Everywhere I go these days, Huckleberry goes too. I use to think of him as my pet, implying ownership. Search for the meaning of the word pet and you will find the following: "A domesticated or tamed animal, kept for pleasure or companionship." The concepts in that idea would not have bothered me once. Now, I'm shocked by the idea of 'less than', of the servitude required of a pet. I imagine the idea of a 'tamed' animal has been the impetus for the vast industry of dog training that occurs. Us humans like those pets to behave submissively, walking in a docile manner at our heel. Domination is such an embedded concept. It's shocking how much I have not seen how the training required from a responsible pet owner enforces this myth. We, the owner dominating the animal enforcing predictable and repeatable training. So much effort is necessary to get that animal fully domesticated and oh, the pleasure taken in the compliment paid by a stranger about the wonderfully obedient animal by our side.
What does an ecological minds-eye think about this relationship now? Humans not being at the top of the hierarchy does configure things quite a bit differently then the usual mythology. I'm responsible for Huckleberry. Does that make him 'less than'? Or, does the idea of all things are important, including me, help expand the connections regarding the idea of relationship? Huckleberry is part of my ecosystem of relationship, which orients me towards new ideas about self-importance. I become 'less than' as the domesticated dog becomes 'more than', which for some reason does not diminish or enlarge either one of us. We are a relationship, neither one more important than the other.
Ideas and attitudes towards the 'wild' in me also open up here. I am knowingly engaged in excavation of wilder attitudes, promoting diversity and freedom of expression. Too long a time offering cultivated behavior in civilized society has been exhausting. Vanilla flavored conversation is too much these days. So, it seems as I watch what is expected of the pets too. In order to survive their wild must also be extinguished. Which is why, if, I'm attentive to and nurturing the wild in me, so I too must be attentive to and nurturing of the wild in Huckleberry.
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