The Beauty and Intelligence of Swimming Ones
Fintastic and Finscinating Tales of The Sentience of Water Life
This essay is the Third Part of a Three Part Series on Sentience
Scale Tales: Fish and I See Eye to Eye
Though there are jokes about fish being smart because they swim in schools, the truth is rarely known. I tested the waters and what I found will finscinate you. Enjoy the scale tales of the wild deep blue sea, desert streams and an orginal poem honoring the sentience, beauty and intelligence of swimming ones.
One day, while snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean, there was not a swimming one in sight. Experimenting, I called to the swimming ones in the waters to play. It was not long before I was greeted by a large school of fish. Each finned being was a little bigger than my hand. Their silvery bodies glimmered from the refracted colors of daylight in the waves. Close enough to touch, they were wild and free to go at any moment anywhere in the vast Ocean. Yet, they chose to surround me to say, You called? We are here! What would you like to play today? There had been no fish in sight before my call. The fish arrived “out of the blue”, willing participants for wild play.
Schools In- Let The Play Begin!
Eager to continue my experiment with my new swimmy friends, I challenged them to follow me. With my swim fins on, I quickly swam downwards in the Ocean. The entire school swam downwards with me. Then I swam upwards, and they all swam upwards with me. I swam to the right, and the school all swam with me to the right. I turned and went to the left- we all swam left. I swam counter-clockwise and they all swam counter-clockwise with me. Then, clockwise – all together- the fish with their human in the school, swam in the same circular movement. I continued the directional changes at a whim and in a flip of a second. No matter what direction I headed, it was no challenge for the fish- they followed my every move. Like synchronized swimmers- practiced and in perfect alignment, the fish and I were One- Unified. To say it was blissful, or finfully fintasically finscinating, only touches upon the wild, wonderful, watery experience. Our playtime went on for quite a while, as I changed directions, testing their interest and commitment to our game. The school of fish came to me, stayed with me, followed me, and played with me. Snorkel gear assisted me up and down, around and around, as fish and human swam as One. After our play, it was time for me to return to the land, enriched and humbled by the experience with the fish. Indeed, fish are smart, sentient beings, and they love to play.
I called to the swimming ones in the waters to play. It was not long before I was greeted by a large school of fish. United, we moved in several directions- together as One- Unified- each participant doing their part in our movement, doing no harm. The fish and I saw eye to eye. They were wild and free to go at any moment anywhere in the vast Ocean. Yet, when I called, the school of fish chose to come to me, surround me, stay with me, and play with me. Fish are sentient, intelligent and therefore, have rights that need to be honored by humans.
May humans live with humility and reverence for nature. May the waters be healthy, may water life prosper, and may rights of the swimming ones be honored, valued and respected.
We are more than the five senses. Nature sees you even when you do not know yourself. Use your power to do good, know truth, and create beauty. Know Thyself. What will you explore today to expand your consciousness? Nature is watching.
Flippers and Fins, Goggled and Ogle
In a different ocean locale, I swam about a mile from land with a friend. The hills have eyes. Volunteer “spotters” carefully watch and alert authorities of harassment to the ocean wildlife. Anyone who threatens dolphins, or any wildlife, will be arrested upon returning to the shore. The Marine Mammal Protection Act are different now than they were several years ago.
Noting the swim power with my flippers, and how quickly I was able to distance myself from land, I was enjoying being “free” in the ocean. It was not long before several wild dolphins arrived. We kept our distance, minded our own business, and had no expectations. Seconds later, several Spinner dolphins lept out of the ocean, flipping and twisting several times in the air. After several minutes of their “air aerobics”, they swam swiftly into the depths, and closer to us.
Observing their movement under water, one dolphin approached bouncing sea plants off her nose several times, then tossed the greenery towards me. It seemed we were deemed “worthy and safe” by the pod. Awed by their beauty and grace, I thanked them for the seaweed and leaves gifts. They swam away and within a few minutes, a mother Spinner dolphin and her baby, about a week old, arrived and swam over to me. It was as if the momma dolphin was introducing me to her baby, at the same time, showing her youngster, here is a gentle human. I was mesmerized by the experience- and could feel the dolphin mother’s trust, and, it also felt she knew, I needed her, too. My soul longs to be with the wild and free and I honor nature’s rights. We are nature, and coexistence is essential for our health and well-being as the air we breathe. Plants and nonhumans are our oldest teachers. Every being has a job and a purpose, a porpoise, if you will.
When we evolve to expand our consciousness, respect for other beings’ rights will be part of our daily wisdom and choices. Gratefully, the genius of the Indigenous, who love the land and waters that sustain them, are helping to return humans to stewardship and connection with nature. May the direction in all of our lives go with the flow in-joy and connection with nature.
