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...................................................................... Free, Holistic, Natural Valentines Day Gifts Online offer Enrichment of our Whole Life Wish for Love A free, online, nature-connecting gift activity for Valentine's Day has been internationally announced online. The activity adds a powerful new dimension for enhancing and enriching love relationships all year round. The sensory ecology activity enables educators, counselors, therapists and other individuals or couples to share more than fifty holistic, earth and nature based natural attraction energies. These energies register in us as our natural senses. They are the universal origins of love as we know and wish for it in our contemporary world. Uniquely, the enjoyable Valentine activity interlaces our attractions for each other with the balanced and beautiful unifying processes of nature, in and around us. This connection helps us peacefully strengthen our bonds of love for each other that, too often, are broken, desensitized or hurt by the excessively exploitive ways of Industrial Society. The Valentines Gift Activity helps its participants validate from experience that the natural attractions that hold the world together register in them as natural senses. They become aware that their inherent natural attraction senses are the callings of the lasting universal love that we seek and embrace in contemporary society." SUMMARY: The whole earth Valentine for environmental literacy has been internationally announced online. Year round, it adds good energy to the wonderful values of Valentines Day. Project NatureConnect, a holistic degree program at the Institute of Global Education has, as a public service, placed it online a for strengthening love relationships at any time. This sense-heightening activity enables counselors, therapists and other individuals or couples to make genuine contact with more than fifty holistic natural attraction energies that we usually learn to ignore. Reported Results from Field Studies and Journals: The quotes that are included, below, are from the field study journals of participants in Project NatureConnect's online NAE courses and degree programs. These testimonials are sponsored in part by Akamai University's Institute of Applied Ecopsychology, Portland State University Extended Education courses, and the Institute of Global Education. The quotes come from students who are learning how to apply and teach the alternative integral ecology of educating, counseling and healing with nature. ^^^ It is very cold outside. I have come to a bench by the lake still warm with setting sun. I watch the leeward end of the lake towards Beaufain Street. The surface appears glossy and smooth. There is a reflection of houses along the street and the setting sun just opposite me. Because of the still surface the top responds as a mirror. I am warmed by the sun and fairly snug under my jackets. - I love the glossy surface because the texture is calm. There are no ripples. I love the reflections because the clarity is vivid. The reflective images appeal to me for warmth and a sense of home. - I love myself because despite the cold my inner nature is warm. I am attracted to knowing my home is in this area. My temperament is smooth as glass at the moment. - I love myself because what you see on the outside reflects what’s on the inside. My warm and calm demeanor reflects a spiritual nature that is at home with oneself. ^^^ I heard the strangest bird/animal call I have ever heard. I was compelled to listen, I guess you would call it an attraction. The bird (I think it was a bird) sounded like a cross between a childs scream, the squawking of a baby magpie wanting to be feed and a kid goats bleat for its parent. This call was repeated about every 2 or 3 seconds for about the next 5 minutes. I had never heard this before. I am generally fairly familiar with most of the animal sounds, the strange screams of the possums and the grunt and growls of koalas seeking a mate, and even the strange strangled cries of baby birds calling for their parents for food. This was none of those sounds I recognised. I was fascinated, totally focused on this noise and all the previous distractions disappeared. I felt a bit scared because the noise sounded like a strangled cry of an animal. I kept listening. As I became more familiar with the sound it seemed to become less of a scream for help and less agonising and I had the sense that this is just the noise that this creature/bird makes. It also did appear that the intensity of the call became softer and then after a few minutes the call stopped all together. By this time I felt very tuned in to nature. I had my eyes closed and once again my attraction to the wind was very strong and easy to focus on. I asked permission to be in that place and the reassuring wind continued to blow around me. The coolness, and freshness was really nice. I felt alive. I felt like the wind was wrapping me up, that I could nestle into it. The freshness of the cool air going into my nose was a pleasure. And the feeling of the wind across my bare face, hands and ankles was also a joy. - I am attracted to the bird cry