Analysis Of The Peace Of Wild Things By Wendell Berry

Imagine having the ability to switch off our minds after a stressful day. Would you do it? The sad reality is that stress is extremely common, and we can’t just turn off our thoughts and emotions whenever we feel necessary. Instead, we focus on challenging ourselves to take these moments as learning lessons. Then, in life’s hardest moments we look for guidance to find new appreciations for life, new discoveries about ourselves, and to make peace within. In “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry, he discusses the connection between peace and nature to the key of one’s happiness. While imaging a new life and surroundings for himself, he can accept and appreciate his ability to find harmony in his civilization. The message being that stress

Therefore, the wild things are a representation of how being spiritual connected to nature and creating unification can change a mindset. Similar to Nomad tribes, they went about life living like the animals, always traveling from places to places with no permanent settlement. Unworried about the consequences of leaving whether it was safe or they could find food because they had each other. Hunting and gathering brought them together where they could be unified but still seek out their potential. As part of this imagery of “wild thing,” the Nomads were once wild themselves, they followed these animals lifestyle to provide food and knowledge to their people. This way of life is similar to the representation of God in religion; he creates a spiritual path that allows for guidance in the darkest times. Along with, establishing unification between humanity despite their individual situations. As Tim Vivan noted, “Wendell Berry not only writes about that life and death struggle in our society, he attempts to live out neighborliness, to people, to animals, to the earth—and thus to God. Antony recognized the bond between neighborliness and Godliness, and its

Isolation portrays how our surrounding affects the importance of not worry about the future, but living in the present today. As Berry has acknowledged, “I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free” (Berry 476). The still water is a representation of serenity found through the disparity in the world because the water is calm and quiet; as a result, his mind becomes at ease. The role of the still water is to keep Berry’s mind clear of dwelling on his past or future at this moment. The water provides wisdom and comfort to his mind at that moment, and he is free. It is much easier to remove yourself from society when there is less chaotic and distractions, allowing you to just sit down for a minute a breath. In comparison, still water limiting the amount of stress by providing a separation of our two mindsets (peace and pressure) similar to how various yoga techniques would. Yoga concentrates on conscious breathing to activate a different path of the brain that separates us from stress, anxiety, and insomnia. To be able to remove yourself for a short moment eases the mind