Plant Blindness and brain chemistry: Changing one’s mind

Creating an art of expression that can assist individuals with growing consciousness, well-being and connection to their natural being as an Earthling

Removing nature from our everyday lives has reached epidemic proportions as human civilization has become more urbanized. This is causing us to actually lose sight of both trees and the forest. This element of nature deficit disorder is called “plant blindness” and it represents an informally-proposed form of cognitive bias, which in its broadest meaning, is a human tendency to ignore plant species. This includes such phenomena as not noticing plants in the surrounding environment, not recognizing the importance of plant life to the whole biosphere and to human affairs, a philosophical view of plants as an inferior form of life compared to animals and/or the inability to appreciate the unique features or aesthetics of plants.

Wildcraft Forest School students study the decay of a root flare. What story does it tell?

As a cognitive bias this can actually negatively impact our mental and physical health as well as how we socially interact with each other and the world around us. Cognitive biases can affect one’s decision-making skills, limit problem-solving abilities, hamper career success, damage the reliability of memories, and can challenge one’s ability to respond in crisis situations. The condition can also increase anxiety and depression, and impair one’s relationships.

The term “plant blindness” was coined by the botanists and biology educators J. H. Wandersee and E. E. Schussler in their 1999 publication 'Preventing Plant Blindness'. Scientists have suggested that the reason some people don't notice plants is because plants are stationary and similarly coloured, although other research has suggested that plant blindness is affected by cultural practices. A US study looked at how plants and animals are perceived using "attentional blink" (the ability to notice one of two rapidly presented images). The study showed that participants were more accurate in detecting animals in images, rather than plants.

Some scientific research suggests that human brain chemistry and visual processing systems are inherently biased to ignore plants in the environment. Studies have shown that human visual systems cannot effectively process all the information that is seen. Thus, research suggests that priority is given to variable colors, movement, and familiar objects in order to most effectively detect threats and potential food sources. As plants do not often fit these criteria, many scientists think the human brain tends not to fully process their visual presence. Additionally, primates have been shown to have a preference for organisms that behave similarly to their own species. As plants behave very differently than humans, this also suggests an intrinsic component to plant blindness.

Culture has also been shown to play an important role in the establishment of plant blindness in a society. Many believe that evidence for this is found in the decreased level of plant blindness in certain communities. For example, in certain Indian and indigenous communities, plants are highly valued for their role in religion, medicine, and spiritual belief.

In societies where plant blindness is prevalent, several cultural mechanisms are considered to contribute to the phenomenon. Zoo-centric education, that is, the focus on animals and giving preference to animals above all other considerations is considered to be one main cause. In the United States, high school biology textbooks devote only 15% of their content to plants. In many societies, there is often little comprehensive understanding among citizens regarding the complexity behind plants' behaviors, reactions, and movements. The pervasive misunderstanding of evolution as a linear mechanism where humans are most evolved and plants are least evolved, rather than as a complex, non-hierarchical process, may also cultivate plant blindness. Plant blindness is also partially attributed to increased urbanization, which has led to nature-deficit disorder and the decrease in prominence of plants’ roles in everyday life. Finally, the concept that animals are more important than plants is reinforced through cultural over-representation of animals in advertising, entertainment, social media and consumer products.

BBC journalist Christine Ro joins many others suggesting that plant blindness is potentially linked to nature deficit disorder, which she construes is causing what she claims is reduced funding and fewer classes for botany.

Plant blindness has in fact led to a deficit in plant science research and education. Plant science research has been defunded, interest in botany majors has decreased, and plant biology courses have been terminated in recent years. Yet, this plant research is believed to be critical for medicinal and agricultural advancement.

Of very critical importance is that plant blindness may lead to less funding being available for plant conservation efforts. Plants make up 57% of the endangered species list, while only 3.86% of funding for endangered species is allotted to them.

Similarly the way governments and companies manage natural resource extraction might be inadequate because decision-makers are impacted by plant blindness. This leaves the protection of plant biodiversity as not being properly recognized.

Both plant blindness and nature deficit disorder are gaining more attention as parents are recognizing the need to expose their children to more nature. There is also more public awareness as to the importance of nature within individual and community health and mindfulness. The public dialogue around climate change is increasing awareness as to the importance of biodiversity and ecology which requires us to overcome any challenges caused by plant blindness.

But still we have a long way to go.

A charcoal tree rubbing as a form of cross species expression.

Several methods have been proposed to combat plant blindness and efforts are on-going. The most prominent campaign addressing this issue is called “Prevent Plant Blindness” and was created by Wandersee and Schussler, the researchers who coined the original term. This campaign uses three main types of advocacy: a classroom poster which has been distributed to 20,000 teachers and endorsed by the Botanical Society of America, a children's mystery picture book about a plant, entitled Lost Plant!, and promotion of plant-growing education, including school-gardens.

Several other suggestions to address the cultural component of plant blindness have also been proposed. Research has shown that creative activities involving plants, such as storytelling, art, and role-playing can help to strengthen children's relationships to plants. Increasing the representation of plants in science education textbooks, specifically those for high school biology has also been encouraged.

