CONTENTSTitlePage

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

Foreword

Prelude

WhentheEndIstheBeginning

AttunementtoGreenSymphonies

ChapterO:Oryngham

ChapterR:KernelsofTruth

ChapterY:TheBear’sCauldron

ChapterN:SomethingtoRe-member

ChapterG:A…mazingPea

ChapterH:AsAbove,SoBelow

ChapterA:BeinginTimeandSpace

CodaM:TheVeryFirstStory

Endnotes

Prelude

ChapterO

ChapterR

ChapterY

ChapterN

ChapterG

ChapterH

ChapterA

CodaM

Index

Acknowledgments

AbouttheAuthorandtheContributingArtist

TheAuthor

TheIllustrator

AboutNorthAtlanticBooks

ThusSpokethePlant

ARemarkableJourneyofGroundbreakingScientificDiscoveriesandPersonalEncounters

withPlants

MonicaGagliano,PhD

Copyright©2018byMonicaGagliano.Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthisbook,exceptforbriefreview,maybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans—electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise—withoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher.ForinformationcontactNorthAtlanticBooks.

Publishedby

NorthAtlanticBooks

Berkeley,California

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BookdesignbyHappenstanceType-O-RamaPrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaThusSpokethePlant:ARemarkableJourneyofGroundbreakingScientificDiscoveriesandPersonalEncounterswithPlantsissponsoredandpublishedbytheSocietyfortheStudyofNativeArtsandSciences(dbaNorthAtlanticBooks),aneducationalnonprofitbasedinBerkeley,California,thatcollaborateswithpartnerstodevelopcross-culturalperspectives,nurtureholisticviewsofart,science,thehumanities,andhealing,andseedpersonalandglobaltransformationbypublishingworkontherelationshipofbody,spirit,andnature.

NorthAtlanticBooks’publicationsareavailablethroughmostbookstores.Forfurtherinformation,visitourwebsiteatwww.northatlanticbooks.comorcall800-733-3000.

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataNames:Gagliano,Monica,1976-author.Title:Thusspoketheplant:aremarkablejourneyofgroundbreakingscientificdiscoveriesandpersonalencounterswithplants/Monica

Gagliano.Description:Berkeley,California:NorthAtlanticBooks,[2018]|Includes

index.Identifiers:LCCN2018024075(print)|LCCN2018026039(ebook)|ISBN

9781623172442(e-book)|ISBN9781623172435(paperback)Subjects:LCSH:Human-plantrelationships—Anecdotes.|Plants—Anecdotes.Classification:LCCQK46.5.H85(ebook)|LCCQK46.5.H85G342018(print)|

DDC581—dc23LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2018024075

NorthAtlanticBooksiscommittedtotheprotectionofourenvironment.WepartnerwithFSC-certifiedprintersusingsoy-basedinksandprintonrecycledpaperwheneverpossible.

ToHumanity

TheVoidsingseverythingintoBeing.

YouaretheSingingVoid.

ThenSing!

KeeplookingforTruthinthewrongplaces,andyouwillneverfindit.Stoplookingthere,outthere.FindTruthhere,whereTruthresides.

WForeword

alkinnature—anywhereintheworld—andopenyoursenses.Notjustoneortwoofthefive,butallofthem.Thesoundsoftheloftytree

crownsswayinginthebreeze,thesightofdeepgreenthatsoothesyoursoul,thesmellofsoilandbarkandthebreathofoxygenthatrushesintoyourlungs,thefeelofsoftleavesastheybrushyourhands,thetasteofsweetfruitonyourlips.MonicaGagliano,inThusSpokethePlant,asksyoutoopenuptothepossibilitythatplantshavesomeofthesamesenses—theabilitytohear,see,smell,feel,andtaste—alongwithdistinctmodalities,newdimensions,tomakesenseoftheirworld,suchasdetectingelectromagneticfields,sounds,andlow-voltagevibrations.Thencheckinwithyourowncircleofawareness—yourmind,heart,soul,andbody.Notjustyourfivesenses,butalsoyourspirit.Youhavemultiplemodalities,too,liketheplants.And,chancesare,theyaremorealignedthanbeforeyousteppedoutside.Yourmindcalms,yourheartfills,yoursoulissoothed,andyourbodyfeelsvibrantlyalive.Youfeelwhole,moreconnectedinside,andmoreattunedtotheworld.Youfeelthepowertoactinyourownlifeandtohelpcraftamoreevolvedsociety,onethatisconnectedandattunedtoitselfandtonature.

Mostofusrecognizetheessentialroleofplantsinourwell-being,intheverybreathwetake.Plantshelpedcreateanoxygenatedatmosphere,enablingtheeventualevolutionofhumans.Theevolutionofplantshasbeensosuccessfulthattodaytheyaccountforover99percentofthelivingbiomassonEarth.Thepresenceofhumansandotheranimalsisdwarfedincomparison.Still,wehumanswalkthroughnaturenotseeingplantsashighlyevolvedcreatures,butratherasinanimate,passive,andinferiorspecies.Wehaveconstructedasimplevisionofplantsaslackinginintelligence,agency,orsentience.Wehaverelegatedthemtothelowestrungofahierarchythatisheadedbyhumans.

Thishumanconstructignoresevolutionaryhistoryandhasshapedourscientificquestionsandlimitedustofindingonlycertainanswersaboutthemeaningofourlives.Andfromthissuperioritycomplex,wehavejustifiedtheglobalabuseofplants.Andnotjustofplants,butofanycreatureweconsiderinferiortohumans—whichmeansallspecies.Ofcourse,notallcultureshavethisanthropocentricsuperioritycomplex,butthemostdominantandpowerfuloneonEarthtodaydoes,andthishascreatedmultiplecrisesonaglobalscale.Avertingsocio-ecologicaldisasternowwilltakeascientificrevolution.Itwill

Avertingsocio-ecologicaldisasternowwilltakeascientificrevolution.Itwilltakeadeconstructionofourreductionistandparochialapproachtounderstandinglifeandtheinventionofwholenewwaysofunderstandingtheworld.

InThusSpokethePlant,MonicaGaglianowillprovideyouwithacompletelydifferentwayofunderstandingandknowingtheworld.Notjusttheplantworld,butyourwholeworldview.Sheasksthatyoutearoffyourlifetimeofculturalblindersandopenallofyoursensestoletintheworldofplants.Tohelpyoudothis,shetakesyouonherpersonaljourneyofconfrontingherownbiases,whichstartedwithherchangingcareers,listeningtoherdreams,andthenactingonherintuitiontospeakwiththeplantpeoplethatvisitherwiththeguidanceofindigenousseers.Theplantpeoplecallonhertobetheirvoiceandguidehertounderstandtheircognitivepowers.Thispersonalandprofessionaljourneyleadshertoaskbrilliantquestionsanddesignsimple,elegantexperimentsthatuncovernewmodalitiesinplantintelligence.Welearnthatplantscancommunicate,arecapableoflearning,havememory,makedecisions,andarecognizantofagreaterpurpose,inadditiontotheirownDarwiniansuccess,tothecommunitiesinwhichtheylive.

InMonicaGagliano,plantshavechosenthemostopen,inquisitive,brilliantmindastheirspokesperson.Withherfeetfirmlyplantedinboththescientificmethodandthewisdomofplants,Monicahastappedintothemultidimensionalityofnaturethatwillbreakdownforeveroursuffocatingparochialismaboutourenvironment.Inthefaceofrepeatedrejectionofherpapersbythescientificestablishment,shehaspersistedandpublishedherexperimentsinthetopplantecologyjournals.Weoweheradebtofgratitudeforswimmingagainstthetideandopeningupourawareness,evenastheripcurrentstriedtopullherunder.

IfirstmetMonicaGaglianoin2016atathinktankonplantcommunicationhostedbytheBillandMelindaGatesFoundationinSeattle.Aboutthirtyleadingscientistsinthefieldofplantcommunicationhadgatheredtogethertodiscusshowtheirdiscoveriescouldinformsustainableagriculturalaroundtheworld.Monica’syouth,inparticular,maskedawisdomandbodyofworkthatmostscientistsneverattain.IhadjustshownmyworkonmycorrhizalfungalnetworksthatlinkmothertreeswiththemyriadothertreesandplantsintheforestandhowtheAboriginalpeopleofNorthAmericahavelongknownoftheirimportancetoforesthealth.Manybrilliantpresentationsfollowed,butwhatIremembermostwasMonicastandingupforproperattributionofcompanion-plantcommunitiestothefirstpeoplesoftheAmericas,ratherthantonewindustrialscientificpatents.Monica,havingjourneyeddeeplywiththem,was

industrialscientificpatents.Monica,havingjourneyeddeeplywiththem,wasstandingupforthenativeplantsandthepeople.

Inaskingustoopenallofoursensesandtoembracenewoneswehaven’tevenexploredbefore,Monica,throughherpersonalstoriesandscientificdiscoveries,hasopenedapaththroughthewoodsforustofollow.ThusSpokethePlantismorethanaboutscientificdiscovery—itisaboutarevolutionthatwillcompelustoseetheworldthroughacompletelynewlensandwillmotivateustochangeourattitudes,behaviors,andactionssothatwecanalterthecourseofthesocio-environmentalcriseswehavecreated.Soopenyourmind,setasideyourbiases,andbepreparedtochangeyourviewoftheworldandyourplaceinit—forever.

Dr.SuzanneSimard

ProfessorofForestEcology

TheUniversityofBritishColumbia

June25,2018

IPrelude

havealwayslovedstories,butthenwhodoesn’t?Infiniteinnumbers,storiescontinuallygrowwithinandallaroundus,whichmaybewhytheyseemto

bewithuswhereverwego.Somecaptureuswiththeirlies,othersshockuswiththeirtruths,andstillothersinspireusimmenselywiththeircourage.Nomatterthemyriadnuancedcolors,allstoriesareluminousthreadsthatweaveusintothetapestryoflife,vibrantfilamentsthatbringourworldintobeingandthenundoit.Thestoriesyouwillencounterinthisbookunspoolathreadthatinvitesyoutoreclaimafarmoreprofoundlevelofperceivingtheworldthantheoneyoumayhavesolongbeenaccustomedto.Perhapstheywillopenawindowontothegreenervistayouhadforgottenwasthere.

Butlet’sbeclear—thisisnoflightoffancy.WhileIadmitthatsomeoftheadventuresandoccurrencesdescribedinthefollowingpageswill,atleasttosome,appearweird,outoftheordinary,ortotallyunbelievable,thisisnotaworkoffictionorahanded-downimaginarytaleIamaskingyoutobelievein.Thisisarealandsoberfirsthandaccountofmyscientificresearchprobingintothevegetalkingdomoverthelastdecade.Bytakingyoubehindthescenesofacademicscienceanddescribingtheinnerworkingsofaresearchjourneythatrevealsthedynamicroleplantsplayedininstigatinganewformulationofcontemporaryscience,thisisapowerfulstoryabouttheunexpectedandyetremarkableencounterbetweenscientificinsightandplantwisdom.Suchanencountertakesplaceatthefrontier,wherethephysicalworldas(wethink)weknowitandalternatedomainsofreality(weirderthanwecanconceiveof)meet.Heretheordinaryandthepeculiargohandinhandand,attimes,bumpintoeachothertosetawholeworldalightwithnew,evenparadoxical,possibilities.

IarrivedinthisnewworldamidthedauntingdreadofwhatImightloseandtheirrepressiblecuriosityofwhatImightfind,bothprofessionallyandpersonally.NobodytoldmethatIwouldhavetodoacompletesummersaultflip,leavingmyideasofthe“normal”behindandleapingintotheunknown,orthatIwouldlandonsolidground,withonefootineachworldandyettogether.Atfirst,thiswasatraumaticexperienceandadangerousstateofaffairs—itisterrifyingtoloseyourfootingasyouwalkonathinslipperylinethatmeandersitswayinandoutofdifferentperceptuallandscapeswherechancesmustbetaken,andmustbetakenwithnohandrailstoholdonto!Thoughwhatseemedanimpossiblefeat—themarriagebetweentheobjectivityofthescientific

animpossiblefeat—themarriagebetweentheobjectivityofthescientificmethodandknowledgeandthesubjectivityoftranscendentalexperiencesandintuition—notonlyprovedtobeabsolutelypossiblebutamostincrediblyprofoundandexcitingcoup.

Thisbookendeavorstotakeyoutothatworld.Oh,don’tbeafraid.Youarenotaskedtosubscribetoaparticulardoctrineortoagreewithquixoticbeliefs.Quitetheopposite—putallbeliefs,culturalassumptions,judgments,andprejudicesaside,andjustlisten.Andifyouneedto,youcancallmecrazy,butdoyourselfafavor,andresistthetemptationtodismissthisstoryasimpossiblebeforeyoutakealeapoutsidetheboxofyour“normal”andallowforthemagicalabsurdityofyoursubjectiveexperiencetowalkalongsidetheobjectiverationalityofyourlogicalmind.ThisbookisabouthowIlearnedtotrustthembothandwherethatledme.

WhentheEndIstheBeginningThisbookisaboutplants,butitsstorybegannotwiththem,butwithananimal.ItwasasmalltropicalfishlivinginthecolorfulwatersoftheGreatBarrierReef,wherecircumstancesthatwerenormalonemomentturnedinexplicablystrangethenext.Atthatcriticaljuncture,everythingchangedforme,andtheworldceasedtobewhatIhadbeentaughtitwas.Hereiswhathappened.

Muchofmyearlierprofessionallifecouldbedescribedas“waterinwater”—thewatersofthehumanbodyimmersedinthebigwatersoftheearth’sbody.Givenmyresearchtraininginmarineanimalecology,IspentyearsbreathingunderthesurfaceinthewatersoftheGreatBarrierReef,thelargestcoralreefintheworldandtheonlynaturalphenomenonvisiblefromspace,tostudytheprivatelifeofalittledamselfishspecies,commonlyknownastheAmbondamselfishbutformallynamedPomacentrusamboinensis.DuringthehotAustraliansummermonths,IspentcountlessresearchhoursobservingtheAmbonfemaleslayingeggsinperfectlittlenookswithinthecomplexityofthereefstructureandthemalesaggressivelyprotectingthesebenthicnestsfromeggpredatorsandotherintruders.Theeggsremainunderwatchfulpaternaleyesforonlyafewdaysbeforehatching.Then,underthebrightlightofafullmoonandequippedwithonebignutritiousyolksacMumhadpackedforthem,thetinylarvaewriggletheirwayoutofthenestandaway,immediatelyembarkinginacourageousjourneyfarfromthereefandoutintheopenocean.Andonlyahandfulwillsurvivetoswimallthewaybackhometothereef.Here,astimeprogresses,thetransparentbabyfishwillturnintoconfidentbrightyellow

youngsterswhowillaudaciouslyventurefartherandfartheroutfromthesafetyoftheirhidey-holetocatchsomeplanktoninthewaterorcompeteovernewprimespotsinthecorallineestate.Andbeforeyouknowit,brightyellowbodiesofdifferenthues,sizes,andagesareflickeringinthewatercolumnlikewildconfetti!Theirpresencefeelslikeatruemiracle,acelebrationoflife.

Today,thisponderingfillsmewithagreatsenseofawe.Atthetime,however,whenthisspecieswasthemainobjectofmyscientificresearch,theircommitmenttolifedidn’tstopmefromfulfillingthemurderousnecessityofscience.Itwassountilthefishceasedtobeananonymousdatapointonaspreadsheet,justanother“fish”intheagreedsenseoftheword—thehuman-centeredcategoricalboundariesassertedthroughtotheLinnaeanclassificationsystem,afictionbroughtintobeingbyaparticularworldview.Onceitwasnolongeranelusiveentityvoidofindividuality,theobjectofmyresearchbecameasubjectformylearning.Andeverythingchanged.

Irememberthatmorningvividly.Ihadbeeninthewatereverydayformonths,monitoringthereproductiveoutputofwildP.amboinensispairs.Everyday,weencounteredeachotherattheedge,wherethesafetyofthereefendedandmyhandstretchedout,opened.Aweekintothestudy,thesewildanimalssnuggledinsidethathandasmyfingersgentlycurledaroundtheirscalybodiesandthenopenedagain.Theyknewme,personally.Iknewthem,onebyone.Onthelastdayofthestudy,Iwentinthewaterwiththeintentionofsayinggoodbyebeforereturningintheafternoontocaptureand,asperprotocol,killthemall.Irememberthatmorning.Noonewasinsight;noonewasapproachingme,letalonemyopenhand.Achillingsensationfilledme.Inthatmoment,Iknewtheyknew.IfeltthebloodofallthepastkillingsIhaddoneinthenameofmyscience,andadreadfulfeelingofguiltfloodedmyheart.Frozenandnotknowingwhattodo,IdidwhatIknew.Thatafternoon,Iwentbackinthewaterwithnetsandcatchbagsandkilledthemall.Iunderstandnowthattheirswasanincrediblesacrificethatdeliveredtheonegiftthatwouldchangeeverything.Becausethroughtheintimacyofourencounter,thetimespentbeingtogetherandbeingwitheachotherhadbrokendownthetaxonomicboundary.Inthispermeability,atruenakednesshademerged,thekindofvulnerabilitynecessarytoestablishopenness.Theytaughtmeempathy.Theytaughtmekinshipandcommunion.AndIneverkilledagain.1

Thisallhappenedin2008,ayearthatkick-startedagreatprofessional(andpersonal)watershed.IwasapostdoctoralresearchfellowinclimatechangeecologyatJamesCookUniversitybackthen.BecauseofthisexperienceIhad

onthereef,Ihaddevelopedaprofoundinternalconflictsparkedbytherealizationthat,forme,therewasnoscientificquestionsignificantorexceptionalenoughthatcouldjustifythekillingofanotherlivingbeing.Thiswasimmediatelyfollowedbythehorrifyingproblemofhowtocontinuedoingmyscientificresearchwithouttheslaughter.Itriedto,anditwasnotgoodenough—inthetempleofmodernscience,abloodsacrificetotheoldgodsoftheEnlightenmentisstill,forthemostpart,therequiredceremonialprocedure.SowithoutrealizingthatIwastobethesacrificialofferingthistimearound,Ifumbledinfutileattemptstodesperatelyholdtogetherwhathadalreadycomeundone,whathadsimplyrunitscourse.Atthetime,Iwasstillunawareofthefactthatmyresearchcareerasananimalscientisthadjustendedandanewoneastheplantscientistwasabouttostart.Iwasalsounawareofthefactthataninvitationfromthevegetalworldhadalreadybeenextended.And,certainly,Iwasyettorealizethattheplantswouldnotonlycometorescuemycareerbutalsoradicallytransmuteitbyre-enchantingboththerationallyempoweredmindofscientistandtheawe-inspiredheartofthehumanthatdwelledwithinme.Indeed,myprofessionalandpersonallifewereabouttotakeanincredibleandwildturnasIstaggeredalonganunfamiliarterritoryand,likeAlice,foundmyselftumblingdownaratherstrangerabbithole.

ThisbookisaboutwhatIfounddownthatrabbithole.Itisabouttheup-close-and-personalencounterswiththeplantsthemselves—aswellaswithplantshamans,indigenouselders,andmysticsfromaroundtheworld—andabouthowtheseexperienceswereintegratedwithanincredibleresearchjourneyandthegroundbreakingscientificdiscoveriesthatemergedfromit,soastorelatethisnewadvancedknowledgetomodernculture.Thisbookoffersyouafresh,imaginativespaceforreconceivingtheconnectionsbetweenplantsandhumanityandcontemplatingimprovedhuman-to-nonhumanhabitsoflivingonthisplanetaspartofawhole.Itistime.

AttunementtoGreenSymphoniesThisbookisaboutplantsandbyplants.Itisaphytobiography—acollectionofstories,eachwrittentogetherwithandonbehalfofaplantperson.Thesestoriesaretoldthroughthenarrativevoiceofboththehumanandtheplantperson,throughthelanguageofplantsandmylanguageforthem.Butletmebeclearonthismostdelicatesubject.Thereisnoattemptat,orneedfor,ventriloquizingbyassigningavoicetoplantsorspeakingforthemtorenderthesestoriesintelligibletoourhumanmind.Here,thehumanisnotaninterpreterwho

translatesamentalrepresentationinherheadasifitwereplant-speakandthenputsitintowordswecancomprehendorscribblesitonapageweknowhowtoread.Rather,thehumanisalistenerwhofiltersoutpersonalnoisetohearplantsspeak,whoengagesinactivedialogwiththesenonhumanintelligences,whicharefarmorerealthanourcurrentscientificconstructsallowustocontendwith.Here,thehumanactsasacoauthorwhophysicallydeliversthoseconversationstothepage.Assuch,thesestoriesemergeoutofahuman-plantcollaborativeendeavorandamixedwritingstyle,whichIthinkwecanfittinglycallplant-writing.

Throughplant-writing,thisbooktranscendstheviewofplantsastheobjectsofscientificmaterialismandempowersanewandyettimelessvisionoftheworld,oneinwhichweencounterplantsasthepersonsandcompanionstheyareandinwhichwebringkind-heartednesstoeachencounter.Byweavingtheseplant-humanstoriestogetherintoamagicaljourneyofdiscoveryandinterconnectedness,thisbookreaffirmsthepreciousgiftourpartnershipwithplantshasbeenthroughouttheevolutionaryhistoryofourspeciesandoursearchforunderstandingwhoweareandwhatareweherefor.Onthisregard,Isuspectthatanyonewhodaresembarkingonsuchasearchwilleventuallyfindtheseanswers.Thestoriesofhoweachoneofusmayfindtheanswerswilldifferwidely,eachstorybeingmarvelouslytailor-madetosuitourindividualtaste.However,theactualanswersprobablywon’t.Sowhilethesearemystoriestrackingwhathappenedtomeinmylifeasaprofessionalscientistinsearchofmyanswersonwhatistheessenceofourhumanexperience,thisbookisaboutanyoneelseasmuchasitisaboutme,andthesestoriesbelongtoallofusasmuchastheydotome.Theseareourstoriesofwhatittakestostayalignedwithagreatervisionandgothoughtheprocessofbringingittolifeintheworld.Thesestoriesbelongtotheheartofourhumanity,encodedwiththememoriesofourspeciesandallthelifeformswedescendedfrom.Likeinamagnificentorchestralsymphony,eachstoryisnotatedseparatelyforindividualplants,andstill,allstoriesaresoundingtogethertoremindusofourdeephistoryofconnectiontoandinterdependencewithallothers(humansandnonhumans)andtoreconnectourmagnificentmindswithourpreciousheartssowedaretodreamatrulyinspiringfutureforthewhole.

ChapterO

Listen,thenyoumayhearsomethingbeingspoken.

Oryngham

Orynghammeansthankyouforlisteninginthelanguageoftheplants.Itisnotaword,aswehumansunderstandit,becauseitsmeaningcannotbespoken—norcanitbeheard.However,wecanexperienceitbyfeelingwithourbodiesandlisteningtowhatourearscannothear.Whenwelearntolistentoplantswithouttheneedtohearthemspeak,alanguagethatwehaveforgottenemerges;itisalanguagebeyondwords,onethatdoesnotwanderorpretendormislead.Itisalanguagethatconveysitsrichandmeaningfulexpressionbybypassingthehouseholdofourmindanddirectlyconnectingonespirittoanother.Thislanguagebelongstoplants,andsodothesestories.

Thisstorystartsfromthemiddle.Themiddleisaswinginghammockhangingbarelyabovethewoodenfloorofasmallstilthut.Withitstypicalthatchedhippedroof,wallsofapastelbluecolor,decoratedwiththeintricategeometricpatternsdistinctiveoftheShipibopeopleoftheAmazonlowlandsofPeru,thisisthehutofmydreams.Ihaddreamtofthisexactplaceafewmonthsearlier,backhomeinAustralia.Onthefirstnight,Ihaddreamtofstandingbytheoutsideofasmallhut,noticingtheblacklabyrinthinepatternspaintedonitswalls.Thelittledoorwaswideopenandtheentrancepitch-black.Climbingupthreelittlewoodenstepswasallthatwasrequiredtoenter,atrulysimpletaskunlessonecameface-to-facewithagatekeeper.Astheyellow-greeneyesofablackjaguaremergedshimmeringoutofthedarknessofthedoorwayandpierceddeeplyintomine,Iwokeup.Thesamescenematerializedonthefollowingnight,butwithnofelinewardeninsight.Ipeeredinsidethehutandwassurprisedtoseeafireburninginthemiddleoftheroomandayoungmantendingit.Thefirekeepergesturedmetositbythefiretofacehim,andsoIdid.Astheorangeandyellowflamesdancedinthespacebetweenus,themaninstructedmetosing.Despitemymostsincereefforts,nosoundevercameoutofme,andIwokeup.Thefollowingnight,IsatatthefirewithamucholdermaninShipibodress.Hewasgrinningatmewithaflickerofsatisfactioninhisdark,narroweyesasIsangabizarretunemadeofsoundsIcouldnothearandmeaningsIcouldnotspeak.Iwokeupthatmorningknowingthatsomewherethathut,thatman,andthosestrangesongswerewaitingforme.ThisishowSocoba,atropicaltreealsoknownasBellaco-caspi(Himatanthussucuuba),quiteliterally,calledmetotheoutskirtsofPucallpa.SoafewmonthslaterIsetoffforPeru.

Almostthirty-fivefeettall,Socobastandstallandproudwithacrownofperfumedwhiteflowersadorningherheadofbrilliantgreenfoliage.Shebreathesuphighinthesky,whileherfeetarefirmlyheldinamoist,attimesflooded,ground,justlikethehumansshedwellswith.Here,theEarthsecurestherootsofbothSocobaandtheShipibopeople,andtheCosmos,unconcerned

bythespecificnatureoftheircomplexion,inscribesitselfontotheirskin.1TheShipibowearthecosmicpatternsofmeanderinglinesandhiddenluminousharmoniesontheirpaintedfacesandbodies.Likewise,Socobawearsthemasaceremonialdressofrough,mottledbark.Asthesecosmicinscriptionspiercethroughtheveryskintaskedwithkeepingtheoutsideworldoutandalloftheinsidesin,theworldsbeyondthisworldemerge,percolatingintobecarefullymappedout.Itisattheskinthatthetreeandtheshamanmeet,acrossroadofsacredofferingswhereawoundisetchedinthebodyofonetohealthatoftheother.2

TheSocobatreestretchesherarborealarmstotheskyandoverthemaloka(ceremonialhut),thebeautifullypaintedtemplespacewhereDonM—theShipibomanIhadseeninmydream—conductshishealingceremoniesandcurativeritualsasthemaestrovegetalista(plantshaman)forthelocalcommunity.DonMhadtoldmethatSocobacalledhimthatmorning,soonaftermyarrivalathishome.Hehadheededhercallandmetherwhistlingoneofthosestrangetuneswhileswirlingintheairaroundhertorsowhitepuffsofsacredjungletobacco,ormapacho,asAmazonianshamanscallNicotianarustica.3Socobahadinformedhimofhowshehadcometomydreamstocallmetothisplacetoworkwithher.Thensheproceededtogifthimsomeofherbarksohecouldprepareaconcoctionforme.Asthehighlyrespectedplantamaestrathatsheis,Socobawascommittedtoteachmeaboutherselfasaniftyhealerofthephysicalaswellasemotionalandspiritualbody.Toopenthisplantteacher–humanstudentdialogue,allIneededtodowastofollowthedieta,4atimeduringwhichIwastoingesttheplantregularlywhileinisolation,observingtotalsexualabstinenceandanuninspiringdietofunseasonedvegetablesandrice.SoIdranktheconcoctionmadefromherbarkthatnight—andthefollowingnighttoo—asSocobaswiftlyalignedwithmypresentandquietlybefriendedmypast.AndIdrankheragainandagainforthefollowingweeksofmyapprenticeship,whileinahammockthatswungbarelyoffthewoodenfloorofthelittlehutIhaddreamtofmonthsbefore,lyinginmyownbedhalfaworldaway.

ThefirsttimeSocobashowedherselftome,Icompletelyfailedtorecognizeher.ThenightIstarteddietingwithher,DonMrecommendedpayingattentiontomydreams,whereshewasmostlikelytofirstrevealherpresence.Icertainlyhadagoodsleepthatfirstnightshecametovisit,butInoticednothinginparticularthatIwouldhaveassociatedtoher,well,exceptforoneimage.Itconsistedofadarkblood-redbackgroundwiththickblacklines,asimpleimage

thathadkeptpoppingupthroughoutthenight.Liketheintermissionofbygonefilmswasneededtofacilitatethechangingofreels,thisimageappearedlikeawidescreen,creatingamomentarypausebetweenonedreamandthenext.Thefollowingafternoon,thesameimagematerializedonthewhitepaperofmydrawingpadwithaclearmessage—todaslascosasestanjuntas(allthingsareconnected).IsuddenlyunderstoodwhatSocobawassaying—“itisthroughbloodthateverythingisconnected.”

Inthatmoment,IknewwithoutknowingthatSocobawasabloodcleanser,thehealerofconditionsthataffectedthebloodandthenetworkofvesselsthatassurethesmoothflowingofbloodinsidethehumanbody.ThisishowSocobaarticulatedherinitialinsightsandinstructedmeonwhatIwouldlaterreadinthescientificliterature.Infact,decadesofpharmacologicalresearchhaveconfirmedherpositiveeffectsonthevascularsystem.Sheregulatesthenumbersofredbloodcellsandoxygen-carryinghemoglobins—deficienciesofwhichleadtoanemia—andmaintainshealthybloodpressureandthepermeabilityofbloodvessels,whichmakesherapotenthealerofseveralinflammation-relateddiseasesrangingfromsimplehayfevertolife-threateningsepsis,atherosclerosis,andcancer.5

Atonce,thewholesituationhadbecomeabsurd,hysterical,andliberating.Whyinvestmillenniainablindand,quitefrankly,dangeroustrail-and-errorprocess(assuggestedbymostscholars)when,injustafewweeksormonths,onecanlearnaboutthetherapeuticpropertiesofplantsstraightfromthe(vegetal!)horse’smouth?Whyinsistondenyingtheabilityofplantstospeaktousandeventeachuswhenthatiswhattheyhavedonefor,well,millennia?6Theclaimthatplants(andnatureingeneral)havenovoiceandnoteachingforusisrootedinancienthistory,datingbacktoSocrates,whodeclaredthattreescouldteachhimnothingbutthen,ironically,remindedusofpropheciesutteredbyoldoaktrees(allthewhile,restingcomfortablyonasoftpatchofgrassundertheshadeofamajesticplanetreeonasizzlingsummer’sday).7ThisschizophrenicdiscrepancyhashauntedWesternthinkingthroughoutitshistory—accreditingavoicetoplantsandevenacknowledgingthemaswiseoraclesandteachers,onlytotakeitallawayinthenextbreath.Despitethenumerousattemptstorepudiateor,worst,denigratethatwhichsophisticatedWesternthinkinghasdefinedasignorantandsuperstitious,asimplefactremains—thevegetalworldneverstoppedteachinghumans,reachingtousthroughourdreamsandvisions,andweneverstoppedlearningbylisteningtoit.

Inthelightofevolution,learningbylisteningtoplantsmusthaveservedus

wellandaffordedusmajorselectivebenefits.Thosewhocaredtolistenwouldhavebeenlesslikelytomakedreadfulmistakeswhiledistinguishingwhichplantswereedibleandbeneficial.Becausetheirapproachwasfarfromignorant—beingwellinformedbytheplantsthemselves—thosewholistenedwouldhavebeenabletotestandapplytheirnewlyacquiredknowledgestraightaway.(Justthinkaboutit,arandomtrial-and-errorapproachwouldhavetakenalongtimeandcostlotsoflivesbeforeanyusefulandpracticalinformationcouldberevealedtous!)Ofcourse,learningbylisteningdidnoteliminatethefactthattheprocessofdiscovering,remembering,andsharingavastamountofinformationaboutmedicinalplantsstillwouldhavebeenaccompaniedbyahugecognitiveinventoryoftheirtherapeuticproperties.Ourmindwouldhavehadtomanagedthiscomplexity,perhapsbydividinguptheinformationintosmallermorsels,setsofdistinguishablequalitiesthatbestrepresentedatherapeuticproperty.Theseclassificationswouldhaveservedusaspowerfulmnemonicdevicestopropupthefinitecapacityofourmemory.Butwhatarelieftoknowthatnoneofitcouldeverbeforgotten!Whatarelieftoknowthattheseenormousvegetalarchiveswouldalwaysbeopenforconsultation.Plantknowledgeisinandwiththeplantsthemselves,neverlost,alwaysavailabletothosewholisten.

Indeed,plantsseemtoknowuswellandwhatweneed.Insomeherbalisticcircles,itissaidthatplantsarewillingtohelpusandarekeentosharetheirknowledgewithus.8Asplantscontinuetocoevolvewithhumans(andotheranimalspecies),itisalsosuggestedthatnewpropertiesandfunctionsforplantswillemergeasnewneedsdevelop.9Theobviousquestion,then,isnotsomuchaboutwhetherorevenwhattheyknow,buthowandwhytheydo.Fromautilitarianperspective,itis,ofcourse,valuabletoknowthataplantlikeSocobacanbeusedtotreatconditionsthataffectthecirculatorysystem.ButhowdoesanAmazoniantreelikeSocobaknowaboutthefunctioningofthehumanbodyandthehealingofitsdysfunctions?Andwhywouldsheholdsuchanunderstanding?Answerscannotbegiventoquestionsthatwearenotreadytoask,andatthetime,thesequestionsneverevenoccurredtome.TheymaterializedonlywhenIbeganwritingthisphytobiographicalaccountofSocobasixyearslater.Then,likeadogwithabone,myunrelentingmindwashungryfortheimpossibleanswerstothesebizarre,evenunbearablequestions.Isimplyhadnoidea,buttothinkthattheriddlecouldbesolvedbyvirtueofamerelymentalworkoutwastherealfallacy.Instead,itallhappenedeffortlessly.Asthequestionsemerged,theanswersdidtoo.ThisiswhenSocobawokemeupintheearlyhoursofthedaytoelucidatethem.Andheranswerwasasnatural

andlightasoxygen.

Duringmydietawithher,Socobahadspokenclearlyabouteverythingbeingconnectedthroughblood.Now,somanyyearslater,shewasunwrappingthisearlierinsightlikeasweetcandytoconveytheteachingthat,inactuality,matteredthemost.DonMhadtoldmethatoncedieted,aplantisateacherthatwillstaywithyouforeverandkeepteachingyouinherownplanttime;becauseofthat,thereisnoneedtodietthesameplanttwice.Andindeed,Socobawasvibratinginsidemybody,movingeversolightlytoremindmeofherindisputablepresence.AndlikethatfirstnightofmydietabackinPeru,shedisplayedhermasteryasateacherbyrevealingthat“thewisdomisintheoxygen,andthebloodisthegreatconnector.”Speakingwithoutwords,shewentonshowingmehow—thiswayandthatthroughthevascularsystem—bloodcarriesoxygentothemainhectichubsofthebody,aswellastoitsmoresecludedandquieterlocations.Thisispossiblebecauseredbloodcellsarepackedwithhemoglobin,whosejobistotraptheoxygenavailableinthelungsandtransportthepreciousatomsintothetissuesofthebody10and,fromthere,tofreightcarbondioxidemoleculesbacktothelungs,wheretheycanbereleased.Ateachinhalation,freeoxygenbreathedoutbyplantsentersusinallitslevityandallowsustoconvertwhatweeatintoenergy.Ateachexhalation,weletgoofcarbondioxideandwater,whichplantsingeniouslycombinewithatouchofsunlighttomaketheirownfoodand,onceagain,moreoxygen.Excitedly,shecontinuedbypointingouthowwebreatheeachotherinandoutofexistence,onemadebytheexhalationoftheother.

Arisingfromperfectstillness,thisdeepbreathoffreshairisthenecessarymovementthatbringsinnovationandtheexpressionofindividuality,wheretheuniqueandtheseparateastheplantandthehumanaremadetemporarilypossible.Andthissameinspiredmovementthatgeneratedthemalsounbindsthem,incessantlyreleasingboththeplantandthehumanintoaspacewheretheseparatepartsaredissolved.Witheverybreath,then,theplantknowsthehumanasherself.Ateverybreath,thehumanbecomesmoreplant-likethanherealizes,andgiventherightcircumstances,herecognizeshowhetooknowstheplantashimself.HereSocobavanished,leavingmeinmybedtofallasleepagain.

Howcanaplantreadilyknowuswhenwearehardlyawareoftheplantnesswithinourselves?Thetheoreticalnotionofaplantnessreverberatingwithinthehumanbodyhasbeencontemplatedsinceancienttimes.11Perceivedthroughtheveilofmotionlessnessevenbyourmostbrilliantminds,thisplantnesshasseemedinaccessibleandevendeliberatelyhiddenfromus.12Well,thatistrue

whenwetrytothinkofit.Itisbecauseofitsunthinkability—inthesensethatitcannotbecomprehendedinaconceptualway—thatonlytheexperienceoffeelingit(byvirtueofthepatternsofinformationthatitdelivers)makesitreal.Whenwefeelit,thisplantnessisallowedtoemanateunconcealedwithinusatalltimes.Whatappearedtobeintangible—anobscureotherness—isunveiledastheintimatefamiliarityofanobviousandluminouslikeness.Andfarfrombeingimpenetrableanddistant,theplantisrevealedasunquestionablyopen.Literally.AsphilosopherMichaelMarderputsit,“theplant,ofcourse,doesnotaskwhatwateris,andithasno‘idea’ofwaterasadistinctobject.”13Because,inhervegetalopenness,theplantisnotseparatefromtheexteriorityofhermilieu.AndaselaborateddirectlybySocoba,theplantexistsinastateofopencommunioninwhichthefictionofpersonalizedboundariescollapses.

Inhergroundedexperienceoflife,sheneedsneitherquestionsnorconceptsofwatertoknowwater.Infact,shedoesnotneedtoaskanythingatalltoknow.Thisishowtheplantknowstheother;thisishowsheknowsthehumanasherself.Thisknowingcomesfrombeingempty,butemptinessdoesnotreducetheplanttoapassive,spirit-less,andobjectifiedmateriality(andwewillconsidertheimplicationsofthislater)butratherliberateshervitalityfromthepursuitoffulfillment.Alreadyfulfilledineverymoment,alwaysrealizedinherfullpotential,theplantiscompletelyavailabletoknowhercircumstancesbylisteningdeeply.Forahumanbeingtoknowthiswayistobe(atleastmomentarily)freefrominternalinconsistenciesbetweenattitudesandactions.Itmeanstobeemptyofthesociallyindoctrinatedbeliefsystemthatprescribestheboundariesofhowweareexpectedtoperceiveandbehaveinagivensituationandthatjustifiesouractionsevenwhentheyareunwiseandoutofsortswithourinternalemotionalandmoralintelligence.

Asthepreconceivedideasandjudgmentswemakeabouttheotherareabandoned,wearefinallyavailabletolistentoourcircumstancesastheypresentthemselvesineachmoment.Then,asSocobapointedout,weareopentoknowtheotherasourselves.Thiswayofknowingisnotephemeral,butearthlyandconcrete.Thisavailabilitytotrulylistenbyfeelingtheotheraswemeetisnotempathy,whichbearsupontheempathizerprojectinganddepositinghimselfintotheotherinordertorediscoverhimself—aformofnarcissismthatmakestheotherasortofimaginativevariationoftheempathizer.14Instead,knowingbydeeplisteninghasthequalityofaperfectsurprise,pertinenttothemomentoftheencounter,notconditionedbyanythinginsideoneortheotherand,thus,notintentionallypredetermined.15

Theopennesstothisdeeplisteningisoxygenatedinthenaturalbodymadeofbloodandbones(orsapandfibers),whereskinsandbarksarenolongerperceivedasfunctionalboundariesthatseparatetheinnerandouter,containingus.Asitemergesfromandmergesintothespacewhereoneencounterstheother,thisopennessrevealsourparticipationinthecommunionwitheachother.Becausetheopennessofplantbeingconstantlyinvitesouropennesstobeinghumans,ourencounterwithplantsconfrontsuswiththelimitsofourcapacityforsuchembodiedlisteningandactiveparticipation.Thus,plantscometorepresentthemarkerpointsofourresistancetotranscendournarcissisticandanthropocentricpropensitiestowardexceptionalism,anecessaryrequirementforenteringsuchspace.ThiswastheteachingthatSocoba,theplant,hadcometosharewithme,thehuman.Butthatwasnotall.Solet’sretraceourstepsbacktoSocobaandherarborealarmsstretchedoutandoverthemalokawiththebeautifulShipibodesignssnakingacrossitswalls,somewhereoutsidePucallpa.

Thetappingnoiseofahappybeakcamefromthedoorofmyhut.Iopenedit,lookedout,andthendown.Andtherewasmyfeatheredvisitor,chestpuffedupwithattitudeinhisshimmeringgreentuxedo,waiting.Pedrito,abrightgreenlittleparrot,hadknockedatmydoorandcomevisitingalmosteverydaysinceIhadstartedmydietawithSocoba.AsIopenedthedoor,hetiltedhisheadtooneside,lookingupatmewithdeceitfultimidness.Hewaswaitingtobewelcomedin.Whatafunnysight—leaninghisbodyforward,withhisfeatheryarmsfoldedbehindhisbacklikeanoldZenmasterimmersedinthedeepcontemplationoflife,Pedritowouldwastenotimetrottinginsidetomakehimselfathome.Afterabriefinspectionofthecolorfulpencilsleftunorganizedontopofmydrawingpadandwhatlittleelsewaslyingaroundonthewoodenfloorofthehut,hewouldflutteruptositontheropeholdingonesideofmyhammockandwaitformetogetcomfortableinit.Cocoonedinarealitysuspendedoffthefloorofthisworldbutstillconnectedtoitbyafewropes,PedritoandIwouldswingtogetheracrosstheuniverseofourminds.

