Connected project
We have on our planet particular ecosystem as a whole separated from Universe and at the same time deeply connected. Scientists say Universe is fine tuned for life, which at the same time is very rare. On the other hand, life flourish on Earth and covered almost all surface. Life is on Earth everywhere, sometimes on extreme places.
When you believe in theory that life came from other place in Space or not; or life emerged directly on our planet; it is still influence from outer circumstances. From Universe. Earth needed to 'fight' with inhabitability so common out there and it went well in past. Evolution is conscious process that controlling natural progression. Whole Universe went through own evolution, too. And Earth went through this even more far.
The information of creation any entity is deep written within Space network and it has something common with information for life. When right chemical elements on subatomic level coming together, we are witnesses of biochemistry; one of the first point for life to appear. We don't still fully understand all factors behind emerging the life. We know that all right properties were met together with some conscious 'touch' starting with simple life. And understanding that possible is much more. Maybe once more far ago life occurred on different planet and Universe repeat itself for another time.
Maybe Universe is so powerful that 'helped' Earth to create perfect properties for organic life. The reaching of complexity is a long-lasting process of learning to meet right points within creation. And when they are finally met, they are able to spread faster way like they were created. Processes of launching a life and distributing right properties for planet were hand in hand created to reach next step of evolution of our early planet. Hand in hand. To create such a conscious planet is just direct proof of conscious Universe we have around us. But don't forget on fact that Earth was able to manage own habitable properties and protection towards radiation from Sun and elsewhere partially by itself as a lively planet. Earth 'acting' for oneself while it was well designed.
The Earth developed protective sense for life with assistance of outer environment. As a conscious project connected to Universe evolved into place of pulsing life everywhere. I see our planet as independent space entity, of course depending on outer energies, but also 'acting'