Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek deftly examines the dichotomies inherent in nature, weaving them into a tapestry of both inquiry and revelation. She uses her keen observational skills to explore the paradoxes present in the natural world, finding both beauty and grotesque realities that spark profound philosophical reflection. At its core, the work is a meditation on perception, deliberately blurring the lines between seeing and understanding.

Beauty and Grotesquery in Nature

Dillard is acutely aware of the contrasting elements within creation—where beauty and ugliness, bliss and terror coexist. She is profoundly moved by the effortless grace of a mockingbird’s daring descent but finds herself captivated by the more bizarre and unsettling aspects of nature, such as the grisly spectacle of a frog being preyed upon by a water bug. These moments lead her to repeatedly question the fundamental nature of existence: “What’s it all about?” and “What is going on here?” This inquiry extends particularly to the insect world, where unfathomable behaviors, like the female praying mantis devouring her mate, prompt deeper contemplation about the seemingly parasitic essence of life.

Beyond the Problematic

Despite these troubling observations, Dillard also experiences moments of transcendent clarity, where the world reveals itself as something alive with divine fire and light. These moments act as a counterbalance to her persistent questioning and reflect a vision that penetrates beyond the mundane. The book unfolds as an extended reflection on the art of seeing, suggesting that what we perceive is often limited by our expectations, with the human brain editing our perceptions without our conscious consent.

The Tree with the Lights In It

A particularly compelling metaphor in Dillard's narrative emerges from the story of individuals who gain sight after being blind from birth. One such person, awed by a tree, describes it as “the tree with the lights in it,” an image that profoundly influences Dillard. This idea of the illuminated tree becomes a symbol for seeing beyond the surface, culminating in her own epiphany where a cedar appears to her as if set aflame, every part of it buzzing with light. In this moment, Dillard experiences a profound connection to the divine, akin to Moses’ encounter with the burning bush; she sees the world anew and simultaneously feels seen by it. Such revelations, though fleeting, imbue her life with meaning, rendering all other pursuits trivial.

Echoes of Mystical Tradition

Dillard's insights resonate with stories from history and religious tradition, such as Xerxes pausing his army to marvel at a sycamore tree or Blaise Pascal's encounter with divine fire, recorded and kept close at heart. These stories suggest that moments of mystical perception are spontaneous and unbidden. They cannot be summoned but require a certain innocence and the ability to lose oneself completely in the observation.

Innocence and Presence

The prerequisite for such clear seeing, Dillard suggests, is innocence—a state where self-consciousness falls away, allowing total absorption in the moment. She dedicates a chapter to this theme, recounting an instance at a deserted gas station where she petted a puppy and, for a fleeting moment, felt fully present and alive. The western wind on her face, the taste of coffee, and the sight of a mountain coalesced into an experience of pure innocence that vanished as soon as she became aware of it. Self-consciousness, she argues, is the barrier that prevents humans from fully connecting with God, nature, and each other.

Unity and Identification

On numerous occasions, Dillard manages to transcend this barrier, becoming a transparent witness to the phenomena around her. Observing a muskrat, she remarks, “I never knew I was there,” indicating...