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Nov 8, 2022

"People today will mostly focus on the points of connection, the nodes of interest like stars in the sky. But the real understanding comes in the spaces in-between, in the relational forces that connect and move the points." --Tyson Yunkaporta

Tyson Yunkaporta: Humans as a Custodial Species

"You don't need to believe in ghosts to balance spirit and live the right way in this world. You can use any metaphor you like--for example ego, id, superego and persona. Frontal lobe, monkey brain, neo-cortex and lizard brain. Athos, Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy. Monkey spirit, Pig spirit, Fish spirit and Tripitaka. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Whatever stories your cultural experience offers you, you can still perceive spirit through metaphor and bring it into balance to step into your designated role as a custodian of reality. Some new cultures keep asking, 'Why are we here?' It's easy. This is why we're here. We look after things on the earth and in the sky and the places in between." Aboriginal scholar, arts critic and researcher Tyson Yunkaporta explains how humans became a custodial species and their role to increase the connections within the world.