Mother Nature

“The earth is not the environment, something outside of us that we need to care for. The earth is us. Taking care of the earth, we take care of ourselves.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Mother nature is the one I return to again and again when I am in need of connection with something greater than myself and it is there, in her open arms that I find a deeper connection to myself. I remember the reciprocal relationship with the trees as we exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with each breath. I am reminded of the truth of Thich Nhat Hanh’s writing; that I am the earth and the earth is me.

In the Apache language, the word for “land”-Shii ne- is also the word for “mind”. Land and mind are intertwined and inseparable. The land is part of the self. In my work as a therapist, life coach and Yoga teacher, I help to support people in their journey and paths to well being and in finding balance in their emotional, mental, physical and spiritual lives. Many people long for a more consistent relationship with nature and time outside to feel grounded and connected. We are not separate from the earth and yet we DO find ourselves separate and disconnected from the natural world. Learning ways to have more of an embodied relationship with nature is an antidote to the stress and grief of this disconnection. When we are actively supporting the earths well-being with compassion, we are also expressing compassion towards ourselves. It is often interesting to notice our inner landscape of emotions and energy and how it either mirrors the natural environment we are in , or perhaps it may be quite different. I often notice that nature will allow me to slow down to meet her pace with more patience towards myself. We can all have a sense of belonging , of being home when we remember the earth as our greater body. The one we belong to.

Here are some ideas to consider the next time you are in nature or you are indoors and imagining a tree you admire or know well:

Find a tree that calls to you and as you stand or sit right next to her , take three deep breaths as you gaze at her roots and think of the things in your life that help you to feel grounded and tethered to this moment. What keeps you rooted?

Imagine that you can see the “Wood Wide Web” of interconnected underground roots and networks of fungi facilitating communication and sharing nutrients among the trees of the forest. Who is in your “network” of support? How do you both give and receive support to others? What nourishes you?

Take three more deep breaths as you look at her trunk and ask yourself ,what do you stand up for? In what ways do you have your own back? Can you be both strong and flexible at the same time?

Take three more deep breaths as you look up at her canopy. Is there something bigger than you supporting you? What fills up your spiritual cup?

Here are some links to look at related to ideas about action to help the earth… and ourselves.