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Greening Expectations, a Group Activity Program for Active Excellence Centers: Sustainable, Nature-Connected,  Holistic, Counseling, Therapist Degree Training, Life Courses and Coaching Online: . Alternative Career Education Psychology; Personal and Professional Environmental Health and Wellness Healing; Employment, Scholarships, Grants and Jobs.


An Education, Counseling and Healing With Nature Online Course Greens Environmental Group
Excellence,
Jobs and Careers.




Project NatureConnect
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, USA
Institute of Global Education
Organic Psychology and Natural Attraction Ecology
Special NGO Consultant, United Nations Economic and Social Council
Green distance learning to improve professions, careers and job opportunities.







SYNOPSIS:

This nature-connecting course and report about excellence describes a funded critical thinking activity and sensory science, online degree program. Its educating, counseling and healing group events offer high expectation  fun
school and adventure activities that encourage participating companions exercise.

This organic psychology tool helps improve health wellness and counseling as it exercises an individual's thinking and feeling to safely tap into the truth of nature's grace, balance and self-correcting powers. Participants master alternative therapist coaching and holistic spiritual psychology.  Its excellence meets high student expectations and teacher expectations a .


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Educating Counseling and Healing With Nature

Supportive Degrees, Career Training Courses and Jobs On Line

Project NatureConnect offers you nature-centered distant learning that enables you to daily add the benefits of nature-connecting companion methods and credentials to your degree program and/or your skills, interests and hobbies.

We honor your critical thinking, prior training and life experience in most areas of interest by providing grants and equivalent education credit for it that meets your expectations.

You may find and take accredited or professional CEU coursework and exercises and/or obtain a Nature-Connected Degree or Certificate in most disciplines or personal interests. Our fun adventure activities produce nature, global education, social justice, safety and peace events. A partial subject and search engine list is located at the bottom of this page.
  • Improve your economics, health and happiness through independent, interdisciplinary or integrated online school study and Ecopsychology for a job skill or right livelihood quest.
  • Help individuals connect their thoughts and feelings with the self-correcting and renewing ways of nature.
  • Increase personal social and environmental truth and well being.
  • Daily add the self-correcting sunlight beauty and spirit of the natural world to your professional and personal relationships.

    Visit our Homepage for complete information







Beyond Expecations! An
Online Natural Activity Course by and for Psychologists Therapists and Counselors Provides Jobs and Careers.



A Journey with Nature


A little over a year back, I had been attracted to Dr. Michael Cohen’s work thanks to an email sent by a friend, and had signed up for the Orientation course. I enjoyed it beyond expectation, so I knew that the next step was to sign up for the Introduction to Educating and Counseling with nature course.  Here I am a few months later, standing in the world with a different outlook, born anew as it were.

Taking this course has made me realize how ecopsychology really works.  It has done so by allowing me to be the patient-on-the-couch and the observer at the same time,  witnessing how I was slowly brought even closer to my own truth.


The Reconnecting With Nature (RWN) textbook and activities do inspire a change in heart at a quasi-mystical level ~ call it a spiritual awakening if you wish, or an actual conversion to a new way of living and being, to a faith in nature that becomes the underlying motivation for all decisions and actions afterwards.  I can say that I have found the source of who I am through the layers and veils of what society had shaped me to be.  I do believe now that people who experience depression or psychological imbalance can be healed if they follow a RWN program.  For all of this, I only can express a deeply felt gratitude to Dr Cohen as well as to the wonderful companions who shared the journey with me.

This paper will address the components of the course, i.e. the format and the interactive part, while trying to convey the new insights that have stemmed for me from integrating it all.

 

Course components

First, I do want to acknowledge how the course seems designed to respect the schedule of students who are working full time and/or have a busy home life.  The textbook  is written in short chapters, easy to read, and allow for practical verification of each concept through attached activities.  The students decide in small groups at what pace they want to work through the material.

 

A. Activities

The activities follow a sequential model that resulted in making me discover many facets of my own connection to the outdoors, although I had thought previously that I was already pretty well connected. I had been an environmentalist for years and have always taken great pleasure in spending  long periods of time in nature, alone or with friends.  However, never before had I gone so deeply into communicating with the natural world, and never had I understood so clearly why being outdoors makes me a happier person.

