This Paper shall look at how the way that we view Nature – has effects that are far-reaching in terms of how we relate to the living creatures found within nature. As a follower of the Pagan Path, I likewise include here all the Elemental Beings – the Dryads, the Fai, the Water Sprites, as too the Mischievous Imps, for they all matter.  It is important to note that I view the Individual Being as equal in importance to that of the group. We speak of the “Species” as somehow separate from the animal singular.

 

One author used as the title of his book, THE SOCIAL CREATION OF NATURE[1] which begs the question, Is Nature Created by our perception?   I think not, and hope to give a reason or two, behind my thinking. For if we create Nature by our own subjectivity, then where will this take us in the future?  Cloning and genetically altering plants and animals for our own ends is already one problem that stares me in the face[2], the other – the patenting of LIFE by the greedy arrogance that we are somehow ‘above Nature,’ a concept known as ALGENY[3].

 

[A] term… coined by Dr. Joshua Lederberg. It means to change the essence of a living thing by transforming it from one state to another; more specifically, the upgrading of existing organisms and the design of wholly new ones with the intent of “perfecting” their performance

 

I my view, this is akin to Eugenics. The artwork on the cover of this book really shows how we as people have put ourselves above nature, as if Nature were something distinct and separate from us. The cover of the Penguin edition is quite visual and needs to be seen. It was painted by the Polish artist, Rafał Olbinski.

 

We tend to describe things around us, or that we come into contact with, as either being Beautiful (attractive) or Ugly (repulsive); Good (beneficial / benevolent) or Evil (detrimental / malevolent).   In relation to Nature and those who reside in Her world, these views can – and indeed do – have tremendous repercussions.  

 

To give a useful definition of Beauty, I quote from an article, Is Beauty Relative? by Ruth Phelps that appeared in THE ROSICRUCIAN DIGEST of September 1953:

 

Beauty is the manifestation of the creative force in man, in others, and in the world outside man, as perceived on this second level – that is, subjectively. On this level, Ugliness is lack of Beauty; or, to put it another way, it is lack of that which is pleasing to the inner being. It is lack of creative force, or the failure to use or perceive it. ..An old building may be ugly objectively, but it may be beautiful subjectively through its inner values.  A period of deep trouble is ugly if viewed objectively – that is, on the first level. But viewed subjectively, judged by its spiritual values, it is beautiful.

Ugliness, then, is lack of Beauty; it is man’s failure to use and perceive the creative force of Divine Mind.  A thing is Ugly because the one perceiving it lacks the creative force

 

To bring this definition to a level of understanding, let me relate a short story from the autobiography of Belgian-born wildlife photographer, Armand Deniś[4].  I shall read verbatim as written in this 1963 book.   The paragraph picks up from where Armand and his wife Michaelá, return to Africa and are rescuing animals:

 

‘Some of them were hardly the kind you would expect to make pets of. There was Voodoo the vulture for instance.  We found him by chance when we were out filming. Michaelá noticed a vulture sitting motionless on the ground about a quarter of a mile from our Land Rover.  

 

The only thing that normally lures a vulture to the ground is a kill of some sort.   We slowly drove over to investigate.   To our surprise the vulture did not move as we approached.   To our still greater surprise there was no sign of a kill or a dead animal.

 

“Look,” said Michaelá, “there’s something wrong with his wing,” and sure enough, we could see that the left wing drooped slightly. He made a pathetic attempt to fly as we got towards him, but despite the flurry of feathers he could not rise…. The wing was fractured.   Vultures often are surprisingly foolhardy when they feed on the kill of another animal, and many times I have seen a lion charge them to drive them away.  I can only suppose that this vulture had not got out of the way quickly enough….

 

Normally a vulture is not a particularly sociable bird as far as people are concerned, but the remarkable thing about this one was that he seemed to realize instinctively that we were trying to help him….

 

This was the start of the long and agreeable friendship we had with Voodoo the vulture. ..soon he would answer to his name and come waddling over with his bandaged wing whenever we called him.

