Wild Kinship: Biophilia, Inner Knowings and Our True Nature

Soraya covers virtually every aspect of life, from individual physical and psychological health and development, to social relations, biological functions, ecological systems, to ethnographic studies and more. She describes encounters with multiple life forms, from tortoises to beavers and willow saplings. Soraya writes in such a way that you are right there with her, experiencing an encounter with the bobcat, backpacking through healthy but then burned forests, embracing the sounds of nature at night and the beauty of the evening primrose before dawn. She reviews scientific findings, for example, that Nature heals us. We need to be in its sunlight, its full darkness for optimal health. She writes about biophobia and learning to get over her irrational fear of centipedes. She challenges the common view of considering critters 'out of place' in human spaces and deserving of extermination. The most frightening creature is "the nature-fearing human" --I must agree. We live in Nature, wherever we are, so in effect, people are afraid of themselves too. She gives us hope that we can relearn the skills of our ancestors who lived honorably with Nature. We are kin with all creatures and entities. Indigenous/First Nation Peoples give thanks throughout the day for the gifts from the earth and maintain respectful relations with 'all our relations.' Soraya gives us hope that we can restore our kinship relationships with the natural world through awakening to the kin in our local landscape. Ten stars! A book for all seekers.