The scope of the activities allows the student to attain specific realizations that are related to communing with what Dr Cohen calls natural attractions,  from the principle that everything in nature, including human mammals, follows the law of attraction.  In my case, the discoveries converged around the following notions:

 

 - I can connect with natural attractions through a number of senses
 - thinking of self as separate is a source of pain
 - thoughts of separateness vanish when identifying with nature
 - self-confidence increases with trusting senses and intuition
 - reaping rewards from doing so gives an impetus to experience more
 - self-esteem and generosity of spirit are developed from this higher quality of relating to natural attractions
 - there is an immediate feeling of being rejuvenated when in nature
 - this feeling is enhanced by expressing gratitude
 - communicating all these insights with friends brings a new quality to friendships
 
I will briefly describe here how the activities led me to those experiential notions. In this part of the work, I will be quoting from my own assignments to support the points being made.


RWN is before anything else about connection. Most activities are designed to get the student feel gradually more connected with the natural environment through many of her/his senses.  "Each sense-ation is a connection; many connections take place at any moment when in nature." Without even noticing the change, as the activities lead to one another, the student starts developing a more conscious and sustained connection with the world around, at first mostly in body and mind.  "As I was saying those words in my head, I felt as if my feet were connecting to the earth through growing roots, and my hands rose up toward the sky; I felt strong and all accepting, alive and silent."

The beneficial effect of these astutely designed exercises with nature soon is felt, as one experiences a pervading sense of well-being while performing them, a lightness of the mind and of the heart.  Quite early on, the identification with natural elements becomes spontaneous and from then on, a deep relaxation is experienced the minute one steps into a natural environment.  "The intimate connection with nature-as-mother continued; a stream crossing the path seemed to be flowing right through me, washing my heart, relaxing my abdomen muscles."  The magic has operated.  Through being aware of bodily sensations while experimenting with new concepts, the student comes to associate body, mind and nature more consciously through each activity.

 

The activities slowly point out to the realization that one's own thoughts create separation.  "I went back to the same trail. I found it harder to feel oneness through my silent walk as the problems I had called for in my head [as part of the activity] created separation." They teach that consciously connecting with nature relieves stress and helps find a fresher perspective on one's life.  They remind us that joy and happiness are totally dependent on one’s attitude toward the experience.  "At first, it was hard to focus on the silent bonding with nature because the path was muddy and slippery and I had to focus on where to put my foot.  When I switched to following gravity and finding pleasure in resting my foot on earth, colours and patterns became more vivid around ~ thoughts went away."

Discomfort is truly all about focus.  If one chooses to pay attention to a positive quality of nature, moods and darkness of spirit can be lifted instantly.  "While repeating the word ‘unity’, I was focused on the global pattern ~ the way plants, moss and trees were blending their shapes together, [....] When I was not repeating the mantra, my mind was busy trying to understand why certain [things] were there together, what animal was using the little trail I had just seen, what were those slabs of concrete in the middle of nowhere, etc." In this last example, the part of the activity where I was not repeating the word resulted in my attention and the sharpness of my mind being more fragmented.  This highlights the power of the mantra, i.e. the focus on an elevating, universal thought ~ quite a spiritual concept ! Further on in the course, it became obvious that through training the mind to switch focus at will, what seemed unattractive before can become attractive ~ all a matter of focus and attitude. "Rain is beautiful if I welcome it on my skin rather than shying away from it."

 

One set of activity that leads to that realization is the identification with natural attractions through posture, gesture, sound, etc. The individual truly has to turn away from the mind chatter to be able to reproduce with her/his body the shapes and forms observed.  In doing this, s/he needs to abandon thoughts of separateness, the ‘poor-me’ feelings, the mental replay of the same situation or conversation over and over in one's head.  All those interfere with the clarity needed to experience in one's body the concept of otherness, i.e. what it feels like to be a willow tree in the breeze, a snail on a leaf, a rock in the grass.  There is great joy in leaving behind an exhausting mind chatter as well as a limited and quite erroneous self-concept to enter the freshness and simplicity of mimicking another form of life.  "I kept the pose for a good minute, just enjoying the experience of the world through the red osier shape. My body felt secure from leaning on the tree, my whole upper body felt light as it was reaching upward, seeking the sun." Unexpectedly, having experienced a new way of sensing / being, one comes back from the experience feeling more human.  "Recreating the pose of a natural attraction brings images and new sensations in my body; it enhances my humanness."

