"For everything that lives is holy, life delights in life"

William Blake’s phrase, “For everything that lives is holy, life delights in life,” suggests a worldview imbued with reverence for all living things. Each living being, regardless of its perceived value, form, or intelligence, carries an intrinsic holiness, an inherent worth simply by virtue of being alive. The idea challenges any notion that sanctity is reserved for certain creatures, specific places, or privileged epochs. Instead, holiness is democratized, extended without boundary to everything that breathes, grows, and participates in the ongoing miracle of existence.

The second half, “life delights in life,” expresses a profound joy that life experiences through its own multiplicity. There is an inherent kinship among all forms of life, as if one living being’s mere existence is a source of joy to another. Nature’s myriad forms, plants, animals, humans, are not just separate entities but parts of a vast web that derives pleasure from its interconnectedness. This interdependence fosters a sense of mutual celebration, inspiration, and sustenance. Life, observing itself in its various manifestations, recognizes beauty in diversity and continuity, delighting in every leaf, birdcall, and beat of a creature’s heart.

Blake’s spiritual vision counters tendencies toward alienation, hierarchy, and dominance that often characterize humanity’s approach to the world. Recognizing that everything alive is already sacred dissolves boundaries between the human and the non-human, encouraging compassion, respect, and humility. The statement also invites a profound sensitivity, urging an attitude of awe and wonder rather than exploitation. When we see life as inherently holy, our perspectives and behaviors are transformed, motivating us to honor, preserve, and cherish the living world around us. Thus, the phrase holds both mystical and ethical dimensions, calling readers into a deeper resonance with all life and awakening them to the joyful, sacred celebration at the heart of existence.