“Have you ever wondered what would happen if you freed yourself from all the things you thought you knew and rode the magic of uncertainty and danced with all the endless possibilities?”- Jade
“Elements of the Wild” is a collection of thoughts and poems by Jade – an artist and poet who combines the likeness of yung pueblo, and the wisdom of Henry David Thoreau. She is authentic, vulnerable, and captivates readers through her rawness by using the wilderness as an ongoing theme for how human beings both experience, and relate to the natural world. Through her work, Jade explores universal truths and questions that have plagued human beings from the beginning of time – how do we find meaning in our existence?
Jade’s answers are complex, multifaceted, and reflective of what goes on in the human consciousness on a day-to-day basis. She reminds us that everything in nature lives and dies— including ourselves, which is easy to forget, given that human beings have become masters of escapism by utilizing technology to distract us from our own fragility and mortality. Jade confronts us with this reality, and reminds us that ‘to exist in this life means to constantly be in a state of influx and uncertainty.’ Nothing is permanent and everything is temporary—and we have to be okay with that.
Through her poems, Jade touches on some the most difficult themes of life: loss, love, identity, self-acceptance, heartbreak, friendships, and letting go. She explores her own vulnerability, and thus, forces us to turn inward at our own vulnerabilities. Truth-seeking and aching for knowledge, Jade encourages her readers to live a life that is authentic to themselves— to live deeply, rather than shallowly—and to soak up every waking moment that we are alive.
In my own experience reading Jade’s work, the question of “why are we here?” and “what is our purpose?” has never been more relevant. In the last few weeks, normal civic life has shutdown – from movie theaters, to restaurants, shopping centers, gyms, and now, beaches. Consequently, this has left many, including myself, at a loss for what to do with their time in isolation, devoid of social connection and interaction. I have been struggling the past few days, particularly in that I just ended a brief relationship because it wasn’t a good fit and because apparently, quarantine is the perfect time to get back with your ex. For the record, it’s not.
In this context, Jade’s poems have helped me realize that however big or small, a loss is a loss, and we have to move through that experience on our own time. Some of her poems address accepting where we are at in the given moment, allowing space and kindness towards the self, whereas other poems emphasize pushing through, moving on, and letting go. I think that for myself, it is about finding the balance in between. We are living in some of the most uncertain times in human history, where entire global systems are collapsing, and I think we have to find a way to create meaning in the little things we do every day. Moreover, I would implore readers to find solace in what they are grateful for in such times, as Jade has in her work – for our time with the natural world and the people in our lives is finite, and therefore, what we do with our time, matters.
If you would like to get a copy of Jade’s collection of poems to give you some solace in these unprecedented time click HERE.
