Lauren Crocker - Practice of the Wild

I found that Good, Wild, Sacred provided a general understanding of human interaction with nature, and how that relationship often decays with modernized human perspective. Nature is Order (93) and therefore nature trains man. It is limited human understanding that pushes us to control “pests” and pull weeds and mow down perfect patchwork fields for planting. The reason for this is that we do not see natural order, merely because it pales in the grand scheme of human control. It is said, “That which appears to be chaotic in nature is only a more complex kind of order” (93). Biological science reveals daily the inner workings of the wild, however, man lacks in application. Nature can best be described as riddled with order and precision, yet the concept of natural order is seldom acknowledged in the casual setting. This requires training, “a training that helps us realize our own true nature and nature” (92). To accept nature for its predisposition is to connect. To connect is to feel understanding and enlightenment, or perhaps, sense a higher power or force. Through this unity stems association with the sacred and understanding of spiritual value, rather than “goodness” alone.
Modern culture often seeks to develop that which is already productive in order to gain control of natural chaos. By understanding how the wild may change us and individuals, we can better use nature. By applying what nature may teach, we can better identify and protect that which is sacred, rather than endanger what is naturally complex for personal gain. Truly comprehending nature is finding the connection between self preservation and that of the wild