Orientation Course Evaluation
Natural
Systems Thinking Process: the ecosychology of change
This course allows the student
to deepen, awaken, an inherent connection with the natural world.
To remember they are part of nature and kin to it all. The exercises
are practical, doable, evocative, and catalyze a shift in world
view. These are the kinds of awakenings necessary to the long
term well-being of us all.
Tired of feeling disconnected?
NatureConnect invites you to know and strengthen your own particular
resonance, the presence that is the essential you; to develop
a greater awareness of and presence with the elements, and all
that is around and within you; and to try specific awareness-building
exercises. The class is not about presenting a particular point
of view and having people "buy" it, but is about exploring
new ways of relating with nature, including that house plant
you just had to buy at the grocery store, or that rock you picked
up when you last went hiking. What's that about?
Current class participants
say that the meetings build a sense of community and stimulate
new awarenesses. Awareness creates the solid foundation for change.
Your commitment? To participate with open-minded flexibility,
willing to suspend disbelief, and to give yourself permission
to take what you like and leave the rest.
One of my most enduring take-aways
from this course is the vital experience of nature's intelligence,
and curiosity of the very real and visceral knowing that the
world around me is curious in every moment, and eager to know
me, to connect with me, not distant and aloof. I want to be curious
in new ways, willing, excited, to listen with every aspect of
my being
What was most rewarding about
the group interchange was seeing the difference in everyone's
experience, and yet the similarities, the curiosity, willingness
and hunger for connection, for knowing this web of life as inclusive
rather than exclusive.
The course requires students
to shift their relationships with several words and concepts.
I shifted my understanding of the word attraction, away from
thinking of it in terms of sexuality, to simply an awakening,
a quickening, an intrigue. Somewhere in my childhood, I made
a choice to give up my knowing of natural attractions. Reclaiming
those is also reclaiming myself. Considering those attractions,
and interconnections, as evidence of unconditional love, also
asked that I give up my disenchantment with an over-used phrase,
and make it real, a vital presence in my life.
Identifying Earth as either
a "dead organism" or a "wisely balanced living
organism" makes a difference only if the second isn't a
thought but a knowing, and experience, awareness, commitment.
The difference is the classic "it" vs. "thou."
What I feel, how I act/relate is the difference between believing
I am alone in this world and acknowledging my inter-connection,
feeling supported, and responsible.
Until this course, vision questing
and shamanic joruneying provided my most vital awarenesses about
the world that is beyond the one - dimensional world I am presented
with in this culture. This course further enhanced my ability
to see, to discern. The activities didn't so much change my perceptions,
as developed them in exciting new ways. And, over and again,
I was reminded, perception is reality, and invited to shift my
perception, expand my reality.
The course materials constantly
remind participants to treat areas, plants, beings of nature,
honorably by asking permission, not assuming a welcome, or forcing
one. I needed to look at my hesitation to do this ö over
the years I've been shy or awkward with it ö Who am I if
I'm out in the mountains asking the grasses for permission to
interact? Am I ready and willing to be that person?
Since I have a daughter with
Down's Syndrome, I've spent a lot of time considering the word
"intelligence." In this course, I looked at my concept
or experience of nature's intelligence. And I kept thinking,
intellect. So I played ö the base intelligence of tree and
bush is to preserve life. Its own. To slow down its use of resources
to manage on what is available. It doesn't squander. Doesn't
deny. I imagine each tree drinks as much as it can from the nothing
available. A tree rooted close to an underground spring would
have a tremendous advantage in survival. Is that intelligence
or luck? Where the seed fell?
Certainly they know they need
water to live.
Stars are simply who they are
they don't try to become anything else. Is that intelligence
or living the essence? My daughter's intelligence is her ability
to access her deep knowing in any situation where she trust herself
enough to listen to it. When I journey, in my shamanic practice,
to an animal medicine, its that knowing that comes from the essence
of an animal's gift, and what that teaches.
Much of this course's gift
is about increased specificity in languaging experience, in creating
our relationship with nature. And including ourselves in whatever
honoring of nature we do.
My expectations were met, oh
yes, in wonderful ways. I was able to grasp some concepts, have
some experiences, I hadn't been able to reach in my Shamanic
work. I already had a sense of what might be there, but hadn't
had a 3-D experience. This course gave me that.
I liked the most the constant
reminder to ask permission of nature, to be respectful of relationships.
The most important thing for
me was how to go heart to hear with, have a conversation with,
experiment with my connections, in nature.
It improved my quality of life
because I can continuing developing the skills, connections I
found in this work.
The course really deepened
and awakened my ability to connect with and develop relationships
with the natural world. I even had a very intimate experience
with two boulders and I have had trouble connecting with stone,
other than an active attraction to picking up rocks and bringing
them home. I loved some of the exercises that asked us to change
perspective, to be respectful with nature, and therefore with
people who are part of nature. To name what we honor in someone
else and then make those statements about ourselves. Very powerful.
ö Internet ö there
are a lot of places that work in earth-based spirituality that
could benefit from this work if they're willing to open to a
non-denominational approach.
- Suriya
Additional student reviews of the course are available at
orienteval2a.html
orienteval3g.html
orienteval4h.html
orienteval5j.html
orienteval6k.html
orienteval7z.html
orienteval8.html
