--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the first movement, our infancy as a…" description: "\"“In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt no separation from the natural world around us. Trees, rocks, and plants surrounded us with a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joanna-macy-15005_bill-of-rights_in-the-first-movement-our-infancy-as-a-s_151823.jpg" --- # In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt… ![“In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt no separation from the natural world around us. Trees, rocks, and plants surrounded us with a living presence as intimate and pulsing as our own bodies. In that primal intimacy, which anthropologists call "participation mystique," we were as…” quote by Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joanna-macy-15005_bill-of-rights_in-the-first-movement-our-infancy-as-a-s_151823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joanna-macy-15005_bill-of-rights_in-the-first-movement-our-infancy-as-a-s_151823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/joanna-macy-15005_bill-of-rights_in-the-first-movement-our-infancy-as-a-s_151823.jpg) > ““In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt no separation from the natural world around us. Trees, rocks, and plants surrounded us with a living presence as intimate and pulsing as our own bodies. In that primal intimacy, which anthropologists call "participation mystique," we were as one with our world as a child in the mother's womb. Then self-consciousness arose and gave us distance on our world. We needed that distance in order to make decisions and strategies, in order to measure, judge and to monitor our judgments. With the emergence of free-will, the fall out of the Garden of Eden, the second movement began -- the lonely and heroic journey of the ego. Nowadays, yearning to reclaim a sense of wholeness, some of us tend to disparage that movement of separation from nature, but it brought us great gains for which we can be grateful. The distanced and observing eye brought us tools of science, and a priceless view of the vast, orderly intricacy of our world. The recognition of our individuality brought us trial by jury and the Bill of Rights. Now, harvesting these gains, we are ready to return. The third movement begins. Having gained distance and sophistication of perception, we can turn and recognize who we have been all along. Now it can dawn on us: we are our world knowing itself. We can relinquish our separateness. We can come home again -- and participate in our world in a richer, more responsible and poignantly beautiful way than before, in our infancy.”” [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chronicles humanity’s three movements: unity with nature, separation for self‑awareness, and a return to integrated wholeness, urging ecological responsibility. **In simple terms:** Humanity moved from unity, to separation, now returning to integrated wholeness. Key Takeaway Embrace ecological wholeness. Themes environment history spirituality Mood hopeful inspirational Type environmental philosophical When to use this quote - community projects - environmental education - policy advocacy - mindful living - arts installations Key Concepts sustainability collective healing Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster collective ecological awareness? - What practices reconnect us to nature? A Different Perspective Transition may be uneven across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Garden of eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden-of-eden/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Natural world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-world/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Separateness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separateness/) [Trial by jury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial-by-jury/) ## Related quotes > [“If sensibility and understanding as the two branches of human knowledge spring from one common root, to what end such a violent, unauthorized and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-hamann/if-sensibility-and-understanding-as-the-two-branches-of-human/) [Johann Georg Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-hamann/) > [“WHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? Ah. I see we are now into the second movement of the Nakamura Suite in G-Minor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sylvester/whhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat-ah-i-see-we-are-now-into-the-second/) [Kevin Sylvester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sylvester/) > [The onset of this second movement is characterized by the falling away of self and coming upon "that" which remains when it is gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/the-onset-of-this-second-movement-is-characterized-by-the-falling/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars; organized assemblages of ten billion billion billion atoms considering the evolution of atoms;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-have-begun-to-contemplate-our-origins-starstuff-pondering-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“We are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to self-awareness. We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars; organized assemblages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-are-the-local-embodiment-of-a-cosmos-grown-to-self-awareness-we/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Human consciousness arose but a minute before midnight on the geological clock. Yet we mayflies try to bend an ancient world to our purposes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/human-consciousness-arose-but-a-minute-before-midnight-on-the/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [We are our world knowing itself. We can relinquish our separateness. We can come home again - and participate in our world in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/we-are-our-world-knowing-itself-we-can-relinquish-our-separateness-we/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [Good-looking individuals are treated better than homely ones in virtually every social situation, from dating to trial by jury. If everyday experience hasn't convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/good-looking-individuals-are-treated-better-than-homely-ones-in/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I do not apologize for advertising. I think it is as vital to the preservation of freedom in my country as the free exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dillon/i-do-not-apologize-for-advertising-i-think-it-is-as-vital-to-the/) Thomas Dillon > [Cross-examination is beyond any doubt the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth. ... Cross-examination, not trial by jury, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-wigmore/cross-examination-is-beyond-any-doubt-the-greatest-legal-engine-ever/) [John Henry Wigmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-wigmore/) > [ Trial by jury is a privilege of the highest and most beneficial nature \[and\] our most important guardian both of public and private liberty.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blackstone/trial-by-jury-is-a-privilege-of-the-highest-and-most-beneficial/) [William Blackstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blackstone/) > [When it comes to sports I am not particularly interested. Generally speaking, I look upon them as dangerous and tiring activities performed by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-it-comes-to-sports-i-am-not-particularly-interested-generally/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“If the case isn't plea bargained, dismissed or placed on the inactive docket for an indefinite period of time, if by some perverse twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-the-case-isn-t-plea-bargained-dismissed-or-placed-on-the-inactive/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/trial-by-jury-live-wherever-you-can-make-a-living-how-could-a/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) ## More by Joanna Macy > [The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe... All is registered in the 'boundless heart' of the bodhisattva. Through our deepest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/the-heart-that-breaks-open-can-contain-the-whole-universe-all-is/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [When you look at what is happening to our world-and it is hard to look at what's happening to our water, our air, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/when-you-look-at-what-is-happening-to-our-world-and-it-is-hard-to/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [“Yet, even focusing on this present life, disciples