The earthly revelation of the ultimate mystery

I've long considered Thomas Berry – catholic priest, cultural historian, and leading advocate for deep ecology and ecospirituality – to be a true visionary and guiding light for accessing my higher self.  He found his calling at an early age, having an epiphany in a meadow at age 11 which became a primary reference point for the rest of his life. He later elaborated his vision into a set of 12 principles, the first of which states:
“The universe, the solar system, and planet earth in themselves and in their evolutionary emergence constitute for the human community the primary revelation of that ultimate mystery whence all things emerge into being.”

Long Sands Beach, York Maine: 9/9/11 © J. Stimmell

I am now reading the last book he wrote, a collection of essays entitled Evening Thoughts, published in 2006, three years before he died at the age of 94: The following quote is a good illustration of the beauty and power of his writing:

"The light of day gives way to the darkness of night. A stillness, a healing quiet, comes over the landscape. 


"It is a moment when some other world makes itself known, some numinous presence beyond human understanding. We experience the wonder of things as the vast realms of space overwhelm the limitations of our human minds. At this moment, as the sky turns golden and the clouds reflect the blazing colors of evening, we participate in the intimacy of all things with each other."*

*Berry, Thomas; Tucker, Mary Evelyn (2010-07-01). Evening Thoughts (Kindle Locations 1936-1940). Perseus     Books Group. Kindle Edition.