Swum of Us Are Secretive Swimmers
I became proficient at ocean kayaking, including exploring ocean caves and surfing the waves. In La Jolla, Leopard sharks peacefully swim while incubating their developing embryos “like mother birds sitting on their nests to keep their eggs warm”. With a maximum length of around five feet, some Leopard sharks grow to seven feet long.
Even while standing in knee deep water, several dozens of Leopard sharks may surround you. They pose no threat to humans and have more reasons to be afraid of us than we do of them. Skittish and secretive swimmers- they show up in the warm waters of the cove, then disappear- nobody knows where they go. Spending time in the water with them was a surprise- I had no idea they would be there the day I was snorkeling. It was a very peaceful and wonderful experience sharing their home with them. Honoring their privacy and lives, some things are better kept as secrets.
Desert Fish In Tune: How to Tune-a Fish
Swim contests were won in school days in pools, however, natural waters, whether they be lake, stream or sea, are my favorite. While swimming in the canyon streams on a hot summer day in the Southwest, a few Desert fish, such as Gila chub and Gila topminnow arrived. I serenaded them as more gathered. Several dozens of tiny fish stayed with me, facing me as I sang to them, my “fintastic finclub”, for quite a while. Fish are very aware of their surroundings and are very quick learners.
We know so little about other species, yet humans have the hubris to call themselves the most intelligent, and destroy habitats for “economic development.” Self-proclaimed superior status and destroying nature are the opposite of wise.
Resonating with Indigenous peoples- stewardship, conservation, co-existing peacefully, respecting all our brethren, as well as their habitats, is my chosen lifestyle. Many times, I have felt like “a fish out of water”, swimming to my own beat, speaking for the wild. However, to coexist peacefully among all our relations is an honor and a privilege. Time in and on the water, and in nature, for me is a playground- a school- a great joy. Water life is finscinating as they hold wisdom and secrets of their sentience. The mission of Wildlands is to share truth through art, poetry and story-telling so that the sentience of nature is known, to reconnect people with nature, and evolve support of the rights of nature. Healing the lands and waters, heals people. Please make a pledge today to support Wildlands.
What YOU can do to Help Swimming Ones: Choices that effect soils, waters, and YOU!
Feed your body, mind, spirit directly with more protein than nonhuman flesh mediaries. What does that mean? When you eat beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and mushrooms, you are feeding your being directly instead of eating a being that eats these foods for you! Get it?! Local, seasonal, toxin-free, non gmo is best for all life.
Support your small local farmer, small local farms and farmer’s markets. Farmers who utilize regenerative, organic land care repair damage caused by large commercial farms and corporations that destroy soils and waters (and us) with billions of gallons of toxic waste.
Vote with your dollars, cash is freedom. Support those who do good.
Recycle, reuse, and repair! Saves you money and keeps refuse out of landfills and waterways.
Use non-chemical products for bodies, buildings, and land care to keep toxins out of water ways. When we all choose to be toxin free in the interiors, exteriors of our buildings, bodies, and lands, the waters- and the world- will be healthier. Shop local co-ops and purchase natural products from local small businesses.
Support love from Wildlands- I speak for Nature and need your support!
Did you know… Fish Feel.org?
Support Hawai'i Marine Animal Response (HMAR)- the largest Hawai'i-based nonprofit marine species conservation and response organization.
A Love Song for the Sentience of Swimming Ones
Swimming ones glide
Through the water’s tide;
Calm and storms, day and night,
Guided by the sun, stars and moonlight.
They welcome you to know,
Their beauty and intelligence show-
They are sentient beings
With families, needs and feelings.
May the soils and sands
Be healthy throughout the waters and lands.
May people connect with nonhumans’ plight,
Healing nature’s bonds and rights.
Be stewards with your minds, hands and heart-
Do good, serve with empathy, love, and may each of you do your part.
(An original poem by Robin Motzer, All Rights Reserved)When we hear the languages of other beings, and give our own gifts in return for her teachings, we know the generosity of the earth. Knowing there is something greater than ourselves strengthens us to include the well-being of other humans, as well as all of the biota.
When we shift our paradigms, and disengage from the agendas of others, we grow and know truth.
Be kind to other species, they are our brethren. What we do to others, we do to ourselves.
Chose to do good, create beauty, and honor our waters and lands as sacred grounds, for we are nature!
Love is the way.
Nature belongs to itself and is a gift. Take care of nature, and you will be taken care of, too.
Thank you to those who have pledged their financial support for Wildlands, which helps keep me energized and motivated for you and the wild! If you haven’t yet, please pledge you support. Thank you, Your choices make a difference.
Sharing from a reader/ subscriber: "As a scuba diver, "The Beauty and Intelligence of Swimming Ones" really resonates with me. You are a "fintastic" fantastic writer with important messages- a very creative and outstanding job you are doing. Keep up the great work!"- BG
From a reader, VAA: "So beautiful! They deserve to live in peace and not be used for a meal."