often queried the Buddha as to who is responsible for the habits, sufferings, and pleasures we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/yet-even-focusing-on-this-present-life-disciples-often-queried-the/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [There's a song that wants to sing itself through us. We just got to be available. Maybe the song that is to be sung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/there-s-a-song-that-wants-to-sing-itself-through-us-we-just-got-to-be/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [Clothe yourself in your authority. You speak not only as yourself or for yourself. You will speak and act with the courage and endurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/clothe-yourself-in-your-authority-you-speak-not-only-as-yourself-or/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [There are the holding actions, the changing actions, and the vision of the future - what we want to see happen for the Earth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/there-are-the-holding-actions-the-changing-actions-and-the-vision-of/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [We are capable of suffering with our world, and that is the true meaning of compassion. It enables us to recognize our profound interconnectedness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/we-are-capable-of-suffering-with-our-world-and-that-is-the-true/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [Action isn't a burden to be hoisted up and lugged around on our shoulders. It is something we are. The work we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/action-isn-t-a-burden-to-be-hoisted-up-and-lugged-around-on-our/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [Qualities like love and compassion are not just abstract virtues that are the property of saints and adepts. Anyone can develop these qualities in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/qualities-like-love-and-compassion-are-not-just-abstract-virtues-that/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [The most radical thing any of us can do at this time is to be fully present to what is happening in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/the-most-radical-thing-any-of-us-can-do-at-this-time-is-to-be-fully/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [This is a dark time, filled with suffering and uncertainty. Like living cells in a larger body, it is natural that we feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/this-is-a-dark-time-filled-with-suffering-and-uncertainty-like-living/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [Future generations, if there is a livable world for them, will look back at the epochal transition we are making to a life-sustaining society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/future-generations-if-there-is-a-livable-world-for-them-will-look/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [Because the relationship between self and world is reciprocal, it is not a matter of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/because-the-relationship-between-self-and-world-is-reciprocal-it-is/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [It’s walking the razor’s edge of the sacred moment where you don’t know, you can’t count on, and comfort yourself with any sure hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/it-s-walking-the-razor-s-edge-of-the-sacred-moment-where-you-don-t/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [It is my experience that the world itself has a role to play in our liberation. Its very pressures, pains, and risks can wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/it-is-my-experience-that-the-world-itself-has-a-role-to-play-in-our/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) [Explore all 44 Joanna Macy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) ## More Bill of rights quotes > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [“I have a recurring fantasy that one more article has been added to the Bill of Rights: the right to free access to imagination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/i-have-a-recurring-fantasy-that-one-more-article-has-been-added-to/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [“manager’s bill of rights,” those basic things that you have a right to expect from your employees. Responsible employees: Are responsive to feedback Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-andersen/manager-s-bill-of-rights-those-basic-things-that-you-have-a-right-to/) [Erika Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-andersen/) > [“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." -George Mason - Father of the Bill of Rights”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/to-disarm-the-people-is-the-best-and-most-effectual-way-to-enslave/) [Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/) > [A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-bill-of-rights-is-what-the-people-are-entitled-to-against-every/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The average citizen expresses pride in the American Bill of Rights and then seeks to protect his real estate by restrictive covenants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-allen-overstreet/the-average-citizen-expresses-pride-in-the-american-bill-of-rights/) [Harry Allen Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-allen-overstreet/) > [“Among those liberties which we in this UNION claim for the child, due to him as a person, is freedom of thought, the function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parents-national-education-union/among-those-liberties-which-we-in-this-union-claim-for-the-child-due/) [Parents' National Education Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parents-national-education-union/) > [To be patriotic is to be able to question government policy in times of crisis. To be patriotic is to stand up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-al-arian/to-be-patriotic-is-to-be-able-to-question-government-policy-in-times/) [Sami Al-Arian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-al-arian/) > [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn't like a Sunday suit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/everybody-now-seems-to-be-talking-about-democracy-i-don-t-understand/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [We have a list of human rights - right to food, right to shelter, right to health, right to education, many such items which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/we-have-a-list-of-human-rights-right-to-food-right-to-shelter-right/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-this-nation-is-to-be-wise-as-well-as-strong-if-we-are-to-achieve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Bill of Rights was Madison, I'm going with Madison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/bill-of-rights-was-madison-i-m-going-with-madison/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [The notion that Americans can be protected from "terror" by giving up the Bill of Rights is absurd. Democrats are complicit in this absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-notion-that-americans-can-be-protected-from-terror-by-giving-up/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [This has been the new normal since September 11. Everyone knows, but nobody says, that if something happens again, the elite consensus in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/this-has-been-the-new-normal-since-september-11-everyone-knows-but/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) [Browse all 294 Bill of rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt no separation from the natural world around us. Trees, rocks, and plants surrounded us with a living presence as intimate and pulsing as our own bodies. In that primal intimacy, which anthropologists call \"participation mystique,\" we were as one with our world as a child in the mother's womb. Then self-consciousness arose and gave us distance on our world. We needed that distance in order to make decisions and strategies, in order to measure, judge and to monitor our judgments. With the emergence of free-will, the fall out of the Garden of Eden, the second movement began -- the lonely and heroic journey of the ego. Nowadays, yearning to reclaim a sense of wholeness, some of us tend to disparage that movement of separation from nature, but it brought us great gains for which we can be grateful. The distanced and observing eye brought us tools of science, and a priceless view of the vast, orderly intricacy of our world. The recognition of our individuality brought us trial by jury and the Bill of Rights. Now, harvesting these gains, we are ready to return. The third movement begins. 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