The Essence
“I am because we are, and since we are, therefore I am.” – John Mbiti
Photographs & text by Anna Rosa Krau
This saying (reflecting the Ubuntu* philosophy and worldview) highlights the importance of connection, love, and the bonding effect that the intimate way of nurturing provides as a basis for our self-confidence. Looking closely at this union, we realise that the birth of a “me” cannot be imagined without a “you”. A mother giving birth to her child realises the separation from a pregnant self into two individual beings, the moment the umbilical cord is cut. The child, however, not yet fully developed into a self-sustained human, has difficulties understanding that it is an autonomous “self” and not the mother. It is only around the 4th month that we discover the sensation of being ourselves – when we can connect our two hands in front of our eyes. That’s when we feel a connection on a whole new level. We are touch and are touched by it.
This finding of our hands and, at a later stage, self-realisation in the reflection of a mirror, is the first giant leaps of abstract thinking and philosophy at the core of our “becoming self”. To understand separation doesn’t come easy to us, and one might even say, it isn’t our natural state. First, our brains have to adjust, and our hands have to find each other before we can understand that the mirror reflects no stranger.
While we, as a society, have entered a new stage of eternal (self-)reflection – posting selfies on Instagram, spell-bound by the power and entertainment of reckless, narcissistic leaders – a substantial part of society has embarked on a journey of “self-fulfillment” to “find themselves” again. But have we really lost ourselves, are we that empty that we need fulfillment? What if there is no use in “finding oneself”
Concurrently, a new breed of eco-philosophers such as Andreas Weber, Robin Wall-Kimmerer, and Charles Eisenstein has convincingly established a new way of looking at this dilemma as “The great myth of separation”. We humans, the youngest element in this vast story of evolution, are, in fact, connected to everyone and everything on this planet.
“Are we separate beings? If you believe you’re a separate self, separate from others and the rest of the natural world, then the universe is fundamentally indifferent to you and even hostile. You would then definitely want to control other beings and the whimsical forces of nature,” says Charles Eisenstein, speaker, activist, and author of Sacred Economics. In his eyes, we cannot be looked at as individuals – as we are in a constant process of exchange with our surroundings. We are never solid, nor separate, nor alone. Our borders with the more-than-human world are flexible, in constant exchange, never closed.
As we breathe out, trees breathe in. Or to describe it more clearly: As trees inhale our CO2-exhaustion, we inhale theirs as O2. We breathe trees and they breathe us – a most beautiful act of LOVE. This resembles a graceful loop of eternal life and a vital bond of interconnectedness, and it is also a simple form of gift trading. What we produce, triggers growth in trees and their offering enables our existence. And this bond leads us even deeper, becomes part of our human DNA. That we feel a strong connection to nature and trees, in particular, comes as no surprise to botanists and geneticists: We are, in fact, partially tree. We still share 20% of our genes with trees. Hence, we ultimately all derive from this one universal cell. Indigenous wisdom has always conveyed this deep elemental knowledge of ONENESS: I AM CLOUD, I AM WATER, I AM AIR and I AM LAND.
We are not made to be autonomous, and we are not alone. We are in a constant state of interbeing – touched by life. I can only nurture myself by taking care of you. Thus the essence of ME is YOU.
References:
John Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy, Heinemann, 1969.
*Ubuntu is a commons philosophy shared by Africans south of Sahara that sees the roots of personhood in community and relatedness to the cosmos.
Team Credits:
Photography & Text:
Anna Rosa Krau
@talentandpartner @Klaus Stiegemeyer
Styling:
Sophia Schwan @Klaus Stiegemeyer
Hair & Makeup:
Anna Neugebauer @Bigoudi
Model:
Joana Cortes @PMA
Editor:
Dörte de Jesus
Beauty Credits:
Page 2:
Lovely Day, Lucid Lipbalm
Susanne Kaufmann, Healing Earth Mask
less, Face Oil for Dry Skin
8 Faces, Boundless Solid Oil
less, Ghassoul Cleansing Clay
Fine, Senza Deodorant
(clockwise from left to right)
Page 7:
Fine, Senza Deodorant
Fine, Peace Body Serum
less, Face Oil for Dry Skin
(from left to right)
Page 9:
Original Aleppo Soap from Syria
Fashion Credits:
Page 4: Dress by Matka
Page 5: Bra by Baserange
Page 7: Blouse by Bite Studios, Jumpsuit by Baserange
Page 8: Blouse by Matka, Underwear by Baserange
Page 9: Top and underwear by Baserange
Page 10: Jumpsuit by Baserange (left), Blouse and skirt by Matka (right)