A Song of Sanity
Posted by Robin Easton
This is the second in a series of posts that explore perceptions of sanity and insanity. To read the first post in this series, click this title: “Seeing for the First Time”.
We tend to think of insanity in a clinical and individual sense: mental disorders, sick minds, and so on. I remember someone saying that an insane person does not know that she or he is insane, since what they are doing seems perfectly normal to them, while their behaviors are actually outside the norms of society. I’ve been thinking lately how the ways insanity can go beyond the individual. Perhaps when people do irrational things that endanger their own welfare and the welfare of others, other species and the environment, we could call it collective craziness or madness.
When I was in the rainforest I took frequent hikes to be alone so I could become comfortable with myself and to better understand my relationship to the world around me. I came to realize however, that I was not really alone. While there were no other people in the forest, nor were there gurus and prophets, I was surrounded by teachers filled with incredible wisdom and survival skills: plants, animals, insects, and trees. I was humbled and exhilarated by the awareness I gained in this school without books and desks. That wisdom they taught me became the inspiration for drastic life changes and my book, Naked in Eden.
One particularly strong lesson came to me one day, when I witnessed something that horrified me and at the same time made me marvel at the tenacity of life in the forest. What I saw seemed irrational, futile, and maybe even insane, until I stopped to think about it. This condensed excerpt from my book briefly describes what occurred:
One morning as I trudged down to the spring for a bucket of water, I heard the desperate call and agitated flutter of a bushlark. I tracked the lark to a patch of tall coarse grass just above our spring and stopped short at the impressive sight of a twelve-foot scrub python, five feet away from me. Each fat curve of his body bulged as he propelled himself in a hypnotic fashion, inch by inch toward the lark’s nest. The petite grayish-brown bird focused on the python’s threatening approach. Terror protruded her tiny black eyes. The little lark hopped up and down and flapped her rust-colored wings to ward off the snake and protect her young in the nest.
The entire rainforest seemed to hold its breath. Silence hung nearly undisturbed in the early morning air as the forest watched and waited to absorb the lark’s inevitable death. Her cries grew more anxious as she sought to lead the scrub python away from her young. The python slithered closer.
I gasped in surprise when the dainty bushlark flew into the face of death. With seconds left to live, the lark abruptly ceased her frantic dance and positioned herself between her babies and approaching death. She stood perfectly still, tipped back her head and sang the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. A rich melodious tinkling, clear and sweet, floated on the air and echoed off the trees down in the spring. The death song. Or perhaps the sweet song of life. There was no resistance from the lark, no need for the python to suffocate and subdue his prey. Less than an inch away, the snake opened his jaws and swallowed the lark whole and alive: song, head, wings, feet, tail . . . silence.
I realized that the mother lark was willing to surrender her present life to ensure the future life of her young. Whether they would survive or not, she still tried to protect their future. Some might simply label what she did as “instinct”, but she was magnificent. If instinct is all that she really had, then it’s the most amazing and life affirming instinct any being can have. I thrive in that instinct. Isn’t it a form of sanity, when we follow the instinct to protect the future for our young, to leave a world rich in opportunity, rather than drained from exploitation? Are we as a species, showing this form of sanity? Are we doing this for our young?
What if we thought about insanity as something that can occur as a species? Are we capable of collective insanity as a species? Can our actions as a species endanger our welfare, as well as that of the life around us? Can these actions seem normal, since the whole species is doing them? I think we, as a species, need more of this survival instinct.
Love,
Robin
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~ “NAKED IN EDEN” ~ Available on Amazon
Did you Enjoy reading Naked in Eden? Would love a review from you, HERE. If you’ve not yet read my Australian adventure book and would like to, you can order it on Amazon HERE. “Naked in Eden” is a spirited true-life Australian adventure story, filled with personal transformation. It is wonderfully life altering for adults, teens and tweens, and makes a memorable gift. Enjoy!
Thank you!
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This Site: © Robin Easton
Website: http://www.nakedineden.com
Blog: http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/
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10 Comments so far...