As a first step, spreading awareness about plant blindness may help reduce one's biases and this might involve methods by which we acknowledge plants as living beings or “kin”. Citizen science projects involving plants, such as TreeVersity, attempt to help non-botanists see plants in more variable and frequent ways. Plant representation in art and in fictional characters, such as Groot, is considered to be a part of the solution, as well as ensuring plant education employs best practices.

Particularly, it has been suggested that plant education should employ constructivist principles, active learning, and multimedia instruction.

Within the realm of stewardship and the need to recognize, protect and regenerate native plants and their environments, plant activists suggest that humans should be considered as a part of the natural system, rather than outside and above it.

The Wildcraft Forest School continues to play an important role in teaching both adults and children that plants are sentient and intelligent. The school offers certification programs in Yasei Shinrin Yoku which is a form of forest therapy as well as various wildcrafting programs.

Yasei Bending

The Wildcraft Forest School has expanded its Forest Therapy program to include a form of martial arts developed from our Yasei Shinrin Yoku teachings. “Yasei Bending” is now a codified martial art of expression that can assist individuals with growing consciousness, well-being and connection to their natural being.

Yasei Bending seeks to bring the individual into a natural state connected deeper into nature and deeper into meaning. Exercises challenge participants to flow within the living characteristics found in the natural world and then to apply those processes in order to strengthen their place in the world.

Bending techniques are many, concaved shapes like arches can create strength and convexed movements can serve as catchments for energy. The flow of a river, the shape of a breeze or a cloud can serve as an inspiration for flow. As humans we have the power to bend materials and even stories so that they can form complex shapes that can shift realities and outcomes.

Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Alchemical are the five stages of Yasei Bending and each teaches forms of artistic expression and strategies combining physical skill, discipline, and technique. Yasei Bending utilizes ancient practices of meditation, breathwork and movement and supports these practices with an understanding of ancient wisdom, modern biology, chemistry and physics. Each bending stage offers strategic knowledge for delivering “bending” for one’s body, mind and spirit as well as for cosmic interventions and relationships.

2024 Yasei Bending Retreats

Earth: June 22-23

Water: July 13-14

Air: August 17-18

Fire: August 31 – September 1

Learn more about our Yasei Bending Retreats: http://www.wildcraftforest.com/YaseiShinrinYoku.html

Wildcraft Forest School Training Program Specials

These offers end May 26, 2024

Shamanic Coach Certification Training - $100 Off

Distance Learning: This online certification program takes a practical approach towards contemporary Shamanism as an important tool to nurture “meaning and purpose” within individuals, families and groups. This series is ideal for people interested in spirituality and the science of body, mind and spirit and has been developed to support cross cultural understanding, and methods for making “First Contact” with energies, beings and ideas. This online lesson series is also ideal for professionals in the fields of counseling and alternative healthcare.

Yasei Shinrin Yoku Guide Primary Level Guide Certification Training - $100 Off

Distance Learning: Our basic Forest Therapy certification training program. Yasei Shinrin Yoku Guide Certification provides participants with an opportunity to set up an independent practice and provides support for advancing towards Practitioner Certification which provides skills for delivering a Yasei 12-session program and establishing a Yasei Sanctuary Forest.

Yasei Shinrin Yoku - Comprehensive Practitioner Certification Training - $300 Off

Distance Learning: Practitioner training allows participants to deliver a 12 Session Forest Therapy Program to individuals, groups and into the public and private sectors. Training begins online when you register, this training provides participants with certification to perform our unique version of Forest Bathing which combines the healing abilities presented by the natural world with spiritual and environmental stewardship.

Yasei Shinrin Yoku - Comprehensive Practitioner Certification Training - $300 Off

In-Person 5 Day Camp: Our Practitioner training allows participants to deliver a 12 Session Forest Therapy Program to individuals, groups and into the public and private sectors. Training begins online when you register and then you complete your certification at one of our 5-day camps. Yasei Shinrin-Yoku means “Wild Forest Bathing” and incorporates wildcrafting, and includes a tangible understanding of the sentient forest. Yasei considers the expansion of our health, purpose and well-being as being directly related to the work that we do for the benefit of the forest – the practice considers that we and the forest are “one” and that through this presence the true natural balance of energy can be achieved that benefits both the individual and the natural world. 

Yasei Shinrin Yoku Ayurvedic Head Massage Practitioner Certification Training

Special Introductory Offer - 5-Day Camp Program for Clinical Forest Therapy and Yasei Ayurvedic Head Massage. The Wildcraft Forest School has applied its unique approach to nature-based wellness and combined it with Ayurvedic practices in order to provide a clinical approach to Yasei Shinrin Yoku. Our  program allows participants to become certified in delivering a Head Massage practice. Training is available through a 5-day camp at the Wildcraft Forest School and includes a series of online introductory lessons.

Learn more about our specials: http://www.wildcraftforest.com/ForestSchoolSpecials.html

Visit our website to learn more: www.wildcraftforest.com

Our Roku Channel: www.wildcraftforestchannel.com