Thatday,wewerelulledbackandforthbythecalmingsoundofhisbeakclickingandgrindingashefellasleepinthefoldofmyarm.Istaredoutsidethroughtheopendoorofmyhutandacrossthenakedspacebetweenhuts,whereIcouldseetheexposed“shower”—asolitaryrustypipespoutingwateroutoftheground,nonstop—whichImadeuseof,albeitreluctantlyandonlyoutofsheernecessity.WhileswingingtothecalmingsoundofPedritointheshelterofmyhammock,Istaredoutsidepasttheopenshowerandovertheloudmusicandtheracketofhumanlifeengrossedwithitself.Andfurther,mygazetraveledacrossthehushedmovementofanother-than-humanworldconnectingmeto

Socoba.Frommyvantagepoint,IcouldseeSocobapeacefullyshininginthesunasshestretchedupandoverthemalokawhereweweretomeetinceremonyafternightfall.ButSocoba’ssilentandmotionlessappearancewasdeceptive.Shehadnointentionofwaitingtillnightfallbeforebearinghernextteachingsessionontheperceptionofreality.

Whileinplainsight,everythingdisappearedforawhileformethatafternoon.Thenoisefromoutsideevaporated.ThehutandthehammockIwasswingingindissolved,althoughIwasstillthere.Pedritoalsovanished,thoughhewasstillasleepinmyarms.Ihadnotmoved,andmyeyeswerewideopen,butwhatIwasseeingwassomewherenotthere.Socobawasthere.

“Ah,yougotit!”shesaidwithoutwords.Withoutwords,Iasked,“Igotit—what?”andthenIsawtheanswer:abright,shinyroad.Atthevergeofthisluminousroad,IsawallofthepeopleIhaveeverstumbledupon.Everysingleoneofthemwasthere—thewomanatthedelishopwhereIusedtobuysweets(and,attimes,shopliftchocolatebars)afterschool;aticketinspectoronamorningtrainthatwastravelingtomyhometown;aneighborwhomIhaveonlyevernoddedandsmiledatasIwalkedpastwithmydog—allofthepeoplewhomatteredtome,aswellasthoseIneverthoughtofconsequencetomylife,allofthepeoplewhoeverlovedme,aswellasthosewhoneverseemedto.Applaudingandcheeringloudly“yougotit!”—sothrilled,sopleased—theyhadallconvergedfromdivergenttimelinesandeclecticspacesintothatmoment,outofsequencewithtimeandspace.Iwasstaggered.

Evennow,asIrecalltheevent,IcanstillfeeltheconfusionIfeltthenand,atonce,thesensationofsomethingmiraculoushappeningintheunderbellyofarealitywemostlyagreetodeny,butwhichIwaspeeringinto.AsIrecalltheevent,Iamalsoawarethatmywordsappeartocarrythehallmarksofegomania,oratleastagooddoseofdelusionalgrandeur.AndrestassuredthatIdiddoubtmyownsanitymanytimes,especiallywhenalloftheseoddoccurrencesstarted—andyetIknowIdonotsufferfrompsychoses,andcertainlynotfromamessianiccomplex.ThisissimplytheeventasIrememberit,knowingthatevenmycurrentrecallingandunderstandingofitislikelyincomplete.

AsIwalkedtowardabrightlightahead,passingthecrowdlikeanOscarscelebrityontheredcarpet,SocobaexplainedhoweachoneofthemplayedtheroleIhadscriptedforthemaspartofthe“storyofme”thatIdirected.“Lookatthosewhoputtheirhandsuptoplayachallengingcharacter,knowingthatyouwouldloatheit,judgingitbitterlyandunforgivingly.”Shepressedon,“Seethoseyouthoughtwereouttohurtyou?Theyplayedtheirassignedroleswith

greatperfectionandinfinitepatience,foryourbenefitalone.Theirchoicewasmadeoutoflovealone.Andoutofthislove,allagreedtobepartofyourplay,soyoucouldwalktothispointandremembertheradianceofthelightthatisyou.”

OverwhelmedbyaprofoundsenseofgratitudeIhadnotknownbeforeandanintenseloveradiatingfromeveryonearoundme,Iwasnowsobbing,uncontrollably,likeasmallchild.Everypersonhadbroughtauniqueaspecttomystorythatwouldallowmetoexpressadistinctivefacetofmyself.CouldIpossiblybetheonlycharacterinmylifewhowasunawarethatthiswasjustawonderfulperformance?WasItheunknowingstarofmyownspellbindingplay?“Yousee,child,yougotit!”Socobareassuredme,whileIraisedmylefthandup—itwasnotmyownadulthand,butthatofachild.Theroadoflightwasleadingforwardtothebeginning,apointoforiginwherealltimelinesanddreamscapesjoined.Here,eachindividualcharactermergedanddisappearedintothelightwithme—spontaneously,effortlessly.Thiswasthespacewhere,asSocobahadalreadyrevealedinanearlierteaching,theseparateparts,nowliberated,dissolvedandunified.

ItwasnightfallbythetimeDonMcametofetchmefortheceremony.Stunnedbythebewilderingeventsofthatafternoon,mywalkovertothemalokawas,withoutadoubt,aclumsyone.Beforeenteringtheceremonialhut,IlookedupattheSocobatreepeacefullyshininginthemoonlightjustasmuchasshehaddoneearlierinthesunlight.Ienteredthemaloka,satdownonthemattressplacedonthefloorforme,andcringedattheoff-puttingfizzoffermentationexhaledbyasmallplasticbottleDonMhadjustopened.Homemadeandorganic,thecontentwasnolemonadesoda,butthepowerfulpsychedelicAyahuascamedicina,16theacridbrewhehadpreparedafewweeksago,justbeforemyarrival.Mapachoalreadyhangingoffhislip,DonMlookedupatmewiththeexactsamegrinIhadseenonhisfacewhenIfirstsawhim,somanymonthsbefore,inthedreamthathadbroughtmehere.BeforeIcouldpleadtoSocobaandtheplantspiritsforagentleride,DonMhadhandedmeadoubledoseofthemedicina,andthepotentconcoctionwasalreadysnakingthroughmybody,onherwaytomystomachandtheworldsbeyond.

Thejourneyhadbeenaverystrongoneandhadknockedmeoutuntillunchtimethefollowingday.Itwashardtomakesenseof.TheonlythingIrememberedclearlywasmyencounterandexchangewiththespiritofaprettyfern-likeplant,whomIhadnoticedgrowingnexttomyhut.Ah,whatasweetieshewas!Inmyjourney,Isawhercoveredindropletsofwater,asifshehadjust

beenrainedon.Aswatercollectedatthetipsofherleaves,sheextendedoneofthemtowardme.Istretchedmyarmout,andthedropletatthetipoftheshinyleafglittered.Hangingfromtheleafedgewiththesameexcitedtensionofaskydiverreadytofreefall,thedropletdetached,freeforafleetinglymomentbeforelandinginthesoftcenterofmycuppedhand.“Oryngham,”theplantsaid,asawaveofwarmthhitmyheart.“Thisisourwordfor‘thankyou.’”Iwasconfused—whywouldtheplantsbethankingme?IfeltIshouldhavebeentheonegivingthanks.“Thankyouforlistening,”shecontinuedsoftly,“forbeingopentoreceiveourgifts,formeetingusintruecommunion.”Shepausedforabriefmoment,asshewrappedherleafyarmsaroundme.Rockingmelikeatinybabeinherdeepembrace,shehushed,“Nowrest,child,rest—wehavemuchworktodo.”Herbeautifulgestureglowedinsideme,reverberating.Theinaudiblesoundofhersong,oricaro17—acalmingbutpeculiartunemadeofsoundsIcouldnothearandmeaningsIcouldnotdecipher—resonatedinsideout,ringingthroughthetemplestructureofthemaloka,whereDonMhadstartedhummingtheplant’ssacredsong.

BackatthetempleofmodernscienceintheuniversitywhereIwork,investigationsonthenatureofrealityarecarriedoutunderstandardizedandcontrolledconditions,mostlywithinthesanctityofexperimentallaboratories.Withitsquestforasourceofintellectualsecuritybasedonobjectivityandmaterialism,themodernscientificmodeofthinking—scientificdeterminism—hasbecometheacceptedprocedureforgainingknowledgeabouttheworldandacommondenominatorforWesternculture.Asaresult,theknowledgeattainedbyconventionalscienceis,forthemostpart,anintellectualenterpriseabstractedfromthesubjectiveexperienceofthebody,themind,andthespirit.

AspointedoutbyecophilosopherDavidAbram,thedeterministicviewofaworldmechanicallygovernedbycausesandeffectsiscommonlyopposedbythespiritualidealismofnewagecircles,wheretheetherealnatureofspiritualrealityisfavoredoverthedown-to-earthnatureofmatter.Eachobsessedwithitsownmythology—bothworldviewsupholdingthenotionofaseparationbetweenmind,body,andspiritandbothprioritizingoneaspectofnatureovertheother—thepossibilityoftheirfullintegrationintounityandinterdependencedropsquicklyoutofsight.18Byjuxtaposingtheapprenticeshaman,wideopentothedarknessofaShipibomalokainadefiantwilderness,withtheWesternscientistlockedunderthebrightnessoffluorescentlightsinanoff-limitscontrolled-environmentlaboratory,naturehadfoundawaytointegrateandunifythetwoworldviews.Guidedbytheplants,thescientistlearnedtothinkoutandawayfromtheconventionalboxthatmeasuredcurrentscientificprecincts,whilethe

shamaninspiredanentirelynewvision.

Eighteenmonthslater,thisintegratedperspectivegavebirthtothefirstofaseriesofscientificstudiesonplantbehavioralecology,whichprovidedclearexperimentalevidencefortheexistenceofcommunicationchannelsbetweenplantsbeyondthoserecognizedandstudiedbyscienceupuntilthen.19Couldplantsinmyscientificlaboratorycommunicatewitheachotherwithsound(liketheydidintheshamanictempleoftheAmazon)?Daringtoaskthisstrangeandimpermissiblequestioncertainlyinvitedwavesofmockeryinthecorridorsofacademicscience;farmoreimportant,however,wasthepossibilityofunlockingitsrevolutionaryanswer.Andtheanswerdidcome,whisperedbyateenykernelofcorn.

ChapterR

Allknowledgeisborrowedknowledge.

KernelsofTruthRidiculed,scorned,ordeliberatelyignored,thetruthaboutanythingisquirky

andawkwardwhenitfirstemerges.Germinatingatthemarginsoffamiliarity,theseedsoftruthareanomalousoccurrences.Outofcontext—likeinvasiveweedsthatdonotbelonginthewell-establishedterrainsofculturalconsensus—theseanomaliesbecomeespeciallytroublesomewhentheygathertothepointthattheycannolongerbeignored.Thentheyposeaseriousthreat,thatofunderminingtheconfidenceoftheexistingfield,astheirblossomingopensthemindintocompletelyunchartedrealitiesandextraordinarypossibilities.Beware—theseflowersarenotforpicking!Eachbelongingtoitselfalone,theknowledgetheycarrycanneverbetaken,onlygifted.Theknowledgetheygiftcanneverbeowned,onlyshared.Respectfully.Intheend,allknowledgeisonlyeverborrowed.

BackinthePeruvianjungle,DonMhadlearnedhowtodiagnoseandtreathispatientsfromtheknowledgethatmorethanonehundredAmazonianplantshadgiftedhim.Hehaddonehisfirstdietawithhisgrandfatherwhenhewasjustaboy.Afterafewdietaswithvariousmaestros,thetimehadcomeforhimtostartdietingalone.Duringoneofthesesolodietasinthemiddleofthejungle,thespiritsoftheplantshadcalledhimbynameandgiftedhimwithdreams,visions,and,ofcourse,theirpreciousmedicinesongs(icaros).Theseicarosarewhistledorsungbytheshamanduringceremonialorcurativeritualstodelivertherequiredmedicine,dependingontheneedsandconditionsofthepatients.Duringmyvisit,DonMexplainedthateachplanthasitsownsonganditsownlanguagetosingit.“SomesinginShipibo,”DonMsaid,“otherssinginQuechua,likeMamaCoca—thecocaplant.”Andsomesingin“otherways”—andhewasabletosingthesesongsduringceremoniesevenifthelanguagewasunknowntohim(orsimplyother-than-human).

AsIhadexperiencedmyself,thesesongsarenotmetaphorsbuttangiblegesturesofaplant’sfondnesstocommunicateandrelatetothehumanthroughkinship.Theyareablessingthatgrantsthehumanpersonaccesstotheenrichingpowersoftheplantperson,aninvaluablegiftgenerouslyentrustedtotheheartoftheshamanasthekeeperofknowledge.Andforthousandsofyears,indigenoushealers,witchdoctors,andshamansaroundtheworldhavebeenlearningthesongsofplantsasawayofcommunicatingwiththeseother-than-humanpersonsandacknowledgingthemastheguarantorsofhumanexistence,thetruephilanthropistsoftheworld.1Arelationshipbuiltonthispremisecanonlyengenderadeepsenseofgratitudeandhumblenessthatawakensourroleascustodianswithadutyofcareandrespecttowardtheseotherbeingsandthevitalknowledgetheyenrichuswith.

Withoutidealizingthemunnecessarily,itisfairtosaythatmanyindigenouscultureshavemaintainedstrongtraditionalsystemsofcustodianshipovertheserelationshipstosafeguardtheirknowledgeandupholdtheassociatedresponsibilitiesfortheiruse.2ItisquitetheoppositeincontemporaryWesternsociety,wherethelackofappreciationforthepreciousnessofourrelationshipwiththesevegetalothershaspromotedadestructiveattitudethatfailstorecognizebothourabsolutedependenceontheserelationshipsandourobligationtoprotect,nurture,andcareforthem.Inthisstateofneglectanddisregard,theculturalconstructionofplantsasobjectsbecomesanindispensibledistortion—wheat,oats,andbarleyarereducedtoslaveryascropsonproductionlinesandeucalyptusandpinetreestamedandconfinedinplantationcamps,oftenfarawayfromhome,whiletheunrulinessofanaturalrainforestisburnedorbulldozedtobedeplorablyeradicated—tosupportourutilitarianexploitationandmonopolizationofthesevegetalbeingsas“resources”andtojustifyourmisappropriationandmisuseoftheknowledgetheyhavebroughttohumanity.

Atitsworst,thisdisconnectionrevealsoneofthemanyfacesofcolonialism:thecapitalistagro-scientificpsychosiswherebyplantsareseenascommoditiestobetakenwithoutsanctionandthewealthoftraditionalknowledgeregardingthemisusedwithoutpermission.Illogicalandoffensive,thefirstorderofbusinessofscientificcolonialism—alsoknownasbiopiracyorbioprospecting,foramorepoliticallycorrectdesignationofthesame—istodevalueplantsandthetraditionalknowledgeofthem.Bydisregardingboththephysicalandthespiritualpersonhoodofplantsanddepreciatingthetraditionalknowledgeheldbyindigenousandlocalcommunitiesaboutthem,thescientificcolonizersarebusyconvincingeveryonethatwhateverproducttheyhavetoofferissuperior—betterthantheunsubstantiatedandfancifulbeliefsystempreservedastraditionalknowledgeandcertainlywiserthanthespiritualpretextsthatthatsystemhasconcoctedtopreventitsknowledgeclaimsfrombeingscrutinizedaccordingtotheWesternscientificmodel.Then,withasatisfiedgrinofentitlement,theinternationaltradeorganizationsandmultinationalgroupsengagedinthesecolonialistassaultsproceedtoclaimownershipoverthosewhoarenotforsale,patentingandtrademarkingthosewhoarenottheirsforbranding.Whatiftheclaimsoftraditionalknowledgewereindeedputtothetestandthese“beliefs”substantiatedbyaWesternscientificmodel?And,moretothepoint,wouldthe“truth”emergingattheinterfacebetweenthesetwobodiesofknowledgehavethepowertochangethenotionofownershiptooneofcustodianship?

InthemiddleofthePeruvianjungle,theAmazonianplantshadspokentomethroughnuminousdreamsandvisions,telekineticconversationsandsongs.Astheyhaddoneformillennia,theyhadtaughtmeoftheirroleinsupportingthe

theyhaddoneformillennia,theyhadtaughtmeoftheirroleinsupportingthephysical,psycho-emotional,andspiritualgrowthofhumanityattheindividual,community,andplanetarylevel.Thisunderstandingofplant-humancommunicationisyettofullybreachthefortifiedwallsofacademia.

Overthelasttwodecades,however,importantinsightsintoourunderstandingofplantecologyandthebehavioralnatureofplantshavenotonlyconfirmedtheexistenceofthewiderangeofcommunicativemeansplantsuse(atleastamongthemselvesandsomeanimals)butalso,mostexcitingly,haveindicatedthatmoremodalitiesremaintoberevealed.3Ofcourse,excitementandcuriosityepitomizetheoriginalspiritofscience,buttheydonotfeaturemuchinthestandardviewofscientificdevelopment.Stillholdingstrong,theconventionalperceptionwouldhaveknowledgedevelopinalinearway;thetruthaboutscientificprogress,however,isquitedifferent.

Asdemonstratedbyhistory4andeloquentlyelaboratedbytheinfluentialphilosopherofscienceThomasKuhn,significantbreakthroughsinscientificunderstandingdonotoccurbyadheringtotherestrictiveconditionsoftheexistingdisciplinarytemplate—progressisnotmadebysteadilyaddingnewtruthstooldones(andcorrectingpasterrorshereandthere),withdevelopmentsoccasionallyacceleratedatthehandsofanexceptionallybrilliantscientistinchargeand,mostimportantly,ensuredby—andinthenameof—thescientificmethod.5Breachingoutoftheirrooteddarkness,breakthroughsareseedsofnonconformitydeterminedtosproutintothelightoffreethinking.Anomalous,then,theunrulyideathatplantsareabletocommunicateinwaysthatresideoutsidetheboxofwhatisknownhadtobreakthroughthelimitationsofexistingideology.Andthatisjustaboutwhatthisideadidinmylaboratory,wherethreeplants—chili,fennel,andbasil—hadcometowhispertheimperceptibleandinsinuatetheunfamiliarfromtheconfinementoftheplasticboxesIhadbuiltforthemforanexperiment.

Nowadays,theseplantsareincorporatedintocuisinesworldwide,buttheiraromaticfruitsanddeliciousshoots,togetherwiththeirmedicinalactions,werewellknownandvaluedbytheancientsinCentralAmerica,theMediterraneanbasin,andallthewaytoAfricaandAsia.Althoughseparateintheirwildorigins,fierychilipeppers,sweetfennels,andhumblebasilsallbravedasimilarhistoryofdomesticationandwidespreadcommercialcultivation,andnowtheyhadventuredinsidemylabonamissiontogetherforanaltogetherdifferentreason.Inallhisspiciness,itwasthechilipepperwhoposedthezestyquestiontome—howwouldyoulearnofwhatispresentlyunknownaboutourvegetalwaysofcommunicatingifyouarenotlookingforitanddonotevenrealizethat

waysofcommunicatingifyouarenotlookingforitanddonotevenrealizethatitmayexist?Generously,hehadalsoprovidedtheanswer—excludetheknowntoallowyourselftoseewhatunexpectedthingsmighthappen.Andtheunexpectedisexactlywhathappened.

Althoughtheideathatplantscommunicatehaslongbeencontroversialanddebated,importantinsightsintoourunderstandingofplantecologyhaveconfirmedthatplantsarecapableofprocessinginformationabouttheirneighbors,bothaboveandbelowground,andofsharinginformationabouttheresourcesavailableintheirsurroundings.Themechanismsbywhichplantscommunicateallthisinformationarecomplex.Wenowknow,forexample,thatplantscanshareinformationthroughtouchandmechanicalcontactinducedbygravity,aswellasthroughchangesinpressuregradientsofvariousnature.Theyarealsoproficientatexchanginginformationviathetransmissionandreflectionofdifferentwavelengthsoflight.Forexample,plantshaveevolvedspecificphotoreceptors(e.g.,phytochromeB)thatallowthemtomonitorspecificchangesinthelevelofthefar-redrelativetotheredcomponentofsunlightandthusperceptiveneighboringplants,particularlytheproximityoffuturecompetitors.

Also,therecentliteratureisrepletewithstudiesthatshowhowplantscommunicatechemically.Forexample,plantsareabletowarneachotherofapproachinginsectattacksusinganextensive“vocabulary”ofchemicalmolecules,suchasherbivore-inducedvolatileorganiccompounds.6Throughthisairborneplant-plantcommunicationchannel,plantsareabletorespondtocuesproducedbyinjuredneighborswhentheyarenotyetattackedordamagedthemselves.Whatifweblockedallofthesemodalities?Wouldtheplantsbestillabletorespondtoeachother?

TheideaforanexperimentalboxthatwouldallowmetoblockoutallsourcesofinformationwethenknewplantsuseinordertorecognizeandevaluatetheirneighborswasfirstconceivedonaplanetothePhilippinesinearly2010.Designedtosuccessivelysilencelayersofexpressionandmeaning,itconsistedofacentralcylindricalboxhousedwithintwodifferent-sizedsquareboxes,whichwerenestedinsideoneanotherlikeRussianmatryoshkadolls(Figure1).Theairinbetweenthetwosquareouterboxeswasremovedtocreateavacuum,abarrierofemptyspacethatbesiegedalloftheplantsinsideeachunit,henceaccountingforandblockinganypossibilityofcommunicationorperhapsinterferencewithadjacentexperimentalunitssharingthegrowthroom.Thecentralcylindricalboxwasdesignedtoallownotevenamoleculeofchemicalmurmuringthroughitssealedwallsortheslightestelbowingtobearticulatedbytheplantsealedinsideit.Whencoveredinblackplastic,itblockedeventhe

theplantsealedinsideit.Whencoveredinblackplastic,itblockedeventhefeeblestgesturingoflightbetweentheplants.

Andsoforseveralmonths,Ifollowedthousandsofchiliseedsastheygrewintoseedlingsinsidetheirmatryoshkaboxeswhilecoexistingwiththeirneighboringplants.Naturally,plantneighborrelationshipstakeseveralforms,andgardenershavelongappreciatedthatsomespeciesengageinunfriendlyexchanges,whileotherslikehelpingeachother.Infact,theserelationshipsbetweenplantshavebeenbroughtintoplayinbothsmallvegetablegardensaswellaslargeagriculturalandsilvopastoralplantationsystemsaroundtheworld.Farfrombeingbasedonanecdotesorfolklore,thisapproachtoplanting(commonlyknownas“companionplanting”)echoesthescientificnotionthatneighboringspeciesaffectoneanotherthroughnegativecompetitiveaswellaspositivefacilitativeinteractions,akeycomponentofmanyecologicaltheories.

Figure1.Schematicrepresentationofthecustom-designedexperimentalunit(nottoscale).(a)Thesealatthebaseofthecentralcylindricalboxensuredthatchiliseedsarrangedinacirclearoundtheadultplantwerechemicallyisolatedfromit.(b)Allseedsandadultplantswithinareplicateunitwerehousedwithintwodifferent-sizedsquareboxes,oneinsidetheother,withtheairinbetweenthetwoboxesremovedusing

avacuumpump.Thewholeexperimentalunitwascustom-madeincolorlesscast-acrylicmaterial(ModenGlas),whichtransmitted92percentofvisiblelightbutwasopaquetoultravioletandinfrared

wavelengths.Figureoriginallypublishedin:M.Gagliano,M.Renton,N.Duvdevani,M.Timmins,andS.Mancuso,“OutofSightbutNotOutofMind:AlternativeMeansofCommunicationinPlants.”PLoSONE

7,no.5(2012):e37382.

Withthiscontextinmind,Iwatchedthelittlechiliesgroweitherontheirownorinthepresenceofanotherplantinsidethecentralbox,whetherthisinvolvedthedisturbinginterferenceoffennel,thewholesomecompanionshipofbasil,orthefamilialcomfortofanadultchili.Becausefennelisknowntoexude

aggressivechemicalsthatinhibitgrowthandevenkillotherplantsaroundhim,Iexpectedhispresenceintheboxtoretardorblockthegerminationandgrowthratesoftheyoungchiliwhenopencontactwaspossible;however,Ienvisagedthatthisnegativeeffectongerminationwouldbecomeprogressivelysmallerashissignalswerepartiallyortotallyblocked.

Basil,ontheotherhand,iswellknownastheidealcompaniontochiliplantsbyvirtueofhisabilitytokeepthesoilmoistandactasorganiclivingmulch(aswellasbeinganeffectivenaturalinsecticideandinhibitingthegerminationandrootgrowthofcommoncompetitiveweeds).Accordingly,Iexpectedhispresenceintheboxtoenhancethegerminationratesofchiliseeds,bothwhenopencontactandlightsignalingwasallowed;however,Iexpectedtheretobenoparticularlypositiveeffectwhenallknownsignalsweretotallyblocked.

Someofmyexpectationsprovedtobespoton,whileothersweresurprisinglyoffthemark.Ifoundthatgerminationratesweredistinctlylowwhentheseedsweregrownontheirown,butevenlowerwhenopenlyexposedtothevolatilechemicalsofthenotoriouslyinimicalfennel—nosurprisesthere.Whatwasunanticipatedwasthefactthattheyoungchiliacceleratedtheirgerminationrateswhenthefennelwaspresentbutitssignalswerepartiallyortotallyblocked.Thisintriguingfindingdemonstratedthattheyoungplantswereabletorecognizethepotentialfortheinterferingpresenceoftheirbadneighborandswiftlyrespondtotheirsituationbyadjustingtheirgrowth.Asexpected,germinationratesimprovedwithotherchiliplantsaroundand,unsurprisingly,wereevenbetterinthebenevolentpresenceofbasil.Thisfindingclearlyvalidatedtheclaimsofmanygardenerswhorecognizethebeneficialeffectofbasilonthegrowthofchiliplants.Tome,however,theexcitingfindingwasthatthiseffectwastrueevenwhenallknownsignalsfromthebasilwereblocked.Inotherwords,thesupportiveinteractionobservedbetweenthesetwospecieswasmediatedviaasignalingmodalityotherthanthosestudiedthusfar(light,chemicals,andtouch).

Whatemergedwasclearandscientificallydefendable—withtheguidanceoftheplants,Ihaduncoveredapreviouslyundocumentedcommunicationchannel.Theyoungchiliplantsknewofthepresenceandidentityoftheirneighboringplant(whetheragoodorbadcompanion),evenwhenlightsignals,airbornechemicals,rootcontact,andpossiblesharedfungalnetworkswereallblocked.Thequestionwas,howdidtheyknow?

Thereareplentyofgoodecologicalreasonswhyyoungplantswouldneedtobeawareoftheirneighbors.Oftenonashoestringenergybudget,plantscanhaveahardtimedividingtheirlimitedresourcesingrowthanddefensesimultaneously.Therefore,whenitcomestofriendsandrelatives,plantsmay

simultaneously.Therefore,whenitcomestofriendsandrelatives,plantsmayfacilitateoneanotherbyengagingincooperativeandaltruisticbehaviors.However,whencompetitiveinteractionsareunavoidable,theperceptionofanysignalthatheraldstheadventofacompetitorbeforeanyactualshortageofresourcestakesplacewouldbebeneficial,allowingyoungplantstoadjusttheirshapeandgrowthinresponsetothepresenceofacompetitororevenapossibleaggressor.

Soconsideredfromtheperspectiveofayoungchilipepper,therewasclearlynothingsweetaboutaneighboringfennel,whoisinfamousforsuppressinggerminationandgrowthofotherplantsbyreleasingchemicals.Buthowwasitpossiblethatthepresenceofafennelwhocouldnotbeseen,smelled,ortouchedwassufficientforthechiliseedstohurrytheirgerminationandforseedlingstochangetheirgrowthtrajectory?Also,seedlingsgrewdifferentlydependingonwhethertheneighborwasafenneloranadultchili(Figure2);onceagain,thequestionwas,howdidtheyknowwhowasgrowingnexttothemwhensuchneighborwassupposedtobeundetectable?Theyknew.Andtheyalsoknewthatdespitemillenniaofdomestication,theirseedsremainedwildatheartandwererupturingtherock-solidlayersofcultivatedscience.

Byprobingintothemindscapeoftheunimagined,thisinitialexperimentalworkhadstartedunveilingthetopographiesofanunexploredreality.Howexhilaratingtodiscovertheexistenceofunchartedcommunicationchannelsusedbyseedsandseedlingstosenseneighborsandidentifyrelatives.Thefactthattherewasnomechanisticexplanationforhowplantsperformedthesefeatsprovidedtheintriguingtouchofmysteryandsuspensethatmadetheresultantscientificpapersabsorbing(towriteandread),similartoagooddetectivenovel.7Andthiswastheverythingthatruffledtheacademicestablishment:whatwasthemechanismthatexplainedmyresults?For,surely,withoutanexplanationofhowtheydidit,itsimplycouldn’tbe!

Duringthepeer-reviewprocessofthiswork,itwaspointedoutthattheapproachusedwasnotthewayscientificresearchisnormallycarriedout.Thereisusuallyanideathataparticularfactorcouldsignificantlyaffectaprocessunderconsideration,andtheexperimentisdesignedtoprovethesignificanceofthisfactor.Toallowfortheunexpectedtohappenwithnopreconceptionaboutwhatoneisevenlookingforseemedunorthodox,anditwasthisunorthodoxythatwasperceivedasaninfringementoftheconventionaltouchstoneforscientificlegitimacy.Andinasense,theapproachwastransgressiveindeed—irritatinglyfreeofactualmethodological,analytical,orothertechnicalfaults,it

wasviolatingtheontological8boundariesofasciencemadeforhumansandexclusivelybyhumans.Byallowingforanypatterntoemergeratherthanconstrainingtheviewofwhatoneshouldexpecttosee,thisinitialresearchwasacollaborativeeffortwithmyplantassociates,onethatactivatedtheprocessofunbindingboththeplantandthehumanfromwhatwasconsideredpermissiblewithintheprevailingscientificbeliefsystem.Itwasinthesalubrityofthisgarden-freshsoilthatoneofthethreesisters9—thesacredcornplant(maize)—raisedhervoiceandwantedinontheaction,asweshallsee.

Figure2.Earlygrowthofchiliseedlingsdependsonthepresenceandidentityoftheirneighbor.(a)Seedlingsgrowingnexttoafennel(greysolidlineandtriangles)aremarginallytallerthanthosegrowingnexttoanadultchiliplant(blacksolidlineandsquares)andsignificantlytallerthanseedlingsintheemptycontrol(blackdottedlineandwhitediamonds).Theobserveddifferencesinabove-groundgrowthamongtreatments(adultfennelplant,greysolidlineandtriangles;adultchiliplant,blacksolidlineandsquares;emptycontrol,blackdottedlineandwhitediamonds)areamplifiedovertime.(b)Growthdifferences

disappearwhenseedlingsareallowedtogrowintheabsenceofanyadultplantafteremergence.Figure

originallypublishedin:M.Gagliano,M.Renton,N.Duvdevani,M.Timmins,andS.Mancuso,“OutofSightbutNotOutofMind:AlternativeMeansofCommunicationinPlants.”PLoSONE7,no.5(2012):

e37382.

Inthemidstoftherichsymphonyofnature,plantsappearutterlysilent.10Becausewearedesignedtobelieveourownperceptions,ourhumanexperienceoftheirsilenceissoobviousandundeniablethatweforgettoquestionwhetherplantstrulyareasvoicelessasweperceivethem.Admittedly,withoutofferingsomeproofofplantvoice—assumingweagreedonthedefinitionofvoice11—wemayrightlydeemthequestionitselftobenonsense.However,toforgettoaskthequestion,ineffect,dismissesanychancefortheprooftoemerge.Asamatteroffact,thisisexactlywhatcolonialideologiesofdominationandmanipulationhavesucceededat;byscorningtraditionalknowledgeasunsubstantiatedandfancifulanderasingourancestralmemoriesthatspokeofotherpossibilities,humanityhasfounditselflockedinsidetheexperimentalboxofarestrainingsocioculturalview.

Liketheplantsinmyexperimentalmatryoshkaboxes,wearebesiegedbyabarrierofemptinessdesignedtoblockanypossibilityofcommunication.Fromthisviewpoint,ofcourse,plantsdonotspeak!Thegoodnewsisthatbysimplyaskingthequestionregardingvegetalspeech,wearefreetomoveawayfromtheself-righteousslumberwehavenumbedourmindwith.Bymerelyaskingthequestionaboutplantvoice,wesetourselvesfreefromthepreconceivednotionthatconstruesplantsasinevitablyvoiceless,andweopenourselvestoobservingplantsastheyactuallybehaveandtodiscoveringtherealityweshare.That’sright,becausevoiceisaninter-subjectiveaffair.Voiceexistsintheplaceofrelation,thespacebetweentheselfandtheother,anditiswhatwebringtoourencounterswithplantsthatdefinesthequalityofourcommunicativerendezvous—thoseweallowtospeak(orthosewesilence).12

Iftheretrulyisaplantvoice,howdoesitspeak?Howcanwehearit?Thevoiceofthevegetalotherisrevealedinaplaceofreciprocity.Atthispoint,somewouldarguethatourdialoguewithplantslacksreciprocity,asitwouldseemthatforplantstodothetalking,wearerequiredmerelytobethelisteners(neverthespeakers).Thisargumentwouldbebasedontherecognitionthatdialogueentailsamutualexchange,inwhichtheonewhospeaksmustbealsoabletohear,andtheonewhohearsisalsocapableofspeaking.Accordingly,itwouldbeconcludedthatthereisnodialogueatallbetweenplantsandus,becausewearesupposedtogivethemourfullattention,buttheyneverengagewithandrespondtous.13Inthecourseofmyresearch,thisperceptionwasabout

tobe,ifnotcompletelydebunked,severelyalteredbyanewscientifictruth.

Asinallconversations,therelationshipbetweenhowinformationispackaged(encoding)andthecontenttranslated(decoding)determinestheoutcomeoftheexchangeandinteraction.Theexperimentalfindingsfrommymatryoshkaboxeshadprovidednomechanisticexplanationofhowthechiliseedlingsexchangedinformationwiththeotherplants,buttheyhadsignpostedtheway.Itwasclearthatsomeoftheunderlyingconditionsrequiredforsuchconversationtooccurincludedtheemissionofasignalthatnotonlyconveyedreal-timeinformationaboutneighboringplantsbutalsocouldbeanalyzedquicklybythereceivingseedlings.Andwhatbetterwaytohaveachatthanthrusound?14Afterall,theabilitytosensesoundandvibrationsisbehindthebehavioralorganizationofalllivingorganismsandtheirrelationshipwiththeirenvironment.Itwasinlate2011thatbrightyellowkernelsofcorndecidedtobreakthesilencewiththeirvibratorysignals.TheirconversationsproutedinsideauniversitylaboratoryinBristol,England—attheheartofoneoftheleadingglobalcolonialpowers—andforthefirsttime,theirloudandchirpyvegetalclickswereheardbyourearsandrecordedbyoursensitivescientificlaserinstruments.Anditwasofficial—plantsemitsounds,theyhearthem,andonthebasisofwhattheyhear,theymodifytheirbehavior.15

Emergingattheinterfacebetweentwobodiesofknowledge,thetruthwasthatthisresearchwassuccessfullysubstantiatingthe“beliefs”oftraditionalknowledgethroughtheapplicationoftheWesternscientificmodel.Diditsucceedinchangingthenotionofownershiptooneofcustodianship?Byraisinghervoice,cornhaddonesomethingmore,somethingdifferent.Beautifullyunexpected—likearareflowerblossomingoutofseason—hervoicehadbroughtintoawarenessanewperceptualfieldextendingbeyondownershipandcustodianship,avisionofnonhierarchicalco-participation.Byrevealingthevegetalvoice,cornhadcometoaskthatwerecognizeourattemptsatsilencingplants,becausehumanshavesomethingofatrackrecordforsilencingthosewhosevoicetheydonotwanttohear.Wedothisbyunconsciouslyignoringthemordeliberatelystrippingthemaway,16andthisisaninjuriousactbecauseitviolatestheverythingthatmakesdialoguepossible—therecognitionoftheotherasanequal.

Fromthisperspective,bothownershipandcustodianshipbreakdownthefoundationofatruedialoguewiththevegetal.Althoughthetwoattitudesaredifferent,botharevalidatedbytheapparentinabilityofplantstoexpressthemselves,whichcreatesajustificationforobjectifyingthem.Denyingthe

morallyrelevantvalueoftheinteraction,ownershipisdesignedtooverridethesubjectivityofplantsinordertocontrolandabusewithnorestrain.Ontheotherhand,custodianshipinadvertentlypatronizesthembytreatingthemwithakindnessthatgivesawayourfeelingofsuperiority.Thisattitudeismostobviouslyobserved(although,rarelyunderstoodforwhatittrulyaccomplishes)whenweoverwriteplantswiththesoundsthatarefamiliartousbyventriloquizingthemthroughtheapproximationofhumanspeech17orthetranspositionofmusicalscalesandvariousinstrumentsontothem.18

Indialoguewiththeplantworld,weareaskedtorelinquishthesebuilt-inideasthatmakeourperspectivebetterthan,wiserthan,andsuperiortotheother,alltheseattitudesbringustothesameethicalandmoralcul-de-sac.Andwithafewchirpysounds,cornhadeffortlesslybroughtitalltothesurfaceforustohonestlyviewit,ifwilling.Personally,Ihadalwaysconsideredmyselfasacustodianofthevegetalworldand,moregenerally,ofnature,butseeingmyselfasastewardaboveandseparatefromtherestwasapositionnolongertenable.Inopeningtheconversation,cornhaddeliveredatransformativemessage—plantsandnaturecanbeheard.Theyarenotpropertytobeowned.Theyneednotcustodianship,butacommitmenttoanonhierarchicalrespect,aspaceofcommunioninwhichwecometounderstandtheworldandtakethepathwaytowardunderstandingeachother.

Andthiswasonlythebeginning.

ChapterY

Youarenotlookingforanswers;allanswersarealreadyhere.Youarelookingforthequestions;knowyourquestions,andyouwillseetheanswers.

I

TheBear’sCauldronYardsticksupholdourjudgmentsbymeasuringourcommonsenseofreality.Sensiblypositionedatthevergeofthereal,theseedgemarkersstandproudinalltheircalculatedbrilliance.There,theyensureatraveler’ssafetybyguidingalife’sjourneyalongthewell-beatenpath.Sentinelstoourinnermovements,theycrownourmindsandchainourhearts.Andasarewardforourcompliance,theykeepusunquestioningwithinthetranquilconfinesofwell-attendedgreenlawns,bejeweledbythepicture-perfectwhitepicketfencesofmodernsuburbia.Allthewhile,offallbeatenpathsandbeyondallfences,thewildanswersoftall,rowdygrassesandboisterousweedsenliventheunrulygroundoftheunknown;withtheirdazzlingcolorsandperfumedblossoms,theseanswerskeepinvitingquestionstocomeandfindthem.Theansweristherebeforewehaveachancetoaskwhatisthere;itistheanswerthatbeckonsustoit,notthequestion.Soifyoucatchyourselfwonderingwhetheryouwouldstrayoffthepathorjumpthatfencetofollowyouranswer,knowthatyouhavebeeninvitedtodare.

twasahotsummerafternooninsuburbia.MyfriendsSaandClaudiowerepackinguptheirthings,readytomovetotheirnewhomeupinthehills.At

timeslikethese,vansareparticularlyuseful,astheyeaseyouintoyournewfoundroleasthemovingchampionwhilekeepingyourstresslevelsincheck.Ihappenedtohaveone,andIhaddrivenitovertohelpwiththemove.Inthemidstofboxeschockablockwithbooks,aJapanesewoodentableinonecorner,andthewashingmachineinanother,Saappearedwithtwocolddrinks,satmedown,andstartedtellingmeaboutherlatesttriptoQueensland.Shehadbeeninvitedtoagatheringofgrandmothers—indigenouselders,medicinewomen,andspiritualleadersfromvariouslineages—and,ofcourse,Iwasallearsasshesharedherimpressionsoftheexperienceandtheincrediblewomenshemetthere.ConvergingontheEastCoastofAustraliafromvariousplacesaroundtheglobe,eachgrandmotherhadapowerfulpresence,whichbroughtsomethingspecialtothegathering,andnowSawasweavingtheiruniquenesswiththeinvisiblethreadsofhervoiceandbringingtolifeonegrandmotheratthetime,eachpresencefillingahousebeingemptied.Iwascompletelycaptivatedbyherstories.

Saabruptlystoodup,excited.Shebrieflydisappearedfromtheroomandreturnedwithasmallleatherpouchandamysteriousroundtin,shininginherhands.“Try,trythis!”shesaidassheopenedthesilverylid.“Iknowthis,but

can’tquiteplaceit,”Iuttered,asthestrongscentofthefinebrownpowderinsidethelittletinwanderedoffthroughamazeofmemories,whereitcouldnotfindhome.BeforeIcouldthink,mylittlefingerhadalreadydippedintothepowderanddispensedittomytongue.“Mmm,Iknowthis…”Isaidslowly,asthespicyflavorofthepowderdeliveredaburstofsimpleknowing,onethatmybrainwasracingtodecipher.“Butwhatisit?”Iasked.“Itiscalledosha,”shesaid,andasshepulledsomethingdarkbrownandkindofhairyoutofthesmallpouch,sheadded,“andthisiswhattherootlookslikebeforeitgetspowdered.”Shesippedatherdrinkbeforecontinuing.“ANativeAmericangrandmothergaveittome,mentioningthatsomeonewouldcomeforitandthatIwouldknowwhen.Well…Ithinkthisrootisforyou.”Thatnight,Inibbledattheosharootbeforegoingtobed.AndIdreamed.I

dreamedofaluxuriousrichbrown.ItwasdarkbrowneverywhereIfelt,anditswarmthenvelopedmecompletely.Itswildmotiontossedmeuncontrollablythiswayandthat.Withbothhands,Iwasholdingontoitssoftnesswiththecommitmentofafleaonthebackofagargantuananimal.Thenitoccurredtome—thatwasexactlywhereIwas!Iwasridingonthebackofsomeenormous,furrywildanimalasitranwhoknowswhere.Andwiththatrealization,thedreamended,butthevividkinestheticfeelingofitstayedwithmetillmorning.Whatwasthat?Didithaveanythingtodowiththeosharoot?SomehowIknewitdid,althoughIhadnoideahowIknew.Ialsoknewthatthedreamwasonlythebeginningofsomething,althoughIhadnoideaofwhatthatsomethingwasorwhatwastocomenext.SoIdecidedtofindout.Andwhatbetterwaytotakemattersintoone’sownhandsthanbybeatingadrum?

