Be Part of Nature - Not Just a Spectator

Just finished reading the superb and enlightening book "Last Child in the woods" by Richard Louv.   Following is an excerpt from the book which is some thoughts from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. I felt immediately connected to what he was saying and it helped me in how I connect God and nature.  I also agree with some points he makes on interaction with the outdoors and how too many rules and restrictions results in a separation with nature which is a negative situation for everyone.

We're part of nature, and ultimately we're predatory animals and have a role in nature and if we separate ourselves from that, we're separating ourselves from our history, from the things that tie us together.  We don't want to live in a world where there are no recreational fisherman, where we've lost touch with the seasons, the tides, the things that connect us - to ten thousand generations of human beings that were here before there were laptops, and ultimately connect us to God.

We shouldn't be worshipping nature as God, but nature is the way that God communicates to us most forcefully.  God communicates to us through each other and through organized religion, through wise people and the great books, through music and art, but nowhere, with such texture and forcefulness in detail and grace and joy, as through creation.  And when we destroy large resources, or when we cut off our access by putting railroads along river banks, by polluting so that people can't fish, or by making so many rules that people can't get out on the water, it's the moral equivalent of tearing the last pages out of the last Bible on Earth.  It's a cost that's imprudent for us to impose upon ourselves, and we don't have the right to impose it upon our children.

I believe we have too many societal measures taking place that are creating a huge space between people and nature.  We're not supposed to be protecting nature to the extent of not interacing with its true essence.  Although don't have a great interest for fishing myself, I see it as a great way to be in nature; not as a threat to the fish.  I love to walk through the woods at my property and hope to see some tree house built by my son which isn't a damage to the trees or a dangerous feat for my child but an awesome way for him to truly interact with nature.  There are definitely areas of nature that, as a society, that we're taking advantage of and there needs to be limitations, but we still need freedom to experience nature as God intended.

Earth Art

My recent trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario provided an interesting exposure to art truly inspired by nature.  This was not art displaying a nature scene on a common medium but art created with nature.  Called the 'Earth Art Exhibit',  12 Earth art installations were scattered over the 2700+ acres of the Royal Botanical Gardens property making the tour of  unique, flourishing gardens, trailing forest and marsh and carefully designed rock gardens an extra special event. 

To better explain the Earth Art concept I'm quoting below from the brochure I received at RBC:

Earth Art - Art in nature, nature in art.  Artists create one-of-a-kind environmental art installations throughout our cultivated gardens and natural lands...

Earth art's root's stretch back to the 1960s with a show at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.  Curator Willoughby Sharp invited artists Walter De Maria, Jan Dibbets, Hans Haacke, Michael Heizer, Richard Long, David Medalla, Robert Morris, Dennis Oppenheim, Robert Smithson, and Gunther Uecker.  Together these artists created a new style of installation work - earth art. 

Earth art has evolved as an international phenomenon, and over the decades, has become less about concept and more about the aesthetics of integration.  It also involves notions of sustainability and site awareness.  With its Earth Art initiatives - three shows to date - Royal Botanical Gardens brings great knowledge and expertise in working with nature to integrate the sculptures produced during their Earth Art exhibits.

Seeing these insightful artistic displays of nature, some being expressions of our natural world, some depicting the importance of preservation and more, created mind provoking thoughts on how I can be creative on my own property.  Living on many acres of forested land and  a rather huge yard, I'm in the beginning stages of producing my personal one-of-a-kind earth art exhibit. 

Royal Botanical Gardens will have this exhibit on until Thanksgiving (Oct.12).  Click here to be directed to the RBC website and view a short clip on these exhibits.

Self Care Mission

Do you have a personal mission statement? 

A specific sentence that can focus on what you personally stand for and attract into your life is a excellent starting point to know your purpose for being put on this earth.  We need to take care of ourselves and know ourselves so we can put all that good that rests inside of us out into the world.  A few years back I created my personal mission statement and refer to it often to keep on track and remember what my overall ongoing goal is. 

