Scarlet macaw mediation the most Awesome Beautiful Birds
Scarlet macaw mediation – One Earth Conservation
By Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner
To better know a parrot is to engage in growing Multispecies Intelligence (MI), a form of increasing our empathy and knowledge, so that we increase their chances for flourishing and decrease harm that might come their way through human malfeasance. To increase MI we use our whole bodies, including our minds, to experience being the other individual. Then we study and conduct research, so that we can confirm our understandings and check our assumptions. The final step is to make a promise to complete a concrete action and to consider making a life vow in solidarity with all of life.
Step 1 – Scarlet macaw Beyond Words
Pick any individual animal, preferably one with whom you are near in space and time. Then, with as little as movement as possible observe them. Imagine that you are them and moving as they are. If you can without disturbing the animal, move as they do. If you cannot be with another animal, choose a picture or a video for this exercise. If you are using the macaw meditation above, as you listen to it imagine your body moving as the birds do, or if you can move, your body along as if stretching your wings, climbing, turning your head, climbing, preening, sleeping, and eating.
Step 2 – Scarlet macaw – with Words
After you finish this exercise make a list of all the feeling, emotions, and body states of the macaws. Were they quiet, sleepy, resting, or scanning their environment? This could be described as a low arousal state, perhaps in comfort. We may then think of feelings words that might match what the birds were experiencing, though the use of human language to guess the body states of ourselves, let alone another species is an approximation to help us “get into the feathers of another.”
You might also want to add the feelings of love, joy, thrill, fear, hunger, anxiety, or irritation. Some of these might be described as a higher arousal state, and might be uncomfortable for the animals. Some of these feelings might be a motivator to move the bird away from situations of harm or discomfort, while others compel them to move towards satisfaction and beneficial experiences.
Now make a list of the needs of the birds that are connected to the feelings. What do the birds need? Your list can be quite short and address the broadest generalization of needs: Satisfaction? Benefit? Avoiding harm? Avoiding discomfort? You can then fill in with more precise needs that have to do with nutrition, body health and safety, environmental state (heat, cold), positive behavior (mating, feeding, preening), and mental state (ease, fun, arousal). You can also list needs that might be more human centered such as belonging, care, friendship, fairness, justice, etc.
With your list in hand, then do some research on line or in books to see where your assumptions might be misguided. Humans tend to make two basic kinds of “errors” in understating others. Either we think they are nothing like us (anthrocentrism) or that they are entirely like us (anthropocentrism). Most human cultures have constructed our brains to commit these two errors, but we can lessen them by being as much of an unbiased observer as possible. Now refine your list of feelings, needs, motivators, and behaviors.
Step 3 – Scarlet macaw – Doing the Beauty that You and They Are
Now that you know more about the macaw, or any other species you have chosen, return to putting yourself into their feathers. What are they saying to you? What might they be asking of you? Is there anything that arises in you that you could commit to now so as to be in solidarity with this species, or to care for them? Perhaps you will vow to learn more about parrots.
Or maybe you will share this meditation or story with another. It could be that you’d like to donate to parrot conservation, or create an art piece that shows the family life of macaws? Pick one small thing that you can do that is a concrete thing that can be undertaken in the very near future. Then you might also want to consider a life vow. What is the beauty and tragedy of a macaw’s life saying to you? How do you want to live? This is a more general promise that guides you subtly through the days. For instance, you might say that you will be in solidarity with all parrots and beings everywhere, honoring and sharing their beauty and dignity.
Whatever you do or experience with this Scarlet macaw meditation, would you let us know?
Also, if you’d like to know more about Multispecies Intelligence, please see various videos we have on our website and our book, Nurturing Discussions and Practices: Nurturing Nature, Yourself, and Your Relationships.
You might also like this blog post by Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner:
https://www.wwbirds.co.za/dir/case-study-in-parrot-monitoring/
