After a quick debriefing with Geo on nature’s circle of life, we went to see The Wild Robot (based on Peter Brown’s book series) with some friends. Alongside a full box of sour patch kids significantly improving the wiggle factor of a loose tooth, there were other valuable takeaways. The world of predator-prey was dramatized very playfully and verged appropriately into dark humor. The scary scenes made the kids double down on their collective bravery. “I’m not scared. Are you scared? No!”
I loved the movie. It gave me all the feels. And I couldn’t help but marvel over how appropriate it was for the dawning of an Aquarian Age. The theme is based around instincts in conflict with executive functioning, in other words, old brain vs. new brain. The animals and nature, with their established ways, including the food chain, represent the old brain, rich in survival instinct and deep connectedness.
The robot, Roz, embodies the executive functioning of the new brain, moving forward with decisive action based on rational thought, thanks to her innovative design and absence of pesky feelings getting in the way.
The film explores the unclear, ‘figure it out as you go’ way of embracing a real, dynamic whole-brained perspective. This is an increasingly needed skill in a world that changes faster and faster.
One of my favorite lines from Roz during her bewildered moments is, ” I have to override the code to complete the task.” This line captures the essence of nature. It is one’s intent, rather than one’s instinct (or programming), that reveals one’s true essence. Her intentions must be superior to her programming, for the former creates the latter. This is the only way forward, the only path that evolution takes. In fact, evolution is intent, which creates programming.
Intentionality is defined as the characteristic of consciousness to be directed towards something. In our torus-model for nature, it is one’s capacity to turn towards something. This turning gives us a trajectory. We spin around it as a planet spins around its own axis. We rev ourselves, like a gyroscope, and with this particular rev we stabilize ourselves in turbulent atmospheres.
When intention is authentic, rooted in the nature that you are, then the rev of animism is rich. This is the bliss of coming into alignment, of feeling the snap of integrity bring you back into working order. In many ways, I think we are best understood as wild robots. We operate best when we are intact, in ‘process’ unique to our individuality, akin to a robot doing what it is ‘supposed to do.’ The forest within us is dynamic when our unique processes are in action.
One is within reach of building one’s own programming, a wave of undulation that supports their intent and brings coherence to their very being.
Have you ever felt that your intentions were in conflict with your programming? Your goals pitted against your habits? Have you ever needed a renewed surge of animal animism in a far too robotic way of living?
Have you ever experienced a curious wave of supportive undulation, bringing a warm connectedness and coherence into your awareness, simply brought on by well-intended activity?
Until next time, go see (or read) The Wild Robot!
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