Beautiful wild creatures

'She is like this beautiful wild animal that is trying to live life as a human.'

This is how Juan Oliphant describes Ocean Ramsey in the film Shark Whisperer. And yes. She is. His words sung to my heart as I watched her move with the water and dance with the sharks. His words sung to my heart as I felt their truth. We are all beautiful wild creatures having a human experience.

Ocean teaches us how to live. She remembers who she is by noticing and responding to what makes her feel most alive. What she knows deep inside, is her reason for being. When we honour the beautiful wild creature inside of us, when we move through the world guided by our animal heart, we are our most authentic self. We are our most at peace. 

This glorious documentary is everything the title promises it to be and so much more. Ocean Ramsey is the shark whisperer for each and everyone of us. And it is not just because she spends countless hours in the depths of the sea observing sharks, discovering their nuances and language, and interacting with them. It is because she loves them and whispers our hearts open to these magnificent beautiful wild creatures.

'Man always eliminates things, when they are afraid of things.' Brian Keaulana, Waterman

More words in the film resonate. Yes. He does. We do. This strategy for fear is the basis of war, racism, violence against women and humankind's pitiful attempts to control nature. History has a constant of stories of man eradicating the power of his perceived fear. Together, Ocean and Juan, through their love and action, ask the question: 'What might happen if we see and act past the fear?' 

Juan and Ocean are exemplary of living compassion. The foundation of compassion is to see others as equal. This does not mean seeing others as the same. We can acknowledge difference, but understand in our hearts that others are equally deserving to be free from suffering. It is through compassionate action that Juan and Ocean are able to be in the water with the sharks and advocate for their protection.

This film is an important reminder of what Thich Nhat Hanh calls interbeing. We are all connected. Our existence intricately woven together. The ocean was our beginning. And it may be our ending. Without this dynamic body of water, life on earth, for all creatures, will not be able to continue. Sharks are an important part of this ecosystem. Without sharks the ocean's balance will be so disturbed it will collapse. There will be an overpopulation of species, a decline in biodiversity and, therefore, an increase in coral reef destroying algae. Without sharks the ocean will die.

Storytelling is healing. Through Ocean and Juan's story and the beautiful storytelling of the film makers, we are invited to look deep within, to remember and connect to the beautiful wild creatures we are. We are invited to look at the things we fear with compassion, to learn to live alongside them. To see the beautiful wild creatures they are. To ask the question, 'What might happen if we look at each other with awe and wonder?'

We are all beautifully different but equally deserving to be free of suffering.