To me, Nature is the key to the spiritual. I feel a deeper connection to my soul just by spending time outside. In nature, I remember what it is like to be present. I regain the lighthearted joy of childhood and feel unconditional acceptance. It is as though each green leaf tells me that I am an integral part of creation.
Our planet sustains the natural beauty that we experience and our very selves. It does so with a life-force from its core. Indeed, our Earth is alive and embodies ancient wisdom that most of us have lost. Because we have spiritually, collectively fallen asleep.
Indigenous cultures call our planet “Mother Earth,” and they communicate with her in the most magical of ways. Earth is their personal guide as they tap into the miracles of the universe. They enjoy incredible, benevolent power that we can only begin to imagine. We are also meant to know this inherent power and this relationship, and our world opens up when we rediscover them.
We must thank our Earth for all that she gives us instead of taking her for granted. I have learned a simple yet powerful meditation that you can do outside. You begin by connecting to Mother Earth. Visualize your “roots” going far down into the ground, and then send Mother Earth your love. After a little while you will feel her love in return, and it is powerfully moving. You may even receive some comforting advice.
Another simple exercise is to walk outside and say the following, one syllable for every step on the ground: “Thank you Mother Earth.” I say these words with gratitude in my heart, and then I feel a strong connection to all life. This has forever changed me. You see, when we feel love for our Earth, we can receive her love in return. This incredible experience inspires us to finally protect our collective home.
Mayan teacher Shonagh Home encourages us to do so one neighborhood at a time by eliminating dangerous chemicals and practicing organic living. We can make a cumulative difference and spread the word as we spiritually awaken. Protecting our earth is something that England’s Prince Charles also champions in his extraordinary book “Harmony.” And, while I’m not a fan of royal hierarchy, I think this work is truly a gift. It is spiritually minded, with a perspective on the environment that I find enlightening. To quote from Harmony: “The dominant world view only accepts as fact what it sees in material terms. We have come to function with a one-sided, materialistic approach that is defined not by its inclusiveness, but by its dismissal of those things that cannot be measured in material terms. Our predominantly mechanistic way of looking at the world has excluded our spiritual relationship with Nature.”
In essence, we have dismissed Nature. Harmony implores us to emulate Nature’s perfect and balanced cycles, so we can begin to restore the damage we have done to our earth, and to ourselves.
It’s encouraging to see the grass roots movement taking shape, inspiring us to live in more healthy and conscientious ways. It’s also heartening to know that we are finding incredible new technology to help with this endeavor. For example, as unbelievable as it might sound, we can rapidly reverse air pollution by creating waveform fields that transform molecules, something that’s already been tried successfully in major cities such as Denver. Spiritual teacher Drunvalo Melchizedek has been collaborating with scientists on this exciting project that will enable us to clean up our entire planet in a relatively short amount of time. To me, this restores hope and makes me want to roll up my sleeves instead of throwing in the towel (unthinkable!). There really are no limits to what we can do, and we can start by establishing a relationship with our Earth.
And it begins by simply saying ” Thank you.”
Suzy, thank you for putting this topic on my radar. I am so consumed with my microscopic life I forget about the big picture. Thank you for opening my mind’s eye. I need more of this expansive thinking.
Donna, you expand my thinking on a regular basis! I love your description, and it’s opening my view.
After a lifetime of hiking in the Sierras and mountains above Muir Woods, the show on John Muir tonight, that you kindly posted for others to view, brought me to tears, as I realized how distant I am from the deep connection I had with Mother Nature and Earth. I agree that “nature is the key to the spiritual” and that we all need to step outside to witness and be a part of it for at least a few breaths a day. My dissatisfaction comes with the other connection that has been made through technology, ugh, which I find totally overwhelming and almost pointless these days. Thank you for reminding me in many ways today to reconnect my soul to the place where I find the most peace. I am grateful to you Suzy and to the Earth. Namaste.
This might be my favorite post so far. I love it! It resonates deeply. Last week I went to the river for a walk, and I explored new paths. After listening to about an hour of mindset stuff on my ipod, which was great, I put on the Rouzbeh music, and started dancing my walk. I was alone in the woods. I did not encounter anyone and I danced my heart out for an hour! I was on the rocks right by the edge of the river, dancing and singing as loudly as I felt like it. I released so much! I looked at the sky, the leaves, the water, the rocks, the trees, and was in love with the Universe. Nature was beaming back at me as I was vibrating at a different level. I felt like I was in The Celestine Prophecy. I moved fluidly in my dance and my dance with Nature. Thank you for writing this Suzanne. I love you!
I’m so moved to read your personal stories, Charlotte and Francoise, that you so beautifully share. Your connections with Nature strike me as gloriously nostalgic and tribal, and remind us that our relationship with Earth is sacred. Thank you for your poetic and inspiring expressions of this bond. Love to you both!