 

I have always been annoyed by people who speak of the “ugliness” and the “evil faces” of vultures.   For me they are among the most beautiful of birds and their action in flight is magnificent.’

 

This author certainly paints a rather nice picture for us about a beautiful bird; a bird who sadly, a lot of people view do as “Ugly.”

 

I remember how sad I felt when I saw a lone vulture sitting in a cage at London Zoo – a cage that was no higher than a three-storey building, and even then, I feel that I am being very generous.  In the skies, a vulture can appear as a speck when it first appears, so one can only imagine what it is like to be denied this part of the bird’s natural life. 

 

For myself, I think this would is akin to never allowing me to get out of bed; to be denied the gift to partake of all that Life gives to me: To feel the sun, walk through a park, view the stars at night. Some may argue that, born into captivity, the bird knows no better – but I doubt that this is ever really true.

 

A battery hen that has been rescued from its confined cage will often, in a few hours, partake of a dust-bath (even though it may never have experienced this before) for that is a part of the bird’s inherent nature.

 

As an aside, the vulture was worshipped in Ancient Upper Egypt,  typically associated with the goddess Nekhebet who was responsible for the Wild Birds, Creator Of Life, Death and Rebirth.

 

It was my reading about ‘Voodoo’ the vulture that first prompted me sit down and seriously make an attempt to explore more deeply about our language and feelings in relation to that which we see in the world of Nature.

 

Please do not think that I do not have an appreciation for goodness and beauty, nor regret for evil and the ugliness that evil gives birth to.    What I hope to achieve here is merely one whereby we can reflect on our subjective world and expand it to the objective world, in relation to the things found with Nature, and vice-versa.   Hopefully, this will move us to see animals in a better light. We may still fear the snake, the bat, the cockroach or the spider (I am particularly scared of spiders).  However, when we learn to see animals as a part of the glory of the natural world, we may see the snake, the bat, the cockroach and the spider, as creatures to be admired.

 

Now for some concrete examples.  Most people that I meet either behold something as worthy (beautiful to behold and retaining goodness in their beauty) or they discard it as unworthy (repulsive and retaining a form of evil in its repulsiveness).

 

Crocodiles often instill a fear in people who see them as monstrous.  Thus, these reptiles are often maligned and so, to justify their purpose via conservation efforts, the crocodile is slaughtered for both its skin and flesh.    On the other hand, the panda is an animal which appeals to people and we therefore will raise funds to help protect its environment that the panda may live out its natural life – why is it that we do not ranch them for their skin and meat?   Some people will say because the Panda is endemic to China, but there are 23 species of Crocodile – each endemic to its range..

 

Both of these animals are a part of Nature and thus equally deserving of respect.   Some may also argue, “But the Panda is endangered, not the Crocodile.”  A fair point, yet of the 23 species of crocodilian, 17 have been hunted to the verge of extinction world-wide.  Wilfred T. Neill in   Last of the Ruling Reptiles (1971) wrote:

 

I suspect that the present book will not only be the first to deal broadly with crocodilian biology, but also the last; the last, that is, to be written by someone who had a chance to see almost all of the modern species in life, and a majority of them in their natural habitats….I doubt that any crocodilian species will persist in nature much beyond the present century.

                         

So, if what this author wrote were to be considered as a true prophecy, then why do we not raise funds to protect the crocodile and its natural environment, as we do for the panda? The only real effort that I have come across for crocodiles is the Chinese Alligator Fund, which seeks to protect this alligator, restricted to a small province of eastern China called Anhui.

 

Recent surveys conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society came up with this alarming news: there are probably less than 150 Chinese alligators left in the wild, and they’re disappearing fast. Unless things change, the creature which inspired the fabled legends of the Chinese dragon, is going to disappear from the wild in 15 years or less. It is also known as “tu long,” which means “muddy dragon.”  Another critically endangered crocodile is the Ghavial, known as the Tomistoma.

