I love not man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interventions, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne’er express yet cannot all conceal.
Lord Byron (1788-1824)
de-natured consciousness
Enthralled by our creations, from the hand axe to AI, we may too easily believe narratives that define us as a species of technology. Our being is deeper and more mysterious than that, born in the slow growth of evolution over unimaginable time.
We are a species of nature.
Concrete and screens do not satisfy our ancient instincts for green and blue spaces.
It is richly reassuring when we recognise that nature is around us, bigger than us, and providing life. We are, in fact, still as wholly dependent upon nature as we ever were. In stillness, appreciation and gratitude we allow that deeper part of ourselves to reconnect.
take 5 …
Find somewhere lovely to sit or walk: ideally it has trees, open green space and water.
First, settle - become aware of your breath and your physical self. Then use each of the senses and tune-in to nature.
Avoid shortcuts, don’t see ‘tree’ or ‘river’ or ‘bird’: see shapes, patterns, shades; hear and see detail. Avoid naming things, allow nature to be bigger than you. Experience it.
If the mind wanders, recognise the thought, let it pass and come back to noticing.
… and an experiment!
Build nature habits …
How can holidays be more about nature and less about cities and resorts?
Can every Sunday include a long walk?
Can you route through green spaces to get to work, walking with awareness? Or once a week spend lunchtime at a favourite bench, noticing?
quotes …
Nature is not a place to visit. It is home ~ Gary Snyder
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul ~ John Muir
Nature is loved by what is best in us ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
ps
More than 50 copies of the book have sold! But no reviews yet! I’d love positive reviews of The Wellbeing Workbook on Amazon.
Please do like, comment or share this post.
The Being for Beginners series is available as an online course; choose a plan on my website, discounts are available for those on low income:
I facilitate B4B in organisations - please contact me for more details.
Check out Antidote Resources - useful leads, from podcasts to apps. Contribute what has been valuable for you!
If you’ve done Being for Beginners, please:
please complete the B4B impact study
rate B4B on Trustpilot
Roddy