Duringtheweekfollowingmypeculiardream,Iusedtherepetitivedrummingofalargehoopdrumtobringmyselfintoanalteredstateofperceptionwiththeideaoflearningmoreabouttheosharoot,mydream,and—perhaps—theconnectionbetweenthetwo,ifanywastobefound.Whiledrummingispartofanoldshamanicpractice,Ihadlearnedofitonlyafewyearsearlier,whenIhadfoundmyselfatadrum-makingworkshopandhadstartedexperiencingthehypnoticandtrulymind-alteringeffectsofshamanicdrumming.1Now,thethunderousvoiceofmydrumcarriedmetothevergeofordinaryreality;fromthere,itspowerfulbeatpushedmeoverthethresholdandintotheunseenundersideofreality,inasearchforthequestionthatwouldrevealtheanswerthathadcalledme.Andthisishowwefirstmetface-to-face.

Absorbedwithinthedrivingpulseofmydrum,Ifoundmyselfholdingontothemarvelousrichbrownfurofherback,justasIhaddoneinmydream.She

wasabear—astaggeringlyoversizedbrownbear,tobeprecise.Fullofpurpose,shewasrunningsomewhereintoaforest,carryingmeonherback.Onceatthedestinationshehadintendedtoreach,shecametoahalt,which,tomygreatrelief,alsomeanttheendofmywildroller-coasterride.Nolongeronherback,Iwasnowstandingwithmyfeetontheground.Iwasteeny-weeny,andtherewasacertainelvenlookaboutme,whichIfoundintriguing.Iwasabsorbed,staringrightupanextremelylargeblacktunnel,thenostrilofwhatpossiblywasthemostrefinednoseintheanimalkingdom.Thebear’shugenosewasinspectingthetinyhumanformstandinginfrontofher,andallthewhile,theairmovinginandoutofhernostrilswasgustingwarmlyonmyface.Heavilybuilt,herdisproportionallylargebodywasbentdownlowovermeasIstared,spellboundandunabletomove.

Abrilliantshaftoflightfilteringfromaboveandfarawaypenetratedthethickdarknessoftheforestthatsurroundedus.Inthatjuxtapositionoflightanddarkness,thebearappearedevenmoreenormous,toweringovermeinallhermight.Wasshegoingtokillmeanyminutenow?Asifacknowledgingmythought,sheopenedhermassivemouth,sportinganimpressivecollectionoflargepearlies.Then,withoututteringaword,shesaid,“Ofcourse,IcouldkillyouifIwantedto.ButIwon’t.”Andwiththat,shesatdownontheground.Imirroredherandsatdowntoo.Welookedateachother,andIaskedwhyshehadcometomeetme.Wastheresomethingshewantedmetoknow?Utteringnowords,shesaid,“Comebackeverydayforyourtraining.IassureyouthatIamalreadyworkingonyou.”Atthatpoint,therhythmofmydrumbeatchangedofitsownaccord.Thebridgecreatedbyitsroaringsoundfaded,andIwasbackinthisreality.

Thenextday,Ifeltastrongcalltojourneyagain.Thefeelingwasoneofcommitmentandurgency,asifIhadsigneduptoattendanimportantclassatsomeEarth-likeschoolinaninvisibledimension,andIcouldn’tbelate.ThemonotonousrhythmofthedrumdeliveredmestraighttothepatchofdenseforestIhadvisitedthepreviousday.Theretheminiaturemesatonceagaininfrontoftheoversizedbear.Atonce,Iknew—shewasOsha.Botheagerandwary,Iaskedwithoutasound,“Whatarewedoinghere?”Oshaexplainedmatter-of-factly,“Youaregettingready—andIampreparingyou—fortherealteachingtotakeplace.”

IwaslisteningasifIunderstoodwhatshehadconveyed,butIreallyhadnoclue.Whatteachingwasshereferringto?Andwhatdid“gettingready”mean?ButbeforeIcouldgetlostinreveries,shesaid(wordlessly),“Lessonnumberone.”Then,withacommandingtone,“Situpstraightandcenteryourself.”Idid

one.”Then,withacommandingtone,“Situpstraightandcenteryourself.”Ididwhatsheinstructedatonce.AndasIdid,Istartedgrowing.Likeayoungplantwould,thelittlemewasnowvisiblygrowingtowardthebrilliantbeamoflightIhadnoticedduringmypreviousvisit.Allofasudden,IrealizedIwasgoingtogrowasbigasthebear.Andasquicklyasthatrealizationenteredmyawareness,Iwassmallagain,withthebrilliantlightwashingovermyheadasitfilteredthruthetreesfromfaraway,piercingthedarknessthatsurroundedus.

Puzzledanddisoriented,Ilookedupatthebearstillsittinginfrontofme,whowasnowgentlypattingthetopofmyheadinamotherlyfashion.“Beforeyougrowlikethat,youmustprepare,”sheexplained.Ihadnotimetoaskhowoneprepares,asshecontinuedwithakindandfirmtone,“Sitquietlyinthedarknessofyoursoul.Thereisnofear.Itisthedarknessthatcontainsallthepotentialtobecomelight.”

ThenextthingIknewwasthatIwasburiedintheground—yes,plantedinthesoil,likeaseed,aseedofpotential.Iknewthenthatbeforegrowth,Ihadtositinthedarknessthatresidesunderthesurface.Unafraid,IaskedOshawhatwasshegoingtodowithmenow.Inatendergestureofherbrownpaw,shesaid,“Fertilizing,enrichingthesoilwiththenutrientsrequiredfortheplantcomingoutoftheseedtobestrong.”Thensheinhaleddeeply,andwithprofoundconviction,sheadded,“Itneedstobestrong.”

SeveralothermeetingswithOshafollowed.Wewouldmeetinthesamedarkpatchofforest,sitinfrontofoneanother,and“talk.”Thisishowshewoulddeliverherlessonstome.Then,duringoneofthesemeetings,thatsideofrealitybecamepracticallyrelevanttothisside,wherethingswerewaitingtobeactualized(althoughIdidn’tknowthatatthetime).Soasthesoundofmydrumboomedthroughthesilenceoncemore,Iwasbackthere.ThistimeIsawahugecauldronsittingonanopenfireroaringbetweenus.Oshawasholdingalargewoodenstickandstirringthebubblingcontentsofthepot.Silentlyhummingakindoflullaby,thebigbearseemedsocompletelyengrossedinhercookingactivitiesthatonecouldbeforgivenforthinkingthatshehadnotnoticedmypresence.Iwasstretchingthiswayandthatinafutileattempttogetaglimpseofwhatwascooking,butIwassimplytoosmalltoseeanythingatall.“Whatareyoucookinginthatcauldron?”mytinyselfutteredsoundlessly.Asshekeptherabsolutefocusontheboilingcontents,agrinappearedonherbearface.“Iamcookingyourmedicine,ofcourse.Itisalmostready.”AndIfoundmyselfbackintheroom,holdingmydrum.

“Doesanyofthismakesensetoyou?”IaskedSaoneafternoon,asIfinishedrecountingmydrummingescapadesandpedagogicalmeetingswithOshainthe

darkforestthatextendedbeyondtheenclosureofpicketedreality.Sasmiled,delighted.“Oh,Iforgottotellyou.Osharootisalsoknownas‘bearroot’or‘bearmedicine.’”2Within,Ifeltmybodytrembleinshockandexcitement.Panic-stricken,mymindscurriedthroughitsarchiveoforderlyknowledgeandlogicalexplanationsinafranticattempttofindasensiblewayoutofthedisquietingsituationathand.Andasmymind,alljumbledup,cametotheconclusionItmakesnosense,myvoiceannouncedwithconfidence,“Now,thatmakesperfectsense!”What?mymindthought,Itdoesn’tmakeanysensewhatsoever!ButbeforeIhadtimetograsptheabsurdityofthewholesituation,Iheardmyselfsaying,“IknewIhadmetthespiritoftheplant.Shehasbeencookingmedicineformeandpreparingmeforsomethingthatliesahead.”Andinasobertone,Icontinued,“ItistimeformetocontacttheNativeAmericangrandmotherwhogaveyouthisroot.”

Myfirstcontactwithherwasbyemail.Iintroducedmyself,mentioningmystrongdreamsandvisionsofredpipes,plantroots,andbears.IhadnodoubtthatIwastotraveltovisither,andIsaidasmuch.IalsohadnodoubtthatavisionwaswaitingformeinBearCountry,andIsaidthatmuchtoo.Iwasawarethatmywordswerealittlebluntandperhapsevenoddforafirstcontact.Iwastakingtheriskofbeingdisregardedaskindofkooky,buthowelsecouldIexpresstheloudcallIhadheard?Afewdayslater,Ireceivedaresponse:“HiMonica,Iamhappytohearfromyouandthatyouarelisteningtothevoiceofthespirits!Yes,indeed,itsoundslikeitistimetogoprayonthehill,doingavisionquest.”Theemailprovidedthenecessaryinformationregardingappropriatepreparation,aswellasdetailsontheLakotaprotocolsforthevisionquestceremony,whichwastobeheldinMayintheCaliforniamountains.Theemailfinishedwith“manyblessings,andthankyouforlisteningtoyourancestors”andwassignedbyMatoTaPejutaWakanNajin.HernamemeansBearMedicineStandingSacred.

AllthishappenedinlateJanuary2012.Thiscanbeanerve-wrackingpartoftheyearifyouworkatanAustralianuniversity.Itisourtimeforwritingbidsforthebighoneypotoffederalfunding,alimitednumberofgrantsandfellowshipsfromtheAustralianResearchCouncil,whichnotonlyawardsmoneyforourresearchbutalso,inmanycases,coversoursalaries.Ourgrantcraftsmanshipisputtoaserioustestbecauseoftheaddedpressurethatfailuretosecuresuchfundingcanresultintheterminationofanacademiccareer.ThiswaswhereIstood.Thefast-approachingendofmyexistingfellowshipwassuspendedovermynecklikethebladeofaguillotine,andtheoddswerethatthebladewouldcomedown,delivering,withitsnotoriousefficacy,thefatalpromise.Duringthis

period,Iexperiencedseveralboutsofprofoundanxietyaccompaniedbyadeepsorrowforthepossibleloss.Scared,Iwasfranticallyflappingmywings,tryingtoescapethechillingwhispersofahopelessnessthatwantedtoconsumeme.

Yearslater,Iwouldlearnwhatmyexperienceofemotionslikeanxietywasreallyaboutandhowtoharnesstheseemotions’gifts—yes,gifts.Anxiety,forexample,isavaluablemessenger,onethatspeaksofmyprevailingbeliefconstructanditssphereofinfluence.Thisbeliefconstructislikeacontainer,whichItaketobeobjectivereality,andanxietyalwaysarisestoalertmewhenIhavereachedtheedgeofthecontainer.Anxietyspeaksoftheuneasinessofstayingwithinthecontainer’sfortifiedwallsoncetheirrestrictivepresenceisfelt,andinthisrestsitspreciousgift—thecalltobreakdownthewallsofpersonalizedassumptionsandoutgrownperspectives,theinvitationtorealizenewpossibilities,whenmycurrentrestrictedunderstandingseesonlyimpossibilities.Thisiswhycopingwithanxietydoesnotreallystoptheanxiety;theanswerisnotinunderstandingandresolvinganxiety,butinchangingperspectivesothatanxietysimplydisappears.Whenithappens,thepreciousgiftitbringsisoneofjoyandexcitementforlife.Backthen,however,Ihadnoappreciationofthis,soIsimplytriedtocope.

Toremedymysituation,Iwouldgettoworkearlyinthemorning,butinsteadofgoingstraighttomyoffice,Iwouldsitonthegrassunderoneoftheeucalyptustreesthatstoodtallalongtheriver’sedge.Sippingmycoffee,Iwouldstareatthesunlightasitpouredoverthesurfaceofthewaterandflickeredhereandtherewithakindofrestlessaliveness.Attimes,thesunlitsurfacewouldhavealiquidcalmnessaboutit;then,asbysomekindofmagic,itwouldbepersuadedintoadanceoffamiliarlines,afluidmovementdrawnbytheappearanceanddisappearanceofapodofglossyfins,irregulartriangularsilhouettesdecoratedbypersonalizedmarkings,thelivingscarsofexistence.Atothertimes,twolargeblackswanswouldappearintheirdarkoutfits,wearingwhitelipstickonbeaksthecolorofblood.Suddenly,onelongneckwouldplungeunderwater,andallwasleftfortheeyestoseewasaraftoffeathersfloatingonthesurface.Asachildwhoknowswhatwillhappennextbutneverthelesswaitswithgleefulexcitement,Iwouldwaitforthemomentthegracefulneckwouldreappear,oftenwithachancepieceofweedstillhangingoffitsbeak.Iwouldwatchthepairastheypassedby,appearingnonchalant,whileconcealedfromview,strongredfeetwereswiftlypaddlingthemon.

Theseweremomentsofaninspired…something,asomethingthatwouldpercolatefromtherootsundermyfeet,risinguptobringthefreshbreezeofself-

assurancetomyheart.Nolongerflappinghysterically,butupliftedbyasenseofdeepcourage,Iwouldopenmywingswideand,keepingthemextended,aseaglesdo,Iwouldcatchmyinnerupdraftandcirclehighintheskyofmymind.Fromthatperspective,Icouldnotseewhatthefutureheld,butIcouldseewhatthepresentcalledfor.Ianswered.

Theresearchofficersaid,“Monica,thatiscareersuicide!”inresponsetomydecisiontowriteaproposalonunderstandingsoundcommunicationinplantsfortheupcomingroundofgrantapplicationsfromtheAustralianResearchCouncil.Theuniversityhadorganizedaseriesofworkshopstoassistresearcherslikemeinthepreparationandwritingoftheirapplications.Inoneofthefirstworkshops,applicantsfromawiderangeofdisciplineshadbeenaskedtoputtogetherasuccinct,one-paragraphsummary,pitchedinsuchmannerthatwouldbecomprehensibletopeoplewhoweren’tspecialistsinthefield.Eachparticipantwouldreadhisorhersummarytothegroup,whichwouldthenprovidefeedbackandconstructivecomments.

Whenmyturncame,Iwasmetwithascornful“Isthisajoke?Thatisnotscience!”fromacolleaguesittingafewchairsawayfromme.Withhiscondescendingarrogance,heexpressedhismockeryblatantly,butIknewhewasnotaloneinfeelingthatway.Infact,manyfeltthesame,buttheypreferredtostaysilent,maintainingtheappearanceofdecorouscollegialbehavior,withoutrealizingthattheirsilencespokevolumes.Forovertwoyears,forexample,acolleagueinmyowndepartmenthadlookedpastmeaswepassedinthecorridors,asthoughIweretransparent—hehaddecidednevertorespondtomy“hello”or“howyoudoin’”asaformofprophylaxis,justincasemyresearchideasonplantsturnedouttobevirulentmaladiesthatcouldinfecthismindand,bymereassociation,irreversiblytainthiscareer.

Becauseofsuchexperiences,Iwasacutelyawareofthehigh-risknatureofmyproposal.Itwastrue,astheresearchofficerhadpointedoutonseveraloccasions,thatapplyingforfundingtoconductresearchintheareaofcoralreeffishesecology,whereIhadastrongandcompetitivetrackrecord,wasamuchsaferapproach,becausethewholeresearchfieldwaswellestablished,aknownquantity.Butforme,thequestionofwhethertojumpornottojumpthefenceofsafetyandtheknownhadlongbeenoffmylistofconsiderations—Iwasalreadywalkingtheunbeatenpathinresponsetothewildanswersthatwerecallingme.Hence,Iwrotemyplantbioacousticsproposal,submitteditinMarch,andwaitedfortheoutcometobeannouncedthenextNovember.

Jetlagged,IwalkedoutsidethearrivalsterminalofSanFranciscoInternationalAirport,whereablackSUVandafriendlyyoungwomanwere

InternationalAirport,whereablackSUVandafriendlyyoungwomanwerewaitingtomeetme.Thewomanhadnotonlycometoscoopmeupfromtheairport—butasIwasabouttolearn,shewasalsogoingtohostmeatherhouseforthenextfewdayswhileIgatheredallsuppliesandfinalizedthepreparationsfortheforthcomingvisionquestceremony.ThesefewdaysincludedmyfirstmeetingwithMatoTaPejutaWakanNajin,towhomIofferedtobaccowrappedinredclothandrespectfullymademyofficialrequestforherguidanceandblessing.Atthisoccasion,Ialsometmy“supporter,”anolderwomanwhohadgenerouslypledgedtoassistmeinpreparingforthequest;shehadsewnmealovelyceremonialdressthecolorofgrassandprocuredformeapairofhand-stitchedmoccasins.Latershewouldsourcebeautifulbunchesofwhitesageasofferingsandwouldeat,drink,pray,andsingformewhileIwasonmyquest.Shewouldalsotakeherturnpreparingfoodforthegroupatthecamp,aswellashelporganizingthewoodforthesacredfire,lookingafterthefirekeeper,andofferingfluidstoMatoTaPejutaWakanNajin,whowouldbefastingandholdingasafecontainerforthisprofoundceremony.

Andso,beforelong,therewewere,aconvoyoffifteentotwentypeopledrivingseveralhoursnorthtoaprivatepropertyinthemountains,awildernesspreservewithnophones,toilets,electricity,ordrinkingwater.Thiswouldbehometoallofusforafewdays.Here,theHanblecheyapi(visionquest)ceremonywouldtakeplace,andnoonewastoleavethesiteoncetheceremonystarted.

Whilethesupportersandhelperssetupourbasecamp,MatoTaPejutaWakanNajinshowedmeafewpotentialsitesformyquest.Thesiteswevisitedwerelushandcoveredinflowers,butwebothagreedthatnoneofthemseemedtotrulycallme.Wedrovefartherupthemountain.Westoppedthecarwherethepathended,walkedalittlefartherup,andthereitwas!Thesitewasaclearingatthetopofthemountainnexttoahugeoaktree,andthistimetherewasnohesitation.AsMatoTaPejutaWakanNajinandIreturnedtobasecamp,herassistantsmarkedasmallspotwithfourwillowpolesplantedatthecardinalpoints—north,south,east,andwest—eachonetiedwithasacredtobaccoflag.TheyusedtheprayertiesIhadpreparedthepreviousdaytocreateasacredaltarwithinthisspot,acircleinsidewhichIwouldstayduringmyvisionquest.Insidethealtar,theyplacedaforkedwillowpoleholdingasacredflagwithaneaglefeatherattachedtoashell;insidetheflag,therewastobacco,spiritfood,andaspecialmedicinefromMatoTaPejutaWakanNajin’saltar,whichwouldprotectmeandbringvisionsduringmyjourney.

TheHanblecheyapiisanimportantriteofpassagethatoffersclarityintothe

nextphaseoflife.ThisisexactlywhatIwouldfind,butIdidn’tknowthatyet.Ididn’tknowthatthemostincrediblecircumstanceswerewhisperingfromthedistanceofspace,waitingtomeetme.Ididn’tknowthatlifewaspregnantwithenchantment,andIhadbeenplantedasitstimelessemanation.And,mostimportantly,Ididn’tknowthatthewholeprocesswouldtakeseveralyearstounfold,butitwouldandwithoutfail.Icertainlyhadnoideathatitsessencewouldwaitontheperfecttimeandeventuallypouritselfintothepagesofabook—thisbook.AllIknewthenwasthatIwasexcitedabout“goingtothemountain”toseekmyvision—atimetoleaveeveryoneandeverythingbehindandgooffaloneinnaturewithmypleatobeshownhowtobeofservicetothisplanetandthegreatergood.Andsothetimehadcome.Igavethankstothesacredfire,whichwastoburncontinuouslyduringtheceremonyandthusrequiredhelperstoattendtoittwenty-fourhoursaday.Wearingmyceremonialdressandmoccasinsandcarryingmysacredpipe,Isteppedinsidetheinipi(sweatlodge)forthe“dust-off,”inwhichMatoTaPejutaWakanNajinpurifiedmetopreparemeformyjourneytothespiritworld.AsIwalkedoutofthelodge,allofthehelperswerestandingwiththeirbacksturned,asprotocoldemanded;nobodywastolookatortalktomeuntilmyreturnfromthemountainandonlyafteraseconddust-offlodge,whichwouldbringmebackfromthespiritworldandsafelyre-groundmeinthisone.Myvisionwasblurred,andmyperceptionfeltaltered.IrealizedIhadformallydeparted.Unsteadyonmyfeet,IheldmygazelowtothegroundwhileIwasaccompaniedtothecarandtakentomyaltar,whereIwouldstayalone,withoutfoodorwater,forthefollowingfourdays.

Insidemysacredcircle,whichwasjustlargeenoughformetoliedownin,Iflickeredinandoutofthisworld.Backflatontherawground,Ishiveredinthecoldofthenocturnalairandthankedtheskyfornotpouringitsrainoverme.AsMatoTaPejutaWakanNajinhadinstructedme,Itriedtostayawakeatnight,whenthespiritworldwasmorelikelytovisit.SoIstaredatthestarswheelingoverheadandwaitedforatimethatfelt,atonce,longandshort.Visitorscameandwent;somewerefamiliaracquaintances,andotherswerenew.Ihadnofear;myspiritwascalm,mybodyverycold.Andthatiswhy,whenthefirstraysofmorninglightpiercedthemantleofthenightandreleasedmefromthevigil,Ifeltaprematuresenseofrespitethatthesunhadcometowarmmybones.Thereliefwasindeedpremature,becauseIwassoontodiscoverthatinspiteofitsproximity,thecanopyofthehugeoaktreebranchingoutnexttomeprovidednoshadetomycircle.Asthehourspassedbyandthesunmovedhigherandhigheracrossthecrystalclearsky,myskinstartedburningundertheradiantheat,andthetantalizingshadeofthemightytreewastransformedintoatorturous

thetantalizingshadeofthemightytreewastransformedintoatorturousyearning.

Intherawwildernessofnatureandtheweaknessoffasting,Ikeptfloatingbetweenthedreamywatersofmyinnerworldandthesurroundingsoundsandcolorsoftheouter.Then,suddenly,myattentionstirredawayfromthestingingpainofboredomandsunburnedskintoasubtlerustlemovingintheforestbehindme.Therewasnoneedtolooktoseewhowasthere;Iknew.IglimpsedtheluxuriousrichbrownIhadseeninmydreamsmonthsearlier.Mybodywasstill;Ifeltstrangelycalm,andasshehadsaidduringmyfirstlessonwithher,therewasnofear.Shehadcalledmeherefromfaraway,andIhadansweredhercall.Inhercauldron,shehadbeencookingthemedicineformysoul,andnowshehadcometohonormypresenceinperson.SheknewperfectlywhoIwasandwhatIwasdoingthere,andlikewise,Iknewherandwasconfidentshehadn’tcometohurtme.Itwasonlyabriefgreeting,amomentforacknowledgingoneanother,andthen,asquietlyasshehadarrived,shevanishedbackinthedarknessoftheforest.Later,uponmyreturntobasecamp,Iwouldbetoldthatalargefemalebrownbearhadbeenspottedcomingdownfromthevicinityofmysiteandhadvisitedbasecamp.

Atthetopofmymountain,timeplayedwilesasaskillednegotiator.IwasnolongerawareofhowmanydaysIhadbeenthereorhowmuchtimeIhadleftbeforehavingtocomedown.Asenseofanxietystartedcreepingin,andthedragonofdoubtstartedspittingitsfire—afirefiercerthanthesunonmyskin.Wouldmyprayerbeanswered?WhatifIhadn’tbeenheard?WhatifIhaddonesomethingwrong?WasIfailing?MaybeIhadn’tprayedhardenough,longenough,rightenough—maybeIwasnotgoodenough.

Iwasbearingwitnesstomyownundoingwhentheoaktreespoke.“Tellourstories,”hestatedwithauthority.Startled,Ilookeduptowardtheoldtree.Hereiterated,“Youareheretotellourstories.”Andtheconversationbegan.IfIhadhadpenandpaper(which,ofcourse,Ididnot),Icouldhavewrittendownalistofallthethingsthat,accordingtothetree,Iwasheretodo.Iwasfumblingaroundinsidemymind,ashe,endlesslycalmandsteady,wentonemphasizinghowimportantmyscientificworkwasasamediumfortheplantpeople.Iwouldtelltheirstories,whichwouldrevealthem—theplantpeople—tothehumanmindand,insodoing,woulddeliversomethinghumanityurgentlyneededtofeel.Then,suddenly,Iwastherewithhim,trulylistening,ashesaid,“Thereisalotoftravelingaheadofyou,andmanyeldersaroundtheworldarewaitingforyoutoarrive.”Iwaitedforhimtopause.Ifeltoverwhelmedbytheenormityofwhathewasdescribing,asaseconddragon—thedragonofself-pity—stomped

itswayin.“Itallsoundsamazing,butitiseasyforyoutospeak—allwellandgoodforyou,whoarerootedinthegroundwhereyouareprovidedwitheverythingyouneed,”Isaid.“Inmyworldofhumans,Ineedmoneytodoallthethingsyouareaskingmetodo,andwithoutajob,howcanIdeliverthescienceyouaretalkingabout?”

Ispokewithalamentingtonetojustifymyposition.Ifeltasenseofhopelessness.Ifearedthatmyprayerhadbeenheardandanswered,butIwasnotgoingtobeabletofulfillit.HowcouldIdoallthisscientificworkandtraveltoalltheseplaces,whichwereapparentlywaitingforme,whenIwasabouttolosemyacademicjobandwouldhavenomoneytoevensupportmyself?Myquestionswereunspoken,butthetreeheardthemallthesame.Heshudderedhisleaves,asifabreezehadcomeoutofnowheretomovethem,andreplied,“Youneednotworryaboutthoseboringdetails.Wearewellawareofyourneeds,andeverysingleoneofthemhasalreadybeentakencareof.”Ididn’tunderstand,andtheoldtreeseemedtotallydisinterestedinexplaininganyfurther.

Iassumedourconversationwasover,butIwaswrong.Still,Ilookedaway,tookadeepbreath,andwithit,Itookinthewholeview.Itwasmagnificent!Iwassittingatthetopofamountain,asclosetotheturquoiseskyasIcouldbe.Twobaldeagleswereswoopingthroughtheairatanincrediblespeed,doingthemostspectaculartricksastheyplungeddownintothevalleybelowandthenhitchhikedarideuponathermaltopassmeateyelevel.Withtheirwingsspreadwideopen,theylookedasiftheywerefloatingeffortlessly.AsIwatchedthem,Istartedfeelingtheirlightnessinmyownbody,andforamoment,Itoowasglidingwithease,lookingdownatthedeepvelvetoftheuntouchedconiferousforestthatdressedthesidesofthemountainousrangeallaroundme.AsthoughIhadtemporarilyacquiredthenotoriouslysharpeyesightofthoseeagles—possiblythemostpowerfulpairofeyesintheanimalkingdom—myowneyeswereabletopickupfinedetailsinmyfieldofgreenandthenmagnifythemwithapowerfourtoeighttimesthatofmynormaleyesight.Icouldseethewholeforest—eachtreeaswellasthetiniestofgrassesgrowingnexttome.AndasIacknowledgedtheirindividualpresence,theyallchimedloudlyinunison,“Tellourstories!Tellourstories!”

Thehardestthingofthewholeceremonywasleavingmyplaceofvision.However,uponmyreturntobasecamp,wherethesacredfirehadneverstoppedburningandthegrouphadbeenprayingcontinuallyandwasnowwaitingforme,IunderstoodthatthegiftsIhadreceivedthroughmyquestbelongedtoeveryoneandtheworld,whichreallyneededit.AsOshahadtoldmemonthsearlier,thelittleseedofpotentialthatIwasneededtogrowintoastrong

earlier,thelittleseedofpotentialthatIwasneededtogrowintoastrongpresence,onewiththecouragetodowhattheworldneeds.Iknewthenthathermedicinewasoneofdeterminationandperseverance,nutrientsthatprovidedthesustenanceformetoembodyandgivelifetothevisionIhadbeengiven.

MyheadwasstilldowncastasIreturnedtothesacredfireandthenreenteredthelodgefortheseconddust-offtogroundmebackintothisworld.OnceIemergedfromtheinipi,adeepsenseofjoyandgratitudewashedoverme.Itwastimeforcelebration,withagrandfeast,aspartofthegiveawayceremony—thegivingofgiftsinthanksgiving.Iplacedmygiveawayonablanket,andwhenitwasmytime,Iofferedaprayerofthanksgivingtothemedicineperson,helpers,supporters,andotherguests.IwasstandingnexttoMatoTaPejutaWakanNajin,andoneoftheelderswhohadcometoprayapproached.HefacedMatoTaPejutaWakanNajinandsaid,“Thereisgreatpowerinthisone,”andthenheturnedtowardmeand,pointingatmyheart,said,“Youhavestrongpowerinyou,andyouwilldogreatthings.”Hiswordstraveledrighttomycore,andIthankedhim.IknewIhadbeenseen.

OnmyreturntoAustralia,IstoppedoverinSydneyforafewdaystovisitmyfriendChiara,whoiskindofayoungerspiritsister,beforeheadingwestbacktoPerth.ChiaraandIhaveknowneachotherforalongtime,aswegrewuponlyafewkilometersapartinthenorthofItaly,wheretogetherwehaddreamedofmigratingtoAustralia—somethingweeventuallydid,albeitendingupindifferentcities.Wheneverpossible,IstoppedandvisitedherasIpassedthroughSydney,andthiswasoneofthoseoccasions.ChiaraworkedforamajorAustralianradioandtelevisionnetwork,andatthetimeofmyvisit,shewascarryingoutinterviewswithsomeremarkableinternationalscholars,thinkers,andactivists.TheyincludedprominentAboriginalAustralianelderslikeUncleB,whomChiarawasmeetingforaninterviewonthedayIwasreturningtoPerth.AstrangebuzzswirledaroundusasIdescribedtoChiaratheinstructionsIhadbeengivenbytheplantsduringmyvisionquest.BeforeIknewit,thewordsspokenbytheoaktreeweretakingmaterialform,andafewdayslater,IwasinPerthhavingcoffeeandeatingstrawberrieswithUncleB.BythetimeAugustcamearound,IhadbeeninvitedtovisithimathishomeinMutitjulu,anAboriginalcommunityatUluruintheheartofAustralia.Butthatisastoryforlater.

Itwasearlymorning,November5,2012.Irememberthedateverywellbecausemyexistingfellowshipfinishedonthatday.Oncampusearlierthantheusualworkinghours,Ihadcometopackmyoffice.Mylaptopwasopenonmydeskasbooksofmanycolorsandsizesstartedcomingofftheshelfthathadbeentheirhomeforthepreviousfewyears.SomelandedinaboxthatIplanned

beentheirhomeforthepreviousfewyears.SomelandedinaboxthatIplannedtotakehome;otherswereassignedtothegiveawaypile.SeveralpiecesofexperimentalequipmentcameoutofhidinginthecupboardwhereIstoredthemwhentheywerenotinuse.Intheirdifferentshapesandkinds,includingsomeIhadcustom-builttosuittheneedsofmyresearch,theylookedweirdandbeautiful—theywerethecreativetoolsofatradedesignedtoexploreandreimaginetheworld.Mythroattightened,andtheprofoundanxietythathadsilentlyaccompaniedmeforthewholeyearwasunleashedinallitsferocity.

Thenthefamiliarsoundofanincomingemaildrewmyattentiontomycomputerscreen.ItwasfromafriendandcolleagueinCanberra,which,byvirtueofbeinginAustralianEasternDaylightTime,wasthreehoursaheadofPerth—theworkingdaythathadnotyetstartedformewasinfullswingontheothersideofthecountry.Ireadtheemailtwiceandrespondedcurtly,“Nicejoke!Notinthemood…packingtheoffice.”Myfriendrepliedwithjustoneline:“Hereisthelink—checkityourself.”Mythroattightenedevenharder,becausenowmyheartwasthrobbinginit.Iclickedonthelinkandsearchedformysurname—andthereitwas,ontheAustralianResearchCouncilfundingannouncementwebpage.Intotaldisbelief,myshakinghandstyped,“Holyshit,Igotit!”inmyreplytomyfriend.Ihadjustbeenawardedathree-yearresearchfellowshipformyplantresearch.Ilookedoutmyofficewindow,andtheretheywere,swayingwiththewindastheylaughedtheirleafyheadsofffromtheirgrandheights.Bigteardropsrainedfromtheblueskyofmyeyesontomykeyboard.

Shakingandsobbing,Ileftmyoffice,hurrieddowntwoflightsofstairstothemainentranceofthebuilding,andwalkedoutside.Overwhelmed,Ilookedupandcriedandsobbedandlaughedhysterically.IfinallyunderstoodwhatIhadnotbeenabletograsponthetopofthemountain—everythinghadbeentakecareof—exactlyastheoaktreehadspoken.Afloodofreliefandgratituderushedthroughmybodytowashawaythedebrisofanxietyanddoubt,whileIrepeated,“Thankyou,thankyou!”overandover.Beaming,thetreesstoodtallandproudaroundmeandwaitedforamomentlongerbeforespeakingtheirsilentwords,“Wetoldyou,butyouwerenotlistening.”Then,likeafreshbreeze,theirwhispersmiledinsidemyheart,andtheycontinued,“Dearchild,youareneveralone,”andadded,“nowwipeawaythosetearsandgoforit—thereisalotofworktodo.”

ChapterN

Appreciationandgratitudecreatebeauty.

Gratitudetranscendedisjoy.Purejoyhealstheworld.

SomethingtoRemember

W

Noknowledgeiseverlost;nothingcaneverbeforgotten.Carefullyheldbythetrees,thememoryofourknowledgeiscontinuallyscribedbytheland.Howdoweknowitoncemore?Weneedtoforgetwhatwethinkweknowtorememberwhatwetrulydoknow.Weneedtorememberthatmemory,initsdistinctiveness,isneveraprivatesomethingthatbelongstoone;rather,itisasharedheritageconstantlyreimaginedinthebodyofthewhole.Flickeringinthespaceofexperiencebetweenallkindsofrelationships,memoryisadynamicwitnesstoallrelating.Ourrememberingofrelationshipsmineralizesthebonesofthefuture,theendlesspossibilitiesfortheexchangeofintrinsicvibrancies,growingafreshinbecomingsomethingofanother.Hence,nothingiseverforgotten,onlyconstantlyrememberedfromamatrixofinformationthatsparksthefutureintopresentbeing.Weareheretorememberthefuture,reverberatingwholegalaxiestowardusaswebreathein.

ehaveallcomeacrosstrulyinspiringpeopleandadmiredthemforhowtheycontributedtoourgrowth,deeplymovinguswiththewordsand

deedstheygifted.Wesaythattheywereborntobeprodigiousartists,remarkableleaders,orsimplyextraordinaryhumanbeings.Wespeakofthemasiftheyweremadeforwhattheydid,astheylivedtheirpassionandfulfilledtheirpurpose.

Inmuchthesameway,theplantMimosapudicawasborntobeagrandperformer.Theweirdperformancethataccompaniesthisplant’sbehavior,especiallyherdistinctiveabilitytoplaydeadbysuddenlyfoldingupherleavesanddroopinginreactiontotouchornightfall,hascapturedourattentionsinceancienttimesandignitedtheflamesofourimaginationforcenturies.1Overcenturiesofhistoricalandculturalchangesinsocialvaluesandmeanings,Mimosahasreinventedherselfmanytimesovertoportraymanyrolesand,intheprocess,acquiredmanynames.Evenwhenshewasknownasthe“anonymous”plant,sheremainedinthelimelight,asnaturalistscouldnotresistdevotingafewpagesoftheirjournalstodescribethefactthatthisnamelessplantdidnotliketobetouched.2

DecadesbeforeCarlLinnaeusestablishedhisbinomialnomenclature—themodernsystemofnamingorganisms—andformallynamedher,theplanthadrisentofameunderawholerangeofnames,includingthe“livingplant”(herbaviva),the“loveplant”(herbaamoris),the“sensitiveplant”(herbasentiente),the“sentientplant”(plantasentiens),the“chasteplant”(herbacasta),the“modestplant”(herbapudica),the“wantonplant”(herbadelicata),andthe“bashful

plant”(herbaverecunda).3Alsoatthissametime,shehadalreadybeenreferredtobythegenericnameofMimosa,whichderivedfromtheGreekmimosandfittinglymeant“mime”or“actor,”butalso“clown.”4Eventually,in1735,CarlLinnaeusformalizedthescientificnameofthisplantasMimosapudica,whileweallsettledforthevernacularnameof“sensitiveplant.”Butjustasarosewouldsmellassweetevenifcalledbyanothername,5soMimosapudicacontinuedbeingaconsummateartist,playingherpartregardlessofwhatwecalledher.Indeed,aftersomanynamesandsomanycenturies,herqualitieshave

remainedsomesmerizingandremarkabletousthatwritersandscientistsalikehavecontinuedmakingadditionstoheralreadylonglistofmonikers:the“puzzlingplant,”the“actionplant,”andmostrecently,the“intelligentplant.”6Personally,Ihavecometothinkofherasthe“disobedientplant”—onewhohaspersistedinherdefiantactofnotconformingtoourexpectationsofwhatitmeanstobeaplantand,moregenerally,living.

Infact,Mimosa’spowerfulperformanceoffoldingandunfoldingherleavesinawaythatremindsusofthepurposefulmovementofanimalshassucceededatcreatingastrangeandextraordinarybridgebetweentwokingdomsoflife—theanimalandthevegetal,thesensitiveandtheinsensitive.7Thelinethatseparatesthesetwokingdomsisoneweconjuredalongtimeagotoeaseourinsistentneedtocategorizebiologicallifeformsinrelativegroups,asweponderedtheplaceofthehumanintheirmidst.In2011,Mimosapudicacrossedthatlineonceagain.Andshewascaughtred-handed(orgreen-leafed,Ishouldsay)byscientificonlookers,muchlikepaparazzimightcatchacelebrity'smostcandid,evenawkward,momentonfilm.

Fittingly,wemetinItaly,MimosaandI.Earlierthatyear,IhadbeenawardedaresearchcollaborationgrantbymyuniversitytodevelopanewprojectwithcolleaguesattheUniversityofFlorence,andafewmonthslater,thereIwasinthefamousRenaissancecity.Andhowappropriateandtrue-to-formthatitwouldbeFlorence,wheresomanyprodigiousscientistshadlaidthefoundationforthemodernunderstandingofscienceand,similarly,wheresomanybrilliantactorshadshowcasedtheirvirtuosityintheuniqueimprovisedstyleofthecommediadell’arte,8whichhadalastinginfluenceonmoderntheater.

ItwaslateSeptemberwhenthethree-inch-tallplantsmadetheirfirstappearanceonthestageofmyprovisionalresearchspaceattheDepartmentofPlant,Soil,andEnvironmentalScienceattheUniversityofFlorence.The

experimentalroomIhadpreparedafewdayspriortotheirarrivalwaslikeawalk-incoolerconsistingofthreecompartments,separatedfromeachotherbycurtainsofblackplastic.Ihadmonitoredtheambienthumidityandtemperatureineachcompartmenttomakesureallplantswouldbeexposedtothesameenvironment(patchymicroenvironmentscouldhavemuddledtheirperformance).Aspartofmyexperiment,Ihadfittedthesidecompartmentswithfluorescentlightstoproducelowlight(LL)conditionsinoneandhighlight(HL)conditionsintheother.Finally,IhadrandomlyassignedeachplanttoeithertheLLorHLcompartmentandthenleftthemallundisturbedtosettlein.

Fivedayslater,Iwroteinmylabnotebook,“September27.Allplantsarelookinghealthyandhappy.”Ifollowedthiswithseveralpagesofpreliminarydatafrompilottrials,whichallowedmetoworkoutthedetailsofthebestmethodologyandapproachtouse;thiswouldgivemeafeelforwhatmayormaynotworkbeforedesigningthestage(Figure3)andperformingtheproperfull-blownexperiment.Ibuiltamechanismthatwouldallowmetoperforma“controlleddrop”ofthelittleplants,averticalsteelrailwithaslidingcup.Anindividualplantinitspotwouldbeputinthecup,andthecupwouldslidequicklydowntherailfifteencentimeters,notfastenoughtodamagetheplant,butfastenoughto“scare”Mimosaandtriggertherapidclosureofherdelicateleaves—aninstinctualreflextomechanicaldisturbancebelievedtobeanaturaldefensetactictoreducetheeffectsfrompredation.Byrepeatedlydroppingindividualplantsfromasetheightoffifteencentimeterseveryfiveseconds,foratotalofsixtydropspersession—andthenagainandagaininrecurrentsessions,thestagewasset.

Thepurposebehindbuildingthis“controlleddropsystem”wasstraightforward.Tocreatetheconditionsthatwouldmakeitpossible,ontheonehand,fortheplantstoperformasimplebutcleartask(leaffolding)thatwasvisuallydetectableandquantifiable(ifpresent)asthefeaturestypicalofsystemscapableoftruememoryandlearning.ThequestionIwasposingwas“simple”—couldMimosatrulylearnfromnewexperiencesandflexiblyalterherbehavior?Specifically,couldthisplantstopsimplyreacting(inasomewhatautomaticandpredeterminedmanner)toadisturbancethatappearedtobeathreatatfirstbutquicklyprovedtocausenoharm?Thesebasicquestionsunderscoredaphenomenonknownas“habituation,”whichisconsideredthesimplestformoflearning,thoughthereisnothingsimpleaboutit.Letmeexplain.

Figure3.ControlleddropsystemforhabituationtrainingofMimosaplants.Thecontrolleddropsystemconsistedofaplasticvesselmountedwithvariablehangersontoamarkedsteelrail,whichwas,inturn,securedtoafoambase.Tightlyfittedinthehostvessel,individualpottedplantsweremanuallyelevatedtothefifteen-centimeterheightmarkandallowedtodropbyslidingalongtherail.Theshallowdepressioninthefoambaseatthelandingpointofthevesselpreventeditfrombouncingatimpact.Theset-upensuredthatastandardlevelofdisturbancewasadministeredtoallplants,anditwassufficienttoforcetheclosure

ofallleaves.Figurereproducedfrom:M.Gagliano,M.Renton,M.Depczynski,andS.Mancuso,“ExperienceTeachesPlantstoLearnFasterandForgetSlowerinEnvironmentsWhereItMatters,”

Oecologia175(2014):63–72.