 

Being prompted to follow his/her senses in the course of the activities increases the student’s self-confidence.  All of a sudden, I felt I was given permission to follow intuitive hunches, and nature herself gave me rewards when I had done so without doubting myself.  In the course of many activities from the textbook, I experienced wonderful events that were totally unexpected and became a confirmation that there is a positive return in following attractions more consciously.   "There was so much beauty ~ a natural art gallery.  Shapes and curves were strikingly beautiful and lived in total conviviality through their diversity "  and through another activity   "Following attractions intuitively brought me to an owl and an eagle ~ my heart bursts out with gratitude."

 

One step away from that is the willingness to experience even more, to go just a bit further and to take risks.   Having broken the mould of human as conqueror of nature, and having enjoyed sensations that one had not thought possible, it becomes more and more tempting to follow the example of wildlife and to go into unknown territory, feeling rooted in the alertness that senses provide.  "The thrush takes risks when feeding in human territory, but it does so using its senses to be safe; I want to take risks and follow my natural senses "  This is not far from expressing the desire to live in a different way than before. "I am a person who can venture and walk out of the path."  Taken at face value, it has many implications for society.  Students of the course who have experienced that level of connection with nature are not likely to follow the prescriptions of a soc! iety that values profit over respect for the environment.  They are likely to 'walk out of the path'.

 

Slowly, the activities unveil the mind-blowing realization that the beauty observed in nature is really part of oneself.   Asked to walk in nature and relate to it as his/her subconscious world, the student is prompted to take note of the messages s/he finds.  Beyond reflecting about inner works, one actually consults nature as an oracle to help understand what needs to be addressed in one's life.  At that point, being able to sense a personalized message from what used to be perceived as a separate world, the student experiences greater self-esteem and generosity of spirit.  "My sense of self-worth was increased by relating forest to my inner self; seeing how beautiful I am inside." Feelings of guilt, anxiety, inadequacy can be shed away because the place of pure natural beauty that breathes in one's core has been attained.   The wonderful relief it creates translates into loving joy.  What a bles! sing not to be subdued any more to the wranglers learnt since childhood! One can forgive all those who contributed to those wranglers in the process of letting go.  Nature can now consciously be experienced as the ultimate refuge, not the place to hide away from problems, but the place to actually find answers and free the spirit.

 

All of this was made especially clear when I did the activities after a long hard day at work.  Upon entering the natural world and starting the guided exercise, exhaustion and left over worries instantly dissipated.  My breathing would become easier, my shoulders would lift up and I would surprise myself feeling only pure simple joy.   The point had been made.  Nature brings regeneration.  "All my tiredness seemed to recede and poof ! my problems were gone. "  From there to the conscious decision of going back to nature to experience its miraculous effect each time one is exhausted and/or worried is one step away. "When I feel tired and bogged down by problems, I just have to step out to feel regenerated and positive about outcomes." or another time  "If I lost the ability to follow my attractions in nature, I would miss on what gives ! me pure joy in life ~ I would feel old in my spirit." Nature will now be sought after to re-establish balance when there is too much going on.  The habit has been created.  Rather than seeking escape through entertainment, drugs, alcohol or other mind numbing options, one craves the outdoors to bring about resolution of pending issues and peace of mind.

 

Toward the end of the course, the activities are designed to make the student realize that the next step is to feel and express gratitude toward nature.  After practicing a couple of times through guided activities, I found it became totally natural and I would spontaneously give thanks. "I felt as I was honouring the bush by looking for words to describe its grace and movement; I felt gratitude and love pour out as I was sitting by, writing."  A different perception of nature is created through giving it thanks.  I felt I was less arrogant when entering a natural environment, more respectful of the consciousness that abided therein.  "Taking the time to get close to attractions uplifts my heart and makes me feel humble."  Giving thanks became the closing ritual after I had completed an activity.  "I turned to the forest, thanking her for t! he lessons of today about strength and grace." It still remains what I do, even though the course is completed.