Ricky Ferdon Says:
14 November 2011 at 7:38 am.
“While there were no other people in the forest, nor were there gurus and prophets, I was surrounded by teachers filled with incredible wisdom and survival skills: plants, animals, insects, and trees. I was humbled and exhilarated by the awareness I gained in this school without books and desks.” – that’s a post in itself! So, so very true. But, yes, it occurs that we ARE capable of a collective insanity as a species. And the insane in this sense are asleep at the wheel, so to speak: blindly unaware of the connection of all, and that everything that’s not a human is NOT here on this earth to satisfy base human desires. Namaste!
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mary rives Says:
14 November 2011 at 8:00 am.
wow, how gripping, robin. so, what became of her babies? did you intervene? this question can be a biggie for ones who witness such raw nature survival…
and as for the insane having no awareness of insanity, you’d be surprised at how aware the so called insane really can be! is it the insane who are asleep at the wheel or are they the ones who are attempting to wake the rest of us up? and what does insanity have to do with that nature scene? I think we as a species need to continue to evolve well above and beyond our survival instincts as this is where we have gotten stuck…we need to thrive and empower others to thrive!
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Jean Sampson Says:
14 November 2011 at 9:12 pm.
Hey, Robin, I am not sure whether we as a species are insane or just in denial or just too zoned out on bad news and bad food, not to mention technology, to even know or care about the future. Of course there are various stages of awakeness and awareness, and there are those who are trying to wake the rest of us up! Thank God for them. There is also a an inability to imagine what life could be if we don’t wake up (or if we DO). People are so busy and involved with life at the end of their noses, that they (we/me) don’t often take time to think about the world. But, I am not at all sure if all this is insane. There are things we are addicted to which are not good for us or for the earth, but we don’t seem able to do anything about it. Maybe the attitude is, “I/we will face that when I/we come to it—–which won’t work at all if it is about not having fresh water or something immediately necessary for life. What a thought-provoking question!
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Larry Rice Says:
15 November 2011 at 9:47 am.
Now you asked the question of primary importance facing this evolving species!
We have all heard the saying “doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result is a form of insanity.” Most of us will think of examples of repeating the same action and expecting different results in our own lives. On a cultural level the collective results of our actions sometimes seem to defy common sense and may even approach that invisible line where we cross into the realm of insane action(s).
As a species, who appears bent on, developing actions and technology, which we know to be capable of bringing us to extinction? Appear to be a form of insanity.
The focus on our differences with one another appears to make us blind to the similarities and prepare us for developing distrust, dislike and ultimately war. One has only to contemplate the rape of mother earth, to realize our choice as a species to travel down the path of self-destruction. It is everywhere self-evident and is this not insane?
Many educated and aware members of our species will see and point out all the good things that can be done with unity of purpose. Feeding, healing, housing and in effect saving the species through supporting each other. Yet greed, fear in a hundred thousand forms drive members of the species apart. Self-righteous anger provides the justification for killing, abusing, using and enslaving millions of our own kind. We human beings have been on a collision course of insane actions that defy common sense for awhile now.
Loving our material world and dismissing our spiritual nature. I believe that soft voice that speaks to one and says maybe we should re-think, re-feel and re-frame this?…is in the end left unheard as our instincts for more ego gratification runs with blinders on towards oblivion. Perhaps following this self-produced insane self-destruction, our souls will fly elsewhere in this universe and find peace and purpose in loving all, serving all.
One can hope! Of course, this is just my opinion. L 
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Robb Says:
16 November 2011 at 7:39 pm.
Kia ora Robin,
I recall this passage from your book well, then strolling back and forth on the riverbank deep in the mountains where I was reading it and thinking of what this meant. Maybe the mountains are the only place I am not insane as there over the years I have come to understand the environment and the place each plant, tree, shrub, and tussock has there. Some of them seem to greet me and understand me as I come by after having been away awhile. They caress my soul as if they know soon I will be coming home for good. If I tried to rationally explain that anywhere else but here one would think me insane I think. As to my own young, perhaps I am not the best person to be guiding them in the ways of the world of humankind out here where it is the pursuit of the material which seems to matter most. But in the mountains I see in both my boys, though very differently, that I am giving them perhaps the only Gift I possibly can. And for that I would gladly surrender myself. It is the only real instinct that matters. Kia kaha my wild sister. Mauri ora!
