Theory -the seeing of patterns, showing the forest as well as the trees- theory can be a dew that rises from earth and collects in the rain cloud and returns to earth over and over. But if it doesn’t smell of the earth, it isn’t good for the earth. — Adrienne Rich, Notes Toward a Politics of Location

Happy Autumn Equinox!  I’m sharing a painting for the day, along with a favorite quote from the brilliant poet and feminist thinker, Adrienne Rich. I’ve been a bit reluctant to post these words of hers, worried that “theory” would sound like an elitist and academic term, divorced from everyday lives and concerns, the pastime of those who have the luxury to sit back and explain reality without getting their hands dirty, or experiencing the impact of their thought.

But this quote, with its language so sensual and embodied, turns that stereotype on its head, and as a lover of theory and ideas it speaks to me deeply.  It’s a reminder that we are all connected to the earth, part of what theologian Thomas Berry called “the earth community”, and the meanings we make, the knowledge we create, the way we put these human powers of thought to use, have consequences for the planet and its inhabitants.  It goes further by suggesting that the earth itself might be the starting point for our attempts to understand the world, as well as the ultimate home to which our ideas return and have an impact.

For too long, we’ve been living with the consequences of theory that isn’t good for the earth, that smells of greed and domination and a disregard for life. Adrienne Rich’s vision of reciprocity between a living earth and a living mind is a powerful antidote—and fitting for this day of equinox, when earth stands at the halfway point between the longest and shortest days of the year and themes of harmony and balance are said to surface.

So let’s celebrate the equinox by connecting our thoughts with the living earth. Getting our hands dirty, literally or metaphorically. Letting those earthy aromas inspire us all to do whatever it takes to restore harmony and balance with our precious planet.

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Land acknowledgment. Big Planet Love is created in Cambridge, Massachusetts on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Massachusett people. We acknowledge the ancestors and current community members in gratitude and respect.

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