because it was frightening, scary, disconcerting and mysterious, and I wanted to know what it was and why it was making that sound. - I am attracted to myself because I am loving and nurturing like the wind was to me. I calm people when they are worried or anxious or hurting. I often have a strong desire to heal the wounds of the world. I felt very relaxed after this experience, however I was a little disconcerted by the bird call incident. I could interpret this experience by saying that the bird call represented my sense of anxiety and despair about humans influence on the planet. I realized that I am fascinated by the planet's plight because I am drawn to the underdog, to things that are hurting and need nurturing. I also-self identify with this hurt, that there were times in my life where I was hurting but did not get the support I needed from those around me. ^^^ The sunlight on the water attracts me especially its warmth. As I begin to stare at it the light attracts my eyes.. The twinkles are amassed in a moving concentration that give the shine a living quality and movement. As the wind produces a current the twinkles slide towards the major brilliance, traverse it, and keep going. If I release some of the intensity of my gaze and relax I can almost feel the water passing through my body. I relate to it more than the breeze. The activity makes me also feel alive with light….a living light that comes through my skin, crosses my body and leaves on the other side. Or perhaps I’m already a body of light that draws more to me and lets other go. - I like myself because I am a living light that draws more to me and lets other distresses go. ^^^ Taking a bench I’m attracted to the palmetto trees. They stand upright single file bordering the perimeters. I note most of the noise is the breeze rustling through the big frawns. The wind connects to each bough and causes the head to flap and toss. Perhaps the message is by staying relaxed, alert and waiting the torrent of thoughts may pass through disrupting my stillness. Poise and silence are at the heart of me in any case. - I respect myself because I can remain upright retaining poise despite interruptions and static in my thoughts and activites. ^^^ It is a cool, but bright sunny San Francisco morning. The wind is mild, gently moving....sort of like its just breathing.....although my sense of smell is still limited due to lingering congestion, I can faintly note the eucalyptus scent from the trees around me. My energy is on the low side, but I feel energized by the sun. I am attracted to this area just outside my house. I looked to the nearby trees (some Ponderosa Pine trees along with the Eucalyptus trees) and asked for permission to connect with them and share some of their sunshine. I love the sun's warmth shining down on me because it feels like a big healthy hug. - I love myself because I feel like a big healthy hug........I AM a big hug!. I just remembered someone telling me the other day (after a counseling session)- "it feels like you just gave my heart a big hug." Adding "myself" in the second part felt surprisingly good - reinforcing the truth of the activity. This activity reinforces that fact that our natural attractions are consistently validated within the context of the choices we make in our lives. ^^^ I went to the lake feeling a bit low. Instantly as I was approaching a flock of White Ibis passed overheard and immediately I felt the uplift. They came out of nowhere and flew in an arrow formation. They are rather unique to see. As I walked around my attention was still drawn to upwards….as if in the gesture I was to keep my sights high. There was the crescent moon with evening star at it’s side. They looked companionable. I was taken with the star in particular….a piercing glitter, strong and clear. I sat on the bench and maintained my gaze. Along came a flock of geese honking and flapping as they whizzed by. Two flocks in an evening and a star to guide me. Thank you most precious star and for all the beauty to behold. It is a Mystery and I’m a part of it. I felt better walking home. - I like knowing that I am mysterious and part of the Whole of Life. There is always comfort to be found in this relationship. Read additional Field Study and Journal Entries "True recovery occurs when we acknowledge our multisensory self and let nature nurture it." The nature-connecting process is indeed a healing one....one that has great potential for human healing and psychic pain relief.... I know this because I have experienced healing in my life as a direct result of having nature-centered experiences. And the more my sensory awareness (both inward and outward) increases, the more I am convinced that our lives, our health, and our happiness are dependent on nature's life and health. While it is essential that we do not depend on "past" nature experiences to be enough for our current health and wellness, sometimes it is useful to reflect on the past-- and through these reflections we grow a deeper understanding of what we are experiencing in the here and now. Reading about a group of "At-Risk" youth in a alcohol/drug recovery program (from this chapter reading), I was reminded of a group of young adolescent