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Accredited Nature-Connecting Holistic Health and Wellness Degree Courses On Line: Natural Attraction Ecology Career Education Personal and Professional Whole Life System Training Grants and Jobs.
Project NatureConnect
Institute of Global Education
Organic
Psychology Applied Ecopsychology Ecotherapy
Special
NGO Consultant, United Nations Economic and Social Council
Practical green distance learning remedy reverses major thinking flaws
..EDUCATING, COUNSELING AND HEALING WITH NATURE
Who are You? Who am I? Who are We?
Who or What is your Natural Self?
Who or What is your Natural Self?
| SYNOPSIS: The quotable, reprintable, article here describes outcomes of the funded green sensory science of Natural Attraction Ecology. It explains and sample the results obtained by engaging in its organic ecopsychology, a working model that enables us to remedy nature deficit disorders and reduce stress. Its process is a nature-rooted therapy that helps us improve health, wellness and counseling by enabling our thinking and feeling to safely connect our natural senses with the green spirit of nature's grace, balance and restorative powers. Participants benefit from their inborn love of nature helping them reduce flaws in their thinking as they share and master natural attraction activities that strengthen their personal and professional relationships. The reports it includes are empirical evidence that demonstrates the contribution of our sensory connections with natural systems, in people and places, to increasing personal, social and environmental well being. NOTE: If you are looking for a quote on a specific topic, apply your finder to this page. Use the Project NatureConnect search engine to locate additional pages with additional quotes. PROGRAM
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Educating Counseling and Healing With Nature Supportive Degrees, Career Training Courses and Jobs On Line Project NatureConnect offers nature-centered distant learning that enables you to add the benefits of nature-connecting methods and credentials to your degree program and/or your skills, interests and hobbies. We honor your prior training and life experience by providing grants and equivalent education credit for it. You may take accredited or professional CEU coursework and/or obtain a Nature-Connected Degree or Certificate in most disciplines or personal interests. A partial subject list is located at the bottom of this page.
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Who are you? Who am I? Who are we? Who or what is your natural self? by Michael J. Cohen, Ph.D. This article summarizes 48 years of peer-reviewed research in Natural Attraction Ecology "Our
natural desire to be, to live, to survive in balance, is the attraction of the
eons to support life manifesting
itself as us. We are born as part of this
attraction and we share it with the web-of-life, our global plant,
animal and mineral community.
Our troubles arise because we are socialized to disconnect ourselves from the web-of-life. We seldom learn to think with the self-correcting attraction powers that produce nature's beauty." - Michael J. Cohen No matter who promises us change that will increase well-being, if their thinking omits the key factor that produces well being, they won't be able to keep their promise. - Janet Thomas, Author, The Battle in Seattle If you are reading this information on or from a computer, your natural sense of trust is in play. You trust that the words on this screen can give you valuable information. You many not trust what the words here say, but you trust that they can provide worthwhile knowledge. Otherwise why would you be paying attention to them here? What you really trust here is the logic and value of the scientific method. You trust the intelligence of reasonable thinking and technology that discovered the power of a computer and the use of electronic communication to convey information. It works. It contributes and has value if it is applied in a way that is fair and benefits all. This same trustable thinking process has also discovered who and what you and we naturally are. Now is the time to pay attention to its rationale and respect the quest of unbiased scientific methodology to further improve our lives. Look at the complexity of your hands and how they work. Think about the intelligence lying within our body. How does the science of its wisdom work? Did we have to think about breathing today? Did we have to manage our heart beating or our food digesting? Or did our body’s inherent "green" survival intelligence take care of this and so much more for us? What is deeper than our skin? What is deeper than our muscles? What is deeper than our cells? What is deeper than the molecules that build those cells? It is the life-supportive ways of our solar system and the entire universe. They lie within us. We are part of it. What does this universe consist of, what is its essence? Scientific methodology finds that we, and all matter, consist of the ways and spirit of atoms and energy. Scientists say that for us to even see one of our body’s atoms we’d have to enlarge the atom to the size of the Empire State building. Imagine a sphere that was the size that building. At its center, the atom's nucleus, that we would be able to see, would be the size of a golf ball. Throughout the rest of the immense "empty" space of that one atom would be an electron attraction cloud orbiting the nucleus because the electrons and cloud were attracted to the "golf ball" nucleus, as well as attracted to play this role in the life of an atom. So what are we made of? Factually, we consist of atoms and they are 99.999999999 percent "space." However, neither we nor atoms are empty space. All that "space" consists of attraction, the energies and forces that draw, tug and hold the electrons to the nucleus. These