Something essential is lost when our lives become human-centric.

Animals like Jimothy helps us to recognize that we have become disconnected from the natural world.

Collective effervescence can create bonding through the shared experiences of joy, wonder, or awe.

Jimothy helps us to remember that we are a part of the bigger ecosystem around us.

A Seattle-area raccoon with a shortened spine has become one of the internet's most celebrated animals. Videos of Jimothy waddling through neighborhoods, balancing on backyard fences, and going about his nightly routine have gained millions of views. His popularity makes sense: He’s endearing and easy to recognize with his unique body shape. But what if our emotional investment in the life of a wild raccoon had less to do with Jimothy himself and more to do with what he awakens inside of us?

From Human-Centric to Wild Otherness

Modern life has become almost entirely human-centric. We spend our days in environments shaped entirely for people, created by people. Our screens and daily lives mostly reflect us to ourselves. Ecophilosopher David Abrams argues that........

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