Biography
Natasha is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford. She is working on an eco-philosophical construction of the Indian polymath Rabindranath Tagore’s poetic-philosophy. Natasha’s work concerns alternative sensibilities to the contemporary ecological crisis with a focus on poetics and praxis as ways of reconnecting to Nature.
Paper Abstract
This paper delves into the realm of ontopoetic entanglements, exploring the intricate web of relationships between humans, non-humans, and Nature. Drawing on the seminal works of Freya Mathews and Peter Reason and others, it investigates how being in “poetic communication” with Nature can be an embodied and felt practice offering an organic antidote to eco-anxiety in an era marked by profound uncertainty. By examining three culturally distinct recognitions of this interplay of connectedness, I explore an alternative sensibility on identity and interconnectedness with the 'other' across diverse temporal, species, and cultural boundaries. I conclude by considering how ontopoetics might offer us pathways to disentangle from our destructive habits, advocating for a life in harmonious coexistence with the cosmos and its myriad inhabitants. Through this work, I hope to contribute to a deeper understanding of our entwined existence and our capacity for nurturing more positive connections within it.