The blend of ancient and new is harmonized by natural elders from the humans, animals and plants right down to the rocks of primal ground. Through my travels it became increasingly clear how central to this richness is narrative, dialogue, discussion, conversation, the daily ebb and flow of actions embedded in living stories, legend and myth. From these stories mythology arises. When we dwell a long time in a place, the land speaks through our cultures. By mass manufacturing one story and electronically distributing it throughout the world we do not serve human needs.
All people contribute to the larger story.
I saw examples of this local participation and contribution in the larger whole in, for example, the Folk Musuem in Oslo. Some items on display even came from the farm upon which my great grandfather was born. The land becomes happier for it. The land in Norway looks happy. This is encouraging.