 

The Greek historian, Herodotus (440 BC) wrote about the Nile Crocodile and  how it was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians in great temples erected to honour one of the most powerful and influential of all Egyptian deities - the crocodile god Sebek; the god of lakes and rivers

 

“They adorn his ears with ear-rings of molten stone or gold, and put bracelets on his fore-paws, giving him daily a set portion of bread, with a certain number of victims; and, after having thus treated him with the greatest possible attention while alive, they embalm him when he dies and bury him in a sacred repository.”

 

Another animal much maligned is the snake.   These animals are exploited in many ways. I find it too distressing even to go into this as just thinking about what befalls these animals is barbaric – the Snake evil!  I say ‘Not So’ – those who take out their pleasure in relation to snakes, these are the ones who embody evil.  

 

For anyone interested, I can lend them a short booklet (50 pages long), by Clifford Warwick, Reptiles: Misunderstood, Mistreated and Mass Marketed.  I challenge anyone to read this book and not walk away in complete and total sympathy (if not empathy) for the fate of reptiles and the snake in particular. This is quite a rare booklet and not easily obtained.

 

The Snake has been seen as akin to EVIL, no doubt going back to days of the Garden of Eden. In the Genesis account, it was the Serpent that spoke to Eve, saying: “You shall not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Gen.3:4-5.

 

Throughout most Christian faiths, this is particularly so.   Yet conversely, some cultures worship the snake and hold it in honour.   However, why is that we do not simply allow these creatures to live as Nature intended?  

 

I would add here that the Serpent was a part of the Genesis Creation, “created very good” – Gen.1:24-25.   Also, the Serpent was an amoral creature, so that even though Adam and Eve were told they would die if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they did become “as like God, knowing good and evil” – Gen.3:22.  So this so-called ‘EVIL CREATURE’ spoke a falsehood – ‘You shall not die’

Remember that according to the Genesis Account – death was, at that time, UNKNOWN, and it also spoke A TRUTH – “ye shall …know good and evil.”  In Gen.3:22 there is reference to THE TRUTH of man becoming as “One of Us” (Elohim)

 

Why are some snakes maligned whilst others are worship?   Both views are flawed for they originate from out of the heart of Man.   According to one writer[5]:

 

The snake’s duality – a balance between fear and veneration –accounts for its frequent appearance in symbolism as an enemy of humankind. In its fearful aspect, it gave birth to the Dragons and Sea Serpents of Western Tradition and to Snake Hybrids that symbolize the multiple perils of human existence, typified by the Children of Echidna in Greek Legend – the Hydra, the Chimera and the snake-backed hell-hound Cerberus.  Paradoxically, the snake was often used as a curative symbol   

 

The Pirahna! According to scientists, there is evidence that the ancestors of the piranha were once plant-eaters. Many species of South American pacu fish, identified by taxonomists as being ‘very closely related’ to piranhas, use their teeth and strong jaws to eat aquatic plants, and fruit that falls from overhanging trees.

 

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) himself believed that the beautiful colors and diversified patterns found in the realm of Nature such as seen in butterflies, moths, fish, birds, and other creatures must be beneficial in some way. In his book, THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES[6] (1859) we find the following words:

 

We can to a certain extent understand how it is that there is so much beauty throughout nature; for this may be largely attributed to the agency of selection. That beauty, according to our sense of it, is not universal, must be admitted by every one who will look at some venomous snakes, at some fishes, and at certain hideous bats with a distorted resemblance to the human face.

 

Sexual selection has given the most brilliant colors, elegant patterns, and other ornaments to the males, and sometimes to both sexes of many birds, butterflies, and other animals. With birds it has often rendered the voice of the male musical to the female, as well as to our ears. Flowers and fruit have been rendered conspicuous by brilliant colors in contrast with the green foliage, in order that the flowers may be easily seen, visited, and fertilized by insects, and the seeds disseminated by birds. How it comes that certain colors, sounds, and forms should give pleasure to man and the lower animals,–that is, how the sense of beauty in its simplest form was first acquired,–we do not know any more than how certain odors and flavors were first rendered agreeable

 

As an aside, plants also use aroma as both an attractive measure (such as to attract bees for pollination) but also to proclaim its maturity (or ripeness). The latter is one that we as humans can use to gauge best when the fruit of a tree is ready for eating.  