girls that I worked with a couple of years ago. These girls were all in a program for youth offenders who were also found to be using drugs (some were addicted users and some were just coping/surviving with their dysfunctional families who were addicted). After working with the girls very closely for several months, I tried to convince the director of the outpatient program to allow me to hold some groups sessions (the girls were required to be in group 3 times a week) outdoors. Based on the girl's own reported experiences when "on the run," they often felt happier and more at peace when they were spending most of their time outdoors. Although they were not living in a way that was typical for other kids their ages, and were in need of some kind of intervention (family, legal, or both), the fact that they felt a sense of safety and peace speaks to their natural attraction and sense of survival in natural environments. This response to nature was further validated when girls in the program were ordered to serve time on weekends in various outdoor community clean-up projects. Following the weekends when the girls worked outside picking up litter in organized clean-up crews, they would return to the program on Monday with a more positive attitude toward treatment, and more importantly, tested clean when drug tested. They attributed their success to spending time outside and away from the stress of "the four white walls." While I was not successful in creating a more natural environment for treatment in the outpatient program, the people involved with the "inpatient" or Juvenile Hall detainees, (where all the girls live until they serve their time and qualify for the outpatient program) were able to incorporate a large garden at Juvenile Hall. The girls were given outdoor responsibilities (gardening) in exchange for good behavior/work in their school classes. The Probation officers were surprised when the girls responded positively to the garden chores as if they were a privilege. I share this story because it was an inspiration to me--even before I became involved with PNC and reconnecting with nature. I no longer work in this type of program, but the people I do work with all show similar positive feelings and reduced stress when they have increased outdoor experience. The additional process of gaining permission in order to fully connect with nature (and others) to avoid exploitation is also very valuable. I find that adding this part of the process to the experience of natural attraction is key to fully experiencing connection. Now that I ALWAYS make a point of gaining permission (from nature and others) in order to share a connection, I feel better about these relationships, and better about myself. This week has been generous with me in terms of outdoor time--and it has been welcomed by my spirit (which was burdened with some health issues in the recent weeks). I experienced a close and moving connection with the moon and stars a couple of days ago. I remember thinking that I did not want to go inside, and wished that I had a space where I could set up my tent (which has a large opening in the top-screened but see-through) and have more time in the moonlight. The time I did enjoy with the moon and stars was very spiritually rewarding for me. I received some insight that I was able to share with one of my clients - and just today was told how this sharing was so helpful for my client. I believe my learning was born out of the freedom I experienced while under the glorious light of the moon. I felt compelled to dance and worship the lights in the sky. I believe that the moon gave me this message-- I belong to the universe. The universe is grateful for my love and for my joy. Just as the universe knows every star and every moon that exists, the universe also knows me by name....and even knows the number of hairs on my head. I love the night sky because of the wonder and promise it holds. I love myself for being open to movement and for the ability to express my movement in dance. I am song. I am dance. I am light. I am love. -I love myself because of the wonder and promise my life holds. ^^^ Explore your attractive self. Benefit from your natural attractions, strengthen your personal and professional well-being and save time and money. 1. Read some of the student reports, above, and discover if you find them attractive. If so: 2. If this page makes sense and is attractive to you, you are eligible to take our Organic Psychology Track for a degree or certification in the organic application of Ecopsychology. This track saves you the costs and time of 16 credits of graduate work, or two years of undergraduate work. 3. Call or email nature@interisland.net for an application 360-378-6313. We accept USA invitations from you to call you. SUGGESTION:
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PROJECT NATURECONNECT
SUBSIDIZED CONTINUING EDUCATION, COUNSELING AND HEALING WITH NATURE Project NatureConnect offers accredited CEU Courses, Certification, Grants and Degree Programs online to sustain the well-being of person, planet and spirit. Prior training and life experience is incorporated into all programs.
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