attractions also attract-attach one atom to another. Even the atom's nucleus and electrons are subatomic packets of attraction energy, as demonstrated by the explosive power of a nuclear bomb when that energy is released. Atoms emerge from a universal ocean of the unbroken "space" of the universe and its wholeness. Except, again, note that it is not space with nothing in it. It is filled with attraction, the universe's attraction to be the universe, to hold together and act as it does. There are many theories about this. For example, attraction pervades the universe because, in the Big Bang Theory, the universe is attracted to grow as well as attracted to be interconnected with itself. Attraction is what the "yin and yang" of the Big Bang universe hold in common. Our body and mind only pretend to be solid. In actuality they are almost entirely attraction-space in action as us, as our life. What is the intelligence that drives our body and psyche, that we think and feel with? Where can it be if we are mostly attraction? After all, when we look at ourselves in the mirror we are only looking at 0.111111111 percent of who we are as "material." The rest is all attraction. We might say that our intelligence is eons of attraction being attracted to to think and act in an intelligent balance that supports its life, our life and all life. Who are we? We are attraction in transformation and transition. The atoms in our body and mind are ancient travelers. Every atom in our body is recycled and being exchanged with other atoms from around us. Every few years, every atom in us has become the environment and been replaced by an atom from the environment. Atoms and their attraction energy in us have been in many places in the earth. They are shared. They belong to no one person or thing. They are attracted to visit us temporarily, to be us, to support us. Then they are also attracted to leave and become a supportive part of the air, the tree, our neighbor. Who and what we are at any given moment is a river of nature's attraction flow manifesting itself as us in that moment. That's why the essense of each of us is attractive and, like the universe, is attracted to itself and to grow. That essence is the biological core of our self-worth and dignity. It/we are attractive. It expresses itself in us, we inherently feel attractive enough to want to survive and grow. Every atom in our body, although there for a relatively short time, was once born somewhere in the universe. In the heart of a star, say scientists. Atoms are formed from raw, resonating, attraction interactions that occur millions of times a second in stars. They have been interacting for eons. And when a star dies it is attracted to throw its atoms as gifts outwards into the universe. These atoms of attraction form planets and plants, animals, minerals and… us. Perhaps we should not call atoms "atoms" at all. A more helpful name might be to call them DABS "dancing attraction beings or communities" When we gently pull or push anything, including a person, we can sense and observe that it is attracted to stay where it is. Who we are, mostly, is natural attraction, part of the attraction- community of everything else in the web of life. We are members of a planet that can form, resonate and communicate throughout itself through attraction. All of life is conscious of life on some level of attraction awareness. In fact, attraction acts as if it was alive and aware or conscious of itself. Our natural ability to reason is an attraction to consciously find reasonable ways to live in attractive, mutually supportive balance with the whole of life and each other. However, we create unnatural problems when our reasoning isn't rooted in natural attraction, when the place it comes from, instead, is "empty space ideas." That is because, again, there is no such thing as empty space. Empty space is not a reality, it is fantasy. It is an attraction-sterile place that our nature-disconnected stories invent. Our nature-disconnected stories imagine, as well as teach us, and pay us, to imagine, that it is attractive to think based solely on the "objectivity" of empty space rather than attraction that, in reality, fills that "space." Life relationships are rarely based on unbiased chance. Rather, they are attractively biased towards the survival of life. Our challenge is that our "imaginary story" flaws our mentality. It separates our thinking from how natural attraction actually works to produce the grace of nature's self-correcting balance and restorative ways. This error makes much of our reasoning and thinking "spaced-out" with respect to nature in and around us. The destructive personal, social and environmental flaws of our spaced-out thinking and feeling produce our most challenging problems. Thinking Flaw Number One. Thinking that omits the reality of natural attraction is incomplete. It's sterile objectivity does not contain or respect our planet's essence, the attractive beauty and grace of nature's self-correcting and restorative ways. That essence produces the balance, unity, peace, diversity, purity, cooperation, and recycling powers of nature. The omission of attraction is especially rampant in Industrial Society where, by the age of seven years, we are rewarded to think and relate through emotionally bonded ideas that excessively conquer and exploit nature. Even mathematics and statistics are "sterile truths" that tend to remove our psyche from our attractions in nature. We learn and are paid to think as if nature was not attractive and it had no attraction to, or right to, live. To think otherwise is too often considered "subjective" or "fuzzy" "earth muffin" "hippy" thinking, not scientific, not rational, not objective. Learning to think while omitting nature does not make sense. Such thinking is halucinatory. It attracts our thinking to habitually fixate on our artificial, empty-space, nature-disconnecting