What the Starlings Taught Me about Unity, Interconnectedness and the State of the World

Every day, we’re bombarded with reminders of how fragmented we’ve become—politically, ecologically, spiritually. We scroll past images of wildfires, wars and rising seas, and somewhere inside us, the quiet ache of disconnection grows. As both an artist and a healer, I’ve felt this rift deeply—between people, within systems and even within ourselves.

That’s what inspired Murmuration: The Dance of Starlings—a site-specific installation that reflects the subtle, instinctive way that starlings move together in one breathtaking, coordinated flight. They don’t elect a leader. They don’t shout commands. They listen. They feel. They respond.

In studying murmurations, I learned something profound: Each bird is not focused on the entire flock. Instead, it watches just seven of its closest neighbors. Through this simple but powerful method of staying attuned, the entire flock moves in harmony, adapting instantly to change, danger or opportunity. That is the quiet miracle of interconnectedness.

We are not so different. But somewhere along the way, we lost our sense of flock.

Right now, humanity is in a moment of radical choice. Climate change is not a distant threat—it’s our daily reality. Mental health challenges are rising. Division is being sown with every headline. And yet, I believe we are being offered a path forward—not through more control or isolation, but through remembering how to move together.

Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. It means finding the rhythm that allows each of us to bring our unique voice into a shared harmony. It means holding space for differences while recognizing a shared stake in this beautiful, fragile web of life. It means seeing the Earth not as a resource, but as a relative.

As a nurse, I’ve witnessed how the body tries to restore homeostasis, always seeking balance. As an artist, I’ve seen how color, texture and movement can express the invisible threads that bind us. And in Murmuration, I’ve found a metaphor for what’s possible when we return to a state of attunement—with each other and with the Earth.

The future depends on our ability to remember that we belong to each other. Like the starlings, we already hold the wisdom to move in harmony. Together, with care and courage, let’s nurture our inner landscapes, tend to the spaces we call home and reweave the fabric of our communities.