In my reading over the last years, I have focused on the writings of those philosophers, naturalists and scientists who were capable of a poetic vision and expression of humanity’s place in nature, seeing us as cooperators intimately connected with the natural order.

These authors, notably, Goethe, Luther Burbank, Thoreau and Emerson were intoxicated with the beauty, power and mystery of nature. Thoreau in particular offers a deep, poetic, incredibly knowledgeable vision if one looks further than the usual casual view of him. He offers an attuned, inspired, ecstatic account of his love affair with the natural world using his unparalleled poetic prose.

Contemporary writers in this vein would include Gary Snyder, Bernd Heinrich and Stephen H. Buhner.

A close friend once remarked that, in viewing my work, it seemed to him that I was taking more delight in nature than he, or perhaps many people might. If this is true, I can’t think of a finer role to fill than just that, along with whatever I can convey of that delight through my work. The purpose of this journal is to share my work and related photos, thoughts, references and to urge a return to ecstatic naturalism.