Instinctivebehaviorisanevolutionarysurvivalmechanismdevelopedbythemembersofagivenspeciesthroughinnumerablegenerationsofnaturalselection.Itistheacquiredhabitusofthespecies,onethathasbecomedeeplyingrainedovertheevolutionaryhistoryofthatspeciesbecauseithelpeditsurvive.Andclearly,theleaf-closingreflexofMimosaisanexcellentexampleofthis.Aspartofherinstinctivebehavioralrepertoire,thisreflexisencodedintheDNAfortheexactreasonthatithasproventobeextremelyvaluableforthesurvivalofthespecies.And,likeallreflexes,Mimosa’sleaf-foldingtrickhelpstheplantrespondquicklytoperceivedtroubleandprotectherfromharm.

Buthereinliesthetwistinthestory—Mimosa’sdefensivebehaviordoesnotcomeforfree.Theleaf-foldingreflexis“survival-friendly”onlywhenthethreatisreal.WhenMimosafoldsherleavesshut,hercapacitytoforageforlightsuddenlyplungesbyhalf,andthe“survival-unfriendly”riskofstarvationbecomesareality.Thismakesthereflexanexorbitantlivingexpense—ajustifiableonetopayifthedangerisreal,butadownrightwasteofpreciousopportunitiestoforageforlightandthrivewhenasituationturnsouttobenotdangerousatall.Becauseofthistrade-offbetweenpredationriskandenergygain,itseemsunreasonabletothinkthatMimosawouldhavelittleornocontroloverherownbehavior;thattheplantwouldbeincapableofassessingwhatcircumstancesdemandandoffer;andthatshewouldbeunabletolearnfromexperience,unabletolearntoignoretheharmlessnuisanceof,forexample,acontrolleddrop,tospareherselftheunnecessarytrouble(andenergyloss)ofclosingherleaves.Andyetatthetimeoftheexperiment,thegeneralassumptionwasthatplantscouldrespondonlyinpreprogrammedandautomaticwaysalreadyencodedintotheirDNA,thattheyweresomehowbeingacteduponratherthanactingintheirownright.Mimosahadhermindsetonchangingthisview,andIwassimplyherstagemanager,lightengineer,andvoicetoallowherperformancetorollout.Atthetime,however,Ihadnotrealizedthatshehadplannedtodothisbywayofacleverfive-actShakespeareanproduction!

Afterafewdaysoftrialanderror,Ihadaprettygoodideaofwhatneededdoing,andwithallpropsriggedupandrehearsaltimeover,everythingwasreadyforthegrandopeningperformance.Andasinanytheaterworthyofitsname,theyoungplantswereheldoutofviewbehindadarkcurtaininthesidecompartmentsofmyItalianlaboratory,waitingintrepidationfortheirtimetoappearonthemainstage(themiddlecompartment),wheretheirperformancewouldbeputtothetest—toclose,ornottoclose,thatwasthequestion!WouldMimosaperceivetheoccurrenceoftheinconsequentialdropandtuneitouttofocusonthethingsthatreallydemandedattention?Wouldsherememberwhatshehadlearned(ifthatwasatallpossible),andifso,forhowlong?Mimosaanswereditallwithamovingdisplayofwide-openleavesthroughfiveseparateacts.

Act1:TheInstinctualResponse.Agroupofsixteennaïveplants(eightfromtheLLcompartmentandeightfromtheHLone)makesaninitialappearanceonthemainstagefirstthinginthemorningofOctober3,2011.Onebyone,eachplantisgentlyplacedintheplasticvesselmountedontothemarkedsteelrailofthecontrolleddropsystemanddropped.Eachplantisdroppedonlyonceinthemorning;abrief,singledropisthenadministeredagaineighthourslateronthe

sameday.DidMimosalearnfromasingledrop?No.Allplantscompletelyfoldedtheirleavesinthemorninganddidexactlythesamelaterintheday.Andrightlyso—abetter-safe-than-sorryapproachwasundoubtedlythemostappropriateresponsetothenew,undefined,andpotentiallydangerouscircumstances.Besides,suchafleetingandlimitedexperienceofferednoopportunitiesforevaluatingwhetherthenuisancewasorwasn’tathreattosurvival.Sonothingtolearn,nothingtoremember.

Act2:TheLearnedResponse.Anewgroupoffifty-sixnaïveplants(twenty-eightfromtheLLcompartmentandtwenty-eightfromtheHLone)entersthemainstageonebyone,andeachisindividuallydroppedusingthecontrolleddropsystem.Thistime,however,eachplantisnotdroppedonlyonceatthestartandonceattheendoftheday;instead,eachplantisdroppedsixtytimesatfive-secondintervalsandexperiencessixofthesesixty-droptrainingsessionsspreadthroughoutthewholeday.DidMimosalearnnow?Yes(maybe).Asbefore,allplantsinstinctivelyfoldedtheirleavesatthefirstfewdrops,quicklyrespondingtothepotentialofdangerwhilewaitingforthetruenatureoftheircircumstancestobecomemoredefined.However,remarkably,theinitialfourtosixdropswasalltheyneededtosussoutthesituationandcometotheconclusionthatbeingdroppedwasanannoyance,perhaps,butcertainlynotathreatandthuscouldbesafelyignored.Asthathappened,allplantsstartedreopeningtheirleavesevenwhileIcontinueddroppingthemtotheendoftheirsixty-droptrainingsession.Notonlyweretheirleavescompletelyopenbytheendofthatfirstsession,buttheyalsostoppedclosingaltogetherevenonthefirstdropatsuccessivetrainingsessionsasthedayprogressed.Perhapsevenmoreunsurprisingly,giventhetrade-offbetweenpredationriskandenergeticgaindescribedabove,plantskeptunderthemoredemandingconditionsofthelowlight(LL)compartmentactuallylearnedmorerapidlyandreopenedmorefullythanthosefromthehighlight(HL)compartment.HowexcitingtohavethehabituationexperimentsettingofftosuchagreatstartasMimosaquicklylearnedtostopreactingtobeingdropped!

Asinanygoodstory,however,itwasatthispointthatthefirsthurdleappeared.Sure,Mimosastoppedclosingherleaves,buthadtheplanttrulylearnedtoignorethedropbecauseoftherepeatedexposureandwasnow“choosing”tokeepherleavesopen?Orwasshejustpoopedoutandphysicallynolongercapableofclosingthem?Therewasawaytofindout,anditrequiredMimosatopassanadditionaltest,onewhereabrand-newstimuluscouldelicittheleafclosureiftheplantswerenotfatiguedbutstillresponsivetowhatwasgoingonintheirsurroundingenvironment.Thiswasaptlyknownasthe

dishabituationtest.

Act3:TheDishabituationChallenge.Theretheywere,onthemainstage:thefifty-sixplantsthathadsomehowdecidedtostopclosingtheirleaves.Aftersixconsecutivetrainingsessionsofsixtydropseach,theyoungplantswerenowgoingtofaceanewchallenge.Oneatatime,eachMimosawasplacedinaclose-fittingfoamcontainerattachedtoavibratingplate,oneofthosecommonlyfoundinchemistrylabsandusedtomixliquids.Eachplantwasplacedontheplateandgentlyvibratedforabrieffiveseconds.Thevibratingplatewasagoodchoiceofstimulusforthedishabituationtestbecause,asscientificprotocoldemands,itdidnotdiffersignificantlyinkindfromtheverticaldrop—bothdisturbancesbeingmechanicalinnature—butitwas,nonetheless,absolutelynewtotheplant.

Byvirtueofitsnovelty,thevibrationswereexpectedtoelicittherapidleaf-foldingreflexaseffectivelyasthedrophaddoneattheverybeginning,unless,ofcourse,Mimosahadactuallylostthecapacitytomoveduetoexhaustionandthuswasphysicallyunabletocloseinresponseto,well,anything.Thisisanimportantdistinction.Fromanecologicalperspective,theinabilitytorespondappropriatelytounfamiliarandsporadicstimuliwouldbeextremelydangerous.Itwouldleavetheplantunguardedinthefaceofpotentiallyharmfulcircumstances,butthisundesirablesituationisnotwhathappenedheretoouractors.Whenvibrated,withoutexception,allleavesfoldedupcompletely,indicatingthatMimosawasnotfatiguedatall.Instead,shewastotallycapableofdetectingandrespondingtoanewstimulusandremainedresponsivetowhatwasnewandpotentiallythreatening.

Whileafantasticoutcome,Mimosa’sresponsetothebrief,one-offexperienceofthevibrationswasnotenough(atleastforscience).IfMimosahadtrulyhabituatedtotheoriginalverticaldropandhadlearnedofitsbenignnaturefrompreviousexperience,sheshouldhavethecapacitytoignoreitwhenre-confrontedbyit.Sooncemore,downwenttheyoungplants,slidingalongthesteelrailofthecontrolleddropsystemtolandsoftlyintheshallowfoamdepressionatitsbase.Asinagestureoftriumph,theyallstoodproudandtallandkepttheirleaveswideopentheentiredistance,passingtheirnewtestwithflyingcolors.Thenone-by-onetheyreturnedtotheirrespectivebackstageareas,behindthecurtains,torestfromtheirday’sperformance.

Act4:TheRemembering.Aftersomuchfallingdownandstandingtall,thequestionofMimosa’slearningseemedsettled.Well,almost.Theinterestingthingaboutscienceandscientistsisthattheyaresimultaneouslycuriousand

naturalskeptics,thelatterapatternreinforcedbythescientificprocessateverystepoftheway.Somyquestionwas,howfarcanIpushthis?Howcapablearethesewondrouslittleplants,really?Forus,learningfromapastexperienceiscontingentontheabilitytorecallthatmemory,andunlesstheinformationisencodedandstoredwhereitisavailabletobeusedagain,itwouldbereallyhardtofunctionineverydaylife.Thinkoftouchingahotplate.Forthisreason,memoryisintegralforsuccessfullearningtotakeplace.

SothequestionofMimosa’slearningwas,inactuality,aquestionofwhethertheplantscouldrememberwhattheyhadpreviouslyexperienced—intheabsenceofabraininwhichtoretainmemory.Afterpassingtheirdishabituationtest,allfifty-sixplantshadreturnedtotheirrespectivebackstagecompartmentsbehindthecurtainsforthreeundisturbeddaysoff.Then,halfofthem(fourteenfromtheLLcompartmentandfourteenfromtheHLone)wouldmaketheirreappearanceontothemainstagetobepresentedoncemorewiththeverticaldrop.Incredibly,whentheydid,nothinghappened.Thatwasthemostperfectandexciting“nothing”thatIcouldhavehopedfor.Thebehavioralresponsetheyhadacquiredthreedaysearlierwasunchanged:leavesopenbeforethedrop,leavesopenafterthedrop.Likeseasonedlittlebasejumpers,theseplantscontinuedtodisregardthedropastheyhadlearnedtododuringtheirtraining,andbyignoringitnow,theywereshowingmetheycouldrememberthedropflawlessly.Theyhadthefacultyofmemory,andtheirbehaviorwasnothard-wiredinDNA,butlearned!Howamazing!

Iwasleftawedandnumbwiththesignificanceofmyresults.Threedayslater,Itriedagain.Itestedthesecondhalfoftheoriginalgroup,plantsthat,bythen,hadbeenleftundisturbedbehindthecurtainsforatotalofsixdays.Thetwenty-eightplantsreturnedtothemainstageandwerepresentedagainwiththeverticaldrop.Heresomethingquiteinterestingoccurred.Allplantsrememberedthedrop,buttheirspecificenvironmentsinfluencedhowwelltheydidso.Asmentionedbefore,plantsthatclosetheirleavesintheabsenceofarealthreatarewastingpreciousopportunitiestoforageforlightandflourish.However,makingsuchamistakecarriesaheavierpricetagforsurvivalwhenvitalresourcessuchaslightareinshortsupply,whichwasthecaseforthefourteenplantsthathadbeenkeptunderlowlightconditions.Theseplantsretainedthebehavioralresponseacquiredearlierpracticallyunchanged,disregardingthedropafullsixdaysaftertheirlastexperienceofit.Outofnecessity,theywerethefasterlearnersandretainedthelearnedbehaviorlongerwhencomparedtotheircompanionsheldunderthemorefavorableconditionsintheHLcompartment.These,too,disregardedthedropstimulusbutwerenotasquickatreopening

theirleavesorasgoodatreopeningthemasfully,preciselybecausetheenergeticconsequencesoflittleblunderswerenotsuchabigdealinanenvironmentwithabundantlightattheirdisposal.

Idecidedtotestalltheplantsonceagain,butwithanothertwist—astudent-exchangeprogramofsorts.IswappedtherespectiveenvironmentssothathalfoftheplantsthathadbeentrainedwhilebeingheldintheLLcompartmentwerenowtransferredtotheHLone,andviceversa.Aftertwenty-eightdaysintheirnewenvironment,theyreturnedtothemainstagetoberetested.Onemoretime,theykepttheirleavesopenwhileignoringthenuisanceofbeingdropped,gratuitously.Thelessonhaddefinitelybeenlearnedandremembered.Andso?

Act5:TheGreatRemembering.AstheopeningofMimosa’sperformancehadbeenaccompaniedbyunderstandabletrepidationandaninitialstagefright(which,nodoubt,waspartoftheperformanceitself!),sotheclosingactwasdeliveredwithasenseoftriumphantaccomplishment(hers)andsurprise(mine).Unfoldinglikeanymythicalhero’sjourney,9bothaccomplishmentandsurprisewouldtakeseveralyearstofullyrevealthemselvesasnewlyunearthedoldbones.Thecurtainsofthisfinalacthadtowaitforawhilebeforecomingdowncompletely—waitingforustohearourownstorybeingtold.Then,leavinguswithanewsenseofwhowereallyare,theemergingwisdomcouldreturnushome,totheplacewherewehadstartedthejourney,butwhichwenowtrulyknewforthefirsttime.10

Theresultsofthe“Mimosaexperiment,”asithascometobeknownaroundtheworld,wereanamazingandaltogetherincrediblyexcitingscientificbreakthrough.Butmylackofsuccessincommunicatingtheseexcitingresultswasafrustratingjourneythattookalotoftheshineoffitforme.Istarteddoubtingwhethermyresultsandtheirsignificancecouldbecommunicatedatall.ItseemedasifwhatMimosawaspresentingtouswasaltogethertoofarremovedfromourestablishedrealitynotjustasscientistsbut,indeed,ashumans.Howcanaplantlearn,learnsofast,remember,andactaccordingtoitsindividualcircumstances?Wasittoounbelievableforotherstoevenconceiveof?WasitonlymewhowascompletelyastoundedbytheperformanceofMimosa?

InJanuary2014,followingyearsofscathingremarksbymanypeers,theresearchpaperdescribingtheexperimentwasfinallypublished.11Thedatemarkedtheendofalongseriesofrejectionsbyoveradozenmajoracademicjournals,whichwouldnotevensendthemanuscriptoutforpeerreviewandwouldquicklybrushitoff(insomecases,withoutevenreadingit)withoneof

thoseoff-the-shelfimpersonalresponses,suchas“wereceivemanymoremanuscriptsthatwecanpublish”or“thetopicisoutsidethescopeofthejournal.”

Ofcourse,skepticism,resistance,andevenblatanthostilitytotheideathatplantscouldtrulylearnandrememberwerenotcompletelyunanticipated.12Althoughknowingthisneversucceededattemperingthesharpedgesofrejection,itdidhelpmeseesomethingIhadnot,infact,expected.Itseemedthat,nomatterwhichsideofthefenceonesaton,thenotionofplantlearning,memory,anddecisionmaking(andthemattersofsubjectivityandagencythattheoccurrenceoftheseprocesseswasusheringin)hadcaughteveryoneoffguard.WeweresomewhatunrehearsedfortheplayMimosahadputonandwhich—candidlyunpreparedorstubbornlyunwilling—weallwere,nevertheless,charactersof.

Asscientists,wearehabituated,forthemostpart,tospeakofthestructureofthingsintermsofimmediatemechanical,physical,physiological,andbiochemical/molecularfactors(i.e.,investigatingthe“howdoesitwork?”question).13Itisunsurprising,then,thatthequestionsandargumentsthatweremostreadilyofferedinresponsetotheMimosaexperimentreflectedthiswell-entrenchedperspective.Processessuchaslearningandmemoryareexplainedandunderstoodbythephysiologicalmechanismsthatunderwritethem.Forexample,long-termmemorycanbedescribedinrelationtochangesinsynapticconnectivityexpressedinthebrainand,toacertainextent,speakofthesynapseasacellularsiteformemorystorage,asitethatinteractswithawiderangeofmoleculesacrosscomplexnetworks.Understoodfromthisperspective,memoryisinevitablycontingentontheexistenceofabrain.Andfromhere,we’vepaintedourselvesintoacorner—wehavenochoicebuttostumbleforwardbyformulatingincreasinglyfrailargumentstoadvanceourknowledge,suchas,“Plantshavenobrainandnosynapsestoretainmemory;therefore,howcantheydoanyactualremembering?”Howlimiting.Besides,thisintriguingquestionharborstheinsinuating(ill)logicthataplantcannot.Notbeingopentoconsidertheverynatureofourreasoningandassumptionsregardingtherelationshipbetweenbrainsandmemoriesleavesusnospacetoseekotherpossibilities.Asthoughembodyinganinstincttowardself-preservation,thequestionleavesnospacetobequestioned,nospaceforustoseethat,essentially,itistheformulationofthequestionitselfthathasbeenfailingusallalong.

Possiblybecausemyresearchinterestsandtraininghadalwaysbeenecologicallyandenvironmentallyfocused,thequestionsIwantedtoaskwere

naturallybroader,moreinclusive,andprocess-oriented—asking“whydoesitoccur?”ratherthan“howdoesitoccur?”(IadmitthatIhavemorelimitedskillsforthelatterquestion.Ileavemechanismstothephysiologists!)Inthecontextofthisbackground,Ididn’tseememory,forexample,asafixedtraitoftheorganism,somethingthatbelongedtothatorganismandcouldbeexplainedandreducedtospecificchemicalcompounds.Becausememoriesarebornofandcomeintoexistencewithinandthroughrelationshipsofallkinds,asanecologist,Isawmemoryasafeatureofatrulyecological,dynamicprocessofrelationships,wheremeaningsemergetoshapetheproductionofbehaviorsthat,inturn,shapenewinteractionsfornewmeaningstoemerge.Thus,Iwasexcitedabouttherolememoryplayedinshapingtheplant’sbehavior—howMimosaapproacheddifferentcircumstancesbybothrememberingthepastandencounteringthepresentandthenexpressedtherelativemeaningthroughinformedaction.

Conversely,IfeltquiteuninterestedinthehowquestionsthatseemedtoinsistinshrivelingsuchanactiveandecologicallyvibrantprocesstothefinitedimensionforcellsonPetridishesandmoleculesinEppendorftubes.Itisthroughthisreductionistapproachthatthesubjectiveplant,madeofraw,vibrantlivingflesh,14hadbeendismembered,disincarnated,andsubstitutedwithalacklusterabstraction,thescientificideaofwhatanobjectifiedplantis,does,andknows.Anideaisnottheplant,inthesamewaythattheideaImayhaveofyouisnotactuallyyou,butasimplified,broken-downversionofyou.Andtome,thisisfarfromatrivialpoint.Thedisarticulationofplantsassubjectsandtheircultural(re)constructionasobjectsofscientificexplorationnotonlycontradictstheemergingandexpandedunderstandingofplantbehavior,includingmattersofplantintelligence,agency,andintersubjectivity,butisalsoofmonumentalconcerninregardstotheethicalsignificanceofhuman-plantrelations.15

Againstthisbackdrop,Mimosahadaccomplishedtheextraordinary.Byrememberingherdisarticulatedvegetalbody,16shehadproddeddirectlyataninternalcontradiction,oneofamostprofoundstateofdesoulationthatdemandswede-vegetalizetheplantanddehumanizethehumaninordertostomachitsOrwellianpoison.17Bypointingattheagonizingconvulsionsinthebellyoftheplant-humanrelationship,Mimosahadcometoinitiatetheprocessofdetoxification.Perhaps,thiswasthereasonwhyMimosa,theplant—beingcapableoflearningandremembering—madeus,thehuman,souncomfortable.AndIwasabouttodiscoverthesurprisingplacewherethisdiscomfortenjoyed

hidinginsideme.

Yousee,alongthepathwithMimosa,Ihadencounteredexcitementandfrustration,aswellastheminordemigodsoflesseremotions.However,therealshowdownwasyettocome,anditwouldalltakeplace,well,bysurprise.ItwaspreciselyinmyownsurprisethatIwastofindthebetrayingsignoftheinternalincoherencethatmakesourrelationshipwithplantssoterriblyjerky.Clearly,theMimosaexperimenthadbeensurprisinginmanyways,particularlyinthatitwouldultimatelyrevealmoreaboutthehumanthantheplant.Forme,theinitialsurprisehadmaterializedoutofasenseofdisbelief—withnobrainornervoussystem,Mimosawasbreakingwithconvention!Inmydisbelief,Iwasexcited.Farcically,however,thepresenceofdisbeliefinmyresponsetoherperformancewastellingagreatdeal(certainlygreaterthanIfirstcaredtorecognize)aboutmyownkeepingwithconvention.Mydisbeliefandsurpriserevealedanembeddedconditioning—IexpectedMimosatofail.Yes,fail!Andnotsomuchbecauseplantshavenobrain—arathersuperficialdiscriminationIhaddrawnmyownattentiontoatfirst—butsimplybecausetheyarenotus.

Obviously,plantsandhumansdifferinmanyways,bothinstructureandinfunction.However,howwecognizesuchdifferencesisacrucialpartoftheequation,because,asweknowwell,howwethinkofandvaluedifferencescanleadustodivergentconclusionsaboutthewayweperceive,interactwith,andknowtheworld.Weseemtohavealong-standingtraditionofdifferentiatingourselvesfromnonhumanothersthroughthethingsthatthoseotherslack.18Unfortunately,whenwedoso,weinevitablyusethequalitiesandconditionsofthenonhumanasoppositionalfoils—wegetaplantlikeMimosatoplaytheantagonist,thedeficientcharacterthatstrugglesagainstus,theself-appointedhero,and,asaresult,ourleadingroleshinebrighter.Whenwedoso,atbest,wefailtoarriveatanyconvincingormeaningfulconclusionaboutourdistinctiveness,andatworst,wegeneratedistortedbeliefsaboutourownnatureaswellasthatoftheothers—beliefsthatprovedisastrousforourrelationshipbothwithourownnaturesandwiththoseofothers.

Unaware,Iwassickwiththisgreatmadness—ourdeep-rootedanthropocentrichabitofusingthehumanasthereferencepoint,thegoldstandardfromwhichtomeasure“down”andpassjudgmentonthenatureofthoseothers.19Itwasmyfeelingofsurprisethatflaggedthoseunsuspectedinscriptionslurchingunderthesafetyblanketofmyunconscious.WhenIdecidedtopeekunderthatblanketandventuredeeperintothedisbeliefIhadfelt,Iwasfacedwithmyownimplicitculturalattitudesandstereotypes.20Those

markingswerewrittenalloverthewallofmythinkingandknowingaboutthesevegetalothers,andtheirdirectivesconfinedmyunderstandingofthemtothedomainofhumanvaluesandperceptions.

Ifeltsonaïveand,atthesametime,sohideouslyparochialaboutthefactthatmybeliefsandperceptionsoftheworldweretintedbythestinkyoldanthropocentricbias,despitetheamazingexperiencesI’dhadthathadtaughtmeotherwise.Howlittledowetrulyknowofournatureandthenatureofthosearoundus,humanandnonhuman.Wekeepwritingbooksaboutbooksthatdebateideasofideasaboutthefundamentalprocessesoflife,suchaslearningandremembering,whicharefoundeverywhereandallaroundus—processesthatareself-perpetuatingandself-controllingwithorwithoutourideasofthem,storiesaboutthem,anddebatesoverthem.ThecaseofMimosa’slearningissimplyano-brainer.AppreciatingwhatMimosahadaccomplishedrequiresnocerebralassumptiontobeapplied,butratherthesurrenderofprejudicesandbiasesthatfiltereverythingnewwelearnthroughtheviewswealreadyhold.

ItisinthissurrenderthatIwasabletorealizewhatwastrulysurprisingaboutMimosa.Likeaquick-wittedjesterattheimperialcourtofhumanity,shehadcometomakefoolsofallofuswithherleafydexterity,clowningaroundourtaxonomicprejudicesanddogmaticjudgments.Shehadtakenourfixation—theimportancewegivetomovement—andimitatedanimalreactionsusingherownbodymovements.Shehadclumsily“playedtheanimal”forus,notbecausesheisinferiorandcan’tdo“better,”buttoshowus,bywayofridiculing,whatlittlewesee—asifthehumananimalcannotseethatsheis,indeed,herbaviva(thelivingplant)unlesssheplaysanimalforus.Freefromhumanconventions,shehadpointedstraightatthenakedbuttoftheemperortobringourvainarroganceintotheopensowemayseeit.Sheexpertlyshowedusthatthedefinitionsweapplytoourworlddeterminewhatweallowourselvestoseeandthatunknowingly,bywayofourdefinitions,weenduprejectingwhatisinfavorofwhatwehavealreadydecideditshouldbe.Andallthewhile,elusiveinherplantness,shehadalsocomewithasilentinvitationtoourdis-education,challengedustounlearnthedistinctionsweinventedandclingtoasiftheyaretheonlythingthatdefineus.

Itshouldbeclearthatunlearningdistinctionsdoesn’tmeannotseeingthem;itdoesn’tmeanthatdifferencesarenotuseful.Whatitdoesmeanisthatwestopbeingobsessedwiththemtothepointthatwecannotseeanythingbeyondthemandthusmisstheincrediblerichnessofqualitiesandcharactersofboththehumanandthenonhumanworld.Itisthroughthisunlearningthatwecantakethosefirststepsawayfromobjectifyingplantsandrealizethatrecognizingtheir

thosefirststepsawayfromobjectifyingplantsandrealizethatrecognizingtheirsubjectivityandinherentworthanddignitydoesnotdiminishourownbutratherenrichesit.

WhenIfinallyunderstoodallthis,thequalityofmysurprisewasmagicallytransformedfromasenseofdisbeliefbornofanthropocentricconceitintoafeelingofawe.Itwasasenseofelatedwonderinspiredbysomethingsublime,somethingmagnificentthatengendersadeepreverenceforlife.Itisawethatinspiresthefreedomforverydifferentquestionstobeasked,questionsthatdon’tneedtobeansweredinordertorenewoursenseofecologicalintimacyandkinshipwiththenonhumanlivingworld,toremindusthatwecare.AndthisiswhatwassotrulysurprisingandinspiringaboutMimosa.

Now,atthispointonemayexpecttheperformancetofinallyfindclosure.Thetruthofthematteris,however,thatthecurtainsofthisfinalactmaynevercomedowncompletely,asMimosakeepsatthetaskshehadsetherselftoaccomplish—toquestionourminds.Shehascertainlycontinuedquestioningandopeningmymind.And—littledidIknowatthetime—thisdis-educationofminewasonlythestart.

ChapterG

Theteachingsarenotindividual,butuniversal.

A…mazingPeaGazinginandoutofamazeofilluminatedlandscapes,wetravelacrosstheboundlessterritoriesofanelectrifiedmindseekingtheworld.Invisibletotheeyesatfirst,theworldemergesoutoftheformlesstomakeanimpressiononthecanvasofourconsciousnesswiththeswirlingcolorsofitsdancingphotons.Shiningoutward,brushstrokesoffragmentedformsarestitchedtogetherintoaseamlessreality,bornoutofthemindandseenthroughtheeyesofourimagining.Whatifwewereabletostretchthatimaginingfarbeyondoureyes,lettingourvisiontravelfarwiderthanthebrushstrokesthemindhaslearnedtocomprehend…?Buthowcanwelearntheartofseeingthatwhichwecannotyetimagine?Visionisanart,andnatureanoldmasterpainterteachingushowtoseetheunderlyingrealityofthingstobe—beforetheyactuallyare.Unleashthemindintoseeingacrossinvisibleterritories;thenanamazingvisionwillbringtheas-yet-unmanifestworldintobeing.

LandingatPucallpa’sairportfeltdifferentfromthelasttimeIhadcomehereafewyearsearlier.TheplantshadbeenadamantthatIcomebacktoPeru,evenifIhadnorealdesiretodoso.ButthereIwasagain.Later,somewhereinthemiddleofseeminglynowhere,IwasspendingmyfirstafternoonbackintheAmazononthebanksoftheUcayaliRiver,listeningtomynewteacher,DonJ,ashesharedhisknowledgeonhowheusedplantstotreatillnesses,pointingtoabristlyplantdownhereandatallandskinnyoneoverthere.Astrongoldmanwithkindeyesandnotmanyteethlefttohissmile,DonJwasaCocamashaman.1HehadagreedtomeetmeinPucallpaforasortofjobinterviewafteracommonacquaintancehadputusincontactacoupleofdaysearlier.ThefirstthingDonJtoldmeaswesatdownforthismeetingatasmallcaféwasthathehadneitherinterestinnortheintentionofteachingWesterners.Thenheproceededtoaskmeaboutmyreasonsforbeingthere.“Iamherebecausetheplantshavebroughtmehere,”Ianswered.Then,beforeIknewit,Iadded,“Ineedtobecomeabetterdreamer.”Heleftwithoutaword,butthenextdayhecametopickmeupandtakemetohishomeinthejungle,whereIwasgoingtodietwiththeplants.

Thatafternoon,DonJpreparedaconcoctionmadefromPiñonblanco(Jatrophacurcas),adrought-resistantshrub2alsoknownas“purgingnut”becauseofhiscleansingeffectsonthebowels.Bythetimedarknessdescendedinthejungle,Ihaddrunkhismedicineandenteredthedreamscapewherethespiritofthismaestrowasalreadyawaitingtomeetme.Wearingadoctor’swhitecoat,Piñonblancoappearedinmydreamasatall,middle-agedmanwithshortblackhairanddarkeyes.3Hespokeofmanythingsthroughoutthenight,allthewayintothefirstlightofthemorning.Ipaidgreatattentiontohiswords,butatthesametime,Iknewthatourdiscussionwassomehowbypassingmymind.Ontheonehand,Iknewexactlywhathewastalkingtomeabout;ontheother,mypoorbrainhadn’treallybeenabletohearthewordsorunderstandthem.

Bythetimemorningcame,Icouldn’trememberathingPiñonblancohadsaid.IspokewithDonJaboutit.Imagesanddetailsstartedfloodingmyawareness,andabruptlyIfoundmyselfsaying,“Hewasholdingafruit-likethinginhishand”—myhandswerewildlygesturingthe“something”IhadseenasifIwereplayingagameofcharades.Givingawayhischildlikedelight,DonJ’salmosttoothlesssmilesignaledthathewaspleasedtohearmydescriptionofthatwhich,tome,remainedamysterious“something.”“Iknowwhatitis!”hesaidwithgreatsatisfaction.“Itisaverypowerfulmedicine.Youwillneedtobathewithitanddrinkit,butonlyalittle.”Andthenheadded,“youwilldietit

onceyoufinishtheworkwiththisdoctorcito.”

AsDonJhadmentionedthedaybefore,whilelookingattheplantsgrowingaroundhishut,theplantspiritsthemselvesteachuswhattodo,includingwhatplantsoneisreadytodiet.Byshowingmethisstrangefruitthatlookedlikeacannonball,Piñonblancohadtoldmeabouttheplantthatwaswaitingtoworkwithmenext.Andreadyshewas,themightyAyahuma.4

“Theexperimentisprettysimple.Trainyoungplantsinamazeandgivethemthefreedomofchoice,”Ayahumadeclared,insidemyhead.Thensheadded,“Butyou’vegottothinkpeas,notsunflowers!”Forseveralmonthsearlierthatyear,Ihadtriedtodesignanexperimentthatwouldallowmetotestplants’abilityforassociativelearning—alsoknownasPavlovianlearning,afterthefamousexperimentsofPavlovandhisdogs.5Theideawastotestwhetherplantswerecapableoflearningthattheoccurrenceofoneeventwasnotonlysomehowlinkedtoanotherbutalso,moreimportantly,anticipatedit.HowtoactuallytestthisinplantswassomethingthatIhadstubbornlybeenthinkingaboutsince2011,asafollow-uptothestudywithMimosapudica.

Forthispurpose,theshedbehindmyhomeinPerthhadbeenturnedintoacarpenter’sworkshop(andafree-of-chargesauna,courtesyofthescorchingWesternAustraliansummer!).TogetherwithMartial—mybestfriendandlong-termcollaborator—Ihaddesignedandbuiltsome“learningboxes,”whichwehadthenbroughtintomylabattheuniversityfortesting.Eachboxwasmadeofplywood,equippedwithatimercontrollingtheactivityofafan,includedalightsource,andwasfittedwithacameratakingtime-lapsephotographsofsunflowerseedlingssupposedlymakingtheir“choices.”IwasconvincedthatwehadcreatedtheperfectsystemforaPavlovianlearningtestinplants,butitsimplydidn’twork!Despitemuchfrustrationandtimespentmullingoverit,Ijustcouldn’tfigureoutwhymyapparentlyperfectsetupwasn’tworking!Well,untilshepointeditout.…

Ayahuma(Couroupitaguianensis)isatreenativetothetropicalforestsofnortheasternSouthAmerica,whereisitheldinhighregardbytheshamansoftheAmazonBasinregion.Howthistall,spectacularbeautymadeitoutoftheSouthAmericanjungleandintotheIndiansubcontinentandSoutheastAsiaisstillamystery,6buttheretoo,thisextraordinarytreeholdsaspecialsignificanceinthemythologiesoftheplaceandisoftenfoundgrowingatreligioussites.InIndia,forexample,thetreeiscommonlyplantedasaguardianattheentranceofShivatemples;7incountrieslikeSriLankaandThailand,itsevergreenpresence

standsgloriousoutsideBuddhisttemplesasasymbolofenlightenment.8

AwayfromitsAmazonianhome,AyahumaisbetterknownbyitsEnglishmoniker,cannonballtree—andaptlyso.Notonlyarethefruitslarge,spherical,andasheavyastheirnamesakes,butalso,astheyripen,theycomeplummetingtothegroundwithloudandexplosivenoises.Onemaybegladtoknowthatsignsareoftenpostednearcannonballtreesthathavebeenplantedinurbansettingswarningpeopletokeepatasafedistancetoavoidseriousheadinjuries.Ironically,thespiritofAyahumawassetonthatverytask—notexactlytocrackmyheadopen,butmymind,nodoubt.Ofcourse,Ihadnoideaofthatatthetime,butshedidnonetheless.Pragmaticanddown-to-earth,Ayahumaintendedtounleashavisionthatwaslyingdormantandoutofsightinthelabyrinthofmymind.Justlikeherfruits,whichdonotreleasetheirseedsuntiltheyfalldowntotheearth,Iwasripeningtofallthunderouslytothegroundofacademicscienceandtoburstopenandfiremyseedsofwildideasintomaterialexistence.Butjustasherfruitsdonotcontinuetoripenifpickedprematurely,itwasessentialthatIwaitfortherighttime.

DonJcrackedacannonballfruitopentoexposetheinnerpulp.Inside,thegelatinousandalien-likefleshwaspepperedbyamultitudeofblackseeds;leftexposedtooxygen,thepulpturnsbluish-purple.Apparently,thesefruitsarejustaboutinedible—thepulpisknowntocauseallergies,anditsnotoriousputridsmellisquiteadeterrentforhumans.9DonJmixeditinwaterformetobathein,soastobeginmydietawithher.AndlaterthatnightIdid,standingnakedundertheloyalwatchofacacaotree,whosereassuringpresencegavemethedeepinnerpoiseIsurelyneededinthatjungle-rawmoment.FirstIfacedtheeasterlydirectionoftherisingsunasDonJpouredthelovely“soup”overmyheadandshroudedmeinthewhitesmokeofhismapacho,whileIproceededrubbingmywholebodywiththefoulmixture.ThenIfacedthewesterlydirectionofthesettingsun,andmoreofthestinkyconcoctionwashedoverme,andmoretobaccosmokeenvelopedmybarebody,whichwasnowshiveringinthenocturnalcoolnessofthejungle.Idriedmyselfoff,putsomeclothesbackon,anddrankasmallglassfilledtotherimwiththeAyahuma’swater.ThenIwalkedbacktomybedandwenttosleepwithfruitytidbitsstillentangledinmyhair,wheretheyremainedforthefollowingweek,duringwhichtimeIwasnotallowedtowash.

Leftincompleteisolationinsidetheconfinesofthemosquitonetthathungovermythinmattress,Ispentthatfirstdayofmydietadryfastinganddriftinginandoutofsleep.NotputoffbythepungentstenchofAyahumainmyhair,

thespiritsoftheplantsIhaddietedovertheyearsreturnedwithinmydreams.Theirarrivalwasaccompaniedbyawarmsenseofreassurance—IwasgladtoretrievethemedicineofmypastdietasandknowthattherelationshipsIhadsecuredwiththoseplantspiritswerestillthere,afterall.

Thatiswhenshearrived.“Thereisnothingforyoutoacquire,onlytoremember,”saidAyahuma.“Watchthosefalseideasplantedinsideyourmind.Eachfalseideaisadelusioncreatedbyasolidifiedthoughtpattern,aninsanehabitthatkeepsyourattentionfixed.Butnothingisfixed;everythingisfluctuating,changing,evolving.…”BeforeIcouldaskhowyougetridofthesefalseideas,sheansweredwithonesimplebutenigmaticinstruction:“Turnintofindthecurseofafalseideawithintheideaitself.”Andwiththat,shedisappeared,andIwokeup.IthastakenmeyearstostartgraspingwhatAyahumasharedandtobegintorecognizetheinsanityofmydelusion.Themadnessshepointedouttrulyistheworkofamastertrickster,aMachiavelliansleight-of-handpullingthewoolovertheeyesoftheinnocentmind.Likeanoxiousweedplantedinthemostpristineimaginativeground,thedelusiontakesholdtofixthemindinplace,immobilizedintoaplaceofanxiouspreoccupation.Then,throughasociallyperpetuatedconditioningsystem,thepureknowingofourinfinitenatureissquanderedinexchangeforthepenitentiaryofadistortedawareness.Notlongago,thisvertiginousinsanityallofasuddenbecameclear,thankstomyencounterwithanextraordinaryshaman.10Tomyamusement,Ihavejustfoundoutthatinfolkmedicine,Ayahumaissaidtobringsomeonemadbacktosanity.Unquestionably,shehadintendedtosetmeontherighttrack.

Ayahumaiswidelyrecognizedasamightyprotectorandteacher.Althoughthistreeistypicallyconsideredapowerfulmaestro—thegenderofthenounimplyingmasculinity—thespiritoftenalsoappearsasagiantwomanand,specifically,onewithoutahead.Ineveractuallyglimpsedatheretherealform(headlessornot)—butthiswonderfullyquirkyandbuoyantspiritenjoyedplayingwithmyhead(inthemostbenevolentofways!)andeducatingmymind.Todoso,shemadesureIcouldhearhervoiceloudandclearwhenshestartedprescribingthecompletesetofinstructionsfortestingPavlovianlearninginplants.Itranscribedasshedictated.Andliterally,thisishowthepagesofmytraveldiaryfilledupwiththewordsshespokeandthediagramsshesketched.UponmyreturnhometoAustralia,thosewordsandsketchesstartedgrowing,extendingtheirplant-likerunnersbeyondthepageswheretheyhadbeenseededandoutintomylab.There,eventually,theyfloweredintothepioneeringexperimentsthattheyhadbeenconceivedtobeallalong.

AtthePlantGrowthFacilitiesattheUniversityofWesternAustralia,Itransformedoneofthecontrolled-environmentroomsintomyplant-learninglaboratory.Theroomwasmeticulouslykeptincompletedarknessatalltimes;alllightswitchesweretapedovertopreventanyonefromaccidentallyturningthelightson.Athicksheetofblackplastic—thekindbuildersuseunderconcrete—wassecuredovertheentrancetopreventlightfromcominginwhensomeoneopenedthedoor.Asignonthedoorwarned,“Plantlearninginprogress.Donotenter.”This,ofcourse,madesomeresearchersworkingwithinthesamefacilitycuriousaboutwhatwasgoingon.Someventuredtoask,butitwasnevercleartomewhethertheyreallyheardmyanswer.“Iamtryingtoteachpeaseedlingssometricks,”Iwouldsaymischievously.Iwouldthenwaitforpuzzlementtocreepacrosstheirfacesbeforeadding,“Yeah,youknow,justasyouwouldtrainyourpuppywithtastytreats.”

TheironywasthatIwasfarfromjoking.Infact,itwasbystudyinghisdogsthatIvanPavlov—inoneofthemostrevealingstudiesinthehistoryofbehavioralresearch—haddemonstratedthatbehaviorcouldbechangedusingconditioning.Intheseexperiments,Pavlov’sdogshadlearnedtoassociatetheringingofabellwiththeimminentarrivalofdinnertothepointwherethesoundofthebellalonemadethedogssalivateinanticipationofdinner.Wouldmylittlepeaslearnthatthepositionofasmallfan—theequivalenttotheringingbell—rightlypredictedthetimeandplacefortheoccurrenceoftheonlylightmadeavailabletothem—theirdinner?

