Thoughts about individualism and community weave in and out of this Leaf Creature series. While their individual characteristics manifest from the physical isolation of the black backgrounds and unique shapes, they will always be connected functionally to the mother tree community. Except for the occasional rebellion, their function in life is largely set. It doesn’t always seem that way when thinking about human systems. Individualism vs. community often has a push and pull relationship if not directly in conflict.
I often wonder if this dichotomy is at the root of the many issues we have. When you really start to think about it – you get into all sorts of aspects of conflict in our political systems, health (eg. the pandemic), and our mounting struggles in dealing with the crisis with the climate. Bear with me, this is where my head wanders at times and I make no guarantees it makes any sense whatsoever. Who knew you could extract so much from looking at a leaf eh? 🙂
Every Autumn I see a renewal of the campaigns to “leave the leaves” and a renewal of grumblings by individuals seemingly programmed to rake them up. There can be a variety of reasons for this – not all of them resulting in individual obsession over “tidiness.” Sometimes an individual doesn’t have much of a choice depending on the draconian aspects of local ordinances or HMO rules. Such short-sighted rules are quite foreign to a tree. Why would someone get rid of what I am dropping to help me and my community survive – and then promote how much they enjoy my existence? Sadly, our appreciation of the classic Autumn scenic largely disappears when the color no longer entertains.
You have to wonder if something is off in our source code to see so much in conflict. But then, is it? Nature operates on cosmic timescales. The microcosm of events we personally experience and witness are insignificant in this context. The entire universe is filled with non-human systems and events seemingly working things out – and the process of doing so isn’t necessarily orderly, forgiving, or pleasant to watch. At the risk of descent into fatalism, it is something I ask myself while doomscrolling. 🙂
These leaves are in their next phase and now wandering around – perhaps causing some trouble in the process. The rebellious ones may wander onto someone’s freshly raked lawn – sound the alarms! It seems to happen when individuals stray too far from the community and try to satisfy their hunger for power. But no matter how much trouble they end up causing in the process, their destiny ultimately doesn’t change. They will break down into very basic elements of the universe, giving up their individuality only to serve as nutrients to the community from where they came.
We certainly know how to conjure up conflict when there need not be one. Only time will tell if we can rid ourselves of its destructive nature.
Very true
That first sentence should read, There is this idea that man can figure it out and alter nature’s processes although many of those processes alter are negative to nature.
There is this idea that man can figure it out and later nature’s processes although many of those processes alter are negative to nature. I do think you need to make a desktop book of these leaf creatures. You are spot on with this question from mother tree, “Why would someone get rid of what I am dropping to help me and my community survive – and then promote how much they enjoy my existence?” I believe I understand what you are talking about and my head goes to those same places. What you are presenting are wonderful questions that really do not have answers but only lead us to more questions. I usually am in trouble when I believe what I think I think I know.
Do people even buy photo books anymore? ha. You are quite right Monte – always more questions than answers. I know how many fingers and toes I have, and usually call it a day with that.
I’ve had similar thoughts going into the same direction you’ve voiced. The time scale of nature and the world, mostly, and our blindness to it… I’ve yet to sort them and bring them into a more cohesive form.
We don’t have a lot of leaves to rake here, and luckily no HOA forces us to keep our yards this way or that either. I’m just in a constant fight with our bougainvillea, its abundant growth and its paper thin bracts, once dried, that just seem to fly everywhere.
If there is any skill in not being cohesive on a great many things, it is one I’ve certainly mastered. Those bracts must serve some function?
They’re the colorful part of the plant (the flowers themselves are the tiny white insides) so they’re sure meant to attract pollinators, when Lady Evolution realized: damn, I screwed that one up! xD