Lowell Young
Scientists estimate that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and that the earliest forms of ape-like humans arose about 6 million years ago. It took 5.5 million years for the likely lineage leading to modern humans to emerge.
The famous anthropologist Loren Eiseley described the mystery (without explaining it) in his classic book “The Immense Journey”.
“The story of Eden is a greater allegory than man has ever suspected. For it was really man who, passing without memory through the beams of sunlight and shadow in the morning of the world, sat down and passed his hand in wonder over his heavy brow. Time and darkness, the knowledge of good and evil, have accompanied him ever since.”
Eiseley identified the birth of human spirituality not so subtly.
In contrast to the “blank slate theory” of human ontological development, there is a growing trend that each person’s behavior is influenced by his/her genetic history.
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If so, it is possible that John Muir was influenced by his Celtic heritage.
After nearly 100,000 years of human spiritual evolution, around 3000 BC, the ancient Celts made great strides in spiritual realization by identifying and describing close relationships between humans and nature. They called this process “Kything.”
“Kything is a spiritual practice or concept that refers to a deep form of connection and communication between individuals where they can transcend physical boundaries and develop a deep understanding of one another, often described as telepathic or empathic. Kything involves the exchange of thoughts, emotions and experiences on a level beyond normal human perception, thus allowing a sense of unity and connection between individuals. It is often associated with spiritual growth, healing and a heightened awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings” (adapted from Wikipedia).
I have been walking and speaking with the spirit of Muir for over 50 years, even before I discovered Kything. Over the years, my biodesign classes at St. Helena High School in Yosemite experienced so many synchronicities that they could have been left to chance. At this stage of my life, I have no doubt that Muir was our predestined guide to the place he called “a place to play and a place to pray.”
Synchronicities are usually fun, so I was surprised and delighted to experience one at Steve’s Hardware in St. Helena, California. I’ve known co-owner Gary Menegon for over 50 years, and over the years he’s been a huge fan of the Biodesign program. It wasn’t uncommon for him to donate camping fuel or other items we needed on our camping trips.
After Biodesign Out for A Walk was published, I gave him a copy as a thank you for his support. He liked the book and casually asked, “Do you know Michael Hanna, John Muir’s great-great grandson? He lives about a mile from here. In addition to being a vineyard manager, he helps his wife run the very popular olive oil factory in Napa Valley. If you want to meet him, you’ll probably find him there.”
I signed a copy of “BOFAW” with a note saying I would like to meet him and dropped it off at their store.
A few days later, he called and invited me to spend an afternoon with him discussing the life and legacy of the legendary Muir. He greeted me with a beaming smile and a firm handshake and led me to a vine arbor with a table and chairs and a bottle of chilled Hanna Chardonnay.
He excitedly began the conversation by saying that his plan was to read two or three chapters of the book every day and finish in a couple of weeks. However, one day after lunch he read the first three chapters and was so fascinated that he took the afternoon off and read the book in one sitting.
He was delighted to strengthen the connection with his legendary great-great-grandfather and was thrilled to have inspired a generation of St. Helena High School students.
The conversation that ensued had a supernatural quality, and each of us contributed information that seemed to come from a hidden source and might indicate that Michael and I had something to do with his great-great-grandfather.
The three-hour meeting (and bottle of wine) seemed to fly by and I was sorry to leave.
As I stood to leave, he embraced me with a huge hug. At that moment, I realized that I was embracing some of the genes that produced the immortal Muir. It was a tremendous joy that reminded me that inviting my students to follow Muir’s footsteps into the wild was one of the happiest decisions of my life.
It’s pleasantly puzzling to think about: If it weren’t for a shopkeeper who has his finger on the pulse of our town, I would have missed a virtual encounter with my lifelong spiritual friend/mentor/guide.
Lowell Young is the author of Biodesign Out for a Walk and lives in St. Helena.
