Short and Sweet....
In today's Telegraph there is an editorial piece about the discovery in 1994 of cave paintings in France, dating back 35,000 years ago.
The artwork is terrific. The artist's (i.e. caveman's) understanding of muscle, movement, power, energy and motion is evident. I'm no artist to speak of such matters but the eye doesn't lie!
Compared to today's art it suggests man knew everything he needed to know about art so you've got to wonder 'how much have we learnt since then?'
Which raises a bigger question about how much we have really advanced at all as a species. Of course I will be shouted down amongst the reams of technological, industrial, biochemical advancements and discoveries. Yet my quest is more about how much our inner eye has advanced? How much our ability to resonate and connect with nature, it's power and it's beauty - has advanced?
Looking at how we live amongst horses today compared to how the cave man must have interacted with the Equine suggests if our knowledge has increased our respect has not. We act these days as if our discoveries about the 'nature of the horse' is some big revelation. Things like:-
- horses don't like closed spaces,
- horses don't like loud man made noises,
- horses need company and deteriorate if lonely
- horses don't do well on years of vaccines, man made feeds, chemical sprayed crops etc.
- horses feet don't need shoes to be healthy and functioning
Shame on us if we didn't already know this using our instinct, compassion, good old fashioned observation or common sense.
I am sure we have progressed intellectually leaps and bounds, but I am not so sure that our inner spirit has followed suit. What the Chinese and Ancients new as a given; we have lost. Even the teachings of religion hold little weight of respect today used instead to wield claims of 'injustice' to defend our right to attack!
Whilst many scoff at the rise of 'self help' books, courses and events encompassing the 'new age' Movement - I embrace it heart and soul for it's role in helping us to return to what we once knew and understood.
I for one applaud the cave man's insight, foresight and eyesight! Their artwork leaves a legacy - to remind us of what lies within, at our most basic DNA level of 'homosapien man' - namely our ability to create, inspire and express what we see, to live on for thousands of years.
I hope we can re-discover our respect for nature, marvel at its power and vulnerability to keep it safe for future generations.
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