My youngest is 14 months old. Her vocabulary is limited to “mama”, “up” and “here”. His ability to imitate the behavior of others is more complex. Every morning and night, perched on my hip, he mimics spitting into the bathroom sink while I brush my sister’s teeth. He pretends to blow his nose with a tissue, laughs when something is funny and wears shoes of any size. Our brains are designed to imitate what we see.
Psychology describes the unconscious mimicry of others in adults as well. The chameleon effect describes how humans imitate the movements, language and idiosyncrasies of those around them to feel them. There is a fine balance between the pursuit of individualism and the need for community and belonging.
Plants imitate animals; animals and insects imitate plants. Animals and humans also imitate behavior, more aware that there is a motive. Plovers are birds that will disguise their injured wings to distract predators away from their guarded nests. Hammer orchid flower, Dracaea livida, using sexual deception as a pollination strategy. They not only mimic the shape of the female thynnine bee but also emit an odor that mimics the insect’s mating pheromone.
We use mimicry to get what we need. Sometimes deviant, but more often strategic and bright. We also use pharmaceuticals to mimic hormones and peptides in the body to reverse certain disease patterns. For example, beta agonists act like adrenergic molecules to bind to receptors in the lungs to relax bronchospasm in asthma.
Art also imitates nature. And mimicry of the natural world can be the highest order of art. Repeating patterns of water, ripples, shadows, camouflage, cat skin, fur, variegated leaves. Shell spiral, ear cochlea, neonate finger clamp; through curling and unfurling, we are all parts of this expanding, contracting, separating, imploding biological universe.
I would like to comment on the importance of surrounding ourselves with people and daily work that embodies what we strive for or embody. I mean, if you spend time with good people, you will be better. If you spend more time by the river, you will be calmer. And, yes, it’s true.
However, what I realized when I read about the sexual cannibalism of the praying mantis and the predatory attacks of the komodo dragon is that nature is full of terror and wonder. Our capacity for good is equal to our capacity for terrible things. We are a clear continuation of this natural universe. I’m here to give a language to creepy, miraculous mirrors.
And the mirror is here to show you the best, and the worst, of ourselves.
In each of us, it is a small measure of metaphoric cannibalistic urge, we are egomaniacs and narcissists; we, all of us, a little mad. We are also empathetic, we are full of white light, we are strong beyond our capacity for generosity and connection. Be wary of mantis and dictator of hives and underground colonies.
Adjust your mimicry to water ripples and sunlight.
Skye Scott is a doctor. She has a special interest in patient education, integrative medicine and mental well-being.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official policy or position Mail & Guardians.