 

As one author, Dr David Phillips[7], explains it:

 

“The bounty of life is very different in its action.  Plants produce perfumes to attract the picking of their fruits when ripe.  They offer bright colours and create tempting flavours so that man [and animals] takes the fruit at the stage of its maximum maturity, releasing the seed for further propagation, absorbing the life force into his own [dead animals have no ‘life force’ to give!

 

And in the Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception by Max Heindel (of the Rosicrucian Fellowship), we find these sentiments reiterated:

 

Sometimes the objection is made that life is also taken when vegetables and fruits are eaten, but that statement is based upon a complete misunderstanding of the facts. When the fruit is ripe, it has accomplished its purpose, which is to act as a womb for the ripening of the seed. If not eaten, it decays and goes to waste. Moreover, it is designed to serve as food for the animal and human kingdoms, thus affording the seed opportunities for growth by scattering it in fertile soil.

 

Whilst the Islamic author, Harun Yahya[8], explains, in relation to colour, that:

 

Plants, playing a very active role, directly influence animals’ behavior patterns. They (Plants) have perfected strategies by which they direct the animals which will carry their pollen.  For example, plants’ colour signals indicate to birds and other animals which fruits are ripe and ready for dispersal…and specific floral odours attract the right pollinators at exactly the right time

So, even where we may ourselves view something as “Ugly,” it is important to see that even these play an important role in their life here on earth.  Take away some of these “Ugly” animals and insects and we may be kissing a given plant species “Goodbye” – and, life being interconnected, such may flow on to other plants etc.

 

Authors, Martin J Hodson and Margot R Hodson[9]:

 

All the views above [Anthropocentric, egocentric and biocentric] will result in the protection of some biodiversity, but they all tend to leave some species out because they are not “useful” or “pretty”, large enough to be easily visible, or whatever. Only when we protect biodiversity holistically for its intrinsic value will we maximize protection, and decrease loss of species.

 

In the bird kingdom, one reads about a bird called the Marabou (Leptoptilos crumeniferus), arguably the largest of the stork family, having a wingspan of more than eight feet.  In adults, a reddish inflatable pouch resembling a thick, round necktie hangs on the throat, which often find unattractive.

 

But as Dr. Leon Benun, head of the Ornithology Department at the National Museums of Kenya, reminds us: “Just because the pouch looks ugly to us doesn’t mean it’s ugly to the marabou.” In the Time-Life publication, The World’s Wild Places —Africa’s Rift Valley[10], one finds the following quote: “If there is a bird of more evil omen than the marabou . . . , I have yet to meet it.” – My Reference is: - Marabou The Misjudged Bird,  Awake!  August 8, 2001[11]

Who cares about lice?  Not many people I’d imagine. You may be interested to know that two species of lice[12] became extinct when the last of the Passenger Pigeon, named Martha, died in 1914 in the Cincinnati Zoo. So, we lost three species; not just one.[13]

Such cases as known by the term, Coextinction, first used in relation to the loss of parasitic insects along with their host.

Species coextinction is a manifestation of the interconnectedness of organisms in complex ecosystems. The loss of species through coextinction represents the loss of irreplaceable evolutionary and coevolutionary history. In view of the global extinction crisis, it is imperative that coextinction be the focus of future research to understand the intricate processes of species extinctions. While coextinction may not be the most important cause of species extinctions, it is certainly an insidious one.” (Koh et al. 2004)[14]

Do people care about the humble fly as an important part of the world; of Nature?  It may interest you to know that over a 100,000 scientific papers have been produced in relation to experiments utilizing flies.  Back in the 1970s there was much research carried out to produce mutant flies – bicaudal was born without a head or much of a body, Antennapedia had a extra pair of legs but they were attached to where the antennae should have been; the work of Hermann Muller.[15]   In a short item from a newspaper,[16] one learns that “Flies inflicted with degenerative brain diseases are helping to unlock new treatments for sufferers of Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases.”  Of course, most people would not see this type of research as somehow ‘bad’ or ‘negative’ as it is done to help people.