 

This higher level of connection through giving thanks nurtures a greater feeling of oneness.  This a very healing level, where a sense of unity manifests itself in a rather spiritual impression of closeness with the natural world.  "At some point, I felt the energy of the plant going down into the ground and connecting back up into my feet.  I felt I was part of a triangle, with the flower in my hand being the apex . "A sense of oneness with such a beautiful world inevitably makes one feel beautiful in turn, revealing that a deep healing has taken place." ...through unity, I felt I was part of the beauty that surrounded me  "In moments of grace, the identification with the natural world is so strong that it becomes palpable. Oneness is as tangible as the air I breathe."  Therefore a new consciousness has emerged, one that ties the student with nature in a profound, life changing way.

 

Then comes time to share.  Some of the last activities prompt the student to communicate insights to someone outside the course.  On one particular instance, sharing on the phone weaved a stronger bond with a dear friend who responded beautifully to my request to share in return. "She thanked me, commenting that it would be wonderful if we could articulate those good feelings all the time to anyone." Although we are good friends, the level of our communication this morning switched to a much more intimate tone.  Being able to describe the good feelings from our contact with nature allowed us into a part of each other’s inner world that we had never revealed to one another." This last part of the activities proved to me beyond doubt that nature connectedness is latent within everyone.  By cultivating the habit of communicating spontaneously with others the joy of conscious connection with nature, th! e ’contamination’ process could spread and change the level of communication between humans.  This in turn could create major change in the policies of decision makers, when consumers dictate their needs related to a renewed way of connecting with nature.  In that way, ecopsychology can become a political tool of quite a subversive nature.  Let’s go green !!!


B. Quotes from the textbook

As this is a course that gives major emphasis on practical activities in nature, I started the analysis of the content with them.  However it would be unfair to Dr Cohen not to acknowledge the genius behind those activities, i.e. the theory and sometimes astonishing insights that sustain and guide the student's discovery through the activities.  In this part of the work, I chose to share some quotes that reveal the wisdom, the intelligence and playfulness of its author who himself models the importance of dancing, creating and living a blooming love affaire with nature.

 

My favorite quotes

"Feel hungry and satiate your hunger with sunshine."  What beautiful spirit would think of such a strangely wonderful thing to do!

"The web [of nature] is a self-governing, growing intelligence in and of itself." From chapter to chapter, this concept becomes more easily grasped.  Coupled with the activities, it fosters great respect for the mysteries of the natural world, which, in turn, will grow into a respect for self and for one’s own mystery.  Working at those two levels, the student will realize the importance of honouring nature and its wonders, therefore of taking action to protect and preserve what is the source of one’s joy and inner peace.  In extending that thought, we could see that humans are part of that web that is self-conscious and self-governing.  As we grow and evolve, we are helping nature to grow and evolve.  That may give a sense to what we judge as the human interference factor on earth.  If we cultivate the perceptions and respect practiced in the course, the human species could actually have! been a link in extending nature intelligence in and of itself.

 

"The sense [here] is the love of life, an essence of the fawn the hunter and life itself."  To help convey the oneness of all, Dr Cohen guides the reader in looking at any situation through the eyes of all actors.  He helps us understand that most actors who act on destructive impulses are confused by what is called ‘wranglers’ in the text, i.e. stories learned from childhood or early in life that have turned them/us away from the connection with self and others.  Only through looking at our own wranglers and through extending compassion to those of others can we create a loving matrix that can heal us all.  That’s the message I keep most preciously from the book.  Be like nature ~ be patient, all accepting, all embracing, know that truth already prevails.  Nurture and wait.
  
"We are emotionally, socially and economically bonded to our indoor story relationships.  Wranglers detach our natural senses from nature and reattach them to our indoor ways and stories."  One of the biggest problem in re-establishing proper connection with nature, says Dr Cohen, is that humans are creatures of habit.  We do not want to lose the ability to soak in the comfort of our warm houses, engaged with electronic devices that give us so much enjoyment that we live in the illusion that they can satisfy our every need.  Children nowadays seem to want to spend more time in front of computers, video games and television sets than outside to play.  Profit makers entertaining the illusion that economic welfare rests on producing, consuming, throwing away and consuming some more are tapping into this desire for easy-get-easy-go, comfort loving lifestyle, and doing so, are responsible for an abysmal ! amount of garbage that overflows our landfills.  Originally, those ephemeral thrashable items were made of the very fibres of nature, which is consequently depleted in the process.  Thus our society as it is breeds humans who could end up caring less and less, being more and more enslaved to their pleasure and comfort at the expense of relationship, with self, others and the natural world.

