The Procession of the Species: A Celebration of Natureby Jeannette Sherman and Sue Sikora The Procession is designed to address perhaps the greatest need facing people and society today: our lack of a cultural spiritual connection to the natural world and to each other. Is the Procession of the Species Celebration spiritual? Can a parade of people dressed as different species moving along in a musical sharing celebration be considered a spiritual event? Spirituality is hard to define with any precision because it means different things to different people. Before giving an answer, let's talk more about the Procession. Created by the community for the community, the Procession of the Species Celebration is an artistic celebration using the mediums of art, music, and dance to give the natural world a greater presence in our streets. The goal of the Procession is to create a bridge between the arts, the environment, and our local community. For the past five years it has engaged the community in an incredible cultural event, both from the view of participant and that of observer. The Celebration is not a one-day event. It is more than three months of planning, music and dance workshops allowing people to connect with each other. The Community Art Studio provides the space for such personal interactions and is the beginning of cultural exchange on a creative level. What is a cultural exchange? Aldo Leopold, in A Sand County Almanac, states that culture is "the architecture, arts, dress, language, sports, customs, and religion that come to us from our ancestors and their direct connection to the land they lived on and from which they took their existence." As the Millennium fast approaches, our modern e-mail, Internet, TV, global world often denies us this connection to the Earth. Although Homo sapiens is one species living in the cosmos, we are very diverse in our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual natures. We all live in the natural world and strive for meaning to that existence. We are part of the cosmic soup. We are different spirits flowing together, honoring each other, processing in harmony. As a human social animal, we have a deep need to join with other humans in the act of creation. Community members come together to make art in the Community Art Studio or in small groups in someone's back yard, at a scout meeting, or in school. People connecting in this way awaken in each other that creative capacity. Sharing what we have created inspires us to reconnect with others in a common outpouring of joy and excitement during Procession time. This is putting the "unity" in community. We begin to see that we are not alone. In observing the Procession, people are stirred by many thoughts and emotions. Some feel it touching their hearts. Some report it to be a healing journey. Others say it is fun, magical, honest, different, raw, spontaneous, real, unpredictable, amazing, awe-some. Some see it as a spiritual experience, renewing faith in human kindness. It is clear that this is not a traditional showy parade where control, precision and uniformity are the norm. The uniqueness of original expression that participants are encouraged to show makes it totally non-threatening, non-competitive, and non-judgmental. This makes it easy for anyone, young and old, in spite of limitations, to be involved. The general attitude is "I can do it, too!" The Procession unites art, music, and our concern for the planet Earth. It touches our hearts and souls, helping us find our way through the natural world. It can show us a higher purpose of our life in this world that we are given to live in and protect. The Procession, then, can be seen as a highly spiritual event that lifts the spirit and elevates our human existence. Jeannette Sherman is the Office Manager for Earthbound Productions. Sue Sikora is the Earth & Spirit Coordinator for Earthbound Productions.
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