            Another problem that arises from our division of Beauty and Ugly can be seen in the social problems that can cause problems with people – such as Anorexia and Bulimia, both of which affect girls and boys (though to a lesser degree) and from which they can die.  Girls desire to be ‘Slender’ like the image portrayed by the modeling world; boys desire to have ‘Muscular’ bodies for they equate such as being the embodiment of ‘Manliness.’ In the United States, as many as 10 in 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder.  There are numerous case studies available here.

 

In the Age Newspaper of 27 March 2003, there was an article published, Boys succumb to image ideal  by David Rood.

 

The article cites Deakin University psychology lecturer Marita McCabe:- “Teenage boys try to change their body image by dieting, taking food supplements and exercise . . . There are adolescent boys adopting extreme behaviours and it will become more of a problem.”Dr. McCabe went on to say that “It’s not as acceptable for them (boys) to say ‘I want to have this wonderful body’, but that is really what they are after. It’s much messier and not as clear cut with guys, and the pressure is increasing.”  Boys are becoming increasingly interested in their appearance including their hair, clothes and physique. 

 

Personally, the increase that we are seeing in the use of cosmetics aimed at males equates with an increase in Animal Tested products hitting the market.

The issue that arises here is the one where we can begin to view our self-worth by our body image – by this I mean our Self-Worth in relation to others around us, be these our Peers, our Heroes or those that we simply pass by as we walk down the street.  I call this: Non-Identifying as People – we longer relate to our self as an Individual but as a Group.

 

In a way, the problem is one of a Social Construct and needs to be challenged. One day when out and about, take a good look at people and there really are only some that may appeal to you.   How would it be if there were no “Ugly;’ people , we surely would become quite confused as we found ourselves unable to Connect with a Partner – again, it is important that we differentiate here between ‘Attractive’ v. ‘non-Attractive,’ on the physical looks.  No doubt, we have all had experiences of finding a person ‘Catching our eye,’ only to walk away once the person starts to speak. I remember talking to a guy at a party who, sadly, was being ignored by the host and other guests. It was a great conversation which we had for about an hour – yet I was told that he was “ugly,” as if his outer appearance was somehow reflective of the Inner Soul. Needless to say, I never mixed with those people again

 

If we learn to go beyond simply judging this outer form of a person, an animal or a plants (are there ‘Ugly’ Plants!) and instead look past this to the Inner Beauty, then surely it would be hoped that we started to treat anew that which once we found repulsive. It is high-time that we began to see Beyond the Beautiful and the so-called Ugly for, after all, they are merely subjective views, as said afore.

 

The Greek Philosopher Plato (c.429-347 BC) taught that:

 

It is the duty of religion to preserve beauty, because through beauty of the external world man can come to have greater appreciation of the better life – those things which represent the beauty of his inner nature or his soul[17]

 

Ramakrishna (1836-1886) say that All is Narayana, man or animal, the wise and wicked, the whole world is Narayana, the Supreme Spirit.

Thus, we see that the real Beauty or Ugliness of all Creation is contained within the Inner Life.    This is very true when it comes to the Human Race for, whilst we are able to manifest the Apex of Love, Goodness and Respect, we can also manifest the antipodes of Hate, Evil and Disrespect for Life – or worse still, Indifference.

 

Of course, it is my belief that most people carry a mixture between these two extremes and, I pray, leaning more to the side of Beauty; Inner Beauty.  As a believer in a Creator – call it what you will; Yahweh, Allah, Brahma – I feel it to be akin to arrogance to call any of the Beings that have been Created, to be called “Ugly” in the true sense of the world.

 

Whilst researching for this talk I found a Paper that was presented at a UNESCO Symposium on Science held in Paris on February 14, 1986. The Paper in question, is titled – IMPACT OF SCIENCE ON HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS – wherein its author, Mrs. Maitraye Devi[18]. In it, I found the following sentiments:

 

 

 

Buddha said he who looks upon all the creatures of the world with the same feeling of love just as a mother looks at her only son, lives in Brahma – Brahma is a word which has not (sic) counterpart in English, it can mean eternity in this context.

