Nature Editor Willow Defebaugh: Love as a Force Connecting Us to the World
Willow Defebaugh, editor of the weekly nature meditation newsletter 'The Overview', shares her unique perspective on love and our relationship with the natural world. She sees love as a powerful force that transcends individual experiences, and believes that embracing a romantic view of nature requires effort and a shift in perspective.
Defebaugh views nature not merely as a collection of objects to be exploited, but as a 'communion of subjects to be loved'. She finds ecology romantic, highlighting how organisms interact with their environment. Her friends often tease her about her fondness for fantasy romance novels, which she believes capture her feelings about life on Earth.
Defebaugh invites readers to practice love at every scale, from personal relationships to our connection with more-than-human life. She thinks love is not just something we fall into, but something we awaken to and is all around us. Her views are inspired by Clarissa Pinkola, author of 'Die Wolfsfrau', who explores the relationship between humans and nature through a romantic lens.
Willow Defebaugh's perspective on love and nature, as expressed in her newsletter 'The Overview', encourages readers to embrace a romantic view of the world. By practicing love at every scale, she believes we can foster a deeper connection with the natural world and those around us. Her views, inspired by Clarissa Pinkola, offer a unique and inspiring way to engage with nature.
