A culture that denies its natural empathy is dehumanized. The mind cannot deny the heart, not for long. The body cannot sustain this. This denial breaks the body down. Humans cannot deny their humanity, not for long. As a culture, we are beginning to remember this. In order to be healthy and whole, we must be in touch with ourselves, our communities and our environment. African traditional healer and scholar Dr. Malidoma Somé has diagnosed Western society as being disconnected from three basic human neccessities: nature, community, and ritual.

Joseph Tafur / The Fellowship of the River