 

"There is natural love in natural areas that touches people and that is missing indoors if for no other reason than ‘indoors’ is the result of a story, not nature’s balanced intelligences in action." The answer to the problem above : get indoors dwellers out in nature on a regular basis.  Anyone who goes through the RWN program will become addicted to the love mentioned by Dr Cohen and realize how boring and unfulfilling the indoors stories really are.

 

My very favourite quote however comes toward the end of the course, and I would like to close this section with it.  It inspires all nature lovers to be bold in face of adversity. It is a credo for life, a motivation to be strong in oneself, for no other reason but the joy that it gives.

"Declare your independence.  Protect your pursuit of happiness, your good feeling connections with NIAL, if you want them to flourish, satisfy and fulfill you.  Nobody else can do this for you.  Do your dance."


C. Format of responses

Another factor that helps the student witness the unfoldment of his/her own inner truth is the template for responses created for the course.  After the completion of each activity, s/he must reflect on it by writing his /her comments following the model.  Some potent realizations came to me from doing this.  I have extracted a few here that bear special meaning.  They are still framed by Dr Cohen’s prompts (in bold).

 

If I lost the ability
to resonate with nature, I would robot my life around and join the crowd that haunts the malls.

If I lost the ability
to acknowledge connections in nature, I would likely drown in my problems.

The authority or person this activity re-educated
was the one who always takes the same beaten route, the one who follows habits.

My sense of self-worth was increased by
turning away from being in my head and acknowledging the gifts offered by the natural world.

The authority or person this activity re-educated was
the one who tramples around forgetting to ask permission or to give thanks.

I am a person who gets good feelings from
... asking a [natural] attraction to teach me how to get close to it  ~  feeling the essence, the innocence of [natural] attractions when getting very close  ~  realizing that gentleness does it.

 

D. An interactive discovery

Without the shade of a doubt, the most rewarding part of the course is the interactive process with the other members of the study group. As we posted our weekly assignments and responded to each other's views and experiences, a true sense of community was established.  The anonymity of these online interlocutors created a space of trust, and often we revealed to each other parts of our life or thoughts that we may not have felt comfortable sharing with people that we see every day.  This onnection to the group became for me a significant part of my attraction to the course.  I met  people whom I want to keep in my life for years to come, without ever seeing them physically.

 

One of the reasons for this attachment is that we come to convergent realizations as we progress through the course.  The comments other group members made on my insights enhanced the learning and anchored the experience deeper in my psyche.  Reading about their insights and their experience sometimes created a desire to emulate them, as I have been inspired by many things I have read.  My  webmates have spurred changes in some of my perceptions and habits, and I thank them for that.

 

Each one of those people who accompanied me through ECO 501 is unique and has an individual colour or quality s/he contributed to the work.  Not knowing how to acknowledge that uniqueness, and wanting to express somehow their most valued contribution in my greening process, I have resolved to honour each one here by collating excerpts from specific assignments that I particularly enjoyed.  They have to forgive the license I took in deleting and rearranging their words sometimes.  My intention in doing so was to reveal to them the poetry of their thoughts ~ if they were not aware of it yet.  I also titled the excerpts to reflect the perception they gifted me with.

 

Emily

   of strength and flexibility
path lit by the sun
immersing in the tree essence
I stretch my arms toward the sky
wind comes up
my trunk doesn’t sway
rather my branches bend
and sway in the direction of the wind

 

That experience Emily had in reproducing the shape of the tree carries much wisdom.  It reminded me how being like nature can help us go through storms in life.  The tree doesn’t fight or resist ~ it stays strong yet dances with the wind.


   fear free like the tree
memories...
once I became lost and disconnected from my soul
fear became my guiding force
but now
I take a breath
reminded that I am no longer there
now I am the tree
I feel no fear

 

The tree is the teacher again, reminding Emily to live in the moment.  There is real power in letting go of painful memories and choosing to be in the now, immersed in a natural environment.  The focus on the experience allowed Emily to dissipate the fear, i.e. the old way of being.  The strength of the tree will be the new guiding force, undoubtedly.

