 National Parks, reserves and monuments, nearly 7000 state parks in the US and his thesis that parks are necessary for spiritual renewal has gone global.

However, one of his greatest acts of being inquisitive came near the end of his life.  At the age of 72, he began a 40,000-mile, 7-month exploration. When he got to Buenos Aires, Argentina, he took a 1200-mile, round-trip train ride into the Andes Mountains, simply for the privilege of sleeping under an araucaria (monkey-puzzle) tree. He knew that the araucarias were among the oldest seed-bearing plants on Earth and communing with them had been a lifelong dream.

araucaria

He combined sailing and walking from New York to South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to the Canary Islands; circumnavigated Africa with many stops for exploring; sailed through the Red and Mediterranean Seas and back to New York.

Muir literally and figuratively walked around the world several times, exploring five continents in response to his lifelong quest for knowledge.

Poets claim that “everything is ironic” and in this case, if I had not selected John Muir as a primary mentor, the Biodesign Class and Biodesign Out For A Walk would not have happened and my critic would not have been in a position to question the efficacy of my choice of Muir as the most “inquisitive” and proficient wilderness guide.

Happy 100th Anniversary National Parks.

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

This article originally appeared on NapaValleyRegister. Your comments are welcome at young.lowell@gmail.com or connect with me on Facebook.

YOSEMITE—B0B MARLEY—“ONE HEART”

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Screen shot 2016-07-18 at 11.07.38 PMThe Biodesign Class of 1978 was only the second class to reach the top of Yosemite’s world-famous Half Dome. They donned their backpacks and labored for 10 miles while gaining nearly 5,000 feet of elevation. The last ½ mile involved climbing a steep series of granite stairs and ascending 400 feet of twin cables up a 45-degree grade. The added weight of the backpacks was challenging for the experienced hikers and was nearly overwhelming for some of the beginners. They had been forewarned that the hike would be a group effort and no one would be left behind. Therefore, when the last hiker topped the brow of Half Dome there was a joyful celebration with lots of tears and hugs.

An orientation session helped them find important landmarks. After setting up a bivouac area, water was heated for trail-food dinners. After dinner the class was treated to an extraordinary spectacle of a blood-red sun dropping below the western horizon. When they turned around to return to the camp area, Mother Nature offered an encore performance of a glorious full moon rising in the east.

After sunset the temperature dropped quickly and students huddled closely together in a circle to share visions and reflections of the day. In addition to a collection of John Muir’s writing, I carried a collection of quotes, aphorisms and adages that were selectively used to enhance discussions. Plato was on our reference list of poets, sages and author’s and I offered the following:

“What if the man could see Beauty Itself, pure,
unalloyed, stripped of mortality and all its
pollution, stains, and vanities, unchanging,
divine…the man becoming, in that communion,
the friend of God, himself immortal;…would
that be a life to disregard?” – Plato

Plato’s words offered a poignant contrast for the students to contemplate. The only blemish on the gorgeous sunset was the layer of smog that could be seen hanging 50 miles away over the San Joaquin Valley. However, at nearly 9,000 feet the sky was nearly perfectly clear. The stars seemed to be competing to see which could be more brilliant. The air was absolutely still and created a profound silence that was truly sublime.

Following a pause in the sharing, Theresa mentioned that she worked as a counselor at a summer camp for kids with impaired hearing. Evidently, the eerie silence was helping her identify with her campers. She mentioned that she had to learn A-S-L (American Sign Language) in order to “speak through my hands.” And then she said, “I heard a lot of stuff about this class, some of it was pretty weird. Maybe now I know why. We have been in class for only a little over a month; we have climbed a mountain together and I can honestly say that I love every one of you like a brother or a sister. A-S-L has a sign for this kind of love and I would like to share it with you.”

She raised her right hand, folded down her middle and ring fingers, leaving her thumb, pointer and pinkie extended. “It’s kind of a sign-language shortcut,” she said. “The pinkie means ‘I’, the thumb and pointer form an ‘L’ and the pinkie and pointer form a “Y.’”

The lesson was a huge success and the students enjoyed flashing the “I Love You” sign for the rest of the trip. And it didn’t stop there. They used it for the rest of the year and its use was passed down to all the following classes.

The last day arrived and before we headed home we went out to the meadow for what proved to be an emotional a final circle. The mighty Half Dome loomed one mile above our heads. It was time to say “good bye” to Yosemite and it became a bittersweet parting. Of course, every student had a unique experience, but I think a common source of their emotional catharsis can be traced to the two spiritual wells of Joy and Sorrow.

Their joy came from innumerable, priceless scenic images, memories of stress, pain and growth; trail camaraderie and an experience that Joseph Campbell would have described as, “The Soul’s High Adventure.” Most had seen things that they could never have imagined, and in doing so, discovered things about themselves that they never knew existed.

The sorrow probably came from knowing that they would soon be leaving John Muir’s cathedral and would not be able to explain their experience to family and friends. They were also keenly aware that they would be descending back down to the lowland with its smog, grime, crime and rampant materialism.

As was the case with many Yosemite “final circles,” tears trickled down their cheeks. On one occasion, the tears prompted me to paraphrase Bob Marley’s hit song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNQ7-NybIvk

One Love / People Get Ready

One Love! One Heart!
Let’s get together and feel all right.
See the children cryin’ (One Love!);
See the children cryin’ (One Heart!),
Sayin’: give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Sayin’: let’s get together and feel all right. Wo wo-wo wo-wo!

However, there was often a deeper and more universal cause for their sorrow. On several occasions students wondered why world leaders could not discard their artificial pomp and shallowness and climb a mountain and spend the night. They wondered if world peace could become a bit more plausible if this were to happen?

After all, John Muir predicted nothing less when he wrote:

“The great poets, philosophers, prophets, able men whose thoughts and deeds have moved the world, came down from the mountains.”

Lowell H. Young
Author: Biodesign Out For A Walk

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