Ideas & Opinions
Wildman and Buck
Tom Rucker, MS, MFTA year or so ago, my associate Susan van Stirum and I were asked to do a guided presentation for the Institute of Noetic Science in Carmel. We entitled it The American Dream versus the Whole Earth. During the presentation we led each other through a Interactive Guided Imagery sm polarities exercise we devised in preparation for the occasion.
As Susan guided me through the imagery exercise with the intent of dialoguing with a couple of images that represented an aspects of myself, the first image that came was no surprise. It was a complacent fellow, the beneficiary of "the good life." Buck as he called himself, was quite pleased with his life and his possessions and was happy with the status quo. Not a bad guy really, just oblivious to the possibility that his slice of the American Dream might be affecting the planet in negative ways. It was clear that the portly fellow represented my own attachment to all that was safe, secure and stable.
On the other hand, the second image in my imagination was shocking. The figure that appeared was an unwashed, wild-haired, wild-eyed character that had retreated to an isolated existence in the woods. Wildman, as I called him, was so angry and so passionate about what is happening to the planet, he could hardly speak.
Initially, any meeting of minds between Buck and Wildman seemed out of the question. However, after a few cautious exchanges Buck convinced Wildman that he might serve the planet better if he emerged from isolation and channeled his anger and passion into a constructive message for others. Wildman saw the logic in this suggestion, and agreed to go home with Buck to clean up a bit. Buck, for his part, agreed to take a look at his meat and potatoes diet (he had to admit he had a slight weight problem) and to purchase a book on raw foods that Wildman recommended. With Susan as my guide, the session ended with both agreeing to follow through on their assignments.
Later, in a bookstore, I recalled Buck’s promise to purchase a raw foods book, only to discover it was not in stock. As I stood at the counter, debating with the sales person about ordering the book, a paperback caught my eye. It seemed to almost "leap" into my hand. I purchased it, and the rest, as they say, is history. Buying that modest book of essays by Wendell Berry, entitled "In the Presence of Fear" was the first in a series of events indicating the significant shift that had occurred for me.
Since then, I have been reading labels on foods, frequenting farmers markets and local businesses more and I let my Costco membership lapse (after some initial protest from my bargain loving wife). I have also increased my contributions to favorite environmental causes and called my Congresswoman a couple of times. In addition, I’m actually signing some of those petitions circulating on the Internet.
The last time I checked into my imagination, Wildman was no less passionate but he was a little less wild. Buck looks like he’s lost a couple of pounds, but I don’t think he’s quite ready for that raw foods diet yet.
Tom Rucker, MS, MFT is a faculty member for the Academy for Guided Imagery. He is a past board member of Imagery International. He lives in Santa Cruz, California and can be reached by e-mail: tomsita@aol.com