Drawing on shamanic thinking, the author argues that the earth does not belong to humans but is a host for all species. The essay suggests that human traits of greed and selfishness, as noted by Rousseau, have led to irreversible planetary changes including earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires, and floods. Rapid climate change, wars, and pandemics have caused growing emotional and psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The author proposes that shamanic techniques combined with philosophical counseling can heal these difficulties, fostering a peaceful and balanced understanding of our relationship with the Universe and ourselves.
Western meditation was lost after Descartes, whose subject-object split turned thinking into detached reflection. Twentieth-century philosophy questioned the cogito but did not restore meditation. Philosophical practice can revive meditation by allowing emotions to live, be welcomed, and mellow. Meditation also serves as a continuous source of comparison for philosophical practitioners, helping them preserve humility, dismiss authority, and welcome the guest without manipulation, by listening while challenging their own preconceived ideas and past emotions.