To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human. — Terry Tempest Williams
—What lingers after this line?
Wildness and Human Identity
Williams argues that engaging with wildness reconnects us to fundamental aspects of our humanity. In her memoir, *Refuge* (1991), she describes solace found among birds and salt flats in the Utah wilderness—suggesting that nature is intrinsic to human wholeness. Much like Thoreau's retreat to Walden Pond (1854), this line recasts wildness not as 'other,' but as a forgotten part of ourselves.
Wholeness Through Nature
The quotation frames completeness as something achieved not by self-sufficiency, but by embracing the untamed parts of existence. John Muir, in *My First Summer in the Sierra* (1911), famously wrote that he went to the mountains to 'lose himself and find himself.' Both advocate that immersion in wildness creates a sense of inner unity.
Contrasting Civilization and Wildness
By invoking wildness as necessary for being human, Williams prompts reflection on how civilization can distance us from our essence. This theme appears in Rousseau's *Discourse on Inequality* (1755), where social order is contrasted with the vigor and authenticity of untouched nature.
Spiritual Renewal in the Wild
Williams' statement implies that wild places are not only refuges for the body, but for the spirit. Buddhist monk and naturalist Gary Snyder, in *The Practice of the Wild* (1990), claims that wildness is a source of spiritual and creative renewal, drawing a direct line between natural immersion and personal transformation.
Ecological Wisdom and Responsibility
By acknowledging how wildness shapes human completeness, the quote also suggests an ethical obligation: to preserve and learn from nature. Aldo Leopold's *A Sand County Almanac* (1949) argues for a 'land ethic,' recognizing that our humanity is entwined with respect for the wild world.
One-minute reflection
What feeling does this quote bring up for you?
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