How the Ancient Cultures Lived (in Harmony) with Animals

Part II, The Greek Fisherman

WHEN YOUR MEDITATION TAKES YOU TO THE LAKOTA TRIBE, A GREEK FISHERMAN AND THE MAASAI.

I sit in the energy of the Lakota Tribe and Buffalo and wonder how we have stepped so far away from that way of being. I'm lost in my own thoughts for a moment when I was completely overcome with emotion. It took me by surprise as I wasn't "viewing" anything, just contemplating. I'm not sure the exact word I'm looking for here, but I felt this deep sense of failure and loss on behalf of the (progressive) human race to the animals. The gulf between us both so deep and far reaching that it feels an impossible task to bridge that gap.

The experience passes and I see a man with a black  jumper, black pants and a black cap sitting in a little wooden boat. The ocean sparkled as the sunlight danced across the surface. I was mesmerised not only by the light on the water, but also how sublimely clean and clear the water was.

I am taken back to the man leaning over the side of his boat as the words, Greece 1800s come to me. He's looking intently at a fish he is holding a fish in his hand.

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I hear him say to me, "We just take what we need. We never pilfer". Quite a contrast to how we live and fish today.

The way this man is looking at this fish, with so much love and appreciation sends another wave of emotion through my body. He is asking him for permission to take him to feed his family. He is acknowledging that this fish has its own "fish family connections" and is willing to stay hungry so he can survive.

The fish replies, "please sir, can you come back tomorrow so I can say goodbye". So they agree that it will be another day, he tells this fish that he loves him and very gently puts him back in the water. The fisherman thanks him for his service and promises that he only ever takes what he needs and will keep the oceans clean.

I'm all for consumption, but over-consumption is costing us on so many levels. Whoever said, "you can never have too much of a good thing", I think is way off the mark!

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