Contemplation of Why We Are Here

A scripted meditation to call attention to our collective purpose. Good for starting meetings. Adapted from Animal Think Tank

Let’s start with a minute of silence to remember why we’re here.

You might want to ground your feet [pause], find a balanced posture, and close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so [pause], and we’ll take some time…

...to remember our deep connection with fellow animals. To remember the individuals we have known, and those we've shared our lives with. To remember how they, like us, have the capacity to love, to be playful, to feel joy.

We're here to remember all fellow animals, whether big or small, on the land or in the sea, as well as all those who are invisible to us, in our soils and in our homes. And to remember those whose homes and habitats we invade and destroy. To remember all those who are born into captivity, where they suffer and are killed. To remember how their families are torn apart, and how they grieve. To remember how they resist and fight back every day.

But also to remember those who free themselves, and those who are freed by others. To remember those who live free from human interference and oppression, and those who live in peaceful co-existence with humans. And to remember the possibilities that these offer for all of us.