Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
ary neighbour. Our moon is critically important for the living complexity of our plan-
et, for her intense gravitational embrace further stabilises our planet's axial tilt, which
would otherwise wobble chaotically. The gravitational field of a large Jupitersized plan-
et is also needed to deflect asteroids—large chunks of interstellar rock—away from the
Earth, although Jupiter's immense gravity does occasionally send asteroids and comets
in our direction. In the very distant past, about 4,000 million years ago when our plan-
et was forming, some of these comets (which were then far more abundant) may have
provided Earth with a much-needed source of water.
From all this you can see that it took more to make Gaia than the mere presence of
the right chemical beings in the right proportions in a condensing protoplanet, for the
wider context of the solar system was also important. But even this was not enough:
the galactic context was also crucial. Gaia has evolved in the Milky Way, a galaxy with
enough heavy elements and with the right shape to support a viable solar system. Fur-
thermore, Gaia lives in just the right
part
of the galaxy, safe from the sterilising gamma
rays that emanate when super-massive stars collapse. It is as if matter was waiting for the
appearance of the right conditions before it could explore the possibilities latent within
itself for the emergence of an evolving, self-regulating planet hosting an abundance of
life. Matter ached to experience itself unfolding into the fullness of the living state. Was
it pure chance that the right conditions appeared so long ago in our part of the galaxy?
Could it be that there is a difference between chance and luck? Chance is deterministic,
perhaps, whereas 'luck' could imply the action of an indeterminate animating principle
within all things. If so, luck had played its part in setting up the right conditions, and the
spinning ball of rock that was to become Gaia was now ready to take her next step: the
appearance of life.
Plunging into Deep Time
Find somewhere you can relax and make yourself comfortable, perhaps your Gaia
place. Take a few deep breaths, and when you are ready imagine that you are un-
der a starlit sky standing at the edge a well, the well of deep time.
Peering into the well, you see a universe of stars swirling in an inviting inky space
much like that of the heavens above you.
Feeling an intense curiosity, you walk onto the edge of the well, and ease yourself
into its centre with a complete sense of safety and confidence. You float gently in
the enfolding embrace of the well's inky medium.