 

Because of the vast expansion of knowledge or science we have successfully sent our greedy hands into the bowels of the earth and are taking out all its riches to feed its present generation.   

 

We have made our land exert itself to its fullest strength to yield all the crops possible.  We have made the birds produce bigger eggs to fill man’s stomach.  A hen will never see a cock and a cow will never see a bull but will yield enough to drown its master. No doubt all these prove a great mastery of science.  Man should be satisfied that he can eat plenty and squander away the riches of mother nature at his will.  But he is gradually squeezing out the joy of life from nature.

 

You may wonder why I am quoting this piece in a talk such as this. It is because we seem to see some animals as Beautiful (= worthy of respect and protection) such as whales, dolphins, elephants, The Panda etc. The others, such as reptiles, fish, some birds, camels etc, less so; not necessarily Ugly but not quite fitting the bill of a Beautiful Animal – I meet very few people who see chickens or sharks as Beautiful.

 

And the Earth we indeed take from – Because we can.  Yes, the Earth is simply Beautiful and speaks of the highest poetry if we but pay heed to Her.  Sadly though, there are those who somehow miss seeing the Beauty, especially in the deserts, the flatlands, the swamps.

 

 

Some folk visit Exotic regions to see Nature in Her Beauty – but coming home, they look out of their door and:

 

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is, In the eyes of others, Only a green thing  Which stands in the way.

 

So wrote the poet William Black (1757-1827)

 

For myself, I see the manifestation of UGLINES in:-

 

·        A denuded landscape

·        A polluted river

·        A picture of a Turtle dying from having mistakenly tried to eat a plastic bag, thinking it a jellyfish

·        Birds dying from an oil spill; the oil spill itself

·        Sharks having their fins cut off (for Shark-Fin Soup) and then tossed back into the ocean, often still alive, to die a slow and agonizing death. Ironically, The

fins are tasteless, so pork or chicken is used for flavour. Compared to the 10-15 people killed by sharks each year; over 100 million sharks perish at the hands of humans annually and many populations may face extinction.

·        Beautiful forests being destroyed

·        A world of smog that blocks out the Sun.

·        Light pollution – This interferes with Bird and Turtle Migration.

·        The introduction of chemicals to kill so-called “Pests” – Rats killed by internal hemorrhaging; cockroaches killed by chemicals, such as silica aerogel, designed to strip the outer skeleton of its protected layer, causing it to shrivel and die; foxes killed by 1080.   How scientists can even deem such control measures as OK proves the arrogance and indifference of their thinking in relation to another living thing.  Non-invasive techniques, such as making the environment “less attractive,” are far more humane.

·        When animals fight to the death – such as in organized dog fights. In the wild, when dogs fight to gain the role of the Alpha (or Leader), the weaker dog will bear its neck so that the other dog knows when it has gained the leadership. So, to make them fight to the death is in direct violation of the laws of Nature.

·        Subjecting animals to Factory Farm situations.

 

On the topic of eliminating cockroaches.  One technique, to kill them, is to flush them down the toilet – which I have been doing.   But a few weeks, the roach did not flush away, and I saw it trying desperately to save its life (they tend to sink and cannot swim).    This distressed me to the point that I grabbed it out of its watery grave, and took it outside to dry in the Sun.  I stayed with it for about 30 minutes until it began to move.  Since then, I have made it a rule that I will never do this again.

 

So, as you may gather – I consider Ugliness in Nature as synonymous with the Imbalance found within Nature, as caused by our interference, in the foregoing case, I was the Imbalance in the life of the Cockroach.

 

Nothing, as I believe it, is UGLY IN NATURE is NATURE CREATED; only an IMBALANCE IN NATURE can be truly Ugly.

There is a beautiful little parable about a Holy Man and a Scorpion[19] – The Holy Man saw a scorpion floating down a river, so he reached in and took it out.  His reward was that the scorpion stung him. This was repeated on the second and third day. Nearby, a man was watching all that had occurred.  His curiosity got the better, so he approached the Holy Man and asked, “Why do you save this scorpion each day, and each day you are rewarded with a nasty and painful bite?”   To this, the Holy Man replied, “It is the nature of the scorpion to sting, and it is my nature to help. The scorpion does not give up its nature, why should I give up mine?”

