THE OCEAN AND PSYCHOLOGY
My family has lived on the coast of Santa Cruz, CA for five generations. During the last one hundred years, my family has used the Monterey Bay for play, spiritual, and deep healing experiences. I have a masters in counseling psychology with an emphasis in ecopsychology. It came to my attention that most people have no idea that ocean phytoplankton provides the earth with 90% of its oxygen (UCSC Marine Lab). The lack of knowledge about the vital importance of our oceans has led to more focus on saving land-based nature. I believe that both are important to treat with healing respect. The purpose of my work is to bring needed attention to our ocean’s state of health and how it affects our own well being. I feel that we need to look at how a poisoned ocean affects us mentally as a society and individually. If we poison the ocean we destroy most of the earth’s oxygen supply. I believe we can see a direct correlation between the deterioration of the planet and the mistreatment of the ocean by humans. We must learn to live in harmony with the ocean to heal fully as humans. Most indigenous societies have known this for thousand of years. I believe that Western culture must embrace indigenous ways of living in harmony with nature to regain a sustainable way of living. – Mike