What is Wild?

The microcosm of atomic structures – the myriad particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom – mirror the macrocosm of the universe – solar systems, galaxies and space. Likewise, the forms that make up the physical places around us reflect the structure of our imagination. In other words, the way we live in the world depends on how we think about nature.

I like to imagine a world where I can see the great blue heron fly, where water runs clean and clear in the rivers, where a woodland path provides cool shade in the middle of a city.

In his classic book, The Practice of the Wild, poet and naturalist Gary Snyder distinguishes between nature, wild and wilderness. Nature – for me as well as for him – includes what humans do to the world, and we humans ourselves.

This is not the conventional understanding of nature, which is usually defined in opposition to humanity. We often think of nature as being outside – outside our houses, outside our cities, outside ourselves. This kind of dualistic thinking is what leads to inhumane living conditions in many places, not all of them cities.

A wilderness, on the other hand, is indeed a place that is relatively free from human influence.

It is the third concept – wild – that I find most intriguing. What is wild? Wolves come to mind – or hurricanes. Wild, however, does not necessarily signify something that is fearsome or uncontrollable. It may be peaceful and benign as well. Wild is something ineffable. It is an essence that cannot be circumscribed; to contain the wild is to destroy it.

“The wild works on all scales,” says Snyder; “even the vacant lot in the city can be wild.”

We are fortunate to live in a city where we can experience the wild. When I am on one of my regular walks along the river, or in the woods, I even like to imagine it as wilderness. It isn’t so hard to do.

Herewith, I offer a potpourri of pictures from the urban wilderness.