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The Natural
Systems Thinking Process: My adventures with the Project NatureConnect online Orientation Course. by Sarah Edwards In the early 90's, the field of ecopsychology rolled onto the map with alarms blazing. A flurry of books by experts from Jungian analyst Marion Woodman, to cultural historian Thomas Berry, to social historian Theodore Roszak and social biologist E.O.Wilson proclaimed a vital relationship between Nature and our physical, social and psychological well-being. But, the experts despaired, we've become so disconnected from this link that both we and the environment are suffering we in terms of proliferating stress-related disorders; the environment in terms of severe degradation of the ecosystem. ......,,,,,,,Since that time, despite
such protestations, our disconnection from nature has only grown
more profound. We work in a "cubicle culture" tethered
24/7 electronically by email and cell phones to our personal
and career demands. As a culture, we suffer from more lifestyle-related
stress disorders and manmade environmental problems than ever
before.
......,,,,,,Upon closer investigation,
she noticed there was an almond tree and several citrus trees
in her overgrown backyard. A grape vine grew rampant along the
fence and beneath it there was hidden an ancient vegetable garden
created by a previous tenant. Orange flowers poked out above
the blades and clumps of grass. Before long she also found herself
exploring the dog park where she walked her dog and discovered
a lovely stand of salmon-pink eucalyptus trees she'd never noticed
before as well as a nearby golf course. "This was all so
far outside of what I'd been thinking of as 'nature' that I'd
failed to During the course, we were all confronted with one or more travails of life: the loss of a job, moments of self-doubt, overwhelming time pressures, the death of loved ones, and career crises. But within a short period of time, we discovered how our growing connection with nature could ease us through unavoidable traumas and help us avoid others all together. .....,,,,,,,One busy career mother, for example, came into the course feeling stressed and pressed for time. "I have been juggling time ever since my kids were born," she explained. She'd even put off taking the course because she worried how she could add one more thing to her day. But once both her children were both in school, she seized the opportunity.
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......,,,,,,,Another participant
was able to put the shock of an unexpected job loss in perspective.
The experience had left him extremely drained of energy but while
doing a Nature Activity in a nearby park, he experienced both
the physical and the mental healing effect of nature. As he drew
near a strand of shade trees, "It quite literally reminded
me of being held in my mother's arms as a very young child,"
he wrote. "It was as if the area was saying to me; come
to me, let me hold you so that you can rest." ......,,,,,,,Another participant suffered the deaths of both a dear friend and her cat. On top of that she was accosted on the street. She wrote "I have had a week where my self-esteem hit a low and I was faltering about the reason for being in the world, the grief and loss had overwhelmed me and I was at my most vulnerable." ......,,,,,,,That week she found that the nature-connecting activity "gave me a sense of self-love and pride in my ability to defend myself. It was like having a friend, a very dear friend, hug me warmly taking away a lot of sadness and pain and shock reminding me to trust myself and to keep taking risks in life, no matter how hard it can get because I have the strength and courage to make it through." ......,,,,,,,While each week's activities
had specific healing effects on our lives, the cumulative effect
was even more far-reaching. Some of us began to re-evaluate our
careers, where we lived, our relationships with our loved ones,
etc. One participant decided to move to another part of the state
where she lived, concluding "I have decided to move interstate
to an area that is more aligned with my values and needs. I have
a feeling I am not in a healthy place. So I will be preparing
to move over the next few weeks." She moved before the course
was completed. Since completing the course, I've faced several upsetting events in my life, but I find I'm handling them quite differently now. ......,,,,,,,Knowing how good I feel when I amconnected to nature and knowing that I have the choice to feel that good at any time, I am no longer willing to give up that feeling, even if I am in the middle of a frightening or unpleasant experience. I've learned that at any moment, I can say, "No, that's not what I want." No matter how difficult the situation, I can choose to connect with nature, to move responsibly toward what attracts us in the moment, to choose wisely for myself, my loved ones, my community and the natural environment in which I live. .....,,,,,,,The Natural Systems Thinking Process isa remarkable personal and professional tool that can be used to heal us of a vast variety of lifestyle stresses and the resulting depression, anxiety, and addictions that plague us. In the process we can learn to respect and value, and thereby preserve, the life-giving natural environment around us. References
Additional student reviews of the course are available at
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Americans spend 1.8 billion dollars
a year on Paxil alone and anti-depressants are only slightly
below blood pressure drugs as the most commonly used medication.
see what was right
in front of my nose," she explained. So, once or twice each
week, we shared our experiences in Nature with one another and
established a bond none of us would have thought possible between
total 
......,,,,,,,But
this began to change mid-way through the course during a Nature
Activity she did while visiting a friend who owns several acres
of wooded property. There she walked to sit by a small pond and
was especially attracted to the wind, watching it dance across
the shimmering water. It was "playful, joyful," she
wrote and suddenly she wanted to make something beautiful. Arranging
a broken piece of birch tree limb, some bark with little lichens,
a few acorns and a pinecone, she created a thank-you gift on
a rock beside the pond for her hostess. "The important message
for me from this experience," she wrote, "is how much
I need to revive the playful, joyful, creative parts of myself."
Since then, she's begun making different choices about how to
prioritize her time and where to put her energy. In doing this
some things may fall by the wayside at times, she finds. The
house isn't always as orderly as she'd like. Their meals are
more basic. Her garden gets neglected at times and the checkbook
isn't balanced every month. But she says, "I am starting
to feel better. I have a lot more energy. I'm more interested
in my work and I have a deeper connection with my husband and
kids."
me
grow emotionally over the past couple of months. I gained great
joy from the experiences that I have had and shared with my wife.
I am less wanting and quite happy most of the time. I have a
feeling of calmness which if it leaves I now know how to regain
efficiently and effectively through simple reconnection activities.
It gives me hope for the future."|
Readily available, online, natural science tools for the health of person, planet and spirit 360-378-6313 <email> www.ecopsych.com ORGANIC ADVANCED ECOPSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION The Natural Systems Thinking Process Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director send email
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