Wild Thing

A friend of mine in Texas introduced me to a fantastic writer, a British woman by the name Jay Griffiths. I read her book "WILD: AN ELEMENTAL JOURNEY". It is one of the most amazing books I have read in some time. She travels around the world in search of experiencing what and where the planet's wild earth, ice, oceans, fire, and air can still be found. It made me burn with longing for a natural freedom so many of us no longer know. She minces no words as to her disgust at corporate greed today and imperial, colonial greed past, that has raped and pillaged time and again our blue green planet. But it is not ever a tirade, it is always a highly personal journey that she manages to draw the reader in to, and thereby cleverly turns the reader into an eager participant. You want to be there with her, no matter the danger, no matter the risks, controversy, challenges, physically, politically. Her energy is amazing, her research passionate and intriguing. Her language that of a cultured poet, her anger raw and real, her own passions honest and seductive. She is formidable in her enthusiasm, her determination, her fearlessness. Quite a woman, quite a writer. I have always been drawn to nature, as a way to replenish my soul, and have long been disgusted at how we betray true happiness and decency as a culture in favor of monetary greed and power. Jay Griffiths has a great respect for the natural world and all its beauty, strength, wisdom, resources, variety. That too, is something I appreciate, having a deep respect for tribal and nomadic and aboriginal societies. The author does a very good job explaining the history, politically, socially and religiously, the horrendous tragedies inflicted on native peoples from Africa to Asia, to the Druids eradicated by Christianity in Europe, the persecution of the Romani, to the gruesome genocide of the the native tribes in North, Central and South America, to Australia, and Papua, New Guinea. Not a corner of the planet escaped. It is a scathing indictment, and a lyrical testament, a deeply moving and personal journey of rediscovery, affirmation, joy, hope and yes, love.