We access central intelligence databases to analyze trends, to make important decisions, and to launch sensitive missions. We pool national intelligence from different agencies and resources to optimize our foreign relations and national security interests. We craft counter intelligence operations to thwart the political activities of our enemies and to sabotage their economic advance. We build artificial intelligence programs and protocols to manage big data better and to perform manual or computational work faster. We foster functional intelligence in different areas to train our minds and bodies to become superior in a variety of disciplines; like sports, medicine, music, philosophy, art, and science. We prize and reward intelligence of the mind—clever ways of solving problems, creating linear arguments that furthers a particular propaganda message, position, or perspective. We celebrate the intelligence of the body—spending countless hours tracking athletes, watching sports, competing ourselves against one another alone or on teams.
While these human-centric forms of intelligence are valuable and important to cultivate; I believe it is vital now to our survival to also become more alert, aware, and awake to the natural intelligence of life on earth. What do I mean by natural intelligence?
What is Natural Intelligence?
Natural Intelligence is the true intelligence of the universe. By true intelligence, I mean the genetic code or blueprint of being that is inherent in every living being. By true intelligence, I mean both the biological science (the knowledge of life) and the natural principles of life that underpin the right action of all life on earth and throughout the universe in relationship to itself. The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), the macromolecule that contains the genetic code for every living being is elegantly expressed as a double helix. These two strands of nucleotides wind around each other in relationship to one another, which is already a declaration of life as a celebration of unique biological diversity and symbiotic communion. Thus, natural intelligence is not only the true (Natura Vera) intelligent code of a living being for its own sake and survival; but it is this intelligence acting out in the world in right relationship to all other living beings. We are not alone in the universe. We exist in communion with all other beings in the universe. Natural intelligence is the intelligent mind and consciousness of the universe.
Natural Intelligence is the inherent relationship among all living beings. It is biological. It is our shared genetic code. It is the treasure trove of genetic expressions, survival instincts, adaptation strategies to a variety of different environments and climate conditions that have allowed life to diversify, expand, flourish on planet earth throughout the Holocene. If we think we are biologically separate from or superior to other species in the biosphere; we better look closely again at the phylogenic tree of life. Evolutionary biologists teaming up with geneticists have recently discovered that our human genome is 87% same-same as the most simple chordate species, the Sea Squirt and over 98% same-same to our closest primate cousins—the chimpanzee. Jane Goodall discovered in her lifelong investigative studies that mountain gorillas and other primates in the tropical forests use language and tools. Meanwhile in the ocean, Sylvia Earle and other marine biologists have discovered incredible intelligence in marine mammals, like the dolphins and whales, who use eco-location to communicate among themselves for miles.
Now, if exploring our genetic roots does not penetrate our consciousness deep enough to convince us of our connection to all the other living creatures outside ourselves in the biosphere; then we might try also looking inside ourselves to the rich ecosystem of flora and fauna who not only live microscopically on every surface skin cell of our body, but who dominate the dominion of our micro-biome. We are truly more dependent on the extraordinary biodiversity of the natural world than we realize. Whereas our bodies might comprise 10 trillion human cells, we are also a virtual forest of fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms (unknown) at the order and magnitude of over 100 trillion microbial cells foreign to our human cells. That’s a 10x increase of foreign cells to our human cells that define our bio-physical existence. And, this micro biome is essential for keeping our immune system strong, warding off disease, maintaining healthy flow of nutrients and oxygen brain to heart, and ensuring our neurons fire correctly throughout our central nervous system.
Natural Intelligence is the dynamic intelligence of the universe, which is inherent in the collective biosphere as it waxes and wanes with the adaptation, migration, evolution, and extinction of different species, which comprise the living biome. Thus, natural intelligence is forever changing and expanding—necessarily seeking harmony, balance, and resonance with the changing physical environment. In a healthy biome, it is the intelligence of the whole, functioning, expanding in collective alignment… with an awareness that every living thing matters, that every living thing has an unique purpose and essential contribution as an individual to the greater whole … that when each living being expresses itself, aligns itself to that essential role, then that living being is being and living in right relationship to the greater whole. Those individuals, groups, communities, or species that veer away from the center of nature’s balance find themselves in a precarious state. The existence and persistence of natural intelligence is not dependent on any one species; but on the integrity of the whole, which will eventually, naturally select out those divergent sources of grave disruption. The tragedy is that a significant wrinkle in the natural order of life caused by significant disruptors like ourselves, can have an amplifying ripple effect and take out a number of other species from the biosphere closely hitched to us in our wake…if we are not awake.
“Some call me Nature, others call me Mother Nature. I’ve been here for over 4.5 billion years. 22,500 times longer than you. I don’t really need people, but people need me. Yes, your future depends on me. When I thrive, you thrive. When I falter, you falter or worse… But, I’ve been here for eons. I have fed species greater than you. I have starved species greater than you. My oceans, my soil, my flowing streams, my forests… they all can take you, or leave you. How you choose to live each day, whether you regard or disregard me, doesn’t really matter to me. One way or the other, your actions will determine your fate, not mine. I am nature. I will go on. I am prepared to evolve. Are you?”
Julia Roberts, Mother Earth, Earth is Speaking Series, Conservation International
To be continued….. I have just begun writing…