AsinstructedbyAyahuma,IsetupasimpleseriesofexperimentsbyplacingpeaseedlingsinindividualY-shapedmazesconstructedoutofPVCpipes(Figure4).Duringtraining,aseachseedlinggrewinsideitsmaze,Iexposedthemfirsttothegentlebreezeofasmallfan(asaneutralconditioningcue)followedbylight(food),abiologicallysignificantcue,whichwasofferedasakindofreward.Forthreeconsecutivedays,Irepeatedthisondifferentarmsofthemaze,thoughfanandlightalwaysappearedonthesamesideofthemazeinoneexperimentalgroupandonoppositesidesinanothergroup.Onthefourthday,Itestedtheirabilitytolearnbyassociationbyturningonthefanalone.JustasinPavlov’sexperiment,inwhichthebellacquiredmeaningwhenthedogslearnedthatitpredicteddinner,thefaninmyexperimenthadnomeaningtothepeastostartwith.Sothequestionwaswhetheritwouldacquiremeaningifthepeaslearnedofitssignificance.Itdid,thoughIalmostdidn’tseeit.

Figure4.Trainingandtestingprotocolforassociativelearninginpeaseedlings.(a)Duringtrainingseedlingswereexposedtothefan[F]andlight[L]oneitherthesamearm(i)orontheoppositearm(ii)oftheY-maze.Thefanservedastheconditionedstimulus(CS),lightastheunconditionedstimulus(US).Duringtestingwithexposuretothefanalone,twocategoriesofresponsesweredistinguished.Correctresponse:Seedlingsgrowingintothearmofthemazewherethelightwas“predicted”bythefantooccur[greenarrow;iii(correspondingtoscenarioi)andiv(correspondingtoscenarioii)];Incorrectresponse:Seedlingsgrowingintothearmofthemazewherethelightwasnot“predicted”bythefantooccur(blackarrow;iiiandiv).(b)Seedlingsreceivedtrainingforthreeconsecutivedaysbeforetesting.Eachtrainingdayconsistedofthreetwo-hourtrainingsessionsseparatedbyone-hourintervals.Theninety-minuteCS

precededthesixty-minuteUSbysixtyminutessothattherewasathirty-minuteoverlap.(i).Duringtheone-daytestingsession,seedlingswereexposedtothefanaloneforthreeninety-minutesessions(ii).Seedlings

ofthecontrolgroupwereleftundisturbed(nofan,nolight;iii).Figureoriginallypublishedin:M.Gagliano,V.V.Vyazovskiy,A.A.Borbély,M.Grimonprez,andM.Depczynski,“LearningbyAssociation

inPlants,”ScientificReports6(2016):articlenumber38427.

Twoweekspassed.Iwasinmylab,monitoringpeasandsettingupmazes,lights,andfans,everysingledayfromtheearlyhoursofthemorningtilllateintheafternoon.Technically,theexperimentalsystemwasworkingwell,andthepeasweresuccessfullygrowing,buttheirabilitytonavigatethemazedidn’tseemtobeinfluencedbythepresenceofthefanasthecuethatwouldgivethemthebestchanceatfindinglight.Theinitialdatasuggestedthatabouthalfoftheseedlingsweregrowingtotheleftandhalftotherightofthemazeinarandomfashion(50:50).Inshort,theywerefailingthetest.

Headlowandtailbetweenmylegs,thereIwasonasunnySundaymorningreadytodismantleandpackawaythewholesetup,dismayedattheoutcome.IleftthebrightnessoftheoutsideworldandwalkedintothedimlightofthePlantGrowthFacilities’corridor.Iopenedthedoormarked“Plantlearninginprogress.Donotenter.”andentered.Thecontrolled-environmentroommetmewithitscomputerizedwaveofcoolness,whichrolledovermyskinuntilIbroke

withitscomputerizedwaveofcoolness,whichrolledovermyskinuntilIbrokeintoashiver.Theroomabsorbedmewithinitsundisturbeddarkness,whereseveralpeaseedlingswerequietlywaitinginsidetheirmazes.Attheflickofoneswitch,thetinyblueLEDlightsmountedoneachmazeglowedlikefirefliesintherichblacknessofthespace,aspacewheretheconfinementofwallshadbecomeimperceptible.

Iglancedaroundasmyinquisitorialmindstartedthecourt-martial.HowcouldIhavebeensodaft?DidIseriouslybelievethatatreeintheAmazon—or,tobeprecise,thespiritofatreeintheAmazon—hadgivenmeinstructions(which,tomycredit,IhadfollowedtoaT)onhowtocarryouttheseexperiments?Allofasudden,astheinternalassaultescalated,myeyesstoppedsearching.Mygazebrushedoveralittlesomethingthat,untilthatmoment,hadgoneunnoticed.Thereinthedark,IhadfoundwhatIhadbeenlookingfor.

Webelieveweseeonlybecauseofthepresenceoflight,butitisinthedarkthatlightbecomesvisible.Fromtheencounteroflightanddarknessweareborn,andwithus,theworldemerges.Constantlymoldingtheworldarounduswithourgaze,weinturnaremoldedbythegazetheworldpressesuponus.Unawareofthisinterplayofluminosities,werarelyrecognizethatallweseeisseeingus.Rarelydowerealizethatbyvirtueofitsbeingallaroundus,thepenetratinggazeoftheworldseesus,atalltimesandfromallsides,inourmultidimensionality.We,however,seetheworldfromaone-sidedstandpointonly:thefrontalview.Asinsingle-pointperspectivedrawing,wemaketheobjectofourmostimmediategazelookrealisticandthree-dimensional,whilemostoftheworldisdistortedandlostawaytoavanishingpointinanillusorydistance.

Exceptonspecificoccasions,thevegetalityoftheworldseemstoberelegatedpreciselytothatdistantandimaginarybackgroundofourperception.It’sperceptionthat—tousetheelegantwordsofphilosopherMichaelMarder—isthe“keypassagewayforthebody’sopennesstotheworldandtheworld’sreceptionbythebody.”11Inthisopenness,astimedisappears,ourrelationshipwithspaceisallthatmatters.Nolongerseparatefromtheexteriorityofourmilieu,theworldaroundusceasestobetheworldintheagreedsenseoftheword.Effervescingwithevanescentandyetendlessextemporizations,theworldbirthsitselfvisibleinaremarkablefluidityofbothcomposinganddecomposing,becomingandundoing.Itisinthisliminalspaceofpurepossibility,wherethebeing-mademeetsthecoming-undone,wherelightencountersdarkness,thatwe,too,areconceived.Itisherethatwewait,notknowing,toencountertheother,tobecometheother,and—exactlyastheplantamaestraSocobahadsusurrated—it

isherethatwe,humans,becomethem,plants.Canconventionalscienceeverrenderthisunknowingknowable,thisinvisiblevisible?Andcanweeverunravelourencounterswithoutdisruptingtheintegrityoftheotherwhomwemeet?Oris“disruption”aspaceformutualtransformation,henceavitalelementintheencounter?OnthatSundaymorning,thepeasseedlingswerewaitinginmylab,nottotellmeif,butshowmehow.

Mygazedawdledoveroneofthemazes.Timestopped.Ifoundmyselfsimplybeing—beingtherewiththevegetalpresenceinsidethemaze,attendingtothispresenceinthedarkness.Suspendedintheemptyspacebetweenexpectations,anewconfigurationofideasandrelationsemerged.Andinthatdarkness,Isawitclearly.Iwas“withinthevegetalexperience”andabletodiscernanddefinethatwhichenabledthegreentendrilofmyyoungpeastostretchtowardthedarkinordertofindthelight.“Holyshit,theyaredoingitafterall!”Isquealed.Ilookedover,insidethemaze,onceagain.Isquealedagain.Myheartwasbeatingfuriously,andIstartedfeelinglightheaded.Icheckedanothermaze,thenanother,asanoverwhelmingexhilarationburstupandoutwardintoluminoustears.Theyoungplantswerecorrectlypredictingtheimminentarrivaloflight(when)anditsdirection(where)basedonthepresenceandpositionoftheneutralconditioningstimulus,thefan;inresponse,theyweredirectingtheirslendervegetalformsintothatarmofthemaze.Inastonishment,Ispeed-walkedrightoutoftheblacknessofthecontrolled-environmentroom,intothedimlightofthePlantGrowthFacilities’corridor,andoutintothebrightsunlightofthatSundaymorning,stillrepeatingaloud,“They’redoingit!They’redoingit!”

Thedisquietingironyofthewholesituationwasthattheplantshadperformedtheirassociativetaskcorrectlyfromthewordgo,andIhadnotrecognizedit.HowwasitpossibleIhadmissedthis?Ihadlookedaftertheyoungpeasintheirmazeseverysingledayforawholetwoweeks.HowcoulditbethatuntilthatmomentIhadbeenincapableofseeinghowwonderfullytheywerelearning?

Thereasonforthiswasprettystraightforward,atleastonthesurface.Thepeaswerenotincompetentatlearning;theyweresimplyfailingtosatisfytheregimeofexpectationsthatI(andmanyotherbehavioralscientists)hadbeentrainedtolookoutfor,thatbeingthatacomparisonbemadeusingrandomchoice—ahypotheticalexpectationthat,withoutlearning,halfoftheseedlingswouldsimplygrowtotheleftandhalftotherightofthemaze.Accordingtothisexpectation,itwouldbesaidthattheplantshadlearnedtousethefan(conditionedstimulus)asareliableindicatoroffuturelightifa(statistical)majoritymuchgreaterthan50percentgrewtowardthefan.Becausethenumber

ofseedlingsthatdidgrowtowardthefanwasonlyslightlymorethanwhatonemayexpectbyrandomchance,Ihadconcludedthattheywerenotabletolearnbyassociation.WhatIhadmissed,however,wasthatthishypotheticalexpectationwasincorrecttostartwith,simplybecausethisisnotwhatrealpeaseedlingsthathavebeenexposedtolightactuallydo!Itwasnottheirbaselinebehavior.Theirnaturalbehavioristoconsistentlygrowinthedirectionwherelightwaslastexperienced.And,infact,thisstrongphototropicresponseofpeaseedlingstobluelightiswellestablishedinthescientificresearchliterature,andmyownpilotstudyhadshownmethatpeaseedlingswereneverrandominhowtheydirectedtheirgrowthtowardlightinthefirstplace.

Inotherwords,unlesstrainedtodootherwise(whichwastheaimofmyexperiments),peaseedlingssuccessfullygrewinthedirectionwheretheylastexperiencedlight100percentofthetime,notarandom50percentofthetime.Plantslikepeasalwaysgrowinthedirectionofsunlight.HowcouldImissthisvitalpieceofinformation,whichissoobviousastobeforgottenwithinthecomplexitiesofmyexperimentalgroups?Thismeantthatonewouldneverexpectthemtooverridetheirinnatetendencytocontinuegrowinginthedirectionofthatlast-presentedlightand,instead,usethenewdirectionofthefan(conditionedstimulus)asareliableindicatoroffuturelight.This,andnotanimaginaryrandomchoicewithitsexpectationof50:50beingthebaseline,wastherealisticexpectationtomeasuremyresultsagainsttoobserveandrecognizewhetheralearnedbehaviorwasbeingexpressed.Andbyswitchingthelocationofthefanafterithadbeenassociatedwiththefuturepresenceoflightduringthelearningphase,thestudyhaddemonstratedthatthegreentendrilshaddoneexactlywhatIhadbeentestingfor;between60and70percentofallpeashadlearnedtheassociationandmadearebelliousnewchoicethatwasunexpectedofthem—toturntheotherwayandgoagainsttheirinstinctofgrowingwheretheyhadlastexperiencedlight.Andwhilethisprovidedthemechanisticanswertohowtheexperimentunfoldedinthefirstplace,itdidlittletouncoverwhatprovokedtheperceptualshiftinme—howcouldIhavemissedthisandthen,suddenly,haveseentheverythingIwastestingfor?

IthoughtIhadbeenwaitingforsomethingtohappen,andinsteadIwaslearningtowaitwithoutwaiting.IunderstandnowthatforthesomethingIwaswaitingfortoappearatall,Ihadtobewillingtobesurprised.Bydefinition,ofcourse,asurprisecanbepossibleonlyifitarrivesunannounced,unintended,unpremeditated.ThesomethingIwaswaitingfordidappearunanticipated,asthesurpriseoutdidmyexpectations,basedonwhatIhadpreviouslylearned.Paradoxically,theveryexpectationsthat,atfirst,concealedtheeventIwas

waitingforalsoprovidedtheessentialbackdropagainstwhichtheeventcouldbeseen.Myexpectationswerethebackgroundofmyknowingwithinwhichakindofinconsistencycouldbecreated;theyprovidedthemanuredtopsoilinwhichtheeventcouldemergefromthebackgroundtoberecognized,makingitselfavailabletotheeyesandthemind.

Bypointingtheirgreentendrilsatthatwhichhadobscuredthepossibilityofanalternativeview,theyoungpeashadcreatedaprofoundfissureinmywell-sculptedperceptionoftheouterworld.SoasItestedtheirlearningabilitywithinthePavlovianconditioningparadigm,theseedlingshadtestedminebyshiningalightontheextenttowhichtheconditioningprescribedbymyacademictraininghadboundmetoaspecificperceptionoftheworld—onethatrestrictedwhatIcouldsee.Inanactofvolition,theyhadofferedthemselvesasthesubstratethroughwhichperceptualconditioningcouldbeexpressedsothattheycouldshowmewheremyownconditioninglay.

Theadventofthisrecognitionhadcausedmetoappreciatethepeas(oncemore)asbrilliantcollaboratorswho,bysimplygrowingintowhattheychose,overthrew—atleastinpart—therestrictionsregimentingmyperceptualfreedom.Thisseeingwastrulyagift,onethatcouldn’tbelost—onceyousee,youcannotunsee.ItwasfromthisnewlyfoundviewpointthatIalsounderstoodthattheaggression,derision,orcoldindifferencesomecolleagueshadexpressedtowardmyworkovertheyearshadmerelybeenarticulationsoftheirvisualboundaries.Theywereunabletoseewhatwaspresentedbecauseitsimplydidnotexist(yet)intheirreality—somethingthat,onlyamomentearlier,hadbeenthecaseformetoo.

Thisrealizationarrivedwithawonderfulsenseoffreedom,asamoreexpandedwaytoperceiveboththeworldandmyselfopened.Asthegroundswellofthisrealizationincreasedovertheweeksandmonthsthatfollowed,myfieldofviewstretchedfarthertoconsiderthewidercontextofmodernhumansociety.Thenthebigquestionsurfaced—whydoweseemsoincapableoftakingthestepsandactionsrequiredtocreateaworldwhereconflict,poverty,andenvironmentaldevastationarethingsofthepast?Thesimplicityandprofoundwisdomoftheanswermovedmedeeplyasittouchedtheshoresofmyawareness.

Throughouthumanhistory,wehaveconstructedboundariestodefinerealityinanattempttosootheourneedtofeelsafeinourownskinandathomeinaworldweare,fundamentally,soafraidof.Threateningtheverythingtheypromisedtoprotect—ourfeelingofbeingsafe—theseboundariesare,and

alwayswere,fictionalwallsthatrestrictourunderstandingofwhowetrulyareandthatreplaceclearseeingwithmisconception—theillusionthatweneedtocontrolaworldwehavenocontrolover.Ourneedtofeelsafe(and,correspondingly,thefeelingofnotbeingsafe)intheworldseemsinextricablylinkedtoourneedtocontrolit.Butwhatifweweretorealizethattheonlyreasonwefeelunsafeintheworldisbecausewebelieveweneedtocontrolit?

AsthesacredjungleTobaccowouldteachmeayearlater,wehavenocontroloverthecircumstancesthatfaceusuntilwesurrendertheneedtocontrolthem.Aslongasweneedtocontrolourcircumstances,wealsoneedtofeelunsafeandinsecureaboutthem,becausethetwostatesareboundtogetherinaself-perpetuatingandirreconcilableloopthatgoessomethinglikethis:wetrytocontrolbecausewefeelunsafeandbelievethatbycontrollingourworld,wewillfeelsafeinit—andyetweneverdo,andwecannotfeelsafeintheworldifwekeepbelievingthattheworldneedscontrollingbecause,withoutourcontrol,thereissomethingunsafeaboutit.

Thegreatestinsanityofthismerry-go-roundisthattheloopwehaveinventedhasnopossibleinternalresolution.Theanxiousfeelingofnotbeingsafeisanecessarystipulationwithinourcontractwiththeneedtocontrol;withnoloopholetobefound,wedon’tknowwhattodo.AsIhadexperiencedinmylabwhenmyexperimentdidn’tseemtobeworking,whatifweacceptedthattherewasactuallynothingtodo?Andoncefacedwiththisdeadend,whatifwestoppedandwaitedinthedarkness,likeIhadtoonthatSundaymorning?Andaswerelaxedinthebellyoftheunknownandhandedourselvesovertolife,whatifwediscoveredasurprisingclaritytoseewhatistrulyhappeningandwhatneedstobedone?Bydroppingourobsessionforcontrollinglife,thewholefictionabout“beingunsafe”dropstoo.Leftwithnothingtoprotectorattack,theloopcomesundone!

Itseemsoursocietyisreadyforaperceptualshiftcapableofundoingthissillyloopbyoverthrowingourconditionedseeing,readyforadisobedientdisruptionemergingfromthetidybackgroundofsilentobligationsandprepackagedrealitythathavepreventedusfromseeingtheinnovativesolutionsthatcouldbringplanetarywell-beingandpeaceintobeing.Thewallsthatentrapusinthelooparenotasimpenetrableaswebelieve.Porous,precarious,andofdisputablenature,theyweredesignedtodissolveatthefirstpuremomentofrealsurrender!

JustlikeIhadexperiencedwithmycleverpeasinthedarknessofmylab,itiswhenwearewillingtoletlifesurpriseusthatalternativesandunanticipatedsolutionsbecomevisibleandaccessible.Andthebestpartofthisentireprocessisthatonceoutofourinsaneloopofcontrolandinsecurity,weareeffortlessly

isthatonceoutofourinsaneloopofcontrolandinsecurity,weareeffortlesslydeliveredexactlywherewearegoing.Infusedwithasenseofaweanddeeptrustinthelifethatweare,wewaitwithoutwaitingtoknowexactlywhattodoandwhen.Freetoseeclearly,wedon’tneedtofindourwayoutofthemaze.Werealizethereneverwasamaze.

ChapterH

Trueleadershipgivesspace.

AsAbove,SoBelow

T

Hiddeninplainsight,continuitieseludeus.Unnoticedthreadsthatendurethroughoutthefabricoftheuniverse,continuitiesambushourtenaciousproclivitytosplittheworldinoneoranotherversionofitself,sothatperceivedpolaritiesmaybereconciled.Bydispellingthemythofpolarities,continuitiesreleaseusfromtheunbearable,butneeded,tensioninvolvedinhavingtomakechoicesbetweenabsurdopposites.Thistensionisneededasaconstantinvitationtosensethepresenceofaglitchinourperception.Oncethisglitchisseen,continuitiescandeliverusrightinthemiddleofanunnameableemptiness,whereallpolaritiesceasetoexist,astheyariseintothemanifestationofeachother.Anditisbyexperiencingthisparadoxthatwearriveinthemiddle.Themiddle—despitethecommonuseofthatword—isnothalfwaybetweenhereandthere,beginningandend,birthanddeath,rightandwrong.Themiddleisnoplaceatall,butanundecidedspacethatlingersbetweenourillusionofpolarities,containingthembothandbeingemptyofboth,atonceunitingandseparating.Hereweseeitall,atlast.Hereandnowwearefree,atlast.

othisday,IfinditdifficulttograspwhatpoweredthegestaltshiftIexperiencedinmylabthatSunday.Wasitthepeawhomadeithappen,or

wasIsolelyresponsible,orwereweboth?Didtheplantintendtosurprisethehuman,orwasitthehumanwhointendedtobesurprised?AllIknewwasthatboththeplantandthehumanwereinvolvedinthecreativeprocessofthescientificinvestigation;bothmadethemselvesavailabletoencounterandactontheother,andasaresult,theytransformedoneanother.Indoingso—together—theyunsettledthebeliefthatthereisanedgethattrulyseparatesonefromtheother.Andsittingonthatillusoryedge,IfelttheotherworldlygrinofanamusedAyahuma.Withexquisiteprecision,shehadsetinmotionthecircumstancesthatunfoldedintoaprofounddemonstrationthatwhatweseeiswhatweareaccustomedtoseeingandthattherealityweperceiveiscomposedofanarrowsetoffamiliarthingsandcontextswefeelathomewith.Inthestudywiththepeaslearninginthemaze,thestepbeyondthecomfortofthesehabituatedsceneswasheraldedbyastateofunsettlingconfusion,anecessaryfeelingofdiscomfortthat,unsurprisingly,Itriedtoavoiduntiltheunexpectedarrivedinmyfieldofperception.Andwhatanincredibleexperienceitwas!

AsthesenseofmarvelfortheprocessIexperiencedstartedtoarise,sowasmymindalreadyseizingideastoexplainhowitallhappenedandturningitallintosomething“known”—thereinlayingthetrap,asanylandmarkusedtodelineatetheboundariesofmaterialrealitykeepsyoufixated.Anythoughtpatternthatsolidifiestheconstructensnaresyou.Ofcourse,Iwasnotawareof

anyofthisuntilmuchlater.1Atthetime,Iwassimplymovingbackandforthbetweenthecolddarknessofthecontrolled-environmentroom,wherethePavlovianpeaexperimentwasprogressingsilently,andthesunnybrightnessofasmallgreenhouse,whereanotherexperimentwithpeaplantsandsoundwastakingshape,implementedaccordingtoasecondsetofinstructionsanddiagramsAyahumahadimpartedduringthedietainthePeruvianjungle.Irememberitwell.Onthesecond-to-lastdayofmydietawiththemighty

Ayahumatree,aquestionarrived—canplantrootsfindwaterbymeansofacousticvibrations?Impressedonthepageofmytraveldiary,theblue-inkedscribblewasaccompaniedbyadiagramsimilartotheoneAyahumahadmesketchforthePavlovianpeaexperiment,exceptthatthewholeaffairwasnowturnedonitshead.Sometimestheonlywaytoseecircumstancesdifferentlyandperceivealternatepossibilitiesistoturnthemupsidedown.Ofcourse,thenotionthatplantscouldbeusingsoundtolocatevitalresourcessuchaswaterwasnotnewtome;IhaddiscussedthispossibilitywithmycolleaguesattheUniversityinBristol,whereIhadmeasuredthevegetalclicksemittedbyyellowkernelsofcorn.However,Ihadformulatednoexperimentalapproachfortestingit,andnowAyahumawasinvitingmetoexplorethisquestion:“Youneedtogivespaceforafreechoicetobepossible.”Thereaderwillnotbesurprisednowtoknowthat,uponmyreturntoAustralia,IpromptlysecuredoneofthegreenhouseswithinthePlantGrowthFacilitiesattheuniversitycampusandconverteditintomyplantacousticbehaviorallaboratorytostartthenewresearchproject.2

Thesmallrectangulargreenhousewaswarmandsunny.Itwastemperature-regulatedbyventilationfansandautomatedshade-screeningsystemscontrolledbysensorsandtemperatureprobes.Alongthreeofitsglasswalls,thereweresimple,sturdywoodenbenchesuponwhich,atanyonetime,dozensofinvertedY-shapedmazesparadedlikeaformationofheadlesssoldiersinwhiteuniformsandblackboots(Figure5).ConstructedoutofwhitePVCpipe,eachmazewasfilledwithsoil,andtwotightlyfittingblackplasticpotswereattachedateachlowerend.Eachmazehousedasinglepeaseedling,plantedatthetopandlefttogrowundisturbedinthesunnygreenhouse.Tome,greenhousesareinterestingbutalsostrangelydisturbingplaces.GreenhouseswerefirstusedtohouseexotictropicalplantsrequiringwinterprotectionbackinRomantimesandthenemployedtoshelterpreciousorangeandlemontreesimportedfromtheFarEasttoEuropeduringthelateMiddleAgesandonward.Theconceptofthegreenhouseasaplacedevotedtothecareandprotectionofplantshascertainlyenjoyedagoodreputationacrossthecenturies.3

Despitethetransparencyofitswalls,however,thegreenhousehasalsoshelteredideologiesofelitism,protectingthecomplexmélangeofpower,knowledge,andwealthrepresentedbyexoticplants.Anditcontinuestobeanemblemofaprivilegedsocialstatusenabledbyknowledgeandsecuredthrougheconomicprofits.Greenhousestoday—whetherstandingintheworld’smostfamousbotanicalgardensandateducationalandresearchinstitutionsliketheuniversitywhereIworkedordedicatedtotheintensiveproductionsystemsoftheagroindustry—arestilldevotedtocomplexbiopoliticalagendas.Evocativeofcolonialistapproachesofsubjugationandoppression,theycontinueperpetuatingtheobjectificationofplantsaspurecommoditieswithinacapitalisticmodelofproductionandconsumption.4

Figure5.Schematicrepresentationofthecustom-designedexperimentalY-maze(notinscale).TheexperimentalY-mazewasmadeofaPVCpipefilledwithsoilandattachedtotwotightlyfittingsmallblackplasticpotsandtwotransparentrectangularplastictraysateachlowerend.Figurereproducedfrom:M.Gagliano,M.Grimonprez,M.Depczynski,andM.Renton,“TunedIn:PlantRootsUseSoundtoLocate

Water,”Oecologia184(2017):151–160.

Poignantly,etchedinthewordgreenhouseisalsotheexpressionofourcurrentenvironmentalanxietyandbiopoliticaldisputeconcerningglobalwarming.Inspiteofvestedinterestspayingtodiscredittheunequivocalmessageofclimatescientistsandsponsoringmeagerexcusesoverthenecessityforimmediateaction,thefactisobvious.Thesamesystemessentialtosupportingalllifeontheplanet—theEarth’snaturalgreenhouseeffect,wherebytheatmospheretrapsenoughheattokeeptheentireplanetniceandcozyinawaysimilartothewarmingprocessinsideagreenhouse—isnowthreateningusall.Thisisduetotheunprecedentedhighconcentrationsofgreenhousegasesintheatmospherecausedbyhumanity’sburningoffossilfuelsandclearingofforests,revealingtherecalcitrant,delusionalnatureofacapitalisticmodusoperandi.WhilewewerebusydomesticatingplantsofallkindsandfromallplacesinthepretentiousenvironmentofEuropeangreenhouses,weavoidednoticingthatwewerefashioningagreenhouseofplanetaryproportions.Itwasinvisibleatfirst.Thenitsglassdoorstartedrattlingonitshinges,warningusthroughamyriadofways.Thenoisegrewlouder.Thatdoorisnowreadytoclose,lockingusandalllifeonEarthinadeadlystalemate—unlesswearewillingtofacethechoiceweseemtoconsistentlyavoid.

Ourcapacityandwillingnesstomakegoodchoicesandsounddecisionsisnothardwiredinourgenes;itisalearnedskill,andplantscanbegreatteachers.Theyknowthatthereisnoone-size-fits-allsolutiontoachallenge;theyknowthatdiversityandacceptanceoftheotherarethekeystoanysuccessfulsurvivalstrategy;theyknowthatanall-embracingapproachallowsfordifferentpossibilitiestoemergeandmergeintoremarkable,evensurprising,waysofsolvingaproblem.Letmeexplainthroughmyexperiments.

Hiddenlikeclevernewideassnuggledunderthesurfaceoftherichsoilthatwouldsupporttheirgrowth,theyoungpeaswerequietlygrowingintheirmazesintheairygreenhouse.Onthesurface,nothinghappenedforafewdays.Thenoutofnowhere,asplashofbrilliantgreenburstoutofthedarksoilandaleafyshootmaterialized,seeminglyunforeseen.Bythen,belowthesurface,theyoungpearootshadalreadymadeastartontheiradventurousjourneyinsidethemaze’sdarkness.Elongatingtheirrootsthroughthesoilbytheexclusivemovementoftheirexpertspearheadingtips,5exploringthiswayorthatwayandconstantlymakingamyriadofchoicesaboutwheretogo,whentogo,andhowquicklytogo,whilebarelyknowingenoughabouttheircircumstances,theseedlingswereonamissiontofindtheirholygrail—water.Itiswellknownthattherootsofplantscan“sniff”water’spresencebyusingmoisturegradients,butwhathappenswhenthemoisturegradientisnotcloseenoughtobedetected?

Howdoplantsknowthebestdirectiontoturntofindwater?FollowingAyahuma’sinstructions,Ihadsetupaseriesofexperimentsthatwouldanswerthesequestionsandopenanewscientificvistaontothevegetalrealm.

Ingeneral,organismsusevariouskindsofinformationtransmittedbysmells,sounds,lights,ormagneticfieldsinordertomakegoodchoicesandavoidfatalerrors.BasedonthisideaandasinstructedbyAyahuma,Idesignedtheexperimentswiththepeasinthemazetotesthowrootschoosethedirectionthatcorrectlyleadsthemtowater,dependingonthecuesavailable.Particularly,couldtherootsoftheyoungpeassensetheacousticvibrationsgeneratedbywatermovingundergroundorinsidepipes?Couldtheyusethesoundofwateralonetodetectandfinditssource,whennoactualwaterwasavailableinclosevicinity?

Toanswerthis,Iwrappedasealed,softplasticpipethroughwhichwaterwasconstantlyflowingaroundthebaseofonesideofthemaze,butthewateritselfwasneverdirectlyaccessibletotheplants.ThenIcomparedthechoicesrootsmadeinthesemazestothosetheymadegrowinginmazeswherethesoilwaskeptmoistbyactualwatercontainedinthesmallplastictrayattachedatthebaseofonesideofthemaze,henceproducingamoisturegradient.

Whatemergedwasexciting.Inmazesinwhichactualwaterwasavailable,thevastmajorityofseedlingsfollowedthemoisturegradientanddirectedtheirroottothesidewherethewatersourcewaslocated.Butseedlingswereequallysuccessfulatlocatingthewatersourcewhentheygrewinmazesinwhichtheyhadnodirectaccesstowater—nomoisturegradient—butonlythesoundofwatercirculatinginsidethesealedpipes.Andifbothamoisturegradientandthesoundofwaterweremadeavailableinthesamemaze,whatwouldtheyoungplantschoose?Theychosetheobvious—withnohesitation,thevastmajorityofseedlingsgrewtheirrootsintothesideoftheupside-downY-mazethatledthemstraighttowater!Whilemoistureoracousticcuesareequallyusefulinhelpingrootslocatewater,theirrelevanceandusefulnesstoaplantdependonthecontext.Whatthepeaswerereallyshowingmewasthattheychoosewhichcueismostadvantageousinwhatcircumstance.

Fromthisperspective,myecologicalandlogicalinterpretationwasthatsoundmayenablepeastoroughlydetectthepresenceofwateratadistanceand,conceivably,toestablishthemostdirectandsensibleroutetothatsourcebeforeanysoilmoistureisencountered.Ananalogymightbeabubblingwatercourseinthedistanceorwatercoursingthroughundergroundfissures.Onceaccessible,however,itisthemoisturegradientinthesoilthathelpsthemhomeinontheirtargetmoreaccuratelyandpinpointtheexactlocationofthewatersource.

targetmoreaccuratelyandpinpointtheexactlocationofthewatersource.Clearly,thesensoryworldofplantscontainsamorecomplexassortmentofinformationalcomponentsthanwhatIhadpresentedthemwithand,astheywouldshowmenext,theyareextremelygoodatresolvinganenormousinfluxofinformationbyprioritizingcuesthatsupporttheoverallmostbeneficialdecision.

Thenextstepinmyresearchwastoestablishwhetherthepeaswerereallyrespondingtothesoundofwaterorweresimplygrowingtowardanysourceofnoiseregardlessofwhatthenatureofthesoundactuallywas.Thiswasimportanttoseejusthowselectiveandattunedtheyweretoanecologicallyrelevantandrewardingsound.Inanimalecology,thisquestioniscommonlyaddressedbyplaybackexperiments,awidelyusedtechniqueinwhichnaturalorsyntheticacousticstimuliarebroadcastandtheresponseofindividualsnoted.Iappliedthisapproachtotheyoungpeasandfoundsomethingthat,atfirst,puzzledme—theseedlingsdirectedtheirrootsawayfromtherecordedsoundofwater.Ihadattachedavibrationspeakerdirectlytooneoftheblackplasticpotsatthebaseofthemaze.ThespeakerwasthenconnectedtoasmallMP3player,whichplayedtherecordedsoundofwaterinsomemazesorbroadcasteithercomputer-generatedwhitenoiseorsilenceinothers.RegardlessofthesoundtreatmentIapplied,noneoftheseedlingshadaccesstoactualwater.WhatIfoundwasthatthemajorityofseedlingsgrewawayfromthesideofthemazewhereIhadattachedthesoundequipment,regardlessofthesoundplaying.Infact,theyavoidedthatsideofthemazeevenwhenIplayedthemsilence!Itseemedasiftheseedlingswererepelledbythespeakersthemselves.Becausespeakerscontainsmallmagnets,andplantsareknowntoorientatetheirrootsystemsinresponsetonaturalmagneticfields(suchasgravity)aswellasartificialones,Istartedtosuspectthatperhapsthesoundequipmentemittedaelectromagnetic(EM)fieldthat,whileimperceptibletome,wastangibleenoughtobesensedandavoidedbytheyoungroots.

IexcitedlyemailedtheschoolofphysicsthathousedtheBioMagneticsresearchgroup,aspecializedlabequippedwithstate-of-the-artmagneticmeasurementfacilitiestoinvestigatetheroleofmagnetisminbiologicalsystems,explainingthatIwasconductingsomegreenhouseexperimentsontheacousticabilitiesofplantsandthatIhadjuststumbledontosomethingpotentiallyinteresting:“IthinkmypeasaresensingtheEMfieldemittedbymysoundequipment.”ItwasApril2.Acoupleofdayslater,Ireceivedareplythatopened,“HiMonica,tobehonest,ifIgotyouremailadayearlierIwouldhavejustthoughtitwasaAprilFoolsjoke.”

AlthoughIdiscoveredlaterthatmeasuringEMemissionswasnotparticularlyhard,IwaitedforfourmonthsformycolleaguetotakealookatthespeakersandMP3players,ashehadagreedtodo.Thetaskremainedonhispermanentto-dolist,andaftertoomanybrokenpromisesandcountlesspostponements,Idecidedtoimprovise.Iequippedmyselfwithaportablelow-frequencyanalyzer(orgaussmeter),andoffIwent.ImeasuredthemagneticemissionsfromthesoundequipmentwhenitwasturnedoffandcompareditwiththereadingsmadewhenthesoundequipmentwasturnedonandplayinganyofthesoundsIhadusedintheexperimentwiththepeas.Andwhatasurprise!Whenturnedon,thesoundequipment(thespeakersandMP3player)didproducemeasureablelevelsofmagneticemissionsthatcouldbedetectedwithinafive-centimeterradiusaroundthesource—thisrangehappenedtocorrespondalmostexactlytothedimensionsoftheblackplasticpotthespeakerwasattachedto,thusmakingahighlylocalizeddisturbanceobviousatonefootofthemaze.

Trivialfromahumanperspective,therangeofinfluencewasabsolutelyrelevanttotherootsinthespacetheyoccupiedinsidethemaze,andtheyhaddemonstratedthisaccordinglythroughtheirbehavior.Thiswasabrilliantfind,ofcourse,butthedisturbinginfluenceofthemagneticfieldemittedbythesoundequipmentnowposedanunexpectedcomplicationinmyattempttodiscoverwhetherrootsrespondedselectivelytothesoundofwater.Orsoitseemed.Overtheyears,Ihadlearnedthatseeminglyproblematicissuesthatmaterializeunpredictablyanddemandachangeinexistingplanscanfeelfrustrating,buttheyoftenbearimmenselyproductiveinsightsandopportunitiesifIampreparedtostayopentoalternatives.Soafterputtingupwithsomeinitialfrustration,Imovedintothenextphaseoftheresearchandpresentedtheseedlingswithanewchoice—onebetweenthemonstersScyllaandCharybdis,sotospeak.

Ontheirepicjourneythroughthemaze,thepeaseedlingsremindedmeofOdysseus,who,inHomer’sOdyssey,hadtonegotiatehismemorablepassagebetweenthedeadlyclutchesofScyllaandCharybdis,thetwoimmortalmonstersinhabitingeithersideofanarrowstrait.6Inthisnewphaseoftheresearch,theyoungplants,liketheHomerichero,weretofaceachoicebetweentwoevils.IattachedaspeakerandMP3playertoeachfootofthemaze,onesideplayingthesoundofwaterandtheothersideplayingeitherwhitenoiseorsilence—thusexperimentallystandardizingthestrongrepulsiveeffectofthesoundequipment.Nowthatthemagneticinterferencewasoriginatingfrombothsidesofthemazeandcouldnotbeavoided,couldthepeasfacewhattheywereavoidingandchoosewhatwasmostneeded,namelywater?

Caughtbetweentwoequallyunpleasantalternatives,thepeasdidexactlywhat

Caughtbetweentwoequallyunpleasantalternatives,thepeasdidexactlywhatwasmostappropriate,giventhecircumstances.Availingthemselvesoftheothercuespresentintheirimmediateenvironment,thevastmajorityofseedlingsextendedtheirrootstowardtherecordedsoundofwater,whentheplayerontheothersideofthemazewasbroadcastingsilence.Thepreferencewasnotasstrongwhentheothersidebroadcastwhitenoise,buttherecordedsoundofwaterwasstillmoreattractivethanthewhitenoise.

Ofcourse,thisconfirmedthatplantspreferentiallymovedtowardthesoundofwater,apreviouslyunknownphenomenon,andyetthisfindingoftheir“hearing”abilitiesshouldnotcomeasasurprise.Overtheirevolutionaryhistory,plantswouldhavehadmillenniatoevolvethisabilitytolistentoanddiscriminatebetweenvibrationsofvariouskindsandthenrespondtothosesoundsthatcarriedsomemeaningtothem.Forexample,soundsproducedbyarunningstreamwouldhavebeenhighlyrelevanttoabroadrangeofplantspeciesandbeneficialtotheirsurvival.Similarly,itwasnottotallysurprisingtoseethattheabilityoftheseedlingstoclearlydetecttherecordedsoundofwaterwassomewhatreducedbythepresenceofwhitenoise.Thetwosoundswouldhavebumpedintoeachotherinsidethemaze,resultinginacousticinterference.

Thiskindofmaskingeffecthasbeenobservedinanimalsystems.Fromstudiesofbirds,bats,andsquirrels,tonameafew,weknowthatwhitenoisecaninterferewithananimal’sabilitytoreceiveandrespondtoparticularrelevantsoundsand,consequently,canmakeittrickierfortheanimaltocarryoneverydaybusinesseffectively.Whatwasstrikingaboutthisfinding,however,wasthatwehadneverbeforeconsideredthepossibilitythathuman-alteredsoundscapesandacousticpollutioncouldbeissuesofpotentiallyvitalimportancetoplants.

Byprioritizingcuesthatsupportedgrowth,thepeasspokeofresponsibility.“Responsibilityisthatwhichyouaremovingtoward,”theplantshavetoldme.“Itisnotamoralobligation,butrathertheactualmovementthatsupportstheexpressionofcare.”Insidethemaze,theyoungpearootshadrevealedanunwaveringcommitmenttomakingthechoicethatnurturesandsupportslife—inthiscase,byfindingwater.“Wearebothlivingonthesameearth,andwearebothafterthesamewater,”theyhavesaid.

Inmakingtheirchoices,theyoungplantswerealsoreiteratingthefundamentalfactthatwe,humans,needthesamethingstoflourishasplantsandalllifeontheplanet.Weallhavethesamechoicestomake,choicesthatconcernthewell-beingofthewhole.And,ultimately,allchoicesareinescapablyaboutthewell-beingofthewhole;theydifferonlyinthequalityoftheirmovement—

somemoveusalltowardastateofplanetaryvitalityandhealth,andsomeawayfromit.Justthesame,theycarryusallinexorablytowardthecircumstancesthatwesow,andtherefore,itseemsessentialtocareforwhatisplanted.

Itis,then,thequalityofouractionsthattellsthestoryofwhoweareandwherewearegoing.Unfortunately,manyofourcurrentactionsareviolent,andwearelivinginthedelusionthatwecandistanceandguardourselvesfromtheirconsequences,asifourwell-beingisseparatefromthatofthewhole.Well,wecannot.Wecannotbecausethenotionthatthereareindependentobjects,eachfightingfordearlifeinaDarwinianstruggleofexistence,isalazyandarchaicconjecturethatdoesnotdojusticetocontemporaryscientificfindings.Therearenoconflictingopponents,evenwhentwoorganismsappeartohavemutuallyexclusiveproperties;7thereisonlytheremarkableplayofonenaturedisplayedacrossapaletteofrainbowcolors.However,untilweseeourselvesinhabitingaworldofpolarities,wecanonlyperceiveourselvesinconflictwiththewhole—andourneuroticviolencekeepschasingandbitingatourownfigurativetail.

Fromthispartialperspective,itisinevitablethatthefactthatourwell-beingisinseparablefromenvironmentalintegritygeneratessuchanunbearabletensioninoursociety.Weapproachthistensionbymakingviolencepermissible,sothatwemayjustifyactionsthatarecarryingthewholetowherenooneactuallywantstogo.Instead,weshouldresolveourcoreblindness,acquiringtheluciditytoseethatthedynamicmovementofexistenceisafundamentalstateofcommunionand,hence,actinginwaysthatcanonlybebeneficialtothewhole—existenceitself.Wecanoptforarealitywoventogetherbythethreadsofcontinuityorenduretheillusorybeliefthattheworldissplitintoaninterminablesuccessionofpolaritiesandkeepfacingconflicting,evenparadoxical,circumstances.Thisdoesnotneedtobe,andchoicesthatseemcontradictoryneednotbesoeither.

Tomakesomesenseofthis,Ihadtogobacktothepeasinthemaze.Bymovingawayfromthesoundofwateremanatingfromaspeakeratonefootofthemaze,thepeasinmyexperimentmadewhatseemedanincongruouschoice—plantssurelywantwaternomatterwhat,sowhymoveawayfromthesoundofit?Asifknowingmorethantheappearancesalludedto,theyoungpeasmadethechoicethatwasrequiredandmovedawayfromtroubleby,somewhat,stayingatit!Inthescenariotheyfoundthemselvesin,theyselectedtoavoidthedisturbing,possiblydamaging,effectsofthemagneticfieldproducedbythesoundequipment,evenifthatmeantmovingawayfromwhatwasdesired,namelywater.Inordertokeepthemselvessafefromtheharmofmagneticdisturbance,theyacceptedthefactthatwaterhadtobefoundelsewhereorin

disturbance,theyacceptedthefactthatwaterhadtobefoundelsewhereorinsomeotherway.