 

Another true story concerns a dog called ‘Faith,’ a dog born with two legs, with the mother dog naturally ignoring him. His present owner Jude Stringfellew has  given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to  preach that ‘even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul’.    Again, a story of courage and hope.

 

A similar goes thus: “I myself [the author] was able to observe a dog which lost both right legs in a railway accident.  As soon as he recovered he was immediately able to move about on the two remaining legs with amazing skill.   He was still able to run quickly up a fairly steep incline and catch a stick thrown in the air. He moved so adroitly that one had to examine him quite closely before realizing that he had lost two legs.”[20]

 

Is an Earthquake ugly even though it causes untold damage? I say NO!  for there is NO INTENT to destroy.     Is a Tornado ugly? I say NO! for there is NO INTENT to destroy.  

 

The same goes for Floods, Storms, Volcanic Eruptions – what we might style as “ACTS OF GOD.” a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no one can be held responsible.     However, if drilling the Ocean floor creates disturbances within the Oceanic environment – affecting the life contained therein, then I would call this Ugly.

 

One story I heard was about a woman who invited a friend to visit her ‘Beautiful’ city – which was smoggy Detroit. Her friend asked, “How can you say this is Beautiful?” The reply, “Come visit tonight.”  Going up to a look-out point atop a tall building, the friend saw a beautiful city of ‘Christmas-like’ twinkling light and understood how an Ugly view can hide something really Beautiful. Yes! Beauty is Subjective.

 

In the South African Theosophical Society (Pasadena) newsletter, CONTACT[21], I found the following quotation extremely apt:-

 

Perhaps it is our arrogance as members of this civilization that is most dangerous to our beautiful planet and to other life forms on it, we seem to imagine that we have all the answers, that we are far superior to civilizations of past times; after all, haven’t we walked on the moon….

Indeed there are those who rationalize and justify the gross exploitation of nonhuman life with the fallacious claim that, such life is mortal and soulless and so the treatment thereof is of little consequence.

 

And on the VOICE OF THE SILENCE, H. P. Blavatsky writes:

 

Help Nature and work on with her; and Nature will regard thee as one of her creators and make obeisance. And she will open wide before thee the portals of her secret chambers, lay bare before thy gaze the treasures hidden in the very depths of her pure virgin bosom. Unsullied by the hand of matter she shows her treasures only to the eye of Spirit — the eye which never closes, the eye for which there is no veil in all her kingdoms. — verses 66-67

 

Whilst in the Rosicrucian Digest of 1996, the current Imperator (or Leader), Christian Bernard, reminds us that:

 

Ecology is an integral part of mysticism, for we cannot take an interest in the mysteries of life without being concerned with the future of our planet.  This explains why Rosicrucians are particularly sensitive to the problems of the environment and try to set an example in respect of nature and all living beings.  We must never forget that the earth is the mother of all and our survival[22] depends on her

 

So it is my dream that each one of us in the rich tapestry of life extend this to ALL LIFE.  The preceding 3 quotes point to us doing something to help make the Earth a better place; to learn to expand our Awareness to others – the Beautiful, the Ugly, the In-Between.  Let us go away today and reflect on how we can make our Spiritual Life a life to is Inclusive – not Exclusive. So Mote It Be.

 

I wish to add here one more important aspect relating to The Future; to my own Dream as outlined above.

 

Some argue that the purpose of Life is to live in the here and now. However, to achieve a world where all life, individually and collectively – no matter its manifestation – is safe and secure, we need to put forth an effort for bringing about a better world.  This can be achieved by simply meditating on a World that is in Full Accord with the Divine.  I do believe in my heart that such shall interfere with what must occur – Karma, Predestination etc, I only know that we need to expand our awareness future-wise and can take as a small encouragement the words of Sri Krsna as found in the Bhagavad-gita: “One’s own dharma, performed imperfectly, is better than another’s dharma well performed. Destruction in one’s own dharma is better, for to perform another’s dharma leads to danger.” (Bg. gita  3.35 cp. 18:59-60)

 

If we deny the past, saying, “It has passed,” do we not miss the opportunity to learn the lessons that the past has given for our learning?   And if we simply are content to live “In the Here and Now,” are we not missing the part we each must invariably play in sending forth Pure, Loving and Peaceful thoughts for the better future that I have spoken of!