My Personal Mission Statement:  "To empower myself and others to live more clearly, simply, and fully" 

I came to define my personal mission statement after experiencing self-nurturing or self-care techniques.  Since being introduced to the concept of nurturing myself I have more focus and feel more authentic than I ever have.  Even though I have experienced great results from focusing on my self-care, I still struggle with maintaining my self care practices and finding self-care techniques that are most effective for me.  I gravitate towards the outdoors stuff, like walking or biking and noticing natural occurance like wildlife, trees and gardens/flowers.  I've taken that focus on the internet to provide products for camping, hiking and backpacking, creating this blog to bring focus to the nurturing ways of nature and have been joining social sites to interact with other like-minded people and to influence others to turn to nature to find their "roots".  

Focus on what your overall reason is for living by nurturing yourself and taking up regular activities that you enjoy.  Some of those activities should include feeling the connection to nature through camping, nature walks/hikes, and just spending time outdoors and being aware of your surroundings but there are also lots of other stuff to take time for yourself.  Do you enjoy sewing, scrapbooking, writing, photography, baths, meditating?  Just do whatever you seem drawn to, but make sure it's just about you.  The concept of self-care is very important to me to better deal with others and to feel more balanced, relaxed and rejuvenated.   After spending time on you create your personal mission statement that can direct you to live more clearly, simply and fully.

Nature for Your Health

It's no secret to the majority of people that nature does something to help us relax and calm down.  The popularity of cottages, camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities displays that fact.  The city dwellers, people with hectic lifestyles and high stress jobs will almost always pick a vacation destination that includes alot of time in the outdoors.  I would expect that it's not always a conscious choice to spend some time with nature, but our human nature subconsciously directs us to nature when we're in need of some rest and relaxation. 

I can personally relate my experience of a change in perspective from spending more of my time in the outdoors after moving to the country.  It's been a gradual change - no aha moment - but the more I embrace our natural world the more I feel the improvement of my overall outlook on life.  Nature exists in a self-sustaining way.  I'm not just talking about the trees and plants but also the wildlife, insects and how all these different parts of nature rely on each other but not in a dependent kind of way.  They are just supported by each other.  Humans are definitely part of that interwoven connection, but it seems that humans are the only part that resists connecting.  My fairly new relationship with God has been part of that realization of the connection in nature and to nature.  It seems that God has created a perfectly interwoven world but given humans the option to choose to see this or not.  It's quite a profound realization so I am glad to have experienced life without seeing the nature connection and coming to a point where I do see and feel that power of connecting.

Some things need to be believed to be seen.  Believe that being connected to nature will improve your life and you will see the rejuvenating results.  Not only just spending time in nature but using herbs and essential oils taken from plants, eating more whole foods directly grown from the earth, creating a home environment with plants and animals and if you can't get ouside to enjoy the sounds of nature, listen to the many recordings of the outdoors that have been made to help us relax and let go of any tension.

Connect to Nature for your Health

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Finding Mother Nature

About 4 or 5 years ago I was struggling with regular thoughts of discontent and it was recommended I read 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle.  I did read it back then and although found it good I couldn't say that the teachings changed my outlook at the time.  I just wasn't ready for it then.  In the last year, I have heard Eckhart speak a few times, read 'A New Earth' and reread 'The Power of Now' and see the truth and practicality in his teachings and how it relates to my life and thinking.  'The Power of Now' was one of my introductions to the need for humans to connect with nature.

Find more resources by Eckart Tolle

It seems that we all have the right time to realize some the the great truths in life and it will sometimes take a bit of time to really comprehend how it works in our lives.  Realizing the truth of nature is one of those 'truths' to comprehend.  Not with your thinking though; connect to it with your whole body. 

It's probably easier for most people just starting to see nature's gifts to be in an area where you can be for a while and just see life growing naturally, like a forest, park, country road.  Even in the city there's lots of areas to 'retreat' to and see trees, flowers and birds allowed to grow on their own, even if human planting started them off.  Walking along or sitting, look around at the true magnificence of how self sustaining nature really is.  How the birds are easily providing for themselves, trees and plants growing with just the natural elements being there to sustain them.  These living things are not wanting, not reacting negatively; just simply being. Don't put much thought into the experience, just notice your surroundings.

Feeling this appreciation for just short times, like 5 or 10 minutes will greatly refresh you and help you in seeing and feeling good ole' Mother Nature.