The Natural
Systems Thinking
Process: an ecopsychology of change
Orientation Course Evaluation
This
course allows the student to deepen and 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? How does it help
disorders like Downs Syndrome?
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 journeying provided my most
vital awarenesses about the it-thou 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 with 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.
On the Internet 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
Project NatureConnect
