In this beautifully written ode to sense of place and our feelings surrounding nature, Jonathan Rigden calls to mind ways we can move from transitory sorrow to a deeper sense of celebration by embracing nature. Jon is a hero for the prairies and their restoration along with his many colleagues in The Friends of the Blufflands and The Prairie Enthusiasts, both groups he is active in. His dedicated passion for this work and his curiosity about the life and history of these remnants has led him to write deeply researched and quite amazing blog posts at the Friends of the Blufflands website. Jon kindly gave me permission to reprint his most recent and extraordinary December 22, 2025 post.
In 2026, Find Your Place and Celebrate
by Jonathan Rigden
Friends of the Blufflands blog
Sometimes thinking about the past and the natural world can be disheartening. When thoughts percolate about the state of nature in North America before European settlement with its old growth forests and vast prairies rich with wildlife and rivers that ran fast and clean, an intense feeling of distress can occur. These thoughts can become overwhelming, and even produce rage as we witness the decline of monarch butterflies, the steep drop in bird populations, bats fighting for survival, and our postage stamp prairies being engulfed by trees and brush. When we witness these changes occurring at a place we know and love, a feeling of profound sadness can emerge- the ache of solastalgia.
Solastalgia is a relatively new term that combines the concepts of solace and pain. It describes the distress felt when one's place of solace, or comfort, is threatened. A place where you seek peace, sometimes the place you call home, is disappearing. Those with a medical background are well-acquainted with words ending in -algia denoting pain, such as fibromyalgia, arthralgia, or neuralgia. Solastalgia conveys a longing mixed with suffering producing an intense melancholy about a treasured place that is fading away. A homesickness felt at home.
Nostalgia has a slightly different meaning. It comes from the Greek nostos or "homecoming" and again -algia, and can suggest a wistful or sentimental longing for a place, often associated with a sense of happiness or comfort. It can motivate someone to put in long hours to return to or preserve a cherished past while creating social bonds fostering connection and optimism. On the other hand, nostalgia can paint idealized pictures in our minds leading to despair and a longing for days of old that will never be with us again. It can create unrealistic, rosy images with feelings of regret which can paralyze us by focusing on going back rather than forward. Some refer to this as "nostalgic depression" or even "toxic nostalgia". The feeling of nostalgia is often called bittersweet for its combination of positive and negative emotions.
Topophilia is an abiding love for a place despite changes that are occurring. It is derived from the Greek "topo" meaning "place" and "philia" meaning "love" or having an emotional bond and affection for a specific place. Any location can inspire topophilia, but it is more common for those places that are unusual and disappearing. This feeling is often born from childhood experiences but can be captured at any age by immersing oneself deeply in a place. Like a remnant prairie.
For someone new on a prairie, topophilia can start by seeing a few plants that are among the first to emerge in the spring.
Like pasqueflower,
hoary puccoon,
jeweled shooting star,
or bird's foot violet.
Think of these early risers as a string quartet introducing a full symphony to come- Dvořák's No 12, Op 96, "American" followed by Beethoven's Symphony No 9, "Ode to Joy". Stunning displays of life appearing subtly in the spring then exploding through the year from one movement to the next. A feast before the eyes. Then, for full immersion, close your eyes and be free from vision. Hear the birds chatter and the leaves on a bur oak talking to the wind. Feel the breeze in your hair while you pick up the invigorating scent of mountain mint or a whiff of vanilla coming from nearby lady's tresses buried in the grasses. Taste the lemon-sour flavor of a leaf or two of sorrel. Fall in love with the place. Drift into a dream where prairies are thriving across the landscape.
Then, as you dream, think of ecophilia, a combination where topophilia becomes the whole of Earth and biophilia the love of the entire tapestry of life. A way of thinking about and living in harmony with nature through a kinship that allows both humans and the natural world to thrive and become one.
In 2026, recognize that "algia" is important, but don't let it dominate- leave some room for "philia". Find your place and celebrate! At Friends of the Blufflands we have embraced prairie restoration as a big part of our celebration. Come join us and begin 2026 with enthusiastic topophilia for our prairies!
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| From near to far, Zoerb, Lookout and Vista Prairies in December 2025 during a work day burning brush piles. |
Images, unless noted - Jonathan Rigden
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