04/02/2026
I love this post as yoga embraces this perspective of respect. Of course we all know about ants moving in to our dwelling or campsite and it's not always as neat and tidy as this article suggests. They get hungry too. And what do that eat when councils give us green bins and special "green" bags for the throw away food scraps they might eat to keep everything clean and tidy? When we live along side Nature or within it we do respect it.
It's a great read.
A researcher once shared a fascinating story with me. While discussing a project with a colleague, he noticed a trail of giant insects traversing the wall from one side to the other. Intrigued and a little unsettled, he asked, "Don’t these insects bother you?"
The scientist glanced at the trail, observing it with calm detachment. “No,” he replied, “they’re just passing through.” He explained that the insects were simply traveling from one side of the house to the other before exiting. His matter-of-fact response sparked a thought in the researcher about the concept of cohabitation—a way of life deeply understood by those who live in forests and jungles, where humans and nature coexist.
This story resonated with me and inspired me to reconsider my own relationship with the creatures I share my space with. Before hearing it, I had tried various methods to remove sugar ants from my tea cabinet, where the honey is stored. But after reflecting on cohabitation, I decided to let them be.
Now, each day when I open the cabinet, I greet the ants. Sometimes there are many, sometimes just a few, and occasionally, none at all. Interestingly, they never venture into other food cabinets or even into the honey, even when I leave the lid slightly open. Their behavior has a kind of quiet respectfulness that fascinates me.
Last month, black ants began gathering on our patio, moving from plant to plant, busy with their mysterious work. They never bit anyone, nor did they enter the house. One afternoon, I sat with them, simply observing. To my astonishment, I noticed something remarkable. Scattered among the ants were the bodies of their fallen companions. The ants were carefully scouting the dead, picking them up, and carrying them to a makeshift memorial—a lined row of their departed, placed off to the side where no one would step on them. It was an astonishing display of respect and community.
That moment deepened my respect for these often-overlooked creatures. Ants, like all living beings, carry out their lives with purpose and grace, even in a world that largely disregards them.
We are all only here for a time, sharing this planet with countless other beings. To understand the creatures around us is to better understand what it means to live harmoniously. Cohabitation challenges the conditioning that teaches us to fear or dominate nature, offering instead a path of reunification with the world we inhabit.
I’m not suggesting we invite vipers into our homes, but perhaps the next time an unexpected visitor enters your space—whether it’s an ant, a spider, or a bird—pause for a moment. Remember that your home is situated within a much larger home, one that belongs to all of us. There’s almost always a peaceful, nonviolent way to coexist.
