Nature Awareness School

Do you have time to connect with nature?

Modern life is much too busy and important for one to spend time in the woods relaxing. Besides, there are bears and bugs that might hurt us, and of course the lack of conveniences. Times were different when John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, various poets, and well known spiritual giants found guidance, peace, and renewal in the wilderness. Certainly modern men and women have out grown the need for a loving connection to the planet Earth.

If all this "logic" is true, then what is the cause of the transformation I observe in those leaving our mountain top. Why has their body motion turned from a series of tense jerky actions to graceful deer-like movements? Where has the stress and strain, no longer worn in the face muscles gone? Why is there now such simple joy at walking in the woods without making a sound, without the animals running away, without FEAR of their OWN planet gripping their heart? Perhaps the method Nature uses to renew and heal us on all levels is not as important to know as the fact that it DOES HEAL. Most of us really do not know how our modern computers work, yet we all benefit from their operation.

If going into the woods can help one to heal physically, emotionally, or spiritually, then why is there not a stampede to our parks and forests? Two answers seem to stand out. One is that modern peoples have actually forgotten that Mother Earth is here for us. We as a society have removed ourselves so far from nature that we have actually forgotten that she provides for ALL of our physical needs. Everything, even the materials for our computers come from the Earth Mother. When I ask a child where corn comes from I usually get one of two answers: "from cans" or "from the frozen foods section". Few actually see in their mind's eye, fields of tall beautiful life-giving corn stalks. It has only been the last few generations, of all the generations of mankind to walk this planet, that has become so far removed from basic understanding and respect for Nature. Now those that profess to understand and love nature, usually do so only from the logical book-learning part of their mind. But, unknown to them, Mother Earth teaches and heals best from the HEART!

The second answer is FEAR, FEAR, FEAR! Once something inside us begins to compel us toward getting outside more or taking a camping or hiking trip, fear of the unknown begins to creep into our consciousness. We have become so far removed from Nature that this ancient friend and provider actually frightens us. We now look at this old friend as if she were a stranger to be feared. We no longer know how to walk into her arms with only the clothes on our backs, knowing that she will provide for all our physical needs. We now must bring all our needs from town; food, matches, medicines, shelter, water, clothing, etc. It is no wonder that we can not feel her love because we do not even know how to accept her gifts directly. It is as if we have become ALIENS on our own planet. So few feel at home, or that they actually belong here, on their OWN planet! People now go into the woods with so many man-made items that they remind me of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in 1969. They might as well be visiting some foreign planet.

I have found that reading books and watching nature programs cannot reconnect one with this ancient friend from many lives. It must be done gently, at her home in a natural environment, with one's physical hands during the day, and by sleeping on her ground, and under her stars at night. It starts by accepting her little gifts first. Perhaps making string from her plant fibers, enjoying one of her wild edible plants, reading the previous night's activities through the animal tracks on her skin, or learning how to get very close to a baby deer. These small gifts begin to open one's heart, if you are grateful. When the heart opens, then the fear is slowly pushed aside. When love has replaced fear, then she will begin to reveal the secrets of inner healing. These are secrets one can never fully experience from a book or movie.

So, yes, modern life IS busy. And yes, each of us is here for a reason and we ARE important to the creator. But we have not outgrown the need to feel at home on our own planet. Would it surprise you to hear that reconnecting with Nature could help one to reconnect with self, family, neighbors, work associates, and even spirit itself. For years I have seen individuals coming to our Nature Awareness School to learn about nature, only to have them leave knowing and loving themselves more. Though the Earth is only one small part of creation, it is a good place to begin on our path of love.