Paradoxically,thepeashadmadethemostappropriatechoice—iftheyhadgrowntheirrootstowardthesoundofwater,theywouldhavefoundonlythemagneticdisturbanceandnoactualwater.Inotherwords,theyoungplantsselectedsomethingthatmaynotbeimmediatelybeneficialbutultimatelygivesthemabetterchanceofsurvival,ratherthanchoosingwhatseemedtoprovidethedesirableoutcome,despiteitsdisastrousconsequences.Byattendingtowhatwasaskedbythecircumstanceswithresponsibility,thepeashadeffectivelymovedtowardthatwhichsupportsandprotectscareinthelongrun.

Tome,thepeas’behaviorinsidethemazewasagreatlessoninthekindofresponsibilitytheplantshadspokenoftomeearlier—ultimately,achoiceisasgoodasthelevelofintegritywecanbringtoit,anditisintegritywithintheactionsthatrevealsusandthatultimatelydefinesus.Areweabletomakethechoicethatisrequiredandmoveawayfromourglobalenvironmentalcrisisbystandingforwhatwemust?Humanprosperityisnotinconflictwiththeprosperityofotherspeciesandtheplanet;onthecontrary,thrivingabundanceismade-with,8cocreatedwithothersinacontinuityofexchangesandsharings.Inthiscontinuity,wehavenoconflicttoresolveandnoriddletobesolved.Weonlyhavechoicestomake.

Likethepeasinthemaze,canwemoveawayfromwhatinjures,evenifthismeansmovingawayfromwhatwethinkismostwanted?InordertokeeptheEarthandallherlivingspecies(includingourselves)safefromthethreatsposedbyenvironmentaldeterioration,climatechange,andmassextinction,areweabletoacceptthefactthathumanbehaviorhastofindotherwaysofbeing?Thefaultythinkingstoppingusfrommakingthemostappropriatechoiceisprolongingourdestructiveimpactontheplanetand,hence,ensuringthatwemayexperienceonlyconflictanddestruction.Atthiscrucialjunctureintheevolutionaryhistoryoftheplanetandalllivingspecies,thecircumstancesareaskingustodreamourselvesbeyondthediscordantformatofapolarizedrealityandforwardtomoresupportivefutures.

Justlikethepeasinthemaze,itisourconducttowardreleasingtheknotofthecurrenteco-culturaltanglethatrevealsusintheend.Andwhilethedeafeningsoundoftoomanywordsstillechoesbetweenhereandthere,rightandwrong,fromlifetodeathandbackagain,itisinthesilentqualityofouractionsthatthegenuinespiritandkindheartofhumanityisrevealed.Anditisthenwhenalternatepossibilities,whichseemtoofaroff,becomesoclose;fromthespaceinthemiddle,thesechoicesareseparatedbyonlyathinpaneofglass.

thespaceinthemiddle,thesechoicesareseparatedbyonlyathinpaneofglass.

ChapterA

Nomoredreamingwithyoureyesclosed.

Openyoureyes.

Youaredreaming.

BeinginTimeandSpaceAllthestorieswetellseemtostartlongagoinsomefarawayplace.Likeabeaconofinspiration,theyarethevoicethatremindsusoftheplacewearegoingtobyshowingusthatwehavealreadyarrived.Thepathunfoldsasaremembranceofitself,forwardtothebeginning,apointoforiginwherealltimelinesanddreamscapesjoin,dissolve,unify.Whenwetrulyunderstandthatnothingreallyendsandnothingreallybegins,wetranscendthestory,allofthestorieswetellofourselves.Whenweclearlyseetheverynothingwehavebeenpursuingfarandwide,wearrive.Thisnothingnesscontainsallthebeautyandhorrorofourstories,whichemergeasthedreamwearehaving.Andyet,intrinsically,nothinghappens.

Thefamiliarsoundofthekettlecomingtotheboiltemporarilyinterruptedourconversation.Igotupfrommychair,wenttothekitchen,andpouredthehotwaterinthetwocupsthatwerewaitingonthebenchtop.Withinseconds,thearomasoftheflowersandleavescontainedinsidetheteabagswaftedoutofeachcupandfreeintotheroom.Holdingonecupineachhand,Iwalkedbacktotheloungeandresumedmychin-wagwithValerie,anincrediblygiftedsoundhealeraswellasaprofessionalwriter.IhadmetherinpassingseveralyearsearlierinPerth,whereshehadcomefromSanFranciscotovisitherbrother,mynext-doorneighboratthetime.Whilethatfirstmeetingwasbriefandsomewhataccidental,itwastheseedofafriendshipthathaskeptgrowingovertime,despitethedistancebetweenus.EverytimeIfoundmyselfintheSanFranciscoBayArea,wewouldmeet,andsometimesIwouldstayatherhouse.Evenwhenyearshadgonebysincewe’dlastseeneachother,itwasasifwehadjustcaughtupthepreviousday.Likeallothertimes,wewereonceagainsittingintheloungewithacupoftea,updatingoneanotheronourrespectivelives.And,likeallothertimes,weknewthatourconvergingwastheharbingerofsomebizarrebutusuallyamazingadventurecomingourway.Andcuriousthingsdidstarttohappenduringthatvisit.

ItwasOctober2014.IhadcometotheUnitedStatestospeakatanumberof

conferences,includingthetwenty-fifthNationalBioneersConferenceheldinSanRafael,alittleplaceacrosstheGoldenGateBridgefromSanFranciscoand(mostexcitinglyforme)ashortdrivetoMountTamalpais,hometoSequoiasempervirens,1thegiantcoastredwoodsattheMuirWoodsNationalMonument.Throughoutmyvisit,Ihadmetsometrulyinspiringhumanbeingsandfeltdeeplytouchedandexpandedbythoseencounters.Ihadalsohadthepreciousopportunitytosharemyownworkwithalargenumberofpeopleandexcite(atleast,someof)themaboutwhatIcalledtherealplantrevolution2thatwastakingplaceinscience.

Theadjectiverealwastodistinguishitfromitshomonym—aplantrevolution,alsoknowasthe“greenrevolution,”whichspokeofthegloryofplantbiotechnologyandthemanyachievementsandbenefitsofplantengineeringanditscapacitytodeliverhealthierfoodsand,mostcrucially,contributetoglobalfoodsecurity.3Thatplantrevolutionspokeofanever-increasinginvestmentinresearchanddevelopmentforthemakingoftransgenicplantstobeusedashighlyprofitableobjectsofinsatiablefinancialinterests.Farfrombeingoriginalorrevolutionary,thatplantrevolutionhadsucceededininvestingconsiderablyinbrains,money,andtechnologysothatanoutmodedanderroneousstory—astorythatwas,infact,thousandsofyearsold—couldberecitedoverandoveragainandsanctionedasscientificresearch.Andbysimplydoingso,thatstoryhasnowgrownintoaseriousbusinesswithhugepower.Becausestoriesareneverjuststories,thestorieswetellcometodescribethewayweshapeandmoveintheworld.Ofcourse,wecanchoosewhateverstorywewant,butgiventhatstoriesframewhatbeliefsweelecttoembodyandwhichpathwechoosetowalkonforourbecomingasindividualsandsociety,shouldn’twebeextremelyobservantandmindfulofthestorieswetellandsubscribeto?

ThestorythatcementedthefoundationforthatplantrevolutiondatesbacktoAristotle,perhapsthemostinfluentialthinkerofallofWesternhistory.Bydefininginsensitivityasthekeycriteriontodifferentiateplantsfromanimals(includinghumanbeings)andhencepositioningplantsoutsideofthedomainofsensitivelife,theAristotelianstoryhad,ineffect,transformedplantsintoobjects—aspuriousideathatstillsanctionsthehumanrighttouse(andabuse)plantsandthatexemptsusfromanysenseofresponsibilityorrespecttowardthemaslivingbeings.

Aristotle’sperspectiveofthesensorialworldhadaprofoundandlong-lastinginfluenceonvirtuallyeveryonewhocameafterhim,beginningwithhisown

pupilTheophrastus,who,despitehisownobservationsofactivebehaviorsinmanydifferentplantspecies,blindlysubscribedtotheAristotelianbeliefofplantpassivityandinsensitivity.4Overthemillennia,thisstoryaccruedsuchpowerthatwehavecometoacceptitastruthand,mostdangerously,toglorifytheapproachofsamenessanduniformitythatitpreaches.Asitsunquestioningdevotees,weactintheworldasifsuchuniformityisatruthratherthanasillyfib.Andworst,weareuntroubledbyourreadinesstooverlookourownincongruity,whenweteachourundergraduatestudentstoappreciatethatnaturethrivesonvariationanddiversityandthattheexistenceofsuchvariationamongindividualsandthemortalityofindividualsbasedonthisvariationarethefundamentalprinciplesoftheDarwiniantheoryofnaturalselection.Weknowverywellthatgreaterspeciesdiversity,bothintermsofactualnumbersandthegeneticvariationwithinspecies,ensuresgreaterecosystemstability.Inturn,healthierecosystemsaremoreresilienttostressandcanbetterwithstandandrecoverfromadverseconditions.

Similarly,weareequallyawarethatmodernindustrializedagriculturalpracticesfocusedontheregimentedmonocultureofuniformcropsleadtounstableagro-ecosystemsbyselectivelyreducingboththegeneticandthephenotypicvariabilityofthoseplantspecies.Byconstrainingthemasobligateannuals5designedforuninhibitedsexandearlydeath,theprocessofconvertingwildspeciesintotamedplantsfitforhumanconsumptionhasenfeebledthem,strippingthemoftheirabilitytocommunicateeffectivelytoprotectthemselvesfrompestsanddiseases.6Theplantbiotechnologystoryclearlyisapoorchoice.Thegoodnewsisthatthisisnottheonlyavailablenarrativethatsciencecanoffer.

Theother,parallelstoryenlivenedbyrecentscientificresearchis,infact,quitedifferent,inthatitremindsusofhowplantsthemselvesconstantlysharetheirpersonalstorieswithusthroughshapes,colors,smells,sounds,andastonishingbehavioralchoices.7Indoingso,theyarealreadyinspiringustoreenvisiontheworldandassistingusinbuildingthefutureandanewwayforwardforhumansocieties.Thisistherealplantrevolution.Inthisstory,plantsshownosignofbeinginsensitiveobject-likeorganisms.Infact,thefast-accruingevidencefromscientificresearchisaconfirmationofthepolaropposite.Itisclear,then,thatcondemningplantstotheinsensitiverealmàlaAristotleisperverse,intheleast,andsurelynolongerscientificallydefensible,givenitsfalsepremise.Indeed,thechiefcharacteristicthatdistinguishesthescientificmethodfromothermethodsofexploringandacquiringknowledge

abouttheworldaroundusisitsunwaveringpledgetoletrealityspeakforitself.Appropriately,atheoryissupportedwhenitspredictionsareconfirmedbyourobservationsofreality,anditischallenged,rectified,orevenrejectedwhenitspredictionsprovetobefalse,nomatterhowoldandbelovedthattheoryis.Sothequestionthatemergesisthis:howcanwejustify,promote,andfinanciallysubsidizetheuseofplantsinbiotechnologyandbioengineering8whenthepremisesofthisscientificendeavorarerootedintheerroneousviewofplantsasinsensitiveorganisms?9

Thedevelopmentofplantbioengineering,particularlygeneticallymodified(GM)plantresearch,isanemotionallychargedandhighlypoliticizedandpolarizedissueinoursociety,butthegrowingplethoraofscientificevidencedemonstratingthatplantsarehighlysensitivelivingorganismscanofferadetachedandunequivocallyclearresolutiontoamuch-heatedissue.Ourcurrentscientificknowledgeallowsustoappreciateplantsassovereignsubjectsoftheirownlivesratherthanusableobjectsofours.ThismakestheAristotelianpropositionofplantsinvalid.ItalsoshowsthatGMplantresearchhasbeeninaccuratelypresentedasascientificpractice,giventhatitspremise—theuseofplantsasinertobjects,madebyhumansforentirelyhumanpurposes—isunsupportedbymodernscientificevidence(thatplantsarelivingsubjects,pursuingtheirownraisondevivreofbeingthemselves).10Underthesecircumstances,thescientificmethoddemandsustorectifyourapproachbyde-objectifyingplantsandnolongergrantingscientificlegitimacytoGMplantresearch.

Atatimewhenmodernsocietyreliesonitsscientificprowesstoprovideanswersand,ideally,solutionsforthecurrentsocio-environmentalcrisis,applyingthescientificmethodwiththeuttermostintegrityisnotoptional.Failingtointegratenewknowledgeandscientificevidenceandcorrector,whenappropriate,rejectoldbeliefsiswhatdefinespseudoscience—theoriesandbeliefsthatareregardedasscientificfactsbutlackcontrolledexperimentalevidencecarefullycollectedbyappropriatescientificmethods.Noscientisttrulycommittedtosciencewouldwanttobeaccusedofpracticingpseudoscience,sowhyshouldtaxpayers’moneybeusedtosupportit?

Bythetimemy2014visitintheUnitedStateswascomingtoaclose,Ifeltthekindofcontentmentthatoneexperiencesafteralush,soul-nourishingmealsharedwithfriends.Withonlyafewdaysleftinthecountrybeforereturningdownunder,IhadtwothingsIreallywantedtodo—first,meet“theDiviner,”amanmyfriendValeriehadtoldmeaboutand,second,payavisittotheredwoodtreesintheMuirWoodsasmywayofgivingthanksfortheincrediblyfulfilling

treesintheMuirWoodsasmywayofgivingthanksfortheincrediblyfulfillingtimeandamazingtripIhadhadintheirhomeland(onceagain).LittledidIknowthatafewdayswereampletimeforbothofthesemeetingstotakeplace,aswellasforamostbizarreandpeculiarseriesofevents,magicaloccurrencesarisingfromthesetwoencounters—withtheDivinerandtheredwoodtrees,whowoulddelivertheproverbialcherryontopoftheicecreamsundaeIhadjuststartedsavoring.

TheDivinerwasatallmanwithawelcomingdemeanor.HespentseveralyearsintrainingwiththeDagarapeopleofWestAfrica,whotaughthimabouttheirdivinationsystem—specifically,voicedivination—sohecouldassistpeopleinreconnectingwiththemselves,nature,andthespiritworld.IhadnoideawhatvoicedivinationwasorwhatIhadsignedupforbycomingtothismeeting.

Now,sittingonthefloorofatinyroominfrontofasmallaltarthatwascoveredwithawidevarietyofobjects—astrangeandrandom-lookingassortmentofsmallshells,woodensticks,pebbles,andtinypiecesofmetal—Iwastakenabackinutterbewildermentasthedivinationbegan.TheDivinerputonapeculiaroutfit—aloose-fitting,embroideredritualrobethatdrapeddowntohisfeet,beadedregaliathatcrownedhishead,andamaskoverhisface—andwitharattlingstickinonehand,hedisappearedinsideacurtainedboothsetupinacornerofthesmallroom.Nothinghappenedforaminuteorso.Then,frominsidethebooth,hestartedspeakinginahilariouslyhigh-pitchedandsqueakyvoice,thekindofsoundonemakesafterinhalinghelium.IturnedtolookatValerie,whohadstayedintheroomandwassittingrightbehindme.Ican’tevenstartimaginingthelookImusthavehadonmyface—Iwasreadytoburstintoirreverentlaughter,andIcouldnotbelievewhatwashappening.

Everythingseemedsosurreal,andyet,asIturnedbacktolookinfrontofmeatthealtarwithallitsoddobjects,Ifeltsincereappreciationforthedeepsacrednessandheartfeltdevotionthewholesituationentailed.Asavoicediviner,theDivinerperformedtheritualbychannelingtheKontomblé—whichisthenamegivenbytheDagarapeopletointer-dimensionalbeingssuchaselementalsandnaturespirits,otherwiseknownasfairies,elves,andgnomes.Toachievethis,hehadlearnedtomergewiththeKontomblé,allowinghisbodytobecomeachannelthroughwhichtheKontomblécommunicatedcrypticmessages,whichtheDivinerwouldlaterinterpret.Basically,Iwaswitnessingaspiritpossession,andbeassured,thiswastobenomonologue—Iwastobeanactiveparticipantinthewholeaffair.Attimes,thesqueakyvoicewouldspeaktotheDiviner,whileatothertimes,itwouldspeakdirectlytome,askingspecificandpersonalquestions—“personal”inthesensethatthequestionsrelatedto

andpersonalquestions—“personal”inthesensethatthequestionsrelatedtoweirdandwonderfulencountersandexperiencesIhadhadwithanimals,plants,andplacesinnature,whichnoonenecessarilyknewabout.

Bythetimethedivinationended,Ihadbeenassignedalistofninepersonalritualstobecompletedwithinayear’stime,whichincludedofferingsofwater,ash,andmilkdesignedtohonorthespiritsthatsupportedmygrowthandmyunderstandingofthenatureofnatureandthenatureofreality.Aswewalkedoutoftheroom,Ifeltunabletosayanything.Aspowerfulasitwas,itiswhathappenedoncewelefttheDivineranddrovebacktoValerie’splacethatmadethewholeexperienceofmonumentalconsequence.

Thedrivewastheperfecttimetodebriefonwhathadjusthappened.AsValeriedrove,IstartedreadingoutloudthelistofritualsIhadtoperform.Wequicklyrealizedthatsomeritualswereprettystraightforwardandwouldberelativelyeasytoaccomplish,whileothersseemedmorechallenging.Thisiswhenwestarteddiscussingtheissueofthegoldring.Yousee—oneoftheritualstheKontombléhadaskedmetoperforminvolvedagoldring,whichIwastooffertomymother.AccordingtotheKontomblé,thiswouldclearallnegativityinmyrelationshipwithherwithinthiscurrenttimeline,anditwouldcleanseourrelationshipofanyhostility,pain,distrust,andabusethathadbeenstoredwithintheancestralfemininelinethathadbirthedusbothandofwhichIwasoneofitslatestmember.Fabulous!

Butherethefirstobstacleappeared.AsidefromthefactthatIseemymotheronlyeveryfewyears,asweliveonoppositesidesoftheworld,Ineverlikedgoldandownednotonesinglepieceofgold,letaloneagoldring.SohowandwhenwasIsupposedtofulfillthisritualrequest?Aswecontinueddeliberatingonthesituation,Valeriemadeanastonishingoffer.“Ifyoureallythinkaboutit,”shesaid,“thereisoneancestralsourcefromwhichallwomenhavecomeforth.”Shestoppedatanintersection,asthetrafficlightturnred,andthencontinued,“whileyouperformthisritualtoclearyourline,younaturallyalsoclearpartofmylineandthoseofallwomen.”Shewaitedforthetrafficlighttoturnedgreenandthensaid,“Ihavethegoldringyouneed.”Shepausedforaminute,asshesearchedinhermind.“Whenwegethome,IwillcheckifitstilliswhereIthinkitis.”Andwiththesatisfiedsmileofsomeonewhohadjustsolvedamostintricatebrainteaser,sheadded,“Theringwasagifttomefrommymother.”

Thenextday,ItraveledverylightformybrieftriptotheMuirWoodsNationalMonument.Inmybackpack,IcarriedadrinkingbottlefullofwaterandaPeruviandrawstringpouch,ahand-wovenbagsmallenoughtobe

unobtrusivebutbigenoughfortheessentialsforalittleritual.Onmywaytotheredwoods,IstoppedbyValerie’shouseforaquickhello.Thisiswhenshegavemethegoldring,whichIplacedinsidetheritualpouchforsafekeeping.“Doyouwanttotakethiswithyoutoday?”Sheheldoutabluependantocarina—asimple,flute-likewindinstrumentmadeofglazedterracotta.“Brilliantidea!”Ireplied,“Imayplayitforthetrees.”Ithankedherfortheloan,whichIsqueezedintothelittlespaceleftinsidemyritualpouch,andheadedoff,buzzingandelated.

Myexcitement,whichaccompaniedmeallthewaytotheentrancetotheMuirWoods,wassuddenlykilledatthedisturbingsightofwhat—tome—lookedlikeanoceanofhugechartercoachescrammedsidebysideintheparkingarea.WhatwasIreallythinking—thatIwouldhavetheforestalltomyself,quietandundisturbed?Ofcourseitwouldbefulloftourists.Theyweremovinginamorphousherds,voicesblaringandtakingphotoswiththeirsmartphones,underthewatchoftheirkeeper,whowouldwavetherightcoloredflagorcallthemintherightlanguagetokeepthemsomehowallgatheredtogethertodirecttheirattentionthisorthatway.Iwashorrified.

ThiswascertainlynotwhatIhadinmind—andjustaswell,becauseIwasabouttodiscoverthatthisvisithadreallynothingatalltodowithmymind.Iparked,gotoutofmyrentalcar,andstartedwalkingatabriskpacetowardthevisitorcenter,whereIfoundagiftshop,acafé,aboothwithusefulinformationonwhichtrailstoexploreandpointsofinteresttocheckout,andofcourse,myentryticket.Surprisingly,despitethecrowd,therewasnoqueueattheticketbooth.Withinnotime,Ihadpaidmyentrancefee,andIwasontheRedwoodCreekTrail,walkingintheforestanddiscoveringsomethingabsurdthatIhadnotevenconsidereduntilthatmoment—thecrowdseemedtobemostlyinterestedinthegiftshopandthecafé.Sothedeeperonewalkedintotheforestandawayfromthoseamenities,thequieter,moreprivateandpleasantitallbecame.Howcananyonereallyseetheforest,trulyhearthewhispersofthoseancienttreeswithallthatnoise?AsIwalkedfartheralongthetrail,Ifoundmyselfcomingacrossfewerandfewerpeople,andIfelthappy.

Ihadbeenwalkingforonlyabriefwhilewhenthemaintrailbranchedintotwooptions.OnearrowpointedthedirectionforalongerhiketoCampAliceEastwoodandbeyond,whiletheothersignaledthewaytoashorterandpossiblyeasierwalkalongtheFernCreekTrail.Beforechoosingwhichwaytogo,Isatonabigboulderclosetothebifurcation.Afewpeoplepassedbyandgreetedmequietlyorsimplynodded.ItookasipofwaterandconsideredhowmuchtimeI

hadformywalk.

AsIsatthere,Ifelttheneedtotakemybootsandsocksofftofeeltheearthundermybaresoles.Myfeetwerefirmlyonthegroundwhenathirdoptionmadeitselfavailable—asmalltrailrunningofftotheothersideofRedwoodCreek.ThepathwasnotmarkedbyanyarroworsignIcouldsee,butitwasdefinitelybeckoningmetoit,sothechoicewasmade.Iwalkedacrossanarrowbridgethathadbeenbuiltatopalargefallenredwood—atreewho,atamuchearliertimeperhaps,hadmadeitselfconvenientlyavailableastheoriginalbridgeforcrossingoverthecreek.SoonIfoundmyselfmovingalonganarrowdirtpathcutintothesideofahill.Thewidthofasingleperson,thetrailwasincrediblyquietandpeaceful.Ipaused,inhaleddeeply,andsmiledatthesilentrealizationthatnohumanvoiceswereaudiblefromhere.Ilistenedtothebrightsoundofthebirdsandtheloudstillnessofthegiantsthatsurroundedme.Inside,Iwasgigglinglikeachild,andwithoutwarning,thatchildcameouttoplayforafewsecondswhenmybarefeetsplashedintheshallowwatersofamuddypuddlethathadformedrightacrossthepathIwason.Withwetfeetandafeelingofgreatcontentmentinmyheart,Ikeptwalking,andasthelightfilteredthroughthehighcanopyoftheredwoodstoilluminatedifferentfragmentsoffernygreensandred-brownbarksdownbelow,Isawtheperfectspotformythanksgivingritual.Iapproachedthetreethatfeltjustrightfortheoccasionandsatatitsfeet.

Outofmydrawstringpouchcametheblueocarina,apieceofclearquartz,sacredtobaccoleaves,andalockofmyhair,whichfornoparticularreason,Ihaddecidedtokeepaftercuttingmyhairafewweeksearlier.Usingashorttwig,IdrewasmallcircleinthesoftdirtrightinfrontofwhereIwassitting,sprinkledsometobaccoasmyofferingtotheplaceandthenpositionedthequartzinfrontofmeonthelinethatdemarcatedmyimpromptuthanksgivingaltar.Inthemiddleofthecircle,Idugabowl-shapeddepression,andinsidethissimplereceptacleIplacedsomemoretobaccoandthelockofhair.Then,suddenly,Iunderstood.Therewasonemorethingthatneededtobeofferedforthisritual,andmyhandwentbackinsidemydrawstringpouchandfeverishlysearchedforit—thegoldring.TheKontombléhadaskedmetoofferagoldringtomymother.Onlyinthatmoment,though,didIrealizewhichmotherithadbeenreferringto.Asitlaydowninitsearthycradlelinedwithhairandtobacco,theringshined,andsomethingfeltextremelyright.Iknewthewholeforestwasquietlywitnessingwhatwastakingplace,andtothisunobtrusivebutcomfortingaudience,Istartedplayingtheocarina.IshouldclarifythatIhadhadagoatplayingthisinstrumentbefore,andthesoundsIhadbeenabletoproducehad

alwaysbeenkindofannoying,high-pitchedshrieks.Inthewoods,however,clear,brighttonessoaredoutofthelittlefluteliketinysky-bluebirds,andItoobecametheaudience;Itoolisteneddeeplyandunobtrusivelytothecallofoneheartthatsungforeveryone,thatbelongstoeveryone.Inthatmoment,whenthewholeisabletowitnessitselfbeing,thebewitchingspelloftimeandspaceisnolongerrequired.

Whentheocarinastoppedplaying,allthatremainedwasaninexplicablyabsolutesilence—norumblingsandgrumblingsofthewaterinthecreekbeloworthewindhighinthecanopy,notwitteringandchirpingofbirdsorinsects,novoicesatall—noteventhesoundofaleafdroppingtotheground.Ididn’tdaremove.Isoakedinthesilence,andthenIknewmythanksgivingritualwascomplete.IcoveredtheofferingswithdirtandcompactedthegroundoverthespacetoleavenosignofthedepressionIhadmade.Theclearquartzreturnedintothedrawstringpouch,togetherwiththeocarina,andIgentlyrubbedawaythecircleIhaddrawn.Allthatwasleftasareminderofthepreciousnessthathadjustoccurredtherewasthemaroonunderbellyofaheart-shapedleafIhadcollectedearlieralongthepath—aleafthatbelongedtothedelicateredwoodsorrel,theclover-lookingplantthatcarpetedtheforestfloor.

IhadnoideahowlongIhadbeenthere;itdidn’tmatter.Finally,Istoodupandhesitatedforamoment,ponderingwhichdirectiontotake.Ontheonehand,IwantedtowalktheFernCreekTrail,whichlinkeduptoLostTrail,andtodothat,IhadtogobackthesamewayIhadcomeandreturntothebifurcationontheothersideofthecreek.Ontheotherhand,thenarrowdirttrailIhadbeenwalkingoncontinuedandseemedtodisappearovertheridgetosomethinginteresting.IdecidedIwouldtakealookalittlefartherupthedirttrailbeforeturningaroundandmakingmywaytothelushgreenfernsoftheFernCreekTrail.

Itookasipofwaterandstartedwalking,andIsuddenlyfoundmyselfsteppinginamuddypuddleofwater—thesamepuddleIhadencounteredearlier.Barefootandfrozen,Iwasnowdisorientedandindisbelief—howwasthatpossible?Iwaswalkingupthetrailwiththecreekontheleftsideofme,andIwouldhavehadtophysicallyturnonehundredandeightydegreesandstartwalkingdownthetrailtobepositionedwhereIwas.ButIneverdidturnaround,sohowdidIgetthere?Whathappenedtospaceandtime?HowcouldIhavepossiblyarrivedbacktherebygoingintheoppositedirection?IturnedaroundtoseewhereIhadbeenandthenlookedforwardanddownthetrack,noticingthecreekwasnowonmyrightside.AsItooknoticeofmypositioninspaceand

steppedforwardbeyondthepuddleofwater,soundsofallkinds—rumblings,grumblings,twittering,chirping—floodedforcefullybackintoplace.Nottoomuchfarther,Ievenheardhumanvoices,andthistime,Iwasgladtoknowtheywerepartoftheorchestralcollectivethatfilledtheair.

Theeventintheredwoodforestleftanindeliblemarkinsideme,butitsenigmaticsignificanceremainedshroudedintheunimaginableuntilIwasreadytoimagineitandrememberwhatIknew.Ihadtostartbycomprehendingthatasahumanbeing,mynaturalabilitytointeractwiththeworldismultidimensional,11thatthetruenatureofhumanawarenessistoperceivethemultiplefacets(ordimensions)ofrealityallatonce,ratherthanbeingrestrictedandtotallyabsorbedwithinasingleone-dimensionalaspectofrealityatatime.ThattoperceiveandfeeltheworldthatIcannotsee,touch,smell,orhear,mybeliefsystemdefiningthepropertiesofspaceandthequalitiesoftimehadtocollidewithandbeinevitablyoverwhelmedbytheexperienceofsuchmultidimensionality,thefabricofexistenceitself.

Ofcourse,wecanallappreciatethedefiningrolethatspaceandtimeplayinoureverydayexperienceoflife.Wehavelongbeenintriguedbythesetwoconcepts,intuitivelyknowingthatanyreconceptualizationofthemandtheirrelationshipwitheachothercangenerateawholenewunderstandingofreality(whichiswhatEinstein’stheoriesdid).Ofthetwo,spaceseemstheeasiertoexperience—thephysicalwallsdefiningaroom,forexample,provideuswithaclearconceptofthespaceoftheroom.

Thisnotionofspace,however,lacksdepth;whenourawarenessissharpenedtoconceiveofandperceivethemultidimensionalityofspace,thisconceptbecomeshighlypliable.Intheforest,Ihadexperienceditloopingontoitselflikealemniscate,thecurvedglyphshapedlikeafigureeightonitssideandusedasasymbolofinfinityinmathematics.Themidpointofthisfigureeightis,concurrently,theplaceofdepartureandarrival.Tome,thisisthepointwhereIhadfoundmyselfintheforest—aportal,whereamyriadofseparatespatialrealitiesconnect,becomingperceivableandtraversable.12

Itisbecauseofthisexperiencethatmyawarenesswasnolongerabsorbedinaone-dimensionalspatialplanetotheexclusionofallotherpossibilities.Finally,IstartedrememberingwhatIknew—thatIhadhadthatexperiencebefore!Acoupleofyearsearlier,Ihadbeenstandinginfrontofanotherportal.Onthatoccasion,IwasatUluruincentralAustralia,visitingUncleBinMutitjulu.ItwasmidafternoonwhenIwitnesseditopen;thatportalwasnotformetocrossbutsimplyobserveasittolditsstoryandthenclosedrightinfrontofmyeyes.

WhileIwasabletoperceiveit,myawarenesswasunabletorealizewhatwasactuallyhappening.ItwasonlywhenIreturnedfromtheredwoodforestthattheknowingfloodedin.I“remembered”howthatportalhadbeenusedinthepasttotransfer“preciouscargo”—thespiritsofendangeredsacredanimals—fromNorthAmericatoAustralia,inanefforttoprotectthemtillitwassafeforthemtoreturnhome.Eldersofbothcountrieskeepthismemoryalivebytellingthestoryofit,sowemaynotforget—wemaynotforgetthatitisallinscribedinthebodyoftheEarth.ThenIunderstoodthat,whenIamreadytoimagineitandrememberitagain,theEarthherselfbecomesmymasterstoryteller.Andtheportalopens.Again.

Sowhatabouttime?Oh,timeisawholeotherstory—ortwo.Movingsilentlyandunseen,timecannotbetouchedortasted.Eventhoughwedon’treallyknowwhattimeis,wehavealwaysknownitasimmaterialandomnipresent;inmorerecentcenturies,wehavealsocometobelieveitissomethingexternaltoandindependentofus,something“outthere.”Mostrecently,itannouncesitselfthroughthebeepingofsmartphonesthatdefinetheeventsinourlives,reinforcingthisideaoftimebeingoutside.

AndhereIwasconfrontedwithmyfirstpointofcollision—timeisnotoutthere;realtimeis,ifanything,“inhere.”Infact,allorganismsareinnatelyendowedwithaninternalsenseoftime,abodyclockregulatingcircadianrhythms.Humans,forexample,cometogripswithaworldmarkedbyrecurrenttimepatterns,learningthelengthoftimeassociatedwiththevariouseventswe’veexperiencedeverydaysinceinfancy.Weareabletodosoandkeeptrackoftimethankstoasmallgroupofcellsinourbrain,which,togetherwithahandfulofgenes,havethejobtokeepeverythingsynchronized(and,bytheway,thesesametime-keepinggenesarefoundinallotheranimals,aswellasinplantsandmicrobes).

Andevenifwewanderoffintoourindividualoffbeattempos,oursyncopatedrhythmsareconsistentlybroughtbacktounisonbytheultimatedirectoroforchestra,theEarth,whoperhapssynchronizesherwholesystemofbiologicalmetronomesthroughgrandexhalationsthatburstoutofhercelestialskinintothecosmos.13Inevitablyembeddedinaworldmarkedbyrecurrenttimepatternsasweare,itisbyexperiencingdifferentlengthsoftime—thedurationofevents—andbypayingattentiontotheeventthatisonofferatanygivenmomentthatwedevelopanawarenessoftime’spresenceandpassing.Thisawarenesstrulyisagift;itmakesthesharedexperienceoflifeinthisdimensionalstructurepossible.Bykeepingusalignedwithacoherent,linearflowofevents,thefeelingofpast,

present,andfuturedeliversadeepsenseofintimacy—abelongingwithintheunityoftimeandspace,spiritandmateriality,thatallorganismslivingontheplanetspeakofthroughtheirgestures.

WhattheredwoodforestintheMuirWoodshadrevealedwasthattheEarth’sembracegroundsusallwithinthissharedtimescape,anditispreciselythroughthisgroundingthatthegatestootherdimensionsofrealityopen.Inotherwords,theawarenessofthiscoherentbackgroundmarksasteadyreferenceposition,thetruepointofdeparturetorealizeourcapacitytomoveinandaroundthereferenceitself,time.Anditisagainstthiscoherentbackdropthatwecanbealertedoftheserendipitousoccurrenceofflawlessincongruences,perfectglitcheswhosearrivalallowsforotherdimensionalpotentialitiestobeperceivedatall!

Itseems,paradoxically,thatourdeparturefromandarrivaltoareexactlythesameplace;andasithadbeenthecaseformewithmypuddleofmuddywaterintheforest,wemayonlyunderstandourdepartureoncewerealizeourarrival.Ieventuallycomprehendedthatsuchcapacityforunboundmovementisourheritageasmultidimensionalbeings.Correspondingly,byrealizingtheextenttowhichhumanityissquanderingsuchpreciousinheritancethroughatotalmisalignmentfromtheonlytimethatmatters(intheliteralsenseoftheearthlytimethatmaterializesthisdimensionalplane),theforesthadinformedmyattentionoftheprimarycausefortheprofoundecologicalcrisiswearecurrentlyexperiencingontheplanet—theinventionoftime“outthere.”

Ourmodernnotionoftimeas“outthere”isahumaninvention,anditsglobalnormalizationisaprettyrecentphenomenon.14Ofcourse,wehavecreateddevicestokeeptrackoftimeandmeasurethevariouspartsofadayformillennia—fromtrackingthemovementofthesunwithsundialsandobelisksinancientEgypt;themoreadvancedGreekclepsydrae,whichmeasuredtimeusingtheflowofwater;andtheChinesecandleclocksthatreliedontherateofburningtomarkthepassingoftimetothemorerecentinventionofthehourglass,clocktower,pendulum,andmechanicalalarmclock.Whilereflectingnaturalchangesastheseasonsorarbitrarychangesastheweekortheyear,timehadneverthelessremainedalocal(andsolar)matter.Itwasthenineteenth-centuryglobalizingworldthatsucceededatinventingandimposingaworldwidesystemofglobaltimegovernancebysupplantinglocaltime;itturnedtime“outthere”intoabusinessthatthrivesonthecollectivepreoccupationwithideologiesoftimesaving,punctuality,andefficiency—thebusinessofregulatingandstabilizingthemostpreciousofallcommodities—ourexperienceoflife(time)

itself.15

Forsure,theinventionofglobaltimesucceededatsimplifyingoperationswithintherailwaysystems,whichallowedfortheirexpansion,andmorerecently,supportingairtrafficoperationstoo.Whilemostlyacceptedwithnoobjection,thedecisiontostandardizetimewas,however,deliveredwithanexorbitantpricetag,onethatevensomeonewithallthetimeintheworldcannot(andshouldnot)payfor.Whilepromisingtomakemanyaspectsofdealingwithaglobalizedworldeasier,time“outthere”hadmanagedtoabolish(forthemostpart)ourmultidimensionalpotentialitiesandpossibilitiesbystealingtime“inhere.”Regimentedlikeamilitaryactionplan,theinventionoftimeas“outthere”didwellatmovinghumanitytoafalsepointofdepartureandincreasinglydislocatingusawayfromtheconnectiontotheEarthandthenaturalsolarcycle,therebyinducingalossofsightoftherealeventualdimensionoflifeitself.

Thisdeceptivegimmickkeepsusloopingintoaplaceofordereduniformity,liketheplantsspecieswehaveenslavedinmonoculturefields.Whilegivingtheillusionofrevolutionaryprogress,thedeceptionhasdevitalizedus,liketheplantswetechnologicallymanipulate,throughourmiserableandpainfulignorance—ignoranceofourtruenatureashumanbeingsandofthetruenatureoftheworldaroundus.16

Time“outthere”keepsuscaughtinaplaceofnopower,aplacefromwhichwecannotarrivetoouractualevolutionarydestinationasfullyintegrated,multidimensionalbeings.Thisisahighlydysfunctionalstate,adiseasethatshouldbetreatedasone.Whiletheearlysignsaresubtleandvagueandmaynotbeimmediatelyobvious,thisdestructiveconditionworsensasitprogressesandleadstoprematuredeath.Attheindividuallevel,thesymptomsrangefromdisorientation—wedon’tknowwhoandwhereweareorwherewearegoing—topoorordecreasedjudgment,sowebecomeforgetfulandconfused,adangertoourselvesandothers.Italsoleadsfromchangesinpersonality—webecomefearful,suspicious,apathetic,oruncommunicative—tolossofinitiative,wherebywebecomepassiveandrequirepromptingtobecomeinvolved…inanything.Thesearecommonsymptomsofanindividualsufferingfromasyndromebroadlydefinedasdementia.Ashumanity,wearesufferingfromacollectiveformofdementia.

Oursymptomaticforgetfulnessisrobbingusoftime“inhere”byobliteratingourcapacityforrememberingourselvesandrememberingwhoweare.Inourstateofutterconfusion,wehavecometobelieveitisacceptabletocontroltheexperienceoftimeofallotherformsoflife,robbingthemtoooftheirrighttoexistence.Astheforesthadwarned,theinventionoftime“outthere”isthe

existence.Astheforesthadwarned,theinventionoftime“outthere”istheprimarycausefortheprofoundecologicalcrisistheplanetiscurrentlyexperiencing.Itisaformofviolence,inwhichtimeispurelyhumanandexistenceitselfisreducedtoanexclusivelyhumanaffair.

Thisinventionoftimeashumanpropertythatweownandcontrolisprobablyoneofthemostsophisticatedactsofplanetaryhegemonywehaveeverconceived,and,ofcourse,itisaclearsignofthefundamentalpredicament—thedeepdelusionofseparation—wehavecaughtourselvesin.Byreplacingtruetimewithanartificial,mechanicaltimethatdoesnotevenexist,thisdevicehassucceededincontrollinghumanityitselfbyabolishing(forthemostpart)itsmultidimensionalpotentialitiesandpossibilities.Ifitistruethatbycontrollingtimeyoucontroleverything,thenreclaimingtime“inhere”ispossiblythemostpowerfulandrevolutionaryactofempowerment17wehavetobringourselvesandthewholeplanetawayfromthebrinkintooblivion.

Howdowegetthere?Byabsoluteandpure…chance!Itisinchance,notcontrol—variation,nothomogeneity,anddiversity,notuniformity—thatexistencethrives,evolves,develops,andlearns.Chanceistheuntamedspiritofall-inclusivecreativity,defiantofthesaferigiditiesimposedbycontrol,whichfindsdefinitionofitselfbyexclusiondemarcatingtheboundariesofwhatisnot.Chanceisthedynamiccontinuityofexistencethattakestheexcitingriskofinspiringthebrillianceofthisenchantedworld.Chanceisourantidotetothecollectivedementiaweareentangledin—amedicinalnectarthatflowstoallowadifferentendingtoourstory.

ThatiswhattheredwoodtreesatMuirWoodshadshownmethroughapointofcollision,theparadoxofmypuddleofwater.Itis—was—collision,becausethemindhadtograpplewithanexperiencethatmadenosensewithintheone-dimensionalcompartmentalizationoftheworld(andanyefforttowardunderstandingitthroughlogicstillmakesmegocross-eyed).Butthereitwas,amuddypuddleofwaterinitsintractablecrystalclarity,whichrenderedtherulingpointofdenialpointless.SohowdidIgetthere?Iwasalreadytherebeforearriving.BybeingsodeeplygroundedintheEarth’sembrace,Ifoundmytruepointofdeparture,fromwhichthechanceofmovinginandaroundtimeandspacebecameapossibility.AndIwassimplythere,withoutunderstandinghowIgotthere.Theunderstandingdidarrive,butmuchlater.