Aroha,
Robb
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Bernie Says:
18 November 2011 at 4:06 pm.
When Sanitation or exterior natural order and harmony exists in a dirtied state, One goes In-sane and therefore inside to clean up the mess of poor hygiene from the inside out. One then gets a San or Santa in front of their names to show that they have found their own true personal Nature.
Hark, says another bird in flight. Can You feel the warmth of Robin’s ever-changing air currents? This bird flies so High that a new star and city of light in the sky is born, and its rays shine brightly in the morning from the direction of Santa Easton.
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Chris Edgar Says:
19 November 2011 at 10:10 am.
Hi Robin — I wonder if we can benefit from having equal parts bird and python, like Quetzalcoatl, the legendary snake-bird. The “bird” aspect, what I’ll call the lover, is more comfortable for me, and often it’s necessary for me to consciously seek out my serpent, or warrior, aspect. Otherwise I will feel only half-alive.
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Four ways to make sure that today ends better than yesterday « *POSITIVE PROVOCATIONS* Says:
19 November 2011 at 10:49 pm.
[...] make it a great day? Decide that today will be a great day. If you want to enjoy greater inner peace, contentment, fulfillment, and happiness in your life, you are going to have to shift your focus [...]
Stacey Says:
23 November 2011 at 4:48 pm.
To me modern society often encompasses many aspects that would be considered insane in an individual. In so many ways we have started living backward to the laws of nature. When one is able to spend an extended period of time immersed in the embrace of mother nature, we are able to reconnect with the truth within. It is as if an internal GPS is activated, and once again we are able to navigate life with maps that show us where the greatest treasures are.
So often what society considers right or normal is completely backward. It is so valuable to really step back and examine how we are living life. Are we respecting ourselves and our surroundings? Do we really expect the earth to be able to sustain us forever when all we do is take from her? Are we really so self absorbed to believe that all on earth is to supply and serve us?
What nature teaches us is that she will always bring balance to all that she encompasses. Insanity in one organism is only tolerated for so long. All organisms serve their purpose, and those that grow out of control have a limited life span, as inevitably they crash. There is always a natural ebb and flow. And once in a while when something flows a little too strongly, they can even extinct themselves. This is the balance that nature finds.
Your story of the bird is a beautiful example of the sanity and beauty of nature. I would even argue that she was not sacrificing herself because she was concerned with the future of her species and spawn, but because she truly loved her babies. Not in the way that we typically think of love in the western world (a fear based love). But because she loved them enough to triumphantly embrace death. Nature truly embraces life and death, I don’t believe that most living beings fear death in the way we do. When we no longer fear death and what lies beyond it, we find that we are able to fully live in each moment. We remember that we are all one, what we do to all that surrounds us, we do to ourselves.
So sanity and insanity are terms that are valuable to turn around, and reexamine. I love all the beautiful sanity that you awakened within and learned from the rainforest you were immersed in. You are so gracefully sharing this with the world. Thank You!
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Robin Easton Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
NOTE:
DEAR FRIENDS,
Wow, this is really great, and we can see that the definition of insanity or sanity has so many layers of meaning. Ricky, Mary and Jean are looking at an individual level, and we can see that awareness begins at the personal level. And this can be tough, because we sometimes might feel overwhelmed at what we see happening around us. Rob and Larry seem to be looking at a more social or collective level, and this also can be overwhelming. Note: when I say overwhelming, I am talking about my own sense of being overwhelmed at times.
When we think about survival as a species, and the changes that need to occur to ensure our survival, it can seem impossible. We might feel alarm at the events happening in the world around us (war, slavery, environmental destruction, etc.), and they might seem so huge that they are beyond our control. We might even feel like giving up on ourselves and the people around us. So as a species are we walking toward the precipice, following the back of the people in front of us? (Imagine the lemmings). Are we people who make a conscious effort to educate ourselves about the changes needed in the world? Can we take it one step at a time, doing all we can to live in harmony with each other, other species and the earth? Do we know how to live in harmony with each other, other species and the earth? Do we know what this means and how to bring it into our families and our homes? Maybe in the next post, we’ll explore positive ways to undo collective insanity.
I am so grateful for your friendship, kindness, and insights. As always, you make me think deeply and help me to grow. You are the absolute best.
Love,
Robin
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