Natural
Systems Thinking Process: Psychological Elements in Action
The
concept of webstrings introduces a person to the possibility
that we are indeed all connected and at many different levels.
This connection is not just simply poetic but literal in the
sense of our interdependence with our natural world. That we
are not merely spectators on planet Earth, but must become active
participants of life expression. Just like nature-oriented cultures
whose life rhythms are parallel to those of nature itself, we
must find and listen to our greater internal rhythms if we are
to live in a sustainable way, responsibly, authentically, and
from a loving space. Without the nurturing support of the natural
world, we often feel alienated, traumatized and distrustful of
the world around us. We all are harboring many psychological
wounds that shut us down from the ability to fully engage with
the world at large. Reconnecting with nature, is a powerful way
to start to heal those wounds and find out how we can be supported
and nurtured in the here and now regardless of our past. We then
can become more responsible citizens of the Earth and encourage
an attitude of caring and respect.
Exercises that spoke to me in the introductory course were in
part: perceiving our environment at a non-label level, asking
for consent or permission from a natural area to be there, the
breath exercise, being aware of natural attractions, and the
introduction of 53 senses instead of the typical 5. I also loved
that many of the exercises stated, "now let the earth teach,"
within the instructions.
Concepts that I found rewarding from participating with this
course included: natural sensations and feelings guide us; trusting
and belonging are part of the way that nature speaks to us; ways
in which we validate our senses and experiences; nature produces
no garbage; and in a very significant way the sharing that occurred
between the participants of this course.
" I sense,
therefore I am."
Being a feeling-type human, or one who knows the world through
the senses, I felt a lot of support and validation that the world
participates with us through our experiences within our body.
Since our biology and psychology are intimately wrapped up together,
our relationship with the world and other people can come from
either a place of attraction, dignity and respect or abuse, violence
and distrust. It depends upon the level to which we can participate
through our body to genuinely connect to our natural world. Therefore
our ability to connect to the natural world, not only influences
our ability to connect within our own nature but also affects
the way in which we perceive ourselves and the world we live
in. For this reason, I particularly resonated with the concept
of having 53 senses instead of the typified 5. It makes sense
to me that we have allowed our natural abilities to communicate
directly with the wild world atrophy with devastating effects
to the planet as an outcome.
Asking for permission or consent from a natural area was powerful
for myself as well as many of the course participants. "Upon
entering the park area I silently asked if this is a good place
for me to be. I felt peaceful upon entering the area." Judy.
"I had been many times in this park before but after receiving
permission I felt more surrounded by it. Ayla. "As a result
of sitting down on their level and asking them if I stay there
with them for awhile, I felt more a mutuality and a bonding &
I feel safer when I bond with my environment." Renais. "
I have never before considered asking nature for permission to
enter. As a result of doing so this weekend, I feel I have a
whole new relationship with nature. I feel that the Earth is
there to nurture me and also wants to be nurtured by me. I definitely
feel more connected." Bobbi.
Non-labeling is potent in terms of rediscovering one's natural
connections from an essential place, the wordless place. People
are affected by the rewards system of the prevailing culture,
consequently we have learned to cut ourselves off from the feeling
place of nature and replace it with destructive behaviors and
activities. As we enter into the state of non-labels we enter
into an authentic connection of self-discovery, being rewarded
by life attractions once again. " I stop cognising the experience
( labeling the outer: wave, light, trough, bow, sun, sand, toward,
away from) and start feeling it (sensing the inner: calm heartbeat,
brain floating in skull, expanding sense of self beyond body,
lightness of being & " I am not a separate closed system,
I am part of Nature." Renais. "When I closed my eyes
and covered my ears and tried to just be with the tree, I could
feel its presence with my whole body somehow." Bobbi.
I know that when a person is disconnected from their body, they
also create tendencies that may harm themselves and others through
abusive acts and actions. Helping a person discover they are
disconnected in the first place is another story. For many people,
the severing had been so long ago that they no longer have the
links to find their way back to full embodiment. The numbing
and the distorting of communication within has become so severe,
that only a severe disruption of that pattern ie through illness
or tragic personal loss, creates enough of an opening to establish
new possibilities in relating to oneself and others.
But there are other ways of creating a interruption to the inner
distortion pattern. One is through interfacing directly with
the physiology of the body such that it reduces the level of
fight/flight that persists in the neural and spinal structures
thereby influencing the body as a whole. In this way, the body
can establish new strategies as it seeks out more life-affirming
choices. I help create this interruption of high tension patterns
through specific sequenced contacts along the spine and directly
interfacing with the body language.
The other way that appears quite potent as a wake up call or
reminder to a wide range of individuals is by doing nature connecting
activities as created by Michael Cohen. These activities are
so deceptively simple when one starts, that there is no need
to put up further defenses or create more protection within the
body/mind. The person then has the opportunity to experience
nature at a level of intimacy that may have been unavailable
to themselves had they thought this same exercise out. This intimacy
then turns itself inward, so that before one knows it, one is
exploring oneself in a non-confronting and actually highly rewarding
way.
As I believe
that working with what s right with a person, not with what s
wrong with them leads to greater healing and wholeness; I believe
that this nature connecting method of self-discovery and exploration
leads to healing and wholeness and can assist many people within
a large consciousness range.
-Judy.
Additional student reviews of the course are available at
orienteval2a.html
orienteval3g.html
orienteval4h.html
orienteval5j.html
orienteval6k.html
orienteval7z.html
orienteval8.html
