Learn
How To Live in Awe:
the
Natural Systems Thinking Process:
Orientation
Course Evaluation
To sum up, the interactions and consciousness I
developed with the course participants, the professional support group,
and my own awareness came from the activities was this: to learn how to live in awe.
We learned how to connect with nature, not simply
learn about it, or analyze it, but interact and allow nature to guide
us. This process addressed the unspoken consciousness we all have, in
the example Fred Rounds gave us ,
"The
presence of the natural self in nature seems to transcend thought. I am
faced with the immediate, the complex of many sensations. I believe
these sensations are speaking a truth to me. I'm not in a state of
denial. My mind argues that self-worth is meaningless amidst the
remorseless aspects of nature. I am there, I am part of it all, I am
food. It is also the presence of abiding love. I am nurtured. I am
forgiven. I am always allowed."
Once this kind of awareness or consciousness is
retrieved, it changes how we perceive (and hopefully relate) in the
world, which in turn creates a huge capacity for changes to improve the
senseless destruction not only the Earth, but the Universe has been
subject to. As Jedaluddin
Rumi , states,
"This
is how a human can change: there's a worm addicted to eating grape
leaves. Suddenly, he wakes up, call it grace, whatever, something wakes
him, and he's no longer a worm. He's the vineyard, and the orchard too,
the fruit, the trunks, a growing wisdom & joy that doesn't need
to devour".
Personally I became more validated in my quest for
infinity (webstrings) in understanding how nature works. Any time I am
encouraged to view someone or something as finite, red flags appear.
When trees and water are reduced to "resources", when cows and pigs are
reduced to "lbs of meat" I stop myself. Fred Rounds depicted the
subtleness of how this occurs, and the conflict it creates in our
lives:
"I
look at the California Laurel Tree. I am reminded that it's leaves are
used as a spice. I can't escape this thought, and therefore, I can't
see the whole tree. I feel tension because of this conflict".
Project Nature Connect gave me the tools to make
the infinite connection and heal from the conflicting sensations, the
depression and hopelessness that comes from finite relating. These
activities have restored balance, hope and wholeness to me and how I
relate to others.
The urge or attraction of Beth, Steve, Fred,
Roger, Will and myself had to
create a more balanced, simplified, sustainable life became apparent to
me in through the following statements from Beth:
"I
knew I needed to get back to things natural and let go of or redefine
some of the things that have caused me to treat the earth and her
creatures in many forms so badly" and further, " I wanted something to
help me get back into things more natural & being myself in
nature".
It is precisely why Roger indicated his departure
from the group so that he could go out and spend an extended amount of
time in the Bush in New Zealand to begin anew. I hear it every day from
my co-workers, my children and see it in the marketplace in magazines:
the urge for simplicity, authenticity, meaningfulness, sustainability,
wholeness, and awe. The quest is no longer overwhelming, but clarified
and doable. I have made contacts with others attempting to do the same.
There are tools we have received to give this gift to ourselves, and to
others.
The infinite guidance and healing we all gained
from these activities was summed up rather well by Will:
"At
times like these I recognize that nature is my counselor. I told this
place that I wasn't feeling well, that my head hurt, and I cried as I
continued to experience the beauty and support of this place. I felt a
lot better, and have continued to do so through the rest of the day"
He also depicted the difference between being out
in nature and being "of" nature when he further described an
observation of "two women came down the trail. They were barely
noticing where they were..." So it is not how much we can memorize
knowledge about nature, or even being out in it, but a willingness to
acknowledge nature in us and nature as a teacher, counselor, or
infinite source if love & wisdom.
The activity of asking permission, acknowledging
nature, and mutual consent allow us to move with and be one with
nature, to breathe with it. Steve communicated this with
"That
the act of asking permission heightens the level of respect and trust
between the participants in any interactions or connection and that the
response can be non-verbal as well as verbal."
When we pursue this kind of consent, our
perceptions change to see a more dimensional, alive universe and self.
Our perceptions of sensations has been strongly
shaped by our society. I learned very well how willing I was to "judge"
or interpret my senses according to filters obtained in education,
religion, and family. As William Shakespeare said "There is nothing
either good or bad, but thinking makes it so!" So as I embrace my
multiple senses, I am more keenly aware of my interpretation of them.
The activity of putting one hand in hot water, the other in cold, then
submerging them both in warm water was a very simple and direct way to
obtain this awareness. A course participant summed up the attractions
and senses we so often deny by saying:
" In
the past I would follow my attractions, get involved with something,
decide I did not like it, then beat myself up about jumping from thing
to thing. Now, I realize that these are valid attractions for a good
reason. I am not crazy, I have been following my heart in many ways
that society frowns upon, i.e. pick a job and stay there forever. I
feel that if I can keep in mind all of this is teaching me, things i
need to learn, I will not beat myself up over any changes in my life
course. Whew! What a load off! Well, now that I see this so clearly, I
am off to make more changes and feel confident in following my heart."
At this time I do not know how the PNC experience
will change my career, but that is what I am yearning for. It has
changed my personal life to encompass more sensitivity, more
responsibility, more authenticity, more support, more coping tools,
more confidence, and less stress. It has diminished uncertainty and
cynicism. As I continue to utilize these activities of connecting with
nature, I can only imagine a more blissful life.
- Kris S
Project NatureConnect