 

   salty joy
wrapping my arms around the tree
I bring my ear up
I listen to the tree
I hear its breath
I breathe the same
nature whispers come
‘your pain brought you here
be grateful’
I smile
a tear filled with salty joy
sliding down my face

 

There is something in the expression Mother Nature coined decades ago.  The comfort that Emily got in this powerful experience with the tree truly evokes that of a caring mother who consoles her child.  Opening up in trust and embracing the tree helps her feel comforted, and the liberation comes in tears that release the pain while a smile reveals the joy of feeling understood.

 

Natalie

   I am silence
attracted to so much
but what I sense is space and silence
the just being, letting go
eyes closed
I am space
I am silence

 

Natalie spoke the yoga language through many of her activities.  Reading her words confirmed the power nature has of creating peace of mind and vastness in body.


   I am one  I am oneness

I feel the breeze from geese wings
       blow through my heart
I feel the curves of the tree   excite me
I feel the mountains and the valleys   fill me
I feel individuality and unity
expression and impression
there is no me
I radiate

 

Those words spell out the balance there is between vibrant sense of self having the experience and limitless impression of oneness when immersed in nature.  The magic of Natalie's words here is in showing the progressive state of being that starts in connecting with senses to eventually transcend them and feel self no more.  And all that for free !  


   sun lover

sun rays all around me
I relax deeply into them
I feel the warm air igniting me
awakening my soul
yellow glow melting every inch of me
such a relief
each of my senses
affirms my aliveness, my sensuality
~ how can anyone ever get bored !

 

That last line playfully expresses how alive one is when connecting with nature.  Being open to her senses and articulating what she felt, Natalie succeeds in conveying how a physical experience brought by a natural attraction reaches all the way to her soul.  A body, mind and spirit connection beautifully shared.

 

Stephen

   earth
I smell the stone
it smells dirty
an earthly rich dirt smell
I take it in    breathing deeply
the dirt of the earth
communing

 

This description shows how down-to-earth Stephen can be.  Yet the last word brings awareness of the unifying effect of connecting with nature through senses.  Although he was not in a natural environment (sitting in a café in the city ) when doing this activity, Stephen experienced an almost spiritual connection with earth, the matrix from where the rock came.
 
   elements
shimmering lake in front of me
let me see the pagoda
in the tall cedar trees
reflected in the pattern
of wind and sun rippling water
holistic hologram
in everything of unity

 

Stephen's poetic vision reveals that a human made structure (pagoda) can harmonize with the natural elements ~ air, sun and water.  Those words evoke for me ancient civilizations who worked with nature rather than trying to eradicate it.

 

   water
oh sacred waters gathered within these hollows
bless me   heal me   make me whole
keep me safe
bring me home again

 

These deeply moving words express one more time the spiritual connection between humans and nature.  Stephen calls upon Nature for its healing power.  His call to water for bringing him home may be again a call to nature as mother, a desire to merge again with the womb ~ an image that also comes through one of Susan's pieces.


Susan


   my rock
sitting with a pile of rocks
I find one with closed eyes
shape changing   heat flowing through
such an intimate experience
I lose it  ~  become very sad
longing to feel it again
another rock feels warm in my hand
but cannot fill the place of the other


The level of intimacy with a rock expressed by Susan really shows the new perception of nature fostered by the course.  Susan's attachment is so strong that she becomes sad when she cannot find her rock any more among all the rocks on the beach.  This only illustrates the very deep caring that is developed through the activities of ECO 501, and makes one wish that everyone takes it.  What a difference it would make in our society !


   first experiences
maybe first experiences with senses
determine how I feel
and the loss of those senses
makes for so much sadness
the innocence of first experiences
can never be replicated
as far back as the womb

 

One of Susan's gifts is the spontaneity in the expression of her feelings and her subsequent analysis of what happened.  The experience of the loss of her rock on the beach brings again the image of nature as mother ~ although in periphery of the experience itself.

 

   earthquake
earthquake woke me a few days ago
its power rose up from the deep
and shot through my soul
deep force exiting the earth
through to my body

I found comfort in the direct energy it exuded
power unseen yet so stable
it calmed me
gave me the energy to move forward
provided much needed food
for my soul

 

Susan's description is beautiful.  This mysterious occurrence from deep within the earth resonated with her and provided her with comfort rather than putting her in a state of fear.  Again, the connection between body, mind and soul is revealed through a natural occurrence.

