Nature as Verb - How we reference nature impacts our relationship with the natural world

My sister Hannah Gant & friend Kyra Kristof brought to my attention an article by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Nature Needs a New Pronoun: To Stop the Age of Extinction, Let's Start by Ditching "It" posted in Yes Magazine a little over a year ago that I feel has increasing value at this time.  The gist of what the article was expressing is that we have objectified nature by commonly referring to the sacred earth as "it."  We do this when we say such things as "it's hot outside", "it's a slippery path", "it's a sour fruit", etc...  

There are many ramifications to using nature in this way grammatically.   

First of all, by doing so we take a stance of separation away from nature and understanding ourselves as nested within living systems.  This way of being disengages us from serving as responsible and active participants with nature and not over nature. 

We also negate the deeper level of awareness in sinking into the belief that we are nature and nature is us - a principle of Ayurveda.  Firmly reconceptualizing ourselves as nature unleashes the potential for enhanced interrelatedness with this larger place we call Earth.  In doing so, we enable increased dialogue with the natural world that gives rise to higher levels of health, wellness and living out our essence as we notice what the natural world is providing and how we can honor, respect and live in reciprocity with nature. 

In addition, seeing nature as "it", we lay the groundwork for exploiting and manipulating "things" from nature, rather than respecting, honoring and learning how nature is and what the natural world offers.  Ultimately as the article points out, we share this sacred home with over 8.7 million species and increasingly as we come to understand the importance of each creature in a habitat and the intelligence that all plants, animals and the natural world provide to us as a whole, we will acknowledge the nestedness of all alive beings and how we each play a role in the living system of Earth.  A beautiful example of this happening in the natural environment involves the story of introducing wolves back into Yellowstone and how this impacted the entire ecosystem - How Wolves Change Rivers.  

Instead of linguistic imperialism over nature as the article suggests, we have the ability to talk and orient ourselves with nature from a place of respect, admiration and understanding of ourselves as one form of intelligence among many on this Earth.  The article suggests that we have a new pronoun for nature, like "ki" or "kin" which I think is necessary and would be helpful.  

That said, I strongly invite you to use the verb meaning of the word nature - "to be born" every time you reference nature.  By re-framing your relationship with nature to one of constant genesis of magic, gifts and teachings in that present moment, you can open up to the dynamism and aliveness of nature and hold greater space for enhanced dialogue and connection with nature from a place of humbleness, wonder & grace.