Why do we long to return to the wild? In today’s world, there is a deep yearning to escape into
nature, to reconnect with something raw and real. Nature has always been a refuge, a place
where we can tap into a primal part of ourselves. But could it be that our fear of the wild mirrors
a fear of the subconscious? Just as we often avoid venturing into the wilderness, we also shy
away from exploring the untamed parts of our minds.
In many ancient cultures, nature was seen as both beautiful and terrifying—a mysterious force
to be revered and feared. As human civilization advanced, we sought to bring nature under
control. During the Enlightenment, for instance, nature was redefined as something to be
managed by reason and technology. This shift reflects the rise of the conscious mind, which
strives to master not only the external world but also the inner one. In taming nature, we
simultaneously sought to tame our own souls, imposing order on the unknown.
Our subconscious mind, much like nature, is a vast and unknown landscape. It’s a place of
instincts, deep memories, and hidden desires—a wilderness that exists beyond the reach of
conscious control, a powerful force in its own right. Just as we view the wilderness as a source
of chaos and danger, we often regard the subconscious as a domain of sin, chaos, and inner
demons. The subconscious mirrors nature, reflecting the wild aspects of our inner selves. As we
sought to control nature, we sought to control ourselves. Yet, in losing touch with the wild, we
risk losing our deepest selves.
The story of the Garden of Eden illustrates this struggle. The garden represents a state of
harmony between humanity and nature, between consciousness and the wild. The emergence
of the conscious mind marked the beginning of humanity’s desire to dominate nature,
symbolized by the fall, where we lost balance. We lost our primal connection to the wild, and
with it, our connection to a part of ourselves. This separation represents not only a loss of
connection with nature but also with our inner wilderness—a loss that echoes in our desires,
dreams, near-death experiences, psychedelic journeys, and even psychotic breaks.
To control nature is to attempt to control ourselves, but in taming the wilderness, do we lose
something essential? How do we return to the garden? Perhaps the answer lies not in control
but in balance—not by taming, but by embracing. To walk the garden of the soul, we must
recognize that it needs both order and chaos, consciousness and subconsciousness. During the
Romantic period of the 18th and 19th centuries, people began to view nature as a source of
spiritual renewal and mystery—a place to reconnect with the human soul. Today, the growing
popularity of “rewilding” movements and practices like “shadow work” reflects a similar yearning
to reconnect with both nature and the less-controlled parts of our inner lives.
In reconnecting with nature, we may find our way back to a more harmonious existence. It
involves a mindset shift that does not seek to control but to understand. By seeking to understand
nature, we come to understand ourselves, and perhaps then, the tortured, controlling conscious mind
will finally find rest.
That’s wonderful. In-depth insight with beautiful analogy.
Danielle, your article makes total and complete sense. We often fall into conflict with ourselves by attempting to “control” what we don’t understand.
Seeking to understand rather than to control, we are then able to tap into the wisdom of the ages.
This the same as wanting to rid ourselves of the ego. Since we can’t understand it, we want to control it rather than embrace it.
This ego, much like nature, and our subjectiveness, only seeks to be, and share in order that we may live a healthier existence.
Beautiful and powerful. Stunning photographs, too. This is important work.