Interview with Dr. Daniel Wahl

Head of Programme Development and Academic Outreach at Findhorn College

Dr. Daniel Wahl believes that the disconnect between humanity and nature is the biggest ecological problem facing Scotland today. Too often, he claims, we do not consider humanity to be part of nature and this lack of connection contributes to our over consumption of natural resources and polluting habits. He traced the source of this disconnection to church influences, the way in which Judeo-Christian religion saw man as having dominion over nature. The Church was also suspicious of those who knew about the healing powers of plants and burned many herbalists at the stake as witches. Science and thinkers such as Descartes furthered the disconnect with views that animals did feel pain and science encouraged a detached objective observer. Embodied sensous experiences of nature were viewed as less intelligent and acceptable.

Antidotes to this disconnect can be found in growing food and in philosophy and experience of Deep Ecology and Ecopsychology. It is necessary for our worldview and values to change in order for us to make practical changes to live more sustainable lifestyles.

The images that came to Daniel were the difference between a natural philosopher with a stick and a backpack on a mountain trail compared with a guy in a white coat in a laboratory looking at nature through a microscope. He also spoke about images of seeds sprouting through asphalt sidewalks or flowers growing through cracks in a wall.