By Marissa Wells
Contributing Writer
“Wisdom of Place: A Guide to Recovering the Sacred Origins of Landscape,” by Chip Sullivan and Elizabeth Boults, explores global nature-based archetypes through a unique blend of art, ecology and metaphysics.
Framed by the storytelling structure of tarot, it bridges traditional ecological knowledge with modern science, offering a spiritually grounded path to environmental awareness and action by honoring the spirit of the land.
The book was inspired by the authors’ deep concern for the disconnection between humans and the natural world.
“At this moment in time, as wildfires rage, sea levels rise, species extinctions intensify, and a pandemic has shaken the world, human survival depends on understanding the inherent wisdom of place” said the authors. “The purpose of this book is to reawaken one’s sense of the Earth’s abiding intelligence and to relearn the sacred language of nature.”
Within the book, Sullivan and Boults examine the various principles and elements of landscape as components of nature and human imagination. That may inspire readers to reconnect with the energy and wonder of the natural world around them and motivate meaningful efforts to protect it.
“Wisdom of Place” should appeal to an audience that ranges from creatives to spiritual seekers and landscape artists to coders and more.
“We hope readers will discover a pathway to enchantment, through the artful representations of metaphors that help realign spiritualism with environmentalism,” said the authors. “We hope that ‘Wisdom of Place’ not only enriches one’s environmental literacy but also restores one’s sense of wonder at the world.”
It was important for the authors to write the book to help reconnect people with the spirit of place and inspire more thoughtful engagement with the environment.
“Historically, across the globe, comprehending the spirit of place was a critical first step for people before they altered the environment to suit their needs,” the authors said. “We champion the cause for a more sustainable and just society through practices that enrich both personal and environmental awareness.”
In addition to being authors, Boults and Sullivan are both landscape architects and professors — Boults at UC Davis and Sullivan at UC Berkeley. They are based in Berkeley. To learn more about the authors and their work, visit thewisdomofplace.com.
“Wisdom of Place: A Guide to Recovering the Sacred Origins of Landscape” is available for $45 online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s also available at mainstream retail and independent book stores.
