'Kind Mind' Podcaster Todd Fink Presents Democracy of Trees on May 26

Romeoville IL

24 May, 2022

2:54 PM

Description

Todd Fink – an artist, counselor and speaker – will talk about the philosophy, mythology and ecology of the forest world during his Democracy of Trees: What Forests Can Teach Us About Community Health presentation on Thursday, May 26. The program is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Isle a la Cache preserve, 501 E. Romeo Road/135th Street, Romeoville. In the Q&A below, Fink discusses his nature philosophy, his "Kind Mind" podcast and his attachment to trees, music, meditation and more. We asked Fink to tackle 10 questions to help attendees get to know him better. Here are the questions and Fink's answers: What do you hope people get out of your presentation?I'm hoping that people feel a little more tuned in to nature and each other by reconnecting with the wonder of all the life around us. Why should people care about trees?We have such a vital and symbiotic relationship with trees. They produce the air that we breathe, the fruits that we love and the habitat for the rest of our food and the materials for our homes. So, they are essentially the life outside our bodies. What does the "democracy" part of your program title mean with regard to trees?It means that trees have a way of working together that could inspire humans. Yes, we have a democratic way of voting but, on a deeper level, the word democracy originally meant belonging to one another in ancient Greek. Trees seem to realize this in the sense that they freely support one another underground through the "wood wide web" and have the evolutionary wisdom to know that the health of the whole matters. Are your tree beliefs based in biology, or are the things you are presenting more philosophical or spiritual in nature?A little bit of both. I appreciate the scientific research of ecologists like Suzanne Simard as well as the philosophical side of our connections. Poet Khalil Gibran has a quote, "Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky." Also, I believe that the tree is a symbol for our psychological and spiritual growth. By meditating upon this, we can uncover powerful insights about our own nature. What has your own experience with trees been in your lifetime?Well, my band is named The Giving Tree Band after the classic Shel Silverstein book. We have tried to weave some stewardship into our creative work by promoting the use of reclaimed woods and naturally fallen trees in instrument building and protecting forests. Through my podcast, I've celebrated trees and others doing important work such as Better Place Forests, which offers alternative cemeteries for people who want their last rites to support forest sanctuaries. I've mostly lived near forests and my parents helped us feel rich by connecting deeply with nature. Will there be music in addition to meditation during the program?Yes, I will bring a guitar or ukulele to add a song or two. Why is meditation an important tool for people learning about nature?Meditation is universal to our being. Even on a silent walk in the woods, so much ego is shed. What is there to prove to the trees? So, it restores our circulation with the whole and soothes the sense of separateness. Thus, we reveal our own intuition about the natural world and our relationship. How long have you been creating a podcast and how would you describe it?I think the podcast has been going for about five years. It is a way to share the wisdom of art, science and spirituality but also to encourage further dialogue about the big questions and the meaning of life. I think this is very healing for our families and communities. So, I try to inspire people to explore, to keep learning instead of always concluding. This brings people back together in the common search of meaning. Do you think people need more information and programs like yours today?Yes, we desperately need this. In many ways, we have lost our connections. Therapists do a good job of filling the void that wise elders served to guide through the stages of life, but they don't always have the wider context. So, these kinds of events tap the collective wisdom of community and break down taboos around aging and dying and more when people understand they are not isolated. Anything else you would like to add about the program?I'm very excited and grateful to be able to connect with everyone in person. Thank you to the Forest Preserve District of Will County for organizing this program. People can stay in touch with me through the "Kind Mind" podcast, my website, social media @michaeltoddfink, and can support my work via Patreon. The presentation is a perfect fit for the Forest Preserve's program lineup, said Jen Guest, the District's recreation coordinator, who arranged the program. "Todd is such an amazing human who has a gift to share with the world," she said. "His podcasts and talks really touch on our connection to nature and how to become a more mindful person. The chance to learn how to reflect through self-awareness and mindfulness is important for our mental health. We are always looking for ways to connect people to nature and promote wellness in the community." Registration is not required, but please bring a chair because seating will be limited. Meet at the picnic shelter at Isle a la Cache.