Ithappenedexactlytwoyearslater,thankstothegenerousinputofanotherconifer,theMontereypine(Pinusradiata),atiniercousinoftheredwoods.FromaforestplantationinSouthAustralia,thepineshadgreetedmewithan

unwaveringcall—“flexibilityisthekey”—astheyallowedthebreezetoplaywiththeirneedle-likehairsandswaytheirtallandslenderbodiestoandfro.Afewweeksearlier,myresearchfellowshiphadcometoanend,andsohadmyresearchpositionattheuniversity.18Forme,Ihadonlyjuststartedmakingameaningfulcontributiontoscienceandsociety,andbeingpushedsidewaysandoutwasheartbreaking.Flexibilitymayverywellbethekey,butthetruthwasthatasthepainofloss,grief,andangercircledaroundandaroundinmymind,Iwasstrugglingtofindthegracefulnesstotrustandacceptmynewsituation.

Lyingthere,ontheground,breathinginandout,thedarkbluehazeofthepinesenvelopedmybodyandcoloredmein.AsIlayonthegroundattheirfeet,thepinesspokesoftly:“Movenot,butbemoved—theneverythingisbroughtintobeingatthemostperfecttime.”Then,loudandclear,Icouldfeeltheinvisiblebutpowerfulpulsethatnurturesandsupportsthedreamingofalllifebeatinginmyheart.Imovednot,butletmyselfbemoved.Ididn’tknowthatIwaslearningthestepsofanewdance,themovementthatwouldreconfiguremyideaoftime,space,andmyself,therhythmthatwouldsingthisbooktomeandthroughme.AsIlaythereontheground,thetreescontinued,“Allpossibilitiesbecomeavailable,andwhattrulyneedstobedoneisdone.”Andwiththat,asenseofgreateasehadcomeuponme.

CodaM

Yourhearthaseyes;lookattheworldwiththoseeyes,andyouwillonlyseebeauty.

I

TheVeryFirstStoryMemories—inthelight,ourmemoriesarewashedaway,andweforgeteverythingweknew.Weforgetwhoweare.Itisinthedarknessthatweknowtheworld.Itisinthedarknessthatweknowwherewecamefrom.Thedarknessremembersus,andwhenwerememberwhoweare,wereturntothemostremarkablenothing.

twasthebeginningofSeptemberin2012.Withitsbalmierweatherandperfectblue-skydays,springisaglorioustimeoftheyearinWestern

Australia.Atthistime,rightattheheartofthewildflowerseason,astaggeringtwelvethousandspeciesofplants—thelargestcollectionofwildflowersintheworld—burstintorich,multicoloredblossoms,adorningthelandwithafinelywoventapestrylikeyouwillseenowhereelse(quiteliterally,giventhat60percentoftheseplantspeciesareendemictothisplaceandthusfoundonlyhere).Emergingfromawintryhibernation,lifeturnsintopulsatingthrobsandtingles,aswhenbloodflowreturnstoyourfingersaftertheyhavebeenexposedtoolongtothecold.Andnewbeginningsarebirthed.

“Doyourememberthebeginning?Yoursoftfingersrested,curledintotinybunchesassoonastheyformedwithinthewombofthemother.Andtheystayedthatway,neatlyandsecurelytuckedin,asyoumadeyourgrandentranceintothelightbodyofthisworld.1Theyarestillcurledintofistsnow,whenyouaresleepingandwhenyouarenot.Whetheryourealizeitornot,youhavekepttheminthatpositioneversincethatbeginning,asifholdingontosomethingprecious.Doyouknowwhy?”Andsoitspoke,thefamousPeruvianduobetterknownasayahuasca(Banisteriopsiscaapi,thevine,andPsychotriaviridis,alsoknownaschacruna).Intheperfecttimingofnewbeginnings,theyhadcomefromafartosharewithmeastoryofbeginnings—actually,theveryfirststory.

“Remembernow.Sincethatbeginningwhenyouwereachild-to-be,thosetwostronghandswerecurledfirmlyaroundtheedgesofanopenmap,yourpreciousmap.Allthethingsyouwouldexperience,allthatyouhadcometoseeandlearn,wasonit.Whileinthewomb,withyoureyestillclosedtothisworld,youhadstaredatyourmapoverandover,consideringalltheadventuresyouwouldlive(andsometimesyouevenkickedthoseexcitedlittlefeetforthethrillthatwastocome).Youwereperfectandreadyforit.Then,outoftheinfinite,youcameintothisworld.Stillholdingyourmapopeninfrontofyourclosedeyes,youwerequicktosensehowpeculiarthelightofthisworldwas.Justlikeanoverexposedphotographicimage,allthesignposts,thedescriptionsofyour

lifeterrains,startedfadingoutofyourbeautifulmap,bleachedbythelightofthisworld,disappearingslowlyasyourearthlyeyesopened.Soon,onlyfragmentswereleftofwhatwasmeanttobetheguidingmapofyourjourneyonEarth.But,child,youreyesonlyneededtoadjustalittletoseetheentiremapagain,stillopeninfrontofyou!Yourseeingwasreplacedbyanoddimagining,andyoustartedbelievinginastorythatwasneveryours.”Theyspokeseamlessly,inalanguageoflight,inwhichimagesareemanationsofmeaningsarrangedwithbeautifulexactness,andsilentsoundsaretransmissionsoftruthsthatturnyoufromoutsidein,backtothepoundingheartthatrhythmsyou.Theimageinmyvisionchanged.Thebluehuesofthebackdropturnedblack,

andtheyellowtonesIhadseenbecameredsandbrowns.“Theysaidthisworldiscruel.Sincethebeginning,youweretoldthatthisworldisaplaceofstruggle,abattlefieldwhereyoufightforsurvival.Youweretaughtthatyoursoftfingersandyourgentlehandswereforthisfighting.Fightingtoberight,fightingtobewrong,andifunsure,fightinganyhow.Youlearnedthisstoryveryquickly.Againandagain,youraisedyourhands,clenchedintofists,toattack‘them,’defendyourselffrom‘them,’orevenprotect‘them’fromthemselves.Itisamatterofsurvival,theysaid.Thisstory,ah,youlearneditsoquickly.Ittookyoualittlelongertolearnthetruthofit.Thetruthisthatyouforgotyourveryfirststoryinexchangeforsomethingnotyours.Believingthestoryofthosewhohadalreadyforgottentheirs,youreadilyraisedthosefistswithoutrememberingwhy.Canyouremembernow?”

Astheimagechangedagainandthecontoursturnedintogreensandpinks,thevegetalensemblecontinued.“Sincethebeginningofyou,asthatsmallchild-to-be,yourhandshaverestedincurledfists.Now,likethen,youarenotpreparingforsomefictionalbattle!Oh,no—youareholdingyourmaptight,alwaysopeninfrontofeyesthatyouhaveclosedtotherealityofwhatyoutrulyare.Now,justlikeever,yourhandsareholdingopenthemapthatradiatesthroughyouamagicaljourneyintothisworld.Yourmaphasalwaysbeenthere;it’sneverbeenlost.Rightnow—asyouhavealwaysdone—youareholdingitopenwiththosehandsofyours.Butwhatyouchoosetoseeisuptoyou.Handsclenchedintofistsreadytojudgeandstrikewhathasnomeaning,wouldyoureallykeepchoosing,aplayofsmokingmirrors,theghostlyimpressionsthestrangelightofthisworldflickersinfrontofyoureyeswideshut?

Orwouldyouchoosetoopenyoureyesandseetheportal—yes,theportal.Crossitsthresholdandopenyourselftothepathyourmaphasalwaysbeenshowingyou.Thisistheroadoflightleadingforwardtothebeginning,apoint

oforiginandarrivalwherealltimelinesanddreamscapesjoin.This—here,now—isthespacewheretheseparatepartsdissolveandunifyintothelightthatistheradianceofyou.Ah,nowyouremember!”

AndthePeruvianduovanished,leavingbehindtheseedofapromise,theanswertotheawkwardhowquestion:howdoyouopeneyesthatyouthinkareopen?Atthetime,Ihadnotevenavaguesensethatinthedarknessbelowthesurface,theresolutiontotheriddlehadalreadystartedgerminating.Butithad.Andonespring,thepromisebloomed.

ItwasthebeginningofSeptemberin2016inWesternAustralia.Onceagain,lifeemergedfromitswintryhibernationandturnedintothepulsatingrhythmsthatbirthnewbeginnings.AndsodidI.Afterwintermonthsofgestatingthecouragetoventureintowritingthisbook,theapproachingspringhadmidwifedthedeliveryofthefirstchapter,andnowitwaspersuadingthelittlebudofthesecondchaptertounfurlitspetals.Thisiswhensomethingunexpectedhappened,andthewritingwashaltedforacoupleofweeks(orsoitseemed).Acallhadcome,andIknewwhattodo.

Manyyearsearlier,whenIhadvisitedDonMinPeru,hehadtoldmethatafterafewdietasundertheguidanceofvariouscuranderos(theplantshamans),thecallcomestostartdieting“unsupervised,”alonewiththeplants.Thattimehadcomeformenow,andthecallwasclear.Iloadedmycarwithafewclothes,aboxofgreenleafyvegetablesandabagofrice,somemusicalinstruments,andmymesa—aportablealtar,or“sacredmedicinebundle,”containingstones,herbs,andotherpersonalartifactsusedforhealing,prayer,andceremony.

IfoundmyselfdrivingsouthforfivehoursinthecompanyofPicasso,myloyalcanineassistant,tostayatthehouseofafriendwhohappenedtobegoingawayforacoupleofweeks.WewereheadedtowardthespectacularRainbowCoast,wherekarriandtingleforestsmeettheSouthernOcean.There,theValleyoftheGiantsishometosomeofthemostancienttreesintheworld,includingthemajesticfour-hundred-year-oldGiantTingleTree—thelargestlivingeucalyptusknown.Thecallhadnotcomefromthelargestandoldestones,though.Instead,theplantthathadmadethecallwasrelativelysmall,short-lived,andnotevennativetotheplace.Theplantthathadmadethecallwasoneofthegreatestspiritsofall!

Openinthemiddleofthelounge,mymesawasdecoratedwithfreshflowersIhadcollectedduringashortwalkinthebushlandsurroundingmyfriend’splace.Ihadarrangedtheflowerstoencircleasmallcupinthecenterofthemesa.

Insidethecup,thedriedleavesofthemapacho—alsoknownbyitscommonappellative,tobacco,orbyitsscientificname,Nicotianarustica—hadbeensoakinginwatersincethenightbefore,makingthecold-waterextractalmostreadyforuse.Idrankitthatnightandbeganmyone-on-onetuitionswiththisgreatteacher.

Bythefollowingafternoon,thespiritoftheTobaccoapproachedmeinanimalformasIfoundmyselfluciddreamingofalargeanacondaappearingoutofanimmenseoceanofwaterwithitsmouthwideopen—thereitwas,theportalthePeruvianduohaddescribedintheveryfirststoryseveralyearsbefore.Finally,thehowquestion—howdoyouopenyoureyestotherealitythatliesbeyondthesmokingmirrorsandghostlyimpressionsofthisworld—wasnolongerawkward.Thepromisedteachingwasreadytoblossom,andIknewitstruthinstinctively.Inthesameway,IknewthatthiswashowTobaccowasinvitingmetoopenmygloriousmapandcrossthethresholdintothebeginning.AsIdid,hegiftedmehispreciousicarodeayuda,amedicinesongtocallforhisassistancewheneveritwasrequired.Fortheninedaysthatfollowed,Iwalkedbetweentheworldsaccompaniedbythisgenerousspirit,whosepresence—Iunderstandnow—isatruegifttotheworld.Heisthemedicinethathealshumanity’sgreatgrief.

“Ihavebeenwithhumanityforalongtime,”hesaidonthefirstdayofthedieta.Inadream,Tobaccoshowedmetheimageofabrightjade-greentileemergingfrompitch-blackdarkness.Onthetile,agodlikecharacterwasdepictedinastylethatremindedmeofanancientMayanglyph.AndthenIknew.Tobaccowasreveredforhissacrednessandalreadyusedceremoniallybackthen,millenniabeforeanyEuropeaneversetfootinMesoamerica.2“IamtheHolySpiritwhoconnectsyouwithGreatSpirit,theGodCreator,theUniversalMind,theDivine,orwhatevernameyouwanttouse,”hesaid.Inthatmoment,Iunderstoodwhythisplanthasbeenandstillissosacredtosomanycultures,nomatterthedifferentgeographicalandhistoricalbackgrounds.“Iamtheonewhohealshumanity’sgrief,thedeepsenseofseparationfromGod,thatpainfuldisconnectionfromtheUniversalMindthatmakesyouperceiveyourselfasaloneandforsaken.”Hecontinued,“Mychild,humanityisdrowninginanoceanofgrief!Youarefillingupyourlungswiththisemotionalpaintothepointthatyoucannolongerbreathe.Imeettheseemotionalwaterswithmyholyfireanddrythisdiseaseoutofyourpurebeing.Ibringpeace.”

Tobaccowastednotime,andwithinacoupleofdaysfromstartingthedieta,Ihadclearvisionsoftheplantinflowerandwhattouseitfor.Hepointedoutthat

hisflowersarethebestremedyforpulmonaryconditions,specificallypneumonia.3Atfirst,thisinformationhadseemedparadoxicaltome—howcouldtobacco,awell-knowncauseoflungdiseases,betheremedyforthoseconditions?Myslightsenseofdisbeliefdidnotfazehimonebit.Quitethecontrary,Tobaccocarriedonexplainingwhyandwhenheturnsintoapoison.Thenheproceededtogivepreciseinstructionsonwhenandhowtopreparehimintoamedicinetohealpneumonia:“Byaffectingtheproperfunctioningofthelungsandcompromisingtheamountofoxygenthatreachestheblood,pneumoniais,infact,thephysicalmanifestationofgrief,thepainofseparationintheemotionalbody.”

Atthatpoint,somethingprofoundclickedinmymind,andSocoba’swords—“thewisdomisintheoxygen,andthebloodisthegreatconnector”—echoedinmyhead.Andthereshewas.BothSocobaandTobaccowerenowpresentwithme,buttomysurprise,Icouldnottellthemapart.Theywerebothspeaking—speakingasone.“Ateverybreath,humanityopensitslungs.Withineachbreath,unifyingmoleculesofoxygeninfuseyourhumanitywiththeirpurewisdom,therealizationthatyouarenotseparatefromthewhole.”Theirperfectsynchronicityproducedasenseofdeepcalm,andtherhythmicalflowofmybreathwaslikeasacredhymntonedinunisonwiththem.4“Withoutfear,”theycontinued,“thebloodbringsthisrealizationintotheflowofembodiment,andindoingso,yourtruth—astateofcommunionwiththewhole—ismademanifestviayourheart.”

Andwiththat,Socobavanished,assmoothlyasshehadappeared,leavingTobaccotocontinuetheconversation.“Whenconstrictedbygrief,yourlungscannotopen,theriverofbreathcannotflow,andthewisdomofoxygencannotpourin.Preventedfromrealizingitsveryownnature,humanityischokinginthispainfulstateandevengettingsomewhataccustomed—addicted—toit.”Hewentontenderly,“Ineachmoment,humanitycanopenitseyestoclosetheriftthatseparatesitfromthewholebyrealizingthatthereisnoriftatall.Thisrealizationhealstherootcauseofhumanity’spain.Instead,ithaslookedforaquickrelieffromitseffects,fillingupthelungswithmysmoketobringatemporarypeaceawayfromapainitforgotitneverneeded.Insteadofaskingforcompletehealing,humanityhasmisusedmeasapartialsedative—thisabuseturnedmeintoapoison.”

Atthispoint,Tobaccopaused.HewasgivingmethespacetolistentoaquestionIdidn’tknowIhadasked:howdoweactuallyhealthisgriefthroughrealization?Inanswertoit,heofferedupanimage.Agoldenmapmaterialized

inmyvision,accompaniedbythefeelingofsomethingIhadseenbefore,thesenseofknowing,amemory.ThenIheard,“Mychild,youaregrievingforthelossofsomethingyouneverlost.Youbelieveyoulostyourpreciousmap,theoneguidingyourmagicaljourneyintothisworldandalwaysremindingyouthetruthofwhoyouare.Butsee,thatmapisopeninfrontofyourightnow.”

Allofasudden,IknewTobaccowasnolongeralone.JoinedbytheAyahuascaVineandChacruna,theyspoketogetherasone,“Yourseeingwasreplacedbyastorythatwasneveryours,butyoubelievedittobe!Youhavecometodefinewhoyouarebythisinsanebelief.Itiscertain,then,thatallofyourperceptionswouldbeinsane.Itispredictablethatyouwouldperceiveyourveryexistencecomingunderthreatwhenthebeliefofwhatyouareisunderattack.Astheimaginaryvictimofahypotheticalaggressor,the‘identity’giventoyoubyyourbeliefseesthethreatofitspossibleannihilation,andinself-defense,itcallsforattack.Atitscommand,youfight;youraiseyourfistsnotreallyknowingwhy.Ordoyou?”

Withasoothingtone,theycontinued,“Child,ofcourseyoufeeldisorientedandscared!Youbelieveinwhatdonotexist.Youbelieveinwhoyouarenot.Butknowthis.You,thatgloriousbeamoflightthattraveledacrosstheinfinitetobebornintothebodyofthisworld,alwayswere;youexistedbeforeanybeliefsystem,beforeanythingandaftereverything.Howcanyoutrulyloseyourmap?Howcanyoutrulyforgetyourveryfirststory?Griefandthepainexistonlyinyourbelief!Youareyourgloriousmap;youareyourveryfirststory.Youaretheonlystorythereis.”AstheAyahuascaVineandChacrunadisappearedwithatriumphantsmile,aluminousimprintstartedglowinginthefieldofmyvision.“Forgiveness,”whisperedTobacco,“thisaloneilluminatesthewayoutofthemazehumanityhascreatedwithallitsbeliefs.”

Onceagain,TobaccoansweredmyquestionbeforeIknewIhadaskedit.“Forgivenessisnotadoing.Itisanundoingoftheimaginary‘self,’theoneyouhavecometobelieveyouare.Thearrivalofforgivenesscallsfortheannihilationofthiscounterfeiteranditsbeliefsystem.Bevigilant!Thismockdoingofyourselfwillstrikeitsfinaldeceptivemanoeuvertokeepyoutrappedinitsmazeinastateofseparation—thebeliefthatyoudonotdeserveforgivenessbecauseyouareguiltyofallpossiblewrongdoings.Butthisissimplynotthetruth,becauseyouarenoneofyourdoings.Acceptthis,evenifyoudonotunderstandthisnow.Acceptthis,andyouwillrememberwhoyouare.Acceptthis,andyouwillknowittobetrue.Andthroughthis,youwillrealizethat,intheend,thelovethatyouaredoesnotneedforgivenessatall!”

Afloodingoftearswashedoverme,insideandout.Ifinallyunderstood.Insidethemazeofsmokingmirrors,ghostlyimpressions,andbleakillusionswithnomeaning,weneverfeelsafeandathome.Believingthatwelackeverything,wekeepdoingbyseekingsomethingthatweneedwithoutevenknowingwhatthatsomethingactuallyis.Whatwetrulyaredoesnotlackanything,doesnotseekorneedanything,becauseitisalreadybeingeverything.Tobaccowasright;forgivenessisnotadoing,butanemergingoutofallillusions,awakingthatdissolvesthegriefofseparationandsimultaneouslyreturnsustoourselves,totheonlyrealitywecannotnotbe—tolove.Here,wefindpeace.Here,Ifoundpeace.

~

“Hereistheveryfirstandtheverylaststoryofyou.Storiesarealearningtoolforthesoul.Onceyourememberwhoweare,younolongerneedanystoryatall.”Thusspoketheplant.

EndnotesPrelude

1Alongerversionofthisstorycanbefoundhere:M.Gagliano,“IntheEyeoftheBeholder:APersonalStoryofTwoSeeds,”SydneyEnvironmentalInstitute,UniversityofSydney,May10,2017,http://sydney.edu.au/environmentinstitute/blog/in-the-eyeof-thebeholdera-personal-storyof-two-seeds.

ChapterO1Plantsdon’thaveaskinassuch,buttheydohavedermaltissue,orepidermis,

toprotecttheirinnerfromtheouter.

2WhentheleavesofHimatanthussucuubaarebrokenofftheirstems,andwhenthestemsarebrokenfromthebranches,amilky-whitefluidmaterial,latex,isexuded.Woundingthetreebarkwillalsoexudethelatex.ThelatexofthistreeisapopularnaturalremedyinPeruvianherbalism,anditslong-standinguseforhealingwoundswasverifiedbyPeruvianresearchersinananimalstudypublishedin1997(seeL.Villegas,I.D.Fernández,H.Maldonado,R.Torres,A.Zavaleta,A.J.Vaisberg,andG.B.Hammond,“EvaluationoftheWound-HealingActivityofSelectedTraditionalMedicinalPlantsfromPeru.”JournalofEthnopharmacology55(1997):193–200).Himatanthussucuubaisoneofmorethantwentythousandplantspeciesfromfortydifferentfamiliesthatproducelatex.Despiteitsubiquity,whichatteststoitsbiologicalsignificance,thefunctionoflatexinnatureisnotfullyunderstood.Itismostlikelyusedbytheplantsaspartofadefensivemechanismagainstherbivorysuchasthedeliveryofanti-herbivorycompoundsandrapidwoundhealing.SeeG.Bauer,C.Friedrich,C.Gillig,F.Vollrath,T.Speck,andC.Holland,“InvestigatingtheRheologicalPropertiesofNativePlantLatex,”JournaloftheRoyalSocietyInterface11(2014):20130847.

3Mapachoisapotentvarietyofnaturaljungletobacco.Itssmokeisconsideredofutmostimportanceforitsroleasthemediatorbetweentheshamanandallotherplantspirits.Fordetailsonthepreparationofthevariousformsoftobaccoandtheiruses(ritual,medical,andotherwise)inSouthAmerica,aswellasanextensivebibliographicreferencelisttoearlierworks,seeJohannesWilbert,TobaccoandShamanisminSouthAmerica(NewHaven,CT:YaleUniversityPress,1987).

4Itisduringsuchaprocessthatthestudentlearnshowtoconnectwiththespiritofthatparticularplant,whichwillinstructhimorherthroughvisionsandsongs.IntheWesternworld,thiskindofshamanicworkisoftenequatedwiththeuseofthepsychoactiveherbalbrewknownasayahuasca.Andindeed,theayahuascamovementintheWesthasgainedincrediblepopularityoverthelastfewdecades.Yetallvegetalistas(plantshamans)areadamantaboutthecrucialimportanceofthedietaandinsistonthefactthattherealworkof

becomingfamiliarandsensitivetothespiritoftheplantsandtheirteachingstakesplaceduringtheisolatingperiodofthedieta.Becauseofthis,attendingayahuascaceremoniesalonewillnottakethestudentfar.Foranoverviewofthetopic,seeLuisEduardoLuna,Vegetalismo:ShamanismAmongtheMestizoPopulationofthePeruvianAmazon(Stockholm:Almqvist&WiksellInternational,1986).Seealso,L.E.Luna,“TheHealingPracticesofaPeruvianShaman,”JournalofEthnopharmacology11(1984):123–133;andL.E.Luna,“TheConceptofPlantsAsTeachersAmongFourMestizoShamansofIquitos,NortheasternPerú,”JournalofEthnopharmacology11(1984):135–156.Forspecificdetailsonthedieta,seechapter5inStephanBeyer,SingingtothePlants:AGuidetoMestizoShamanismintheUpperAmazon(Albuquerque:UniversityofNewMexicoPress,2009),52–62).

5See,forexample,N.Fakhrudin,B.Waltenberger,M.Cabaravdic,A.G.Atanasov,C.Malainer,D.Schachner,E.H.Heissetal.“IdentificationofPlumericinAsaPotentNewInhibitoroftheNF-kBPathwaywithAnti-InflammatoryActivityinVitroandinVivo,”BritishJournalofPharmacology171,no.7(2014):1676–1686.

6Fromthemodern(Western)scientificperspective,knowledgeregardingthemedicinalpropertiesofplantswasdevelopedbyourancestorsthroughmillenniaofhands-onexperiencegainedbytrialanderror.Accordingtothisstory,thisbodyofknowledgewasthentransmittedorally,passeddownfromonegenerationtothenextaspartofourculturaltraditions.Foradiscussionontheepistemologicalproblemofthisview,seeStephenHarrodBuhner,TheLostLanguageofPlants:TheEcologicalImportanceofPlantMedicinesforLifeonEarth(WhiteRiverJunction,VT:ChelseaGreen,2002),43–47.SeealsoDavidAbram,TheSpelloftheSensuous:PerceptionandLanguageinaMore-Than-HumanWorld(NewYork:VintageBooks,1997),115–117.

7SeediscussionofPlato’sPhaedrusinMichaelMarder,ThePhilosopher’sPlant:AnIntellectualHerbarium(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,2014),3–18.

8SeePamMontgomery,PlantSpiritHealing:AGuidetoWorkingwithPlantConsciousness(Rochester,VT:Bear,2008),98.

9SeeMontgomery,PlantSpiritHealing,180.

10Thankstothefourironatomsofthepigmentheme,thecomponentthatgives

blooditsredcolor,hemoglobinisabletominglewiththeoxygenavailableinthelungsandthenloadandtransportthosepreciousatomsintothetissuesofthebody.Oncetheoxygenisreleased,globin,theproteincomponentofhemoglobin,isabletocombinewithcarbondioxideandcarryitbacktothelungswhereitcanberealized.Alesswidelyknownfact,however,isthathemoglobinshavebeenknowntoexistinplants,and,mostintriguingly,theseproteinsmayhaveacommonfunctionandsimilarhistoryofevolutionaryadaptationsinbothplantsandanimals.Forreviewsonthetopic,see,forexample,V.Garrocho-Villegas,S.K.Gopalasubramaniam,andR.Arredondo-Peter,“PlantHemoglobins:WhatWeKnowSixDecadesAfterTheirDiscovery,”Gene398(2007):78–85;andS.Kuntu,J.T.Trent,andM.S.Hargrove,“Plants,HumansandHemoglobins.”TrendsinPlantScience8,no.8(2003):387–393.

11IntheWesternmetaphysicaltradition,forexample,Aristotlephilosophizedovertheexistenceofthesoul—fromtheancientGreekψυχή(psuche,“breathoflife”)—asthatwhichmakesanorganismanorganismatall,andtheideaofavegetativeornutritivesoulthatepitomizesplantsbutisalsopresentwithinallanimals,includinghumanbeings.SeeAristotle’snestedhierarchyofsoulfunctionsinbooks2and3ofDeAnima(OntheSoul)(London:PenguinClassics,1987).

12EchoingthefamousHeraclitusfragment123,“lovestohide,”referringtothecrypticandelusivenatureofplantlife.SeeMichaelMarder,Plant-Thinking:APhilosophyofVegetalLife(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,2013,28).

13SeeMarder,ThePhilosopher’sPlant,13.

14Foradefinitionandbriefhistoryofempathy,seeE.Clarke,T.DeNora,andJ.Vuoskoski,“Music,Empathy,andCulturalUnderstanding,”PhysicsofLifeReviews15(2015):61–88.Foranin-depthdiscussiononempathyandplants,seeM.Marder,“TheLifeofPlantsandtheLimitsofEmpathy,”Dialogue51,no.2(2012):259–273.

15InthewordsofphilosopherEdmundHusserl,thisexperienceoftheotherisakindof“originalreciprocalco-existence.”SeediscussionofthetopicinD.Zahavi,“Husserl’sIntersubjectiveTransformationofTranscendentalPhilosophy,”JournaloftheBritishSocietyforPhenomenology27,no.7(1996):228–245.SeealsoDanZahavi,SelfandOther:Exploring

Subjectivity,Empathy,andShame(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,2015).

16Foranintroductoryoverviewonayahuasca,seeStephanBeyer,SingingtothePlants,207–212.

17Eachicaroisadirectlineofcommunicationbetweentheplantandthehuman.Becauseofitsmultidimensionalnature,itisdifficulttodistinguishbetweensingingandlisteningwhileonesingsit;itseemsmoreaccuratetosaythaticarosareconstantlysingingthemselves.AusefuloverviewaboutwhaticarosareandhowtheyareusedcanbefoundinStephanBeyer,SingingtothePlants,63–80.

18SeeDavidAbram’sdiscussionofMerleau-PontyinTheSpelloftheSensuous,66–67.

19M.Gagliano,M.Renton,N.Duvdevani,M.Timmins,andS.Mancuso,“OutofSightbutNotOutofMind:AlternativeMeansofCommunicationinPlants.”PLoSONE7,no.5(2012):e37382.SeealsoM.Gagliano,M.Renton,N.Duvdevani,M.Timmins,andS.Mancuso,“AcousticandMagneticCommunicationinPlants:IsItPossible?PlantSignaling&Behavior7,no.10(2012):1346–1348.

ChapterR1Generally,thetermphilanthropistisusedtoindicateawealthyhumanwho

assistscharitablecausesbygivingmoneyandtime.Herethetermisappliedtoplantsintheoriginalmeaningoftheword—derivedfromtheLatinphilanthropia,which,inturn,wasderivedfromtheancientGreekphilanthropos(“lovinghumanity”fromphil-,“loving”andanthropos,“humanity”)—byreferringtothesenseofcaring,nourishing,supporting,andenhancingthehumanbeing.

2MatthewHalloffersanin-depthdiscussionofenvironmentalethicsandindigenousworldviewsinhisbookPlantsAsPersons:APhilosophicalBotany(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,2011),99–117.

3SeeM.Gagliano,M.Renton,N.Duvdevani,M.Timmins,andS.Mancuso,“OutofSightbutNotOutofMind:AlternativeMeansofCommunicationinPlants.”PLoSONE7,no.5(2012):e37382.

4“Thehistoryofscienceteachesthatthegreatestadvancesinthescientificdomainhavebeenachievedbyboldthinkerswhoperceivednewandfruitfulapproachesthatothersfailedtonotice.”—LouisdeBroglie,Nobellaureate,April25,1978.

5SeeThomasKuhn’srevolutionaryandcontroversialbookTheStructureofScientificRevolutions(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1962).Afiftiethanniversaryeditionofthisworkwaspublishedin2012.

6Forarecentoverview,seeRichardKarban,“TheLanguageofPlantCommunication(andHowItComparestoAnimalCommunication,”inTheLanguageofPlants:Science,Philosophy,Literature,ed.M.Gagliano,JohnC.Ryan,andPatríciaVieira,3–26(Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,2017);andRobertRagusoandAndréKessler,“SpeakinginChemicalTongues:DecodingtheLanguageofPlantVolatiles,”alsoinGagliano,Ryan,andVieira,LanguageofPlants,27–61.

7Inhisstimulatingpersonalperspectiveonelementsofthescientificmethodandtheattributesofascientistsearchingforthetruth,IrvinRothchild,anemeritusprofessorofreproductivebiology,hasasked,“Shouldn’tascientificpaperbeatleastasmuchfuntoreadasagooddetectivestory?”SeeI.

Rothchild,“Induction,Deduction,andtheScientificMethod:AnEclecticOverviewofthePracticeofScience”(Madison,WI:SocietyfortheStudyofReproduction,2006),1–13.

8SeeH.R.Maturana,“ScienceandDailyLife:TheOntologyofScientificExplanations,”inSelforganization:PortraitofaScientificRevolution,ed.W.Krohn,G.Küppers,andH.Nowotny,12–35,SociologyoftheSciencesYearbook14.(Dordrecht,Netherlands:Springer,1990).

9Thetermthreesistersreferstocorn,beans,andsquashplants.ThethreesisterssystemisthefamoustraditionalNativeAmericanmethodofgrowingtheseplantstogetherascompanions,aswellaseatingthemtogether—astheycomplementeachothernutritionally—andcelebratingthemtogetheraspreciouslife-givinggiftsfromtheGreatSpirit(accordingtoIroquoislegend).Today,cornisoneofthemostgeneticallymodifiedplantspecies.Itiskindofironic,then,thatthesameplantthatissoheavilysubjectedtobiotechnologicalmanipulations,includingRNAsilencing,wasalsothefirstplantto“speakup.”

10TheFrenchpoetFrancisPongesaid,“theyhavenovoice”(ilsn’ontpasdevoix).Ponge’sstatementseemstobeconfirmedbyourexperienceofawalkinnature,andyetitissofarfromthetruth.SeeM.MarderandM.Gagliano,2013,“HowDoPlantsSound?”ColumbiaUniversityPressBlog,www.cupblog.org/?p=10609,andalsorepublishedinMarder’sbookGrafts(Minneapolis,MN:Univocal,2016),101–102.

11SeediscussiononthetermvoiceinE.K.Watts,“‘Voice’and‘Voicelessness’inRhetoricalStudies,”QuarterlyJournalofSpeech87,no.2(2001):179–196.

12SeediscussioninJenniferPeeplesandStephenDepoe,eds.,VoiceandEnvironmentalCommunication(Basingstoke,U.K.:PalgraveMacmillan,2014)specifically,chap.9,“TheLanguageThatAllThingsSpeak:ThoreauandtheVoiceofNature,”byWilliamHomestead,183–204.SeealsoE.K.Watts,“‘Voice’and‘Voicelessness’inRhetoricalStudies,”QuarterlyJournalofSpeech87,no.2(2001):179–196.

13AsarguedbyS.Vogel,“TheSilenceofNature,”EnvironmentalValues15,no.2(2006):145–171.

14SeeM.Gagliano,“GreenSymphonies:ACallforStudiesonAcousticCommunicationinPlants,”BehavioralEcology24,no.4(2012):789–796.

15SeeM.Gagliano,S.Mancuso,andD.Robert,“TowardsUnderstandingPlantBioacoustics,”TrendsinPlantScience17,no.6(2012):323–25.

16Thisappliestomembersofhumancommunitiesaswellasnonhumanothers.

17Foranin-depthdiscussiononthetopic,seeM.Gagliano,JohnC.Ryan,andPatríciaVieira,eds.,TheLanguageofPlants:Science,Philosophy,Literature(Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,2017),andspecificallychap.5,“ToHearPlantsSpeak,”byMichaelMarder,103–125andchap.14,“IntheKeyofGreen?TheSilentVoicesofPlantsinPoetry,”byJohnC.Ryan,273–296.

18Devices,whichassigna“musical”voicetoplantsandmakethem“sing,”havebeenaroundsincetheseventies.Thesearenothingmorethanmultimetersthatmeasureelectriccurrent,voltage,resistanceinDCcurrent,andimpedanceinACcircuits;theyhavebeenmodifiedsothattheydetecttheimpedancefromaleaftotherootsystemandthenuseaMIDIinterfacetoarbitrarilyassignmusicalnotestodifferentrangesofvoltagevalues.Thesegadgetshavebecomeincreasinglypopularandmaybequiteappealingatfirst,astheyappeartocreateatangibleconnectionbetweenthehumanandtheplantbyclaimingtoofferadirectexperienceofaplant“voice”(andinthesamecase,stretchingitfurthertoplantintelligenceandconsciousness).Sadly,thesoundsemittedbythesedevicesarenotthesoundsemittedbytheplant.Instead,theymerelyaretheelectricalsignalsfilteredthroughsetnotesthatproducetheexperienceof“plantmusic.”Scientificallyspeaking,thereisasignificantdifferencebetweentheacousticandvibrationalsignalsofaplantanditselectricalcircuitry,asthetwosignalsareofdifferentnatures.Butasidefromthis,thereisanothersimplereasonwhysuchanapproachtoplantshasnointegrity.Justconsiderthis:humansalsoproduceelectricityandcanbepluggedintothesedevicesandmadeto“sing.”However,nobodywouldbelievethatthesoundcomingfromsuchadeviceis,infact,thevoiceofthehuman.However,inthecaseofplants,wearemisledintobelievingthatthesoundcomingfromthedeviceis,infact,aplant’svoice.Likethehuman,plantshavetheirownvoice,andthereisnoneedtousetheirelectricalsignalstoproduceasurrogatevoice.Whilesuchdevicesmayhavehadtheirplaceintheseventies,theirimmatureanthropocentricapproachisdisrespectful,asit

overridestheagencyoftheother(theplant)and,assuch,revealsthesameabusivemind-setresponsibleforthedisregardandthedestructionofplantsandnature.The“musicofplants”maybeportrayedasascientificexplorationintothecommunicativeworldofplantsandmayseemtocarrythepromiseofdeepeningourunderstandingofplantperceptionandintelligence,butourignoranceisdangerous.Forthosewhocarenottoignorebutlookbeyondthesurface,youwillsoonrealizethatthisapproachtoplantsisfarfromenlightening.

ChapterY1Forexample,seeMichaelHarner,TheWayoftheShaman(NewYork:

HarperOne,1990);HankWesselman,TheSpiritwalker:MessagesfromtheFuture(NewYork:Bantam,1996);andHankWesselman,TheJourneytotheSacredGarden:AGuidetoTravelingintheSpiritualRealms(Carlsbad,CA:HayHouse,2012.

2Amemberoftheparsleyfamily,osha(Ligusticumporteri)isanimportantethnobotanicalplantwithapungentanddistinctivelyspicyroot.IthaslongbeenusedforbothceremonialandmedicinalpurposesbyvariousNativeAmericantribes,includingtheApache,Navaho,Ute,Zuni,andLakota.Theplantisknownas“bearroot”becauseitisthoughtthatNativeAmericanslearnedofitsusebyobservingbearsdigginguprootstoeatorrubintheirfur,possiblytorepelinsectsandsoothebites,abehaviorknownas“self-medication.”Indeed,notonlybearsbutalsochimpanzees,starlings,grackles,caterpillars,andantsareknowntousemedicinalplantstopreventandtreatailments,makingself-medicationapracticehumanssharewithotheranimalspecies.Forexamples,seeD.H.ClaytonandN.D.Wolfe,“TheAdaptiveSignificanceofSelf-Medication,”TrendsinEcologyandEvolution8,no.2(1993):60–63;M.A.Huffman“Self-MedicativeBehaviorintheAfricanGreatApes:AnEvolutionaryPerspectiveintotheOriginsofHumanTraditionalMedicine,”BioScience51,no.8(2001):651–661;M.A.Huffman,“AnimalSelf-MedicationandEthno-Medicine:ExplorationandExploitationoftheMedicinalPropertiesofPlants,”ProceedingsoftheNutritionalSociety62(2003):371–381;P.Christe,A.Oppliger,F.Bancalà,G.Castella,andM.Chapuisat,“EvidenceforCollectiveMedicationinAnts,”EcologyLetters6(2003):19–22;E.M.Costa-Neto,“Zoopharmacognosy:TheSelf-MedicationBehaviorofAnimals,”InterfacesCientíficas—SaúdeeAmbiente1,no.1(2012):61–72;M.S.Singer,K.C.Mace,andE..Bernays,“Self-MedicationAsAdaptivePlasticity:IncreasedIngestionofPlantToxinsbyParasitizedCaterpillars,”PLoSONE4,no.3(2009):c47e096.

ChapterN1InElementsoftheScienceofBotany,AsEstablishedbyLinnaeus;withExamplestoIllustratetheClassesandOrdersofhisSystem(London:T.BensleyforJ.Murray,1812),RichardDuppareportedthattheplantwasalreadyknownbybothTheophrastus(c.371–287BCE),theancientGreekphilosopherandfavoritepupilofAristotle,andbyPlinytheElder(c.23–79CE),theancientRomannaturalist.However,thefirstformaldescriptionoftheplantwasbyCarlLinnaeusinhisSpeciesPlantarum(LaurentiusSalvius,1753).Fromthesixteenthtotheeighteenthcentury,Mimosafiguredprominentlyintheworkofmanynaturalistsandbotanists,whowereintriguedbytheseismonasticmovementsoftheplant(theclosingoftheleavesinresponsetotouch)aswellasitsnyctinasticmovements(thedroopingoftheleavesinresponsetotheonsetofdarkness—sometimesstillreferredtoas“sleepingmovements”).See,forexample,JohnHill,TheSleepofPlantsandCauseofMotionintheSensitivePlant,Explain’d.(London,1757);andCharlesDarwin,ThePowerofMovementinPlants(London,1880).Mimosaalsoinspiredseveralpoetsandbecameapopularsubjectofliterature,includinginErasmusDarwin’sTheBotanicGarden(J.Johnson,1781).AspointedoutbySamGeorge,“ItbecameasymbolofhumansensibilityinCowper’s‘ThePoet,TheOysterandtheSensitivePlant’(1782)andwasusedtoexploresentiencyinnatureandhumanfeelinginShelley’s‘TheSensitivePlant’(1820).Thesensitiveplantwasalsoametaphorformaleandfemalegenitaliainbawdyworks:JamesPerry’s‘Mimosa’(1779)containsphallicimagery.”SeeS.George“CarlLinnaeus,ErasmusDarwinandAnnaSeward:BotanicalPoetryandFemaleEducation,”ScienceandEducation23(2014):673–694.

2GarciadeOrta,ColóquiosdossimplesedrogashecousasmediçinaisdaIndia(Goa,1563);CastorDurantedaGualdo,HerbarioNuovo(Venice,1636).

3JohannDavidMauchart,Deherbamimosaseusentiente(Tübingen,1688);ÉtienneChauvin,Lexiconrationalesivethesaurusphilosophicumordinealphabeticodigestus(Rotterdam,1692).

4GiacomoZanoni,Istoriabotanica(Bologna,1675).

5Juliet,speakingtoRomeo:“What’sinaname?Thatwhichwecallarose/By

anyothernamewouldsmellassweet.”WilliamShakespeare,RomeoandJuliet,2.2.43–44,http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet.

6SeeR.M.Maniquis,“ThePuzzling‘Mimosa’:SensitivityandPlantSymbolsinRomanticism,”StudiesinRomanticism8,no.3(1969):129–155.Seealsowww.nybg.org/poetic-botany/mimosa,theNewYorkBotanicalGarden’sbeautifuldigitalexhibitiontitledPoeticBotany:ArtandScienceoftheEighteenth-CenturyVegetableWorld,whichbringstogethermanyofthehistoricalaswellascontemporaryresourcesonthisplant(andothers).AndIvanHenriques’sartworkatwww.ivanhenriques.com/works/jurema-action-plant,whereMimosapudicafeaturesasthe“actionplant”inaninteractivebio-machine.

