The power of harnessed nature is never more apparent than within the technological labyrinth of the modern world. Methane and other hydrocarbons that occur naturally within the Earth’s surface is extracted. Through pipelines, this natural gas reaches a combustion turbine, turning blades connected to a generator. Magnets spin inside of the generator creating electric current. From there, the current is sent through power lines to the world, allowing for the awakening of central processing units, the complex result of natural harnessed forces leading to a State of Virtual Being.
     As we interact with, change, code, and otherwise manipulate this risen State, we are no different than water carving rock over thousands of years, or trees reaching for the canopy of a rain forest. The materials, physics, natural forces, and directed forces that interact with the world unceasingly are just as present within the calculations and pixels of the digital world as they are within the eye of a storm or cocoon of a butterfly.

     Those who adamantly separate such things in their minds are only tricked by preferential bias that has nothing to do with nature itself, but of ego and compartmentalization derived from evolutionary and cultural forces. As modern history developed, those unable to embrace the constant unavoidable change of life decried technological advances of all kinds, and many bought into it. 

     Whether it spoke to some part of their evolutionary history, or presented itself as the easiest path moving forward, human beings in mass rejected technology as nature at every turn. Once rooted, this mind worm worked its way into the fabric of society itself, eventually becoming no different than an axiom of unquestionable truth.

     The thought of technology as one with nature has fallen into obscurity. It became a way for those needing environmental change in their lives to disparage the digital world as a whole. It’s not uncommon to hear the desire for a walk along the sands of a beach or a hike through a mountain trail alongside a condemnation of personal computing devices and wireless signals of connection.
     Sure, the common definition of “nature” in these cases would be anything that is not “man-made,” or crafted by human hands and minds. But is such a definition so easily distinguished? And more importantly, why should one feel the need to separate such things? Is a tree planted and cultivated at the behest of a gardener no longer within the confines of the rigid nature definition that so many believe is obvious? 

     The manipulation of the natural world by human beings is as intertwined a path as any in nature’s history. A litter of particular puppies who were specifically bred to hold certain characteristics is still nature. A banana that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand as you peel it is still nature, despite the purposefully cultivation for it to be shaped as such.

     Let’s not ignore one glaring aspect, despite all of the presented contradiction; technology and what one would usually refer to as nature just feel different at their core. This phenomenon must be looked at carefully, as by it’s very essence it begs for heavy bias on the observer’s part. 
     If we use a specific example, maybe we can attempt to derive meaningful delineations between technology and nature in the commonly used vernacular. One would likely call the burning of logs in a small bonfire an act of nature. The evaporation of water, scorching, flaming, and continued combustion result in a campfire. When heated, the log’s molecules break down into gases. These gases rise and mix with oxygen, and when ignited, create visible flames. 
     Right from the start, it’s possible that you noticed a few common terms between the phenomenon of a campfire and the description of the central processing unit as described at the beginning of this chapter. (both are started by humans still, so is a fire only truly natural when started by the strike of a lightning bolt? Here is where we will likely begin to see descent among which one would call nature or not.)

Continued in Chapter 00. of the Book of Nightmares.