In the Pagan philosophy  one learns about Creative Visualization – such should be for the greater good of ALL LIFE; not simply that we may gain abundance or that which we desire for in our own lives only.

 

And To conclude, I can do better than repeat the following words by David Grayson, from his book, ADVENTURES IN FRIENDSHIP (publ.1910) – Chapter V The Story of Anna :

 

IT is the prime secret of the Open Road that you are to pass nothing, reject nothing, despise nothing upon this earth.  As you travel, many things both great and small will come to you attention; you are to regard all with open eyes and a heart of simplicity. 

 

Believe that everything belongs somewhere; each thing has its fitting and luminous place with the mosaic of human life. The Road is not open to those who withdraw the skirts of intolerance or lift the chin of pride.  Rejecting the least of those who are called common or unclean, it is curiously you yourself that you reject dd

 
If you despise that which is ugly you do not know that which is beautiful. For what is beauty but completeness? The roadside beggar belongs here, too; and the idiot boy who wanders idly in the open fields; and the girl who withholds (secretly) the name of the father of her child.

 

 

Thank you for your time and attention in exploring these thoughts with me but, more importantly, for allowing me the opportunity to share my views with you.

 

 

Copyright © 2009


 

[1] Evernden, N. (1992) John Hopkins University Press

 

[2] Roosters hen-pecked into sex change by Grant McArthur, Herald-Sun August 27, 2009 p.11

 

[3]Cited in the book, ALGENY by Jeremy Rifkin (1984) Penguin Books

 

[4] Deniś, Armand (1963) ON SAFARI, Collins Sydney  pp.283-284

 

[5] Tresidder, J  (2000) SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS, Duncan Baird Publishers UK

 

[6] Chapter 15: Recapitulation and Conclusion.

 

[7] NEW DIMENSIONS IN HEALTH (1983) p.81 – [ ] are my comments.

 

[8] THE MIRACLE OF CREATION IN PLANTS (2005) GoodWord Books  p.37

 

[9] CHERISHING THE EARTH: How To Care for God’s Creation (2008)  Monarch Books UK p.34-35

 

[10] Publ. 1984 Time-Life Books

 

[11] There is a great story about a Marabou Stork that was taught to catch a ball in the September 1948 issue of  POPULAR MECHANICS Magazine – ‘Play Ball’ by Lynwood M. Chace

 

[12] Columbicola extinctus and Campanulotes defectu

 

[13] Hodson J. and Margot Hodson op.cit., p.74

 

[14] Koh,L.P. Dunn,R.R,  Sodhi, N.S1, Colwell,R.K., Proctor, H.C. Smith, V.S  (2004)  Species Coextinction and the biodiversity problem, Science September 10, 2004 Vol.305 pp.1632-1634

 

[15] Brookes, M. (2002) FLY: The Unsung Hero of 20th Century Science, Phoenix UK

 

[16] Fly ties to aid disease study, Herald-Sun 13 July 2004 p.11

 

[17] Lewis, Ralph M. (1973) YESTERDAY HAS MUCH TO TELL – Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC - Rosicrucian

 

 

[18] unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000678/067811eb.pdf. Limited Distribution.

 

[19] Tipple, Edith D. (2005) WHAT THE DISCIPLES SAID ABOUT IT, Advaita Ashrama INDIA

 

[20] Katz, D (1937) ANIMALS AND MEN,  Pelican A279. pp.132-133

 

[21] No.78 June 2009 Permission to quote gratefully acknowledge

 

[22] I would add, ‘and the survival of ALL LIFE, whatever their manifestation’

 

 

 

The views expressed in this lecture are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Theosophical Society (Pasadena).

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