My vision of soulful materialism is foreign to almost everybody's idea of an angel. I long for deeper relationships with physical things. The objects themselves seem to ask for this. They have been neglected, misunderstood, and viewed as lifeless artifacts, existing to be used and ultimately cast aside in a materialist world serving people. But according to my contrary nature, "the toxin is the antitoxin." Material things contain the spirits of their salvation. We can help the process along by reframing our relationships to them, appreciating their expression, life, and creativity. When we begin to see how the spirits of things affect, and actually form us, our relationships with them will be transformed. They will change us if we can deeply contemplate their natures. This intimate dialogue is basic to consorting with angels.
— Shaun McNiff, Earth Angels