Photo by Roman Manukyan; Republic of Dagestan, Russia

Mountains rising and oceans swelling, Earth’s 4.5-billion-year story has been punctuated by the cyclical turning of processes, a dynamic, balancing act of breakdown and repair. This week on For The Wild, we dive into the folds of deep time with professor, author, and geologist Marcia Bjornerud, exploring the wealth of knowledge etched into the landscapes around us. How might we understand the unprecedented scale and pace of transformation we’re seeing today in the context of the geologic record? And what does our planetary story reveal about the adaptive capacity of life? Peering through the lens of geology, this episode offers an invitation to tap into the realms of more-than-human time, connect with ancient ones, and re-engage with our shared earthly history. 

Marcia Bjornerud is Professor of Geosciences and Environmental Studies at Lawrence University. Bjornerud’s research focuses on the physics of earthquakes and mountain building, and she combines field-based studies of bedrock geology with quantitative models of rock mechanics. She has done research in high arctic Norway (Svalbard) and Canada (Ellesmere Island), as well as mainland Norway, Scotland, New Zealand, and the Lake Superior region. She received a BS in geophysics from the University of Minnesota and MS and PhD degrees in structural geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Bjornerud is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and has been a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of Oslo, Norway and University of Otago, New Zealand. She is the author of two book for popular audiences, “Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of the Earth”, and “Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World” as well as a contributing writer to The New Yorker, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Wired.

Moving between theory and grounded practice, Ayana and Marcia discuss the notion of “timefulness” and healing our relationship with time, the marvel of mountain-building, the necessity of multigenerational spaces, mass extinction events of the geologic past, change as constant, and the brilliant complexity of Earth’s systems. As we all grapple with the scales of time, Marcia shares that there is beauty, purpose, and humility to be found in our unique humanness: that we are but a small piece of the larger tapestry of life. Meanwhile, we also seek spiritual peace and belonging in the expansiveness of our collective mythology that dances with the cosmos at large. Balancing the two will be our work. 

♫ Music by Rupa and the April Fishes and Te Martin

Take Action & Learn More

We highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Marcia’s book, “Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World” 

If you’re interested in reading something more short form, check out these pieces by Marcia:

How Geology Can Ease Your Mind by Marcia Bjornerud 

Timefulness: A Geologist's Story—Interview with Marcia Bjornerud by Marcia Bjornerud & Anja Katina Claus

Marcia’s words help us peek through the lens of deep time and geologic history, animating the manifold stories that have shaped our planet. Carrything this forth in our own practice, we invite you to activate a curiosity for place & get to know the ecologies and geologic histories around you. This can look many ways from taking a walk around your neighborhood, to closing your eyes and listening to birdsong, to drawing geologic forms — whatever is available to you! 

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