Natural Magic

Before the turbulence in our lives, before 2020, I defined a new literary movement for the dissertation I was writing at the time. I even gave it a name: New Naturalism.

It was no small thing, to combine established ideas in a new way that called for a unique name. I was a bit uncertain, but what better way to explore and discover than as a graduate student? The novel I was writing fit neatly into this movement. My creative and theoretical work won awards. I was excited and humbled.

Then COVID struck, followed by a series of unfortunate traumas and personal challenges. Ever since, my work has drifted with my confidence. I thought of it often, but every time I tried to approach, it no longer worked. I’d feel the pressure of time passing, but felt there was little I could do.

I’ve since attempted a number of approaches, coming at it sideways — advice I’d received from fellow writers. Sometimes, if you try a different approach that feels more on the edges of a work, the work will emerge on its own. Working too intensely can backfire.

Slowly, day by day, it’s been happening. Nature — the central character in my novel and my life — has continued to speak to me through my photography and poetry, sideways.

‘New Naturalism’

Finally, I bring this to the world. Quietly, for now, but it’s time. If you find this piece here, you’ll be one of the first readers, beyond the university.

Tracing my steps toward naming it:

1. Naturalism: A literary movement of the late 19th century rooted in realism. Scientific principles like determinism and objectivity were influential at that time. (Think Darwin, for example). In the world of that time, the overarching sense was that Nature was solely for our use, both abundant and chaotic, to be conquered and exploited.
2. Prepatriarchal history: A time when elder women were revered as a source of wisdom, law, and healing. They were the respected guardians of the natural world.
3. Magical Realism: In a between space, real-world norms are confronted by the other-worldly, the supernatural. Magical realist literature sits between the fantastical and the realistic, but magic sits on the edges and nature continues to be the threatening ‘other’.
4. The Sixth Extinction: Our current era; one in which massive numbers of species are being lost while we grow increasingly divided amongst ourselves and the Earth burns. We are slowly, much too slowly, beginning to cherish Nature once again.

Enter New Naturalism: There is a growing literary movement in which Nature is no longer deterministic and bleak. She is still powerful, but now she provides instruction and healing. She is endowed with spirit. Much of this literature acknowledges an elder feminine voice (the Crone). Nature and the wise elder woman are emerging together from society’s margins.

References

I’ll be showcasing a variety of literary works — fiction and nonfiction — as I go along, but if you want to start reading now, here’s a short list to get you going:

• Abrams, D. (1996) The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World.
• Beresford-Kroeger, D. (2019) To Speak for the Trees: My Life’s Journey From Ancient Celtic Wisdom to a Healing Vision of the Forest.
• Blackie, S. (2016) If Women Rose Rooted: A life-changing journey to authenticity and belonging.
• Butala, S. (1994) The Perfection of the Morning: An Apprenticeship in Nature.
• Greenwood, S. (2005) The Nature of Magic: An Anthropology of Consciousness.
• Jensen, D. (2000) A Language Older Than Words.
• Kimmerer, R.W. (2013) Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.
• May, G.G. (2006) The Wisdom of the Wilderness: Experiencing the Healing Power of Nature.
• Oliver, M. (2016) Upstream: Selected Essays.
• Powers, R. (2018) The Overstory.
• Sabini, M. ed. (2016) The Earth Has a Soul: C.G. Jung on Nature, Technology & Modern Life.
• Stone, M. (1976) When God Was A Woman.

Search for Meaning

It’s what we humans do, and these days it feels like we’re doing it more than ever.

There are various theories as to why we’re floundering: political turmoil, wars, climate change, failing churches, social media, misinformation, outdated schooling, immigration, war, economics … I could go on and on.

It can all feel pretty dark. In other historical moments, people believed they were living in ‘end times’. People believe it now. It’s nothing new.

But I can’t help believe that what I started to explore in 2019 could hold some of the answers we need, a way toward a new mythology, a new meaning for all of us who share this extraordinary planet. Our one-and-only home.

I believed it then, it took hold of me, and patiently called me back.

I hope you’ll stay with me on the journey ahead.