Many people today perceive themselves as separate from nature. Not surprising considering how far removed our lives are from her rythm. Cities, technology, big industry have seperated us from nature. And from the cycles of the seasons.
And the stupid thing is that we are not meant to be apart from nature.
All the convieniences of modern life give us a better quality of life, no doubt. But simultaniously it seperates us from something that is essential to us mind, body and soul.
I honestly believe that this seperation from nature is the one of the root causes of so many mental health issues, anxiety and stress. We live in a rythmn that is not natural to our bodies. Unlike our ancestors whose lives flowed with the seasons, our lives today push against this natural rythm. Which deterioates our mental health and ability to not feel overwhelmed.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that our seperation from nature is the soul cause of mental health issues, far from it. I do believe however that our seperation from nature, particularily the cycle of the seasons, is having more of a negative effect on our mental health than we realise.
The bottom line is simply this.
As human beings we are part of nature, not apart from it.
We have the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom and the kingdom or queendom or peopledom of human kind. The richness and variety of our flora and fauna is vital to our survival. (Not to mention, you know, the entire planet.)
We didn’t just get plonked down on this amazing planet, we evolved with it. Part of it. And now we are evolving away from it.
Now of course science is catching on.
Research shows that environments can increase or reduce our stress. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. What you are seeing, hearing, experiencing at any moment changes not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working. And within nature all of this is effected positively.
Which is why doctors are now prescribing time in nature for people with mental health issues.
The trouble is time spent in nature, although undoubtedly beneficial, is simply not enough. It’s like putting a plaster over a gapping wound and saying it’ll be alright love.
What we need is a deeper connection. So that we can live out in our lives, what we know in our blood, skin and bone. In our DNA.
What we need is a life that aligns with nature’s rythms. Constantly. As our ancestors did.
I am not suggesting that we go back to the days of living in mud huts. No I am far too attached to warm running water and the comforts of modern life to want to see us back there.
What humanity needs, in my not so humble opinon, it a mind and soul connection with nature. As well as the physical.
And that is where spirituality steps in.
Ancient wisdom describes human beings as having five layers of experience: the environment, the physical body, the mind, the intuition and our self or spirit.
When we practice a spiritual connection to nature we connect with all these layers of experience. I have worked with, observed and celebrated the turning of the seasons following the Wheel of the Year for over half of my life time. And I have been teaching others to develop their own spiritual paths connected to nature’s seasons for the past 6.
And what I have seen is that when people begin to live lives aligned with the rythm of the seasons, take the time to go out in nature, even in a local park, connecting pratically and spiritually that they have more tools to navigate life’s journey.
It doesn’t remove the stress. But it gives us a tool kit to learn from it, grow, accept, release and balance in a way nothing else I have experienced does.
If you would like to find out more about aligning your life with the seasons rythms and deepening your spiritual connection with nature then click on the button below.
NExt time you are out in nature. Don’t just blast on through.
Take a beat.
Then take some deep breaths.
Meditate if you will.
Feel the connection
And observe.
Allow your heart beat to slow down to her rythm and you will be surprised what unfolds before your eyes.
Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors & align your spirituality with nature
Our Celtic and Nordic ancestors were deeply connected with nature. Shamanically, spiritually & personally. Discover how you can create your own spiritual path connected with nature with the Wheel of the Year.
