We Belong to the Earth: Rediscovering Our Interdependence with Nature
- Jo Moore
- Aug 7
- 7 min read
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." - John Muir
We live in a world rich with beauty, diversity, and life. From the tiniest microbe in the soil to the vast, towering trees of ancient forests, life pulses in a complex web of connection. And within this web, human beings are not separate, not superior, but simply one part of an intricate and interdependent system. Yet, modern life often distances us from this truth. As we rush through our days in concrete cities, surrounded by screens and schedules, it's easy to forget that we are not apart from nature - we are nature.
This blog post explores our innate connection to the natural world, our deep need to spend time in contemplation within it, and how every living being on Earth depends on others for survival. It’s a call to remember our place in the great circle of life - not as rulers, but as relatives.
1. The Web of Life: Everything Is Connected
“The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth.”- Marlee Matlin
Nature does not operate in silos. From forests to oceans, deserts to mountaintops, life unfolds in an interconnected dance. Each being plays a role, however small, in maintaining the balance of the system.
This concept is known as ecological interdependence - the idea that all organisms in an ecosystem are linked in ways that support the whole. Bees pollinate flowers, enabling plants to reproduce and feed herbivores. Trees release oxygen, cleanse carbon dioxide, and provide homes for birds and insects. Wolves in Yellowstone National Park were reintroduced in 1995, and their presence rippled through the ecosystem, reshaping animal behavior, restoring vegetation, and even changing river patterns. This is known as a trophic cascade, a powerful example of interdependence in action.
A 2020 study published in Nature highlighted that biodiversity enhances the stability and resilience of ecosystems. When one part of the system is disrupted - such as through species extinction or habitat destruction - the ripple effects can be catastrophic.
We may think we are insulated from this, but we are not. The food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink - all rely on healthy ecosystems. When forests are cut down, soil erodes, rainfall patterns shift, and local temperatures rise. When pollinators disappear, crops suffer. When oceans warm and acidify, marine life collapses - and fishing communities lose their livelihoods.
2. Human Beings: Creatures of Nature
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein
For most of our history, human beings lived in intimate relationship with the land. Indigenous cultures around the world understood that survival depended on respecting the natural world. Food was gathered with reverence. Rivers were sacred. Trees were seen as elders.
Today, science confirms what ancient wisdom always knew: nature is not just a nice backdrop for holidays - it is essential to our physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
A landmark study by the University of Exeter in 2019 found that spending just two hours per week in nature significantly boosts health and mental well-being. Whether it’s walking in the woods, gardening, or simply sitting near a tree, the benefits are profound: reduced stress, lower blood pressure, better mood, improved immune function, and even enhanced creativity.
And yet, many of us are starved of these experiences. We spend over 90% of our time indoors, often under artificial lights, removed from natural rhythms. We forget what it feels like to watch clouds drift, or listen to the rustle of leaves in the wind, or observe a bird building its nest.
But when we return to nature, something ancient awakens in us. We slow down. We breathe more deeply. We begin to remember who we really are.
3. Contemplation: A Path to Deepening Connection
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." - John Muir
Contemplation is a quiet, reflective presence that invites us to observe the world - and ourselves - with deeper awareness. Nature offers the perfect setting for this.
When we walk mindfully through a forest, sit beside a stream, or gaze at the stars, we begin to attune to rhythms greater than our own. We notice the cycles - birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth - mirrored in every part of the natural world. And these cycles are not separate from us; they are us.
Contemplative practices in nature - often referred to as ecotherapy, forest bathing (shinrin-yoku), or nature meditation - are increasingly being recognized for their healing power.
According to a 2010 study in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, time spent in forest environments lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels, reduces heart rate, and promotes relaxation and focus.
Nature becomes a mirror. In its stillness, we meet our own. In its impermanence, we find wisdom. In its vastness, we find perspective.
4. Mutual Support: Nothing Survives Alone
"All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man… the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports." - Chief Seattle
Nothing in nature exists for itself alone. Trees “communicate” through underground fungal networks (sometimes called the “wood wide web”), sharing nutrients and information with each other. Certain fungi and plants form mutualistic relationships, each benefiting the other. Coral reefs depend on the symbiosis of coral polyps and algae. Birds eat insects that would otherwise harm plants. Scavengers clean up carrion, preventing disease spread.
This mutual support system is the foundation of life.
As humans, we are not exempt. Our food system depends on farmers, soil microbes, pollinators, weather patterns, and the global supply chain. Our oxygen comes from phytoplankton and trees. Our health depends on biodiversity, from the microbes in our gut to the ecosystems around us.
In Buddhist philosophy, there’s a word for this: inter-being - the understanding that no thing exists in isolation. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote:
“You cannot point out one thing that does not have a relationship with the whole. The cloud is in the paper. Without a cloud, there would be no rain; without rain, trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper.”
5. Our Crisis Is a Crisis of Disconnection
We are facing global challenges - climate change, species extinction, water scarcity, pollution, mental health epidemics - that stem, at their core, from disconnection. Disconnection from nature, from each other, and from ourselves.
We have come to see the Earth as a resource to be exploited rather than a living system we belong to. This mindset has led us to extract without replenishing, dominate rather than cooperate, and consume without reverence.
But healing is possible. And it begins with remembering that we are not separate.
In her book Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist and Indigenous knowledge holder Robin Wall Kimmerer writes:
“All flourishing is mutual.”
When we restore forests, we restore the air we breathe. When we protect pollinators, we protect our food. When we clean rivers, we clean our bodies. When we respect animals, we remember our own wildness.
6. Simple Ways to Reconnect with the Natural World
Rebuilding our connection with nature doesn’t require grand adventures. It begins with presence, curiosity, and care. Here are some simple ways to start:
Sit quietly in nature for 10–20 minutes. Watch, listen, and breathe.
Keep a nature journal - draw or write about what you observe.
Practice gratitude for natural elements (water, sunlight, trees, birdsong).
Volunteer for conservation or habitat restoration in your area.
Grow a garden - even a small herb pot brings you closer to the cycle of life.
Walk barefoot on grass or soil to ground yourself (earthing).
Read nature poetry or writings that stir your soul.
Introduce children to nature in playful and reverent ways - they are our future stewards.
The more we care, the more we protect. The more we protect, the more we thrive - together.
7. A New Vision: Living in Right Relationship
“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.” - Max Ehrmann, Desiderata
To move forward sustainably - as individuals and as a species - we must adopt a mindset of inter-being, reciprocity, and stewardship. The Earth is not a machine to be optimized, but a living organism to be respected and cared for.
Indigenous worldviews offer guidance here. Many hold a concept of “seven generations” - making decisions today that benefit not just ourselves, but those who will come long after. Imagine what our world could look like if every policy, purchase, or project was made with this mindset.
We do not need to go back in time - but we must go forward with reverence. Nature is not a place we visit. It is home.
Final Thoughts on our Interdependence with Nature: Coming Home to the Earth
"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." - John Muir
We are living through a pivotal time. The choices we make now - how we live, consume, and relate to the natural world - will determine the fate of generations to come. But this is not a burden; it is an invitation. A chance to awaken. To return. To belong.
By spending time in nature, practicing contemplation, and embracing our interdependence, we remember a vital truth: we are not alone. We are part of something vast, sacred, and beautifully alive.
Let us honor that. Let us walk lightly. Let us walk together.
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References and Further Reading
White, M.P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., et al. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3
Li, Q. (2010). Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19568835/
Estes, J.A. et al. (2011). Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth. Science.https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1205106
Kimmerer, R.W. (2013). Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions.
Hanh, T.N. (1992). Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Bantam.
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