We Belong to the Living World

And with that knowing, we can co-create life-affirming futures. Welcome to The Living World, I encourage you to start here.

Words shape the way we see the world.

When I say “The Living World,” I’m inviting us to step away from the idea of “nature” as something separate from us—something out there, a backdrop to human life, or a resource to manage.

Instead, The Living World reminds us that we are part of something alive, vast, and intricate. It dissolves the boundary between “humans” and “nature” and calls us to see ourselves as threads in the web of life, co-creators within a dynamic, interwoven system.

This shift is more than semantic—it’s transformational. When we think of the planet as “nature,” we risk seeing it as an object to dominate, extract from, or control. But when we see the planet as “The Living World,” we begin to imagine ourselves in relationship—with the land, the waters, and the countless beings that share this home with us. And in this relationship, we discover:

• Who we are. The living world reveals our identity as members of a vast, interdependent family.

• Why we’re here. It reminds us that our purpose is not to conquer or extract, but to contribute and belong.

• What we’re meant to do. It teaches us how to live in ways that sustain life, rather than diminish it.

It shifts us from overseeing to belonging.

This simple shift in language opens the door to a new way of being. It invites us to see the Earth not as an “it,” but as a living community we are part of—not above. It’s an invitation to step into a deeper relationship with life itself, one of curiosity, humility, and love.

What might change if more of us thought of this planet not as an object, but as a relationship? Not as “nature,” but as the living world we are kin to?

This is the heart of The Living World, this publication you are reading. It’s a space for exploring who we are within this vast, breathing system, what we’re here to do, and how we can participate in the transformations our time demands.

Let’s find out together.

How to Cultivate This Relationship

Reconnecting with The Living World begins with changing how we think and speak. When we shift away from seeing “nature” as something separate, we create space for a deeper relationship. Here are three ways to cultivate this connection:

1. Reclaim the Language.

Start experiment with using the phrase The Living World instead of nature or the natural world. Notice how it changes the way you think and feel. The living world isn’t a destination; it’s everything around you and within you.

Next level: Experiment with substituting the word regenerative where you see the words sustainable or restorative. Notice what the difference is, investigate the layers of meaning to the word regenerative, and share what you discover with me and the wider world!

2. Be Curious: Ask, Listen, Learn.

Engage with The Living World not as an outsider, but as a participant. Sit with a tree, listen to a river, or walk through your neighborhood with the awareness that you belong to the web of life.

This is true no matter where you live, no matter how dense the human built presence is. The living world is all around us, within us, expressing through us.

Every breath is an exchange with countless trees, grasslands, kelp forests around the world. Every drink of water is water that all of life has moved through for millennia. Every form of life is precious, and that includes you.

With this awareness, what changes?

3. Act With Love and Reciprocity.

Relationships are built through care. Nurture the living world with small, intentional acts: plant a seed, nourish the soil, or support the creatures who share your space. These actions are more than symbolic—they’re a way of remembering your place in the family of life.

As you do this, you can find ever smaller or ever larger ways to practice care and love and reciprocity. These will be as unique as you are, as unique as the land you live within. There is no loving act to small or too large.

The Invitation

The living world is not something you visit; it is something you are. And when you embrace this truth, everything changes.

You begin to see yourself not as separate, but as connected. Decisions become simpler, guided by the rhythms of life rather than the demands of control. And most importantly, you find a sense of belonging—not just to the earth, but to yourself and your purpose.

This isn’t a one-time realization. It’s a relationship—a practice of curiosity, humility, and love. Through this relationship, we can remember who we are and participate in the transformations that our time requires.

We belong to The Living World, and we are here to co-create life-affirming futures.

About the Author (if you’re new here)

Hi, I’m Ganga Devi Braun, and I’m honored to welcome you to The Living World.

I’ve dedicated my life to exploring what it means to live in deep connection—with ourselves, each other, and the earth. Through my work as a developmental partner, organizational leader, writer, and integrative thinker, I empower people and organizations to transform the way they relate to their inner and outer worlds.

I believe that our relationship with The Living World holds the key to understanding who we are, why we’re here, and how we can contribute to the transformations our time demands. My approach is grounded in a blend of scientific insight, embodied practices, and spiritual wisdom, all woven into a practical, compassionate framework for change.

This publication is an invitation: to rethink your place in the family of life, to reconnect with the cycles that sustain us, and to remember the profound interdependence that shapes every part of our existence.

Thank you for being here. Let’s walk this path together.

A portrait by Thais Aquino during my pregnancy, a time that profoundly reoriented my awareness of my belonging to the Living World as a creator of life itself. This is an area of my garden where I often sit and write the things you’ll be reading in this publication.