Landscapes Will Speak to You if You Will Listen

Lifta - - an ancient Palestinian village of the Canaanites that is one of hundreds of Palestinian villages that were ethnically cleansed during the 1948 Nakba.

Lifta was originally an abundant and wealthy community, home to a beautiful spring, thousands of olive trees, a mosque, and an olive press.

The architecture of these buildings is incredible and consist only of earthen material. I am reminded that our ancestors indeed recognized the importance of architecture fitting in with the natural world, rather than the complete manipulation, pollution, and destruction of it. How did we get so far removed from this sense of responsibility to live harmoniously with our environment?

I strongly believe the buildings we inhabit have a direct effect on our consciousness and how we see the world. When I consider how it is that many of the Israeli settlers believe in ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians, I see a direct correlation for this heartlessness with how they live their lives.

In seeing the way that the illegal settlements are built, with construction cutting through the wadis, annexation walls carving up the holy hills, settlement blocks studding every hilltop, I recognize a parallel between a manipulation of environment and a manipulation of people.

Rather than living in a building constructed with the consideration of nature’s laws and beauty, a heavily manipulated environment can result in a serious cutting off from nature. When we are cut off from nature, we are disconnected from ourselves, broken, confused, disheartened. This creates the perfect condition for fear, for we lack the ability to connect to our true sense of self and we forget that we all have the same needs and that there is enough for everyone.

This is the general message I hear when I visit holy sites. Ancient ruins stand testament to our capacity and responsibility we have to live in harmony with ourselves, our environment, and each other.

Today, Palestine spoke to me: “Walk the land. Listen. Once you have known the land can you truly love. Trust. Let your faith and devotion to the land be your lifestyle.”

Landscapes will speak to you if you will listen.