Thich Nhat Hahn’s interview with Jo Confino revealed these beliefs, “He believes we need to move beyond talking about the environment, as this leads people to experience themselves and Earth as two separate entities and to see the planet in terms only of what it can do for them.

Change is possible only if there is a recognition that people and planet are ultimately one and the same.

“You carry Mother Earth within you,” says Thay. “She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment.”

“When we recognise the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born.

“We want to be connected. That is the meaning of love, to be at one. When you love someone you want to say I need you, I take refuge in you. You do anything for the benefit of the Earth and the Earth will do anything for your wellbeing.”

This idea of love, connection, earth born in us, being one with Earth is transformational. These thoughts have moved me from a place of seeing the earth as something that we as humans are charged with caring for, to a place of understanding that ALL of creation is working together as one entity.