 


Epilogue

With a bit of sadness, I went down this morning to the forest that had fostered so many ECO501 assignments .  I asked permission to enter, and called for nature to bring me to an attraction that would answer the question   In which way(s) did this course contribute to my life and that of others ?    I went down the path slowly, taking in each sound, shade and colour as if for the last time.  After a couple of minutes, my attention was brought to an old cedar stump on which a small tree (of a deciduous species ) was growing.  I walked in its direction but suddenly heard a rhythmic sound coming from a snag nearby.  I looked up and saw a pileated woodpecker looking for its lunch.  I stopped for a few seconds, and asked woodpecker the question.  Its answer was  What you see as lifeless is full of scrumptious surprises.   I continued my way to the stump and spent a few moments bonding with it, getti! ng myself lost in the myriad of wonders that could be seen on it ~ delicate ferns unfolding from its top, different varieties of moss and lichens greening its sides, little alcoves and dens and labyrinths offering perfect shelter to small animals and insects, a very healthy small tree growing from it, etc.  I asked my question.  It took a long time for the answer to come, but it was vibrant.  Death feeds life ~ that is the secret of eternity.   Wanting to deepen the meaning of these 2 responses from attractions, I started walking back to my house.  On my way, I brushed a Western Trillium on the path.  I was amazed at the changes it had undergone since last week.  Deep purple veins were spreading out of its corolla, long spiraling stamen had now reached maturity, and the flower now stood taller and stronger.  I bent down to it and asked the question again.  The only answer that came to me was the number 3, f! rom  the 3 petals and the whole symmetry of the trillium ~ I woul d have to think about it and integrate this insight with those previously received.

Once home, I sat with it all.
First,  I looked up the signification of the number 3 ~ the answer was amazing.
3 means communication, activity, expansion; it expresses joy and the freedom of living.
In the natural world, it is the activity behind manifestation.
3 helps one grow and expand horizons; it brings you to meet people who will enlarge your idea of the world and your role in it.
Speak out, express yourself.  Share enthusiasm and optimism.  Nurture Spirit, Body and Soul.  (Dusty Bunker, Numerology and your Future )

Putting the 3 messages together, this is what I received.


"Nature is eternal.  Whatever has been eradicated, brought down, paved over still has a dormant life of its own, it still breeds other forms of life.  Listen to the wake-up call of the woodpecker, make others listen to it.  Even what seems dead is full of promises.  Communicate that to others, awake this dormant knowledge in others.  There is time left, since life is eternal.  Go forth, meet new people, help them develop in spirit, body and soul as you do the same.  Get everyone you meet to experience nature connectedness."

* * *

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"Human behavior is rooted most deeply in nature's intentions and desire. The rhythms of nature underlie all of human interaction: religious traditions, economic systems, cultural and political organization. When these human forms betray the natural psychic pulse, people and societies get sick, nature is exploited and entire species are threatened."

-Stephen Aizenstat

 


In industrial society our excessively nature-separated lives mold us to betray the natural psychic pulse. We learn to block from our thinking over 98 percent of the wise sensory callings and fulfillments we normally share with natural systems and their eons of experience. Our subconscious hurt and frustration from the severed disconnection of these senses underlies our greatest troubles.

-Michael J. Cohen

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Benefit from learning to enhance the natural psychic pulse within and around us. Add the sensory ecoscience of Organic Psychology to your life and livelihood.

 
 

 


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Project NatureConnect
Homepage

Organic Psychology Search Engine
Contacts
Email
360-378-6313

Grant-funded, social and environemental science accredited courses, career training and holistic organic learning degrees: alternative adult education and sustainable career training jobs online for personal and global health.

Act now: student grants, scholarships loans for college online

 



"Scientific research is based on the idea that everything that takes place is determined by laws of nature, and therefore this holds for the action of people."
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"Truth is what stands the test of experience."

- Albert Einstein

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INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION

Special NGO consultant United Nations Economic and Social Council

PROJECT NATURECONNECT

Accredited nature career holistic education and job courses, organic learning degrees and alternatives; earn extra income money online and increase wellness, spirit and hope.

P.O. Box 1605, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-6313 <email>
www.ecopsych.com


ORGANIC, ACCREDITED, APPLIED ECOPSYCHOLOGY AND ECOTHERAPY 

The Natural Systems Thinking Process

Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director


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All programs start with the Orientation Course contained in the books
The Web of Life Imperative and Reconnecting With Nature
and the
Naturally Attracted
DVD video
.