Elder Muse/Day 24: Climate Surprise -Do We Really Know?

IMAGE: Tree bark contains microbes that absorb methane from the atmosphere. Viswaprem Anbarasapandian – Unsplash

Tree lover? I have been all of my life. The love affair and companionship has just grown stronger as I have aged right along with the trees. Fortunate to be surrounded by them now in every direction I look, I acknowledge they are our guardians, protectors and wise guides on so many levels.

in reading a recent article entitled: Trees Reveal Climate Surprise: Bark Removes Methane from the Environment, I wasn’t surprised to learn of yet another gift that trees bestow upon this planet we all inhabit.

“A surprise discovery from the University of Birmingham shows that we may be significantly underestimating the potential of trees to regulate the variables of climate change.

That’s because they found microbes living inside trees’ bark absorb the greenhouse gas methane about as significantly as microbes living in the soil.”

~Professor Vincent Gauci of U. Birmingham led the study, published in the journal Nature.

One small bit of awareness in the mystery that encompasses all life here and in the vaster cosmos. As humans we often want to nail down facts and in some cases bend them to our will, keep them static. Yet our insatiable curiosity keeps stirring the desire to “know more” and thus “discoveries” continue.

The other side of this is what happens when we operate out of fear and “knowing” – a kind of knowing that is not founded on what is true right now, but instead on speculation, assumption, and the inability to accept that mystery and ever changing abundant possibility is a part of life.

Do you remember the scare and resultant panic many were in when the century changed from the 1900’s to the 2000’s? Perhaps the primal brain was in charge then.

Below is an example of ecological “estimates” that have been magnified out of all proportions. Yes, plastics are in everything now and it is important to eliminate usage as much as possible, but do we really “know” what their impact is now, and will be in the future?

Speculation can encourage effective action, but it can also create panic and chaos.

“It’s not the first time scientists have made estimations regarding climate change and come up incorrect in the wrong way. Climate scientists in the Netherlands recently found that previous estimates about how much plastic entered the oceans over the last 20 years are probably exaggerated by three thousand percent.”

This highlights for me the tendency for humans, even in scientific studies, to state conclusions about “climate change” and the state of our environment as absolutes and most often fear based. This goes on in other domains as well. We end up going up and down like a roller coaster with the constantly changing theories, assumptions and opinions.

When it comes down to it there is always a multitude of possibilities operating. As well as the mystery of just how this beloved planet of ours has sustained itself over millions of years with massive climate changes occurring. We think we know, make assumptions, or even give opinions based on the scientific method yet do we really “know”?

All we know is that everything is always, always changing, collaborating, dying and regenerating in ways we cannot even conceive of.

When we read what is presented as facts through mainstream sources, even the article/study that I linked to in this post, I am reminded to brush up on critical and creative thinking skills and question what is being presented….as well as be open to surprise!

Acknowledging that we won’t ever know for certain – even after doing our research and making grounded assessments – for nothing stays the same. Meaningfully coming to conclusions and actions that match with our values and beliefs for these moments in time with a willingness to stay open and curious.

When it comes right down to it a partnership of creative and critical thinking is a powerful way to ground, create, and expand at the same time. Especially needed right now….

My conclusion with all of this is: PLANT MORE TREES AND ENJOY THEM!

South Yuba River, N. California/Photography by Gaye Abbott

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31 days of Daily Elder Muse blog posts accessed from the unfolding of the day – not planned or scheduled. Yes, the Muse is back again during this powerful and challenging shift time on our planet. May these words, stories and images assist you to remember who you are….and where to place your attention. ~Gaye Abbott

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Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 08/07/24