7TheAristotelianperspectiveonthesensorialworldcontinueshavingaprofoundandlong-lastinginfluenceonmodernthought.Forarecentreviewofthetopic,see,forexample,A.P.Bos,“AristotleontheDifferenceBetweenPlants,Animals,andHumanBeingsandontheElementsAsInstrumentsoftheSoul(DeAnima2.4.415b18),”TheReviewofMetaphysics63,no.4(2010):821–841.Philosophicalreflectionsaside,thisisacorethemeIwilldiscussrecurrentlythroughoutthisbookbecauseofitshugerepercussionsonthemodusoperandiofmodernsocietyand,mostimportantly,onthecurrentstateoftheenvironmentataplanetaryscale.

8Althoughscholarsareyettoagreeconclusivelyonitsorigins,thecommediadell’artewasanearlyformofprofessionaltheaterthatbeganinItalyintheearlysixteenthcenturyandquicklyspreadacrossEurope.Itischaracterizedbytheuseofmasks,improvisation,anditsfamouscharactertypes:theservants,theoldmen,thelovers,andthecaptains.SeeWinifredSmith,TheCommediadell’Arte:AStudyinItalianPopularComedy(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,1912).Forsomeexamplesofrecentscholarshiponthetopic,seeRobertHenke’sPerformanceandLiteratureintheCommediadell’Arte(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,2002);M.A.Katritzky,“TheCommediadell’Arte:NewPerspectivesandNewDocuments,”EarlyTheatre11,no.2,1(2008):141–154;R.Henke,“BacktotheFuture:AReviewofComparativeStudiesinShakespeareandtheCommediadell’Arte,”EarlyTheatre11,no.2,1(2008):227–240.Furtherresourcesonthehistoryofthecommediadell’artearealsoavailablehere:www.commedia-dell-arte.com.

9SeeJosephCampbell,TheHerowithaThousandFaces(NewWorldLibrary,

2008),aseminalworkinwhichCampbelloutlinesthestructureofanymythicaljourneyinallitsphasesandarchetypalmotifs.

10JustlikeinT.S.Eliot’spoem“LittleGidding,”thelastpoemofFourQuartets(1942).Themainthemeofthepoemistimeandeternity,and“LittleGidding”exemplifiesthecyclicprogressionofhumanunderstanding.SeeT.S.Eliot,FourQuartets(NewYork:Faber&Faber,2001);alsoM.Gagliano,“PersonsAsPlants:EcopsychologyandtheReturntotheDreamofNature,”Landscapes:TheJournaloftheInternationalCentreforLandscapeandLanguage5,no.2(2013),http://ro.ecu.edu.au/landscapes/vol5/iss2/14.

11M.Gagliano,M.Renton,M.Depczynski,andS.Mancuso,“ExperienceTeachesPlantstoLearnFasterandForgetSlowerinEnvironmentsWhereItMatters,”Oecologia175(2014):63–72.

12Theoverallreactiontothe“Mimosaexperiment”aswellasthenot-so-wellfoundedscientificcriticismsandtheexplicitintellectualintoleranceandevenvulgarityweremasterfullycapturedbyMichaelPollaninhis“TheIntelligentPlant,”anessaybasedoneventsthattookplaceatthescientificmeetingonplantsignalingandbehaviorheldinVancouverearlierthatyear.SeeMichaelPollan,“TheIntelligentPlant”TheNewYorker,December23,2013;seealsoM.Gagliano,C.A.Abramson,andM.Depczynski,“PlantsLearnandRemember:Let’sGetUsedtoIt,”Oecologia186(2018):29–31.

13TheAmericanevolutionarybiologistErnstMayrdefinedthenatureofcausationinbiologyoverfiftyyearsago.Hemadethedistinctionbetweenproximatecausesastheimmediate,mechanicalinfluencesonaspecifictraitandultimatecausesasthoseexplainingthehistoricalevolutionofanorganism.Theproximate–ultimatedyadhasshapedtheperspectiveofmostcontemporarybiologists,aswellasphilosophersofscience,anditisstillwidelyacceptedtoday.SeeErnstMayr,“CauseandEffectinBiology,”Science134,no.3489(1961):1501–1506;andforanalternativeperspectiveonthetopic,K.N.Laland,K.Sterelny,J.Odling-Smee,W.Hoppitt,andT.Uller,“CauseandEffectinBiologyRevisited:IsMayr’sProximate-UltimateDichotomyStillUseful?”Science334,no.6062(2011):1512–1516.Forfurtherdiscussionofthistopic,seealsoM.Gagliano,J.C.Ryan,andP.Vieira,introductiontoTheLanguageofPlants:Science,Philosophy,Literature,vii–xxxiii(Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,2017).

14Generally,weareaccustomedtoseeingthetermfleshinreferencetothesoft

muscularandfattytissuethatcoversthebonesofvertebrateanimalsandusingmeattodescribetheanimalfleshweconsumeasfood.Thetermfleshisequallyappropriateforplanttissues,especiallypulpyandjuicyplantpartslikefruitsandvegetables.Althoughedibleandconsumedasfood,wedon’trefertoplantfleshasmeat.Iamawareofonlyoneexceptionwherethefleshofaplantiscalledmeatwhenconsumed.Thisisthecaseforthehikuri,thepeyotecactus(Lophophorawilliamsii)usedbytheWixarikapeopleoftheSierraMadreOccidentalinMexicoandbytheNativeAmericanChurchinUnitedStatesintheirtraditionalshamanicpractices.

15SeeMichaelMarder,Plant-Thinking:APhilosophyofVegetalLife(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,2013),179–188);A.PelizzonandM.Gagliano,“TheSentienceofPlants:AnimalRightsandRightsofNatureIntersecting?”AustralianAnimalProtectionLawJournal1(2015):5–13.

16EarlierinvestigationsofMimosahadstudiedtheplant’sbehaviorbyliterallycuttingitsleavesandexperimentingontheminPetridishes.Forexample,PhilipApplewhitedescribessuchanexperimentas,“Fromeachplant,leaves…wereexcisedandfloatedinwater,astandardprocedure…thatdoesnotdamagetheleaves,inaplasticpetridish.”Similarly,Fondevilleandcolleaguesdescribethestandardprocedure:“Theintermediatelydevelopedpinnaewerecutfromtheplantsandfloatedonwaterunderfluorescentillumination.…Theyweretestedatintervalsforsensitivitytotouch.”Fordetails,seeP.B.Applewhite,“BehavioralPlasticityintheSensitivePlant,Mimosa,”BehaviouralBiology7(1972):47–53;andJ.C.Fondeville,H.A.Borthwick,andS.B.Hendricks,“LeafletMovementofMimosapudicaIndicativeofPhytochromeAction,”Planta69(1966):357–364.

17Foranaccessibleandremarkableexplorationofthisissue,seeTerenceMcKenna,FoodoftheGods:TheSearchfortheOriginalTreeofKnowledge:ARadicalHistoryofPlants,DrugsandHumanEvolution(London:RiderBooks,1999).

18SeeM.Gagliano,2015.“InaGreenFrameofMind:PerspectivesontheBehavioralEcologyandCognitiveNatureofPlants,”AoBPlants7(2015):plu075;alsorefertoNancyE.Baker,“TheDifficultyofLanguage:WittgensteinonAnimalsandHumans,inLanguage,EthicsandAnimalLife,ed.N.Forsberg,M.Burley,andN.Hämäläinen,45–64(NewYork:Bloomsbury,2002).

19Theliteralmeaningofthewordanthropocentricreferstoplacingthehumaninthecenteroftheuniversalstage.Interestingly,itsapplicationisnotevencoherentwithitsownmeaning,whichsomehowhighlightstheintrinsicmadnessofit.Infact,asifthehumanbeingasthereferencepointinthe“center”wasnotenough,wehavefabricatedanewpointandmovedourselvesthere,atthe“top.”Thispositioningconstrainsallotherspeciestoa“below”positionandsimultaneouslyforcesourideaoftheuniversalstageitselftoconformtoapyramidalshape.

20Implicitbias,automaticstereotypes,andprejudicehadlongbeenassumedtobefixedbehavioralresponses,theinfluenceofwhichwasinescapableasitoccurredwithoutconsciouscontrol.However,wenowknowthattheseattitudesaremalleableandresponsivetoawiderangeofstrategic,social,andcontextualinfluences.Forsomeexamples,seeI.Blair,“TheMalleabilityofAutomaticStereotypesandPrejudice,”PersonalityandSocialPsychologyReview6,no.3(2002):242–261;andL.Roos,S.Lebrecht,J.W.Tanaka,andM.J.Tarr,“CanSingularExamplesChangeImplicitAttitudesintheReal-World?”FrontiersinPsychology4(2013):594.Further,thetopicinthisspecificcontextwasdiscussedintheGaglianoetal.,introductiontoTheLanguageofPlants.

ChapterG1DonJwasavictimofbrujeria(witchcraft)andpassedawayin2016.

2Thisplantisknowntoberesistanttoahighdegreeofaridity;whiledietingwithit,Piñonblancoshowedmethathebestowsthesamecapacitytoendurestrenuousconditionsonhumansbyincreasingtheirstaminaandsupportingtheirimmunesystem.

3Inmydream,thespiritofthisplanthadpresentedhimselfamedicaldoctor,thoughIwastotallyunawareatthetimethattheplanthadthegenusnameJatropha,whichisderivedfromtheGreekwordsiatrós(doctor)andtrophé(food),whichimpliesthetraditionalmedicinalroleofthisplantacrosscountries.SeeD.M.R.Prasad,A.Izam,andM.R.Khan,“Jatrophacurcas:PlantofMedicalBenefits,”JournalofMedicinalPlantsResearch6,no.14(2012):2691–2699.

4AyahumarefersheretoCouroupitaguianensis,atreenativetothetropicalforestsofnortheasternSouthAmerica.However,AyahumaisalsothenameofoneofthemainprotagonistsoftheIntiRaymi—theIncaFestivaloftheSun,whichtakesplaceannuallytowardtheendofJuneintheAndeanvillagesofPeru,Bolivia,Argentina,andEcuador.Thefestivalisanoccasionforcelebratingthelife-givingpowerofthesun,aswellasgivingthanksfortheharvest,henceaperfecttimeforrenewingandstrengtheningtherelationshipwithPachamama—MotherEarth.Aspartofthecelebrations,theAyahumaleadsaritualperformanceinwhichagroupofdancersgoaroundincircles(representingtheequinoxesandsolstices)whilestampingtheirfeettoencourageMotherEarthtoberejuvenatedforthenewagriculturalcycle.TheAyahumawearsabrightlycoloredhand-knittedmask,whichhasbecomeaniconoftheAndeanfolklore.Alinkbetweenthesymbolicandthereal(interior-exterior),histwo-facedmaskrepresentsthedualityoftheworld:pastandfuture,dayandnight,goodandbad.Themaskalsobearstwelvehorns(representingthetwelvemonthsoftheyear)andotherattachmentsthatlooklikeantennas(representingsnakes,anAndeansymbolofwisdom).WhentheSpaniardsfirstencountereditduringthecolonizationofSouthAmerica,theyconsideredtheAyahumaandhismaskasthedepictionofademoniccharacter.However,fortheindigenouspeople,theAyahumaisthematerializationoftheenergiesofPachamama(i.e.,thevitallifeforcesfound

innature)andhenceishighlyrespected.

5IvanPavlovwasaRussianphysiologistwhodiscoveredanewtypeoflearning—associativelearning—wherebyhisdogslearnedtoassociatethesoundofabelltothearrivaloffood.ForadescriptionofPavlov’sexperimentsee:S.A.McLeod,“Pavlov’sDogs,”SimplyPsychology,2013,www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html.

6ThetreehasbeenknowninIndiaforatleastthreethousandyears.Accordingtosomescholars,Europeantradersbroughtittothesubcontinent;othersproposeamoreancientmigrationroute.SeeJ.L.SorensonandC.L.Johannessen,“ScientificEvidenceforPre-ColumbianTransoceanicVoyages,”Sino-PlatonicPapers133(2004).

7AccordingtoHindutradition,thecannonballtreeissacredbecausetheflowerpetalsresemblethehoodofthe“Naga,”asacredsnakeprotectingthestigmaknownasthe“Shivalingham”;itsymbolizesthesanctifiedphallusandtheserpentprotectorofelementalsexualenergy.Thetree’sothernames,“nagalinga”and“shivalingam,”reiteratethetree’ssymbolism.

8ThecannonballtreeisconfusedwiththeSal(Shorearobusta),thetreewhoseflowerssupposedlybloomedinunisonwhenGautamaBuddhapassedawayandunderwhichthepreviousBuddhaVessabhuattainedenlightenment.TheBodhitreeunderwhichSiddharthaGautamareachedenlightenmentandbecametheBuddhaisFicusreligiosa.

9Intraditionalmedicine,theplantisusedasadisinfectant,amicrobicide,andanantidepressant.Saidtohaveantibacterial,antiseptic,andanalgesicqualities,thebarksupposedlycurescolds,thejuicefromitsleavesisgoodfortreatingmalariaandforskindiseases,chewingyoungleavesalleviatestoothache,andtheinteriorofthefruitcandisinfectwounds.Thepulpissometimesfedtopigsandpoultrytokillintestinalworms.SeeM.S.ShekhawatandM.Manokari,“InVitroPropagation,MicromorphologicalStudiesandExVitroRootingofCannonBallTree(Couroupitaguianensisaubl.):AMultipurposeThreatenedSpecies,”PhysiologyandMolecularBiologyofPlants22,no.1(2016):131–142.

10Foranintroductiontohiswork,seeLujanMatus’sTheArtofStalkingParallelPerception:TheLivingTapestryofLujanMatus(CreateSpaceIndependentPublishingPlatform,2015)andWhisperingsoftheDragon:

ShamanicPracticestoAwakenYourPrimalPower(CreateSpaceIndependentPublishingPlatform,2014).Seealsohiswebsite,ParallelPerception,www.parallelperception.com.

11SeeM.Marder,“Plant-PerceivingIsPlant-Thinking,”LosAngelesReviewofBooksChannelBlog2013,http://philosoplant.lareviewofbooks.org/?p=192.

ChapterH1SeeLujanMatus,WhisperingoftheDragon:ShamanicTechniquestoAwakenYourPrimalPower(CreatespaceIndependentPublishingPlatform,2014).

2SeeM.Gagliano,M.Grimonprez,M.Depczynski,andM.Renton,“TunedIn:PlantRootsUseSoundtoLocateWater,”Oecologia184(2017):151–60.

3SeeM.WoodsandA.SwartzWarren,GlassHouses:AHistoryofGreenhouses,OrangeriesandConservatories(London:AurumPress,1988).Seealsoareviewofthisbook:CharlesHind,reviewofGlassHouses,byM.WoodsandA.SwartzWarren,GardenHistory16,no.2(1988):202–204.

4Apublic,educationalelementwasincorporatedintheEuropeanbotanicgardensonlyinthenineteenthcentury.Onthesurface,thepromisewastoreconnectthepublicwithnature;however,thegreenhousesservedprimarilyfortrialinganddistributingplantsofeconomicimportance.Botanicgardenswereinstitutionswhoseprimaryscientificendeavorwastheso-calledeconomicbotany,thestudyandcultivationofplantsforfinancialgain.ItisnowknownthatthegreenhousesoftheRoyalBotanicalGardens,Kew,inLondon,forexample,operatedforthisexactpurpose,andindoingso,theyplayedacrucialroleintheexpansionoftheBritishEmpire.SeehistoricalaccountsinLucilleH.Brockway,ScienceandColonialExpansion:TheRoleoftheBritishRoyalBotanicGarden(NewHaven,CT:YaleUniversityPress,2002)andrecentdiscussionbyZ.Baber,“ThePlantsofEmpire:BotanicGardens,ColonialPowerandBotanicalKnowledge,”JournalofContemporaryAsia46,no.4(2016):659–679.

5Inaveryenergy-efficientway,plantrootsgrowfromtheirtipsbyaddingnewcellsthroughmitosis.Thetipistheonlypartthatmovesinthesoil,whiletherestoftherootbody,madeofmaturecells,maintainscontactwiththesoilbyremainingstationary.SeeA.Sadeghi,A.Tonazzini,L.Popova,andB.Mazzolai,“ANovelGrowingDeviceInspiredbyPlantRootSoilPenetrationBehaviors,”PLoSONE9,no.2(2014):e90139.

6Scyllahadsixheadsonlongnecksandtwelvefeet;shedwelledinacaveoverlookingthestraitandpreyedonmarinerswhosailedby.Ontheothersideofthestrait,Charybdislivedunderafigtreeneartheshoreand

swallowedtheseathreetimesaday,creatingadangerouswhirlpoolwithshiftingcurrents.ThoughHomerdoesn’tnamethestrait,laterwritersidentifieditastheStraitofMessina,thenarrowchannelbetweenSicilyandtheItalianmainland.

7Inquantummechanics,thisideaofanobjectinoneplace“influencing”anotherfaraway—sothatmeasuringonewilldeterminethestateoftheother,regardlessofthedistancebetweenthem(i.e.,theyaredescribedbythesamemathematicalrelationknownasawavefunction)—cametobeknownasentanglement.AlbertEinsteinwastroubledbythispeculiar“nonlocalbehavior”ofparticles(whichhedubbed“spookyactionatadistance”)becauseitappearedtoviolatecausalityand,thus,beinconflictwithoneofthecentraltenetsofrelativity—informationcannotbetransmittedfasterthanthespeedoflight.In1935,Einstein,BorisPodolsky,andNathanRosenintroducedathoughtexperimentoriginallyintendedtodemonstratethatsuchspookyactionatadistancewasimpossibleandthatquantumtheoryitselfwaseitherwrongoratleastincomplete.TheEinstein-Podolsky-Rosen(EPR)paradox,asitcametobeknown,wasnotresolveduntil1964.SeeH.Nikolic,“EPRBeforeEPR:A1930Einstein-BohrThoughtExperimentRevisited,”EuropeanJournalofPhysics33(2012):1089–1097.

8SeeDonnaJ.Haraway’sconceptofsympoiesis(fromtheancientGreekwordssyn,“together”andpoiesis,“creation,making”)inStayingwiththeTrouble:MakingKinintheChthulucene(Durham,NC:DukeUniversityPress,2016),wheresheoffersprovocativenewwaystoreconfigureourrelationstotheearthandallitsinhabitants.

ChapterA1Bothknownas“sequoias,”coastredwoodsandgiantsequoiasare,infact,

differentspecieswithdifferentnaturalgrowingranges.Sequoiasempervirens,coastredwoods,arethetallestknowntreesintheworldand,astheircommonnamesuggests,theylikegrowinginarelativelynarrowstripofcoastlineofnorthernCalifornia,wherethePacificOceanprovidestheperfectcoolingandmoisteningconditions(includingthenotoriousfogtypicalofthesummermonths)forthesetreestothrive.Sequoiadendrongiganteum,giantsequoias,arethemostmassivetreesintheworldandareonlyfoundgrowingfarinlandandataltitudeintheSierraNevada,wherethedrymountainairandsnowpackofthemountainsprovidesthemwiththerightconditionsandespeciallythehugequantitiesofwatertheyneedtothrive.

2Thecoreideasofthislecture(M.Gagliano,“ThePlantRevolution:AndtheStoriesWeTell,”lecture,NationalBioneersConference,SanRafael,CA,2014)formedthebasisofashortessaycoauthoredwithphilosopherMichealMarderandpublishedonlinethatyear:M.GaglianoandM.Marder,“WhatPlantRevolutionWouldYouOptFor?”ThePhilosopher’sPlant—LAReviewsofBook(blog),November14,2014.TheessaywassubsequentlyrepublishedinM.Marder,Grafts:WritingsonPlants(Minneapolis,MN:Univocal,2017).

3SeeP.H.AbelsonandP.J.Hines,“ThePlantRevolution,”Science285,no.5426(1999):367–368.

4SeeM.Gagliano,“SeeingGreen:TheRe-DiscoveryofPlantsandNature’sWisdom,”Societies3(2013):147–157.

5Annualsareplantsthatcompletethelifecycle—fromgerminationtofloweringandtheproductionofseeds—withinoneyearandthendie.Perennialsareplantswithalongerlifecycleand,givenproperconditions,canliveforseveral(ormany)years.Modernindustrializedagro-ecosystemsgrowperennialplantsasannualsforconvenienceandprofit.

6Foranexpandeddiscussiononthistopic,seeP.GibsonandM.Gagliano,“TheFeministPlant:ChangingRelationswiththeWaterLily,”EthicsandtheEnvironment22,no.2(2017):125–147.

7ResearchfindingsfromthisemergingapproachtoplantshavebeenbeautifullysummarizedbyoutstandingscientistssuchasDanielChamovitzandRichardKarban.SeeD.Chamovitz,WhataPlantKnows:aFieldGuidetotheSenses(Scribe2012);R.Karban,PlantSensingandCommunication(Chicago:ChicagoUniversityPress2015).Interestingly,thisfieldofresearchismovingsofastthateventheserelativelyrecentbooksare,inpart,alreadyout-of-date,inthatsomethingstheyidentifiedasunknownarenolongerunknown.

8AccordingtothedefinitioninArt.2oftheConventiononBiologicalDiversity,thetermbiotechnologyrefersto“anytechnologicalapplicationthatusesbiologicalsystems,livingorganisms,orderivativesthereof,tomakeormodifyproductsorprocessesforspecificuse.”

9Clearly,thesamequestionappliestoanimalsandallotherlivingorganisms.

10Foraninterestingexplorationofthistopic,seeMichaelHauskeller,BiotechnologyandtheIntegrityofLife:TakingPublicFearsSeriously(Aldershot,U.K.:Ashgate,2007).

11Thefactthatourbrainoperatesonmultipledimensions,notjustthethreedimensionsthatweareaccustomedto,wasrecentlydemonstratedbyagroupofEuropeanneuroscientists.Theydiscoveredauniverseofmultidimensionalgeometricalstructuresandspaceswithinthenetworksofthebrainwithuptoelevendimensions.SeeM.W.Reimann,M.Nolte,M.Scolamiero,K.Turner,R.Perin,G.Chindemi,P.Dlotkoetal.,“CliquesofNeuronsBoundintoCavitiesProvideaMissingLinkBetweenStructureandFunction,”FrontiersinComputationalNeuroscience11(2017):48.

12Asidefromitswell-knownpresenceinsci-filiterature,cinema,andgames,thewordportalisusedhereasanequivalenttothecosmologicalconceptofwormhole—thespace-timecurvatureconnectingtwodistantlocationsallowedbyEinstein’stheoryofgeneralrelativity—inmoderntheoreticalphysics.Iaminnowayabletoprovideaphysicist’s(oraphilosopher’s)explanationforwhatoccurredintheredwoodforestsimplybecauseIamnophysicist(orphilosopher).Whiletheoreticalphysicistcolleaguesarestillspeculatingonwhetheritistrulypossibleforwormholestoactuallyexist(andwhattheirpropertiesmayactuallybe),myexperienceofthespace-timecurvatureallowsfortheexistenceofsuchphenomenontobepossible.Asascientist,Iamreportingheredirectobservationsand“fielddata”asacontributiontothisresearchareaofenquiry.

13TheneutronfluxesoriginatingattheEarth’ssurfacearebackgroundemissionsconstantlytransformingthemicrostructureoftheplanet’scrust.Thesearefluxesof“slowneutrons”withenergiesintherangeofafewelectronvoltsorafewfractionsofanelectronvolt(eV).Theultra-weakenergyoftheseslow-movingneutronsisdistributedintheformofnon-ionizingradiation(mostlyheat),whichinducesstrongbiologicalresponsesinlivingorganismsbutcausesnoradiationdamagetotheirbiologicalmacromolecules(e.g.,proteins).Abnormalspikesintheseslowneutronfluxeshavebeenobservedatcertaintimes(inconjunctionwithlunarperiodicityandseismicactivity)andinrelationtovariousecologicalassemblages(e.g.,mixedforests).Inthecontextofecosystems,thepresenceoflong-lastingspikesdependsonthenumberandcompositionofspeciesinthecommunityandischaracterizedbyspecifictime(seasonal)variations.ResearchfindingsbyscientistsattheRussianAcademyofSciencesindicatethatspatial-temporalvariationsintheseneutronfluxesmaybeinvolvedinshapingvariouslandscapesandharmonizingnaturalcommunities;thephenomenonmayplayamajorroleinthemaintenanceofthemicroclimateaswellastheperceptionofandresponsetoastrogeophysicaleventsbylivingorganisms.Notethatthehigh-energyneutronsthatdamagematerialsandwhoseionizingradiationsarehighlyhazardoustobiologicalsystemsareknownas“fastneutrons”andusuallyhaveenergiesbetween0.1and3millionelectronvolts(MeV)andspeedsof14,000km/s,orhigher.Theyaredifferentfromthe“slowneutrons”thatcharacterizethesefluxes.IbecameawareofthisareaofresearchthroughinspiringdiscussionswithAustraliangeophysicist,Dr.TomChalko,in2016.

14SeeVanessaOgle,TheGlobalTransformationofTime:1870–1950(Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress,2015).

15Recently,twoAmericanprofessorsproposedtoremovealltimezonesandswitchthewholeworldtoone“CoordinatedUniversalTime”(UTC).UTCwouldseteverywatchacrosstheworldtotheexactsametime—GreenwichMeanTimeinLondon,tobeprecise—regardlessofthesun’spositioninthesky.TheproponentsclaimthatUTCwouldsavemoneyandtime,therebyfacilitatingbusinesstransactionsandcommercialactivities.Thetwoprofessorsalsoproposedanewcalendar,theHenry-Hankecalendar,whichwouldmakefinancialcalculationssimpler.Itseemsthatappliedeconomicsistheonlyconsiderationontheagenda,furtheraligningtimeas“outthere,”acommodityfortheexclusiveinterestofcommerceandapowerful

centralizingforceofglobalcontrol.

16TheBuddhistconceptofsamsaraencapsulatesandexplainsverywellthehumanconditionofignorance.

17Overtheyears,therehasbeenoneparticularplantwhohasprovidedmewiththedeepandauthenticexperienceoftime“inhere,”hencereaffirmingmymultidimensionalityasahumanbeingoverandoveragain.Iwasfortunatetoencounterthisplantseveralyearsagointhemostpristineandreverentceremonialsettings.Theplantsupportsfocus,insight,andanauthenticconnectiontoyourownheartandheart’sintelligence.TheplantisTheobromacacao,andCatherineandWillowFrancisaretheheartsofferingitintheformofaconcentrated,pure,andtraditionallyprepareddrink,aspartoftheceremonyIhavebeenprivilegedtobepartof.WillowandCatherinewereinitiatedinthisworklongbeforeitbecameafashionablethingtoplaywith,andtheyhavecontinuallybeenguidedandre-initiatedbytheplantspirithimselfeversince;thishasenabledthemtorestinaspaceofgreatreverencetofacilitateauniqueandpowerfulinnerjourneyexperience.Seewww.cacaoceremonies.comandwww.reverencechocolate.com.au.

18SeeAndreaMorris,“AMindWithoutaBrain:TheScienceofPlantIntelligenceTakesRoot”Forbes,May9,2018.

CodaM1Theabilityofababytocloseherfistaroundanythingthatisplacedinthetiny

palmisknownasthepalmargraspreflexandisoneofthemostimportantinfantilereflexes.Thisreflexfirstappearsatsixteenweeks’gestation.SeeY.Futagi,Y.Toribe,andY.Suzuki,“TheGraspReflexandMoroReflexinInfants:HierarchyofPrimitiveReflexResponses,”InternationalJournalofPediatrics12(2012):191562.

2AsIresearchedtheinformationIhadreceivedduringthedietawithTobacco,IcameacrossapaperonthefirstphysicalevidenceoftobaccoinMayanculture,whichconfirmedwhattheplanthadalreadysharedwithme.SeeD.V.ZagorevskiandJ.A.Loughmiller-Newman,“TheDetectionofNicotineinaLateMayanPeriodFlaskbyGasChromatographyandLiquidChromatographyMassSpectrometryMethods,”RapidCommunicationinMassSpectrometry26(2012):403–411;seealsoFrancisRobicsek,The

SmokingGods:TobaccoinMayaArt,History,andReligion(Norman:UniversityofOklahomaPress,1978).

3Healsoindicatedthathismedicinealleviatedconditionsthataffectedmusclesduetothemalfunctioningofmitochondria.Atthetime,Ihadnoideathatsomethingcalled“mitochondrialdisease”actuallyexisted.AsIstartedresearchingtheinformationreceivedfromtheplant,Ilearnedthatfatigueandweaknessofthemusculatureofthechestwallanddiaphragmarecommonmanifestationsofmitochondrialdisease.

4Forexample,whenwesinginunison,likeinchoirs,ourheartratestendtosynchronizeandbeatasone,withpositiveeffectsonwell-beingandhealth.SeeB.Vickhoff,H.Malmgren,R.Åström,G.Nyberg,S.-R.Ekström,M.Engwall,J.Snyggetal.,“MusicStructureDeterminesHeartRateVariabilityofSingers,”FrontiersinPsychology4(2013):334.

IndexPleasenotethatindexlinkstoapproximatelocationofeachterm.

AAbram,David,21

Ambondamselfish,3–4

Anthropocentrism,69–71,143

Anxiety,44

Aristotle,105,106,135,139,140

Associativelearning.SeePavlovianlearning

AustralianResearchCouncil,43,45,53

Ayahuasca,124,129–30,134,136

Ayahuma,75,76–78,79,90–91,94,143–44

BBanisteriopsiscaapi,124

Basil,27,29,30

Bear,40–43,49

Beginnings,storyof,124–31

Bellaco-caspi,10

Biotechnology,107,147

Boundaries,constructionof,86,90

Buddha,144

C

Cannonballtree.SeeAyahuma

Causation,141–42

Chacruna,124,129–30

Chilipeppers,27,28–32,34–35

Climatechange,92–93,101

Cocama,74

Companionplanting,29–30

Continuities,89,100,101

Control,obsessionfor,86–87

Corn,33,35,91,137

Couroupitaguianensis,76,143

Custodianshipvs.ownership,35–36

DDagarapeople,108,109

Dietas,11,14–15,17,24,77,91,126,127–28,134

TheDiviner,108–9

Drumming,39–41

EEinstein,Albert,115,146,148

Electromagnetic(EM)fields,96–97

Emotions,giftsof,44

Empathy,4,17,135

Entanglement,146

Eucalyptus,44,127

FFennel,27,29–30,31,32

Ficusreligiosa,144

Florence,57–58

Forgiveness,130–31

GGeneticallymodified(GM)plants,107

GiantTingleTree,127

Globalwarming.SeeClimatechange

GreatBarrierReef,3

Greenhouseeffect,92

Greenhouses,91–92,145

Greenrevolution,104–5

Grief,healing,129–30

HHabituation,59

Hanblecheyapi(visionquest)ceremony,47–51

Hemoglobin,12,15,135

Himatanthussucuuba,10,133

Husserl,Edmund,135

IIcaros,21,24,136

J

Jatrophacurcas,74

KKnowledge

borrowednatureof,23

neverlost,55–56

ofplants,15–17,23

Kontomblé,109,110,113

Kuhn,Thomas,26,136

LLakota,43

Latex,133–34

Ligusticumporteri,139

Linnaeus,Carl,56,57,139

MMapacho,11,20,77,127,134

Marder,Michael,16,82

MatoTaPejutaWakanNajin,43,46–48,51

Mayr,Ernst,141

Memory,55–56,67,123

Mimosapudica,56–71,75,139–40,141,142

Monoculture,106

Montereypine,120–21

MuirWoodsNationalMonument,104,108,110–17,120

N

NNicotianarustica,11,127

OOak,49–50,52,53

Oryngham,9,21

Osha,39,41–43,51,139

Ownershipvs.custodianship,35–36

PPalmargraspreflex,149

Pavlov,Ivan,75,79,144

Pavlovianlearning,75,78–85

Peas,79–85,87,90–101,93–96

Philanthropy,136

Piñonblanco,74–75,143

Pinusradiata,120

Plantrevolution,real,104–7

Plants

communicationchannelsof,22,26,45

knowingand,15–17,23

languageof,9

learningand,59–71,75,78–85

listeningto,9,12–14,21

magneticfieldsand,96–97,100

musicof,138

neighborrelationshipsbetween,28–32

opennessof,16,82

silentappearanceof,33

songsof,21,24,136,138

soundsand,91–98,100

asteachers,12–15,17,92

Westernattitudetoward,13,25,105–6

Plant-writing,6

PlinytheElder,139

Polarities,illusionof,89–90,100

Pollan,Michael,141

Pomacentrusamboinensis,3–4

Ponge,Francis,137

Portals,115–16,126,127,148

Psychotriaviridis,124

RRainbowCoast,126

Reality,perceptionof,86,90,100,114–15

Redwoods,104,108,112,114,115,117,120,146,148

Responsibility,99,100–101

Rothchild,Irvin,137

SSafety,feelingof,86–87

Scientificdeterminism,21

Sequoiadendrongiganteum,147

Sequoias,giant,146,147

Sequoiasempervirens,104,146

Shipibopeople,10–11

Shorearobusta,144

Socoba,10–12,14–20,82,128–29

Space,conceptof,115–16

Sunflowers,76

Surrender,86–87

TTamalpais,Mount,104

Theobromacacao,149

Theophrastus,105,139

Threesisters,33,137

Time,conceptof,115,116–20,149

Tobacco,11,86,127–31,134,150

UUcayaliRiver,74

UTC,149

VValleyoftheGiants,127

Voice,33,137,138

TAcknowledgments

hewritingofthisbookcommencedinJune2016.Sixmonthsearlier,myacademiccareerhadcometoasuddenandterrifyinghaltasmyresearch

fundingrandryandmyuniversitypositionasaresearchassociateprofessorwasturnedintotheemptyaccoladeof“adjunctseniorfellow”withnolabandnooffice.Inotherwords,Iwasleftunemployedand,asIwouldcometoappreciateovertime,unemployable.(Myresearchfitinnopreconceiveddisciplinarybox,andneitherdidI.)Duringthefollowingtwoyears,Idiscoveredthatliferequiresalittlebudgetbutagreatdealofgenerosityfromthepeoplearoundyou.Iwasblessedbyasmallsavingsaccountandthetitanicfloodofbigheartedness,kindness,andsupportIreceivedfrommany,withoutwhomthisbookwouldhaveneversproutedintothelightofday.IoweaspecialdebtofgratitudetoMartialDepczynskiandDamianHadchiti,whoopen-handedlygavemeaplacetocallhomeatnocost,atatimewhenanyamountwouldhavebeentoomuch.Iamparticularlygratefultomythreeresearchassistants:NiliDuvdevaniandMavraGrimonprez,thetwospecialwomenwho,atdifferenttimesovertheyears,giftedmewiththeirhands-onsupportsothatthemassivetaskssetbymyresearchcouldbeactuallyaccomplished,andPicasso,theextraordinarydogwhokeptmesmilingalways,especiallywhenIfeltoverwhelmed,tired,ordisheartened,andwhothusmadetheimpossiblepossible.

AndasIembarkedonthewritingjourney,manyheldmewithgentlecare,keepingmeemotionallybuoyantandinspired,helpedmebrainstormideasforabook-to-be,andencouragedmeallthewayuntilthatbook-to-becameintobeing:FrancescaBertiandFulvioTrombotto,FraukeSandigandEricBlack,SaandClaudioSilvano,CatherineandWillowFrancis,LujanandMizpahMatus,AlexPelizzon,SarahLaborde,DeannaFoster,ChiaraPazzano,JanuaryTruscheit,andmyfamily.SpecialthankstoPatriziaGajaschi,whomadeeachchapterbeautifulwithherartwork,andonceagain,toMartialDepczynski,whoreadandeditedallthechaptersastheymaterializedontothecomputerscreenintheirownrandomorderandhelpedmedefine,clarify,andmakesenseoftheideasIwastryingtoexpress.

MuchgratitudetothenumerousandincrediblefriendsinAdelaide,Sydney,andontheHawaiianIslandsfortheirheartfeltsupport,despitethemanymilesthatseparateus.Thosewhowerewitnessestothisjourneywillalsoknowthatsomepeoplewhoplayedmajorrolesinthisstoryarepatentlymissingfromthese

somepeoplewhoplayedmajorrolesinthisstoryarepatentlymissingfromthesepagesortheirnameconcealed.Theywereomittedorveiledonpurposetoprotectthemandtheirlives;youknowwhoyouareandknowthatIloveyou,always.

AspecialmentionmustbemadeoftheentireteamatNorthAtlanticBooksandparticularlymypublisher,TimMcKee,whosawthepotentialwithinmewhenIhadnointerestwhatsoeverinwritingabook(thatwasyearsbeforeIwouldconsiderauthoringone)andwelcomedmewhenthattimearrived,understandingwhatthisbookwasallabout,andbelievinginandsupportingme.Thanksalsotomyeditors,AlisonKnowlesandLouisSwaim,foralltheirwork(especiallyalltheirbehind-the-sceneslabor!)inmakingsurethingsunfoldedsmoothly,andJenniferEastman,forhermagictoucheswiththecopyeditingprocessofthisbook.

And,lastbutnotleast,thisbookowesitslargestdebttothevegetalkingdomexpressedinallplacesandallforms,throughwhomIdirectlyexperiencedthemeaningofinterconnectednessandbywhomIamcontinuallytaughthowtobeatrulyintegratedandopenheartedhumanintheworld.LifeonthisbelovedEarthisatrulymarvelousevent—Iamsogratefulforthisincredibleexperienceofbeinglife.Iwishthatyoutooencounteryourownwonderanditstimelessenchantment,thatyoutoorealizethepurejoythatlivesinsidetheluminous,powerful,andmysteriousbeingthatyouare,asyoubreatheinandoutintheclearskyofyourinfiniteheart.

ResourcesandUsefulLinksFraukeSandigandEricBlack,UmbrellaFilms—www.umbrellafilms.org

SaandClaudioSilvano,SacredRadiance—www.sacredradiance.net

CatherineandWillowFrancis,ReverenceChocolate—www.reverencechocolate.com.au

LujanMatus,ParallelPerception—www.parallelperception.com

MizpahMatus,RawFoodSolutions—www.rawfoodsolution.com

ValerieDeJose,TheVestibuleCenterForSoundLiving—www.sound-living.com

AbouttheAuthorandtheContributingArtistTheAuthor

©ManuTheobald

MonicaGaglianoisresearchassociateprofessorofevolutionaryecologyandformerfellowoftheAustralianResearchCouncil(2012–2015).SheiscurrentlyaresearchaffiliateattheEnvironmentInstituteattheUniversityofSydneyandholdsanadjunctpositionasseniorresearchfellowattheCentreforEvolutionaryBiologyattheUniversityofWesternAustralia.Sheistheauthorofnumerousscientificarticlesinthefieldsofanimalandplantbehavioralandevolutionaryecologyandisthecoeditor(withPatríciaVieiraandJohnRyan)ofTheGreenThread:DialogueswiththeVegetalWorldandTheLanguageofPlants:Science,PhilosophyandLiterature,and(withFrantisekBaluskaandGuentherWitzany)MemoryandLearninginPlants.Aninnovativescientist,Gaglianohaspioneeredthebrand-newresearchfieldofplantbioacoustics,forthefirsttimeexperimentallydemonstratingthatplantsemittheirown“voices”and,moreover,detectandrespondtothesoundsoftheirenvironments.Herworkhasextendedtheconceptofcognition(includingperception,learningprocesses,memory,andconsciousness)inplants.Bydemonstratingexperimentallythatlearning,memory,anddecision-makingarenottheexclusiveprovinceofanimals,shehasreignitedthediscourseonplantsubjectivityandethicalandlegalstanding.Inspiredbyencounterswithnatureandwithindigenouseldersfromaroundtheworld,Gaglianoisnotonlytransformingourperceptionofplantsbutalsoofourverynature.Herscienceisbasedonaprogressiveandholisticapproachtoscience—onethatiscomfortableengagingattheinterfacebetweenareasasdiverseasecology,physics,law,anthropology,philosophy,literature,musicandthearts,andspirituality.Byrekindlingasenseofwonderforthisbeautifulplacewecallhome,sheishelpingtocreateafreshimaginativeecologyofmindthatcaninspiretheemergenceoftrulyinnovativesolutionstohumanrelationswiththeworldwecoinhabit.Formoreinformation,visitwww.monicagagliano.com.

TheIllustratorPatriziaGajaschiisaMexicanartistbasedinAustralia.AftercompletingherstudiesininternationalrelationsinItalyandspendingsomeyearsworkinginnongovernmentalorganizations,shehadalife-changingexperienceinPeruwhileworkingwithindigenouscommunities,afterwhichshespentthenextsevenyearstravelingtheworld.CurrentlyshelivesinSydney,whereshesharesherlovebyteachingyogaandcreatingart,alongwithrunningabusinesssellingyogaaccessories.Formoreinformation,visitwww.pattygajaschi.com.

Black-and-whiteartworkfeaturedinthisbookCHAPTERO,“Heart,”2017

Theheartsymbolizeslifeandconnection,bothexpressedbyauniquelinerepresentingthecontinuumbetweenthetwoworlds.

CHAPTERR,“Mandala,”2017

Theopeneyerepresentsaconsciousandawakenedbeingsharingthesoundofthecosmosforthoseoneswhoarereadytolisten.

CHAPTERY,“Leaf,”2017

Likethepalmofahand,thepalmoftheleaftellsastory:wedon’treallyknowwhatthoselinesarerevealing.Wejustneedtotrustthattheywilleventuallyleadustoourheart.

CHAPTERN,“Spiral,”2018

Rememberingisnotalinearprocessbutaspiral,whereweneedtocomebackagainandagainbeforeweareabletoletgoofourconditionedperspective.

CHAPTERG,“Eye,”2017

Theeyethatknowshowtoseeinthedarkknowshowtofindthelight.

CHAPTERH,“WindRose,”2017

Thewindroserepresentstherangeofchoicesandpossibilitiesavailabletohumanity;itisuptoourhearttochoosethewell-beingofthewhole.

CHAPTERA,“Unalome,”2017

Timeandspacearenotlinearconcepts;theyexpandandcontractinaharmonicmovement,wherethelinesleadingtoourhearteventuallymeetandshowustherightpath.

CODAM,“Hand,”2018

Doyouremembernow?Itwasinyourhand.

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