ways, rewards and materials. This disconnection from the attraction source and proces of life makes us feel empty. We become fearful of, out of balance with, and detrimental to, the beneficial life ways of natural attraction, in and about us. Is it any wonder that we and Earth suffer the detrimental consequences of omitting nature from our thinking? Couldn't the intelligence of the web of life correctly consider those of us who excessively think this way to be "space cadets?" When we omit nature from our thinking we lose sight of the fact that our body and mind consist of ten times more cells of other organisms than human cells; over 110 species live on our skin alone. Our genetic makeup includes plant and animal DNA. Nature daily flows into and replaces parts of us and vice-versa. Nature knows where it stops and humanity starts, do we? Our thinking is our destiny. Our great challenge is that, past and present, in our nature-disconnected society, most authors and leaders that we pay and follow are attracted to, and are experts in, empty-space, objective, thinking. They seldom know how to, or value, connecting their thinking process with natural attraction. If we need an accurate map to help us find our way to greater personal, social and environmental well-being, why not use the attraction interconnection map and model made by a spider and its web? It is constructed by, accurately depicts and, in addition, has the ability to connect our thinking to the balanced attraction relationships that form the web-of-life. The attraction-powered, web-of-life map is a model that operates the same within us as it does in the natural environment. This is because we, including our psyche, are a seamless attraction continuum of the web-of-life with one major exception. The exception is that we too often believe in, and think from, empty space. How we learn to think and solve problems often excludes how nature's self-correcting attraction ways work. Thinking Flaw Number Two. The dogma of industrial society omits that the attraction flow of nature registers in our awareness as at least 53 natural attraction senses. In congress, these senses enable us to make sense by consciously thinking, feeling and commmunicating with the web-of-life community. We experience these senses/sensations as facts, as our natural attractions for, or love of, water (thirst), community, place, food (hunger), temperature, air, trust, cooperation, reason, diversity etc. Each of these senses are truths, thirst is as much a fact as is water. Scientific thinking that omits these natural sensory facts is incomplete and is biased towards supporting nature-disconnected relationships. When we look deep within us, we can sense and feel who we really are, that we are each naturally attractive, that we love life. This fact helps us increase our self-worth, esteem and confidence as well as improve our relationships with the world. As in all of nature, our pure natural sensitivities yin-yang support and balance each other. For example, our sensation of thirst attracts water and nutrients into us from the environment while our sensation of excretion nurtures the environment with water and nutrients from us. Thinking Flaw Number Three In Industrial Society, for more than 98 percent of our time and lives, our prejudiced against nature stories and socialization separate us from nature. This causes us to ignore, demean or conquer our natural senses and sensations. Senselessly, our dogma disconnects us or discourages us from thinking with, knowing and being our attractive natural selves. This momentous disconnection leaves us wanting. We feel we seldom have, or seldom are, enough. This spawns our stress, greed, anxiety, depression and self-esteem disorders. We become excessive. Our nature-disconnecting stories are not attractive. They are rooted in imaginary empty space, a costly error in our thinking. For this reason, they often trigger stress and/or pain. The latter are signals from nature urging us to move back into attraction relationships with the natural world, to avoid our nature-disconnected stories. As exemplified by a walk in the park, our natural reward for making this move is that it feels reasonable, constructive and good. That's because it is. It's attractive. Part of the natural remedy for disorders from Thinking Flaw Number Three is to engage in a working model whose process helps us reconnect our artifically bonded natural senses directly with their attractive origins in nature, backyard or back country. When we use this tool we help nature un-bond and nurture these senses and we experience a purity of natural sensation that replaces the destructive loss, conflicts and duality in our psyche. The grace of nature's renewing attraction powers help us recover from our hurt and disorders. Even a short visit in a natural area invigorates us and demonstrates the benefits of this process. Visiting nature helps us momentarily connect with natural attractions that recycle and transform the stressful garbage in our thinking into more wholesome relationships and thoughts. Our benefit from nature for doing this is the peace of mind that we generate by choosing to visit and fully sense, in multiple sense ways, a natural area, backyard or backcountry. Thinking Flaw Number Four A major challenge we face is that we are prejudiced against using nature-connecting activities to remedy our destructively bonded, disconnective, prejudiced against nature stories. This leaves us with the discomfort of not really knowing the natural attractiveness of who, what or why we are, and suffering the personal and international dysfunctions that result. We endure our discontents because, by omitting nature-reconnection activities from our nature-separated lives, we omit over 95 percent of creation's everlasting natural attraction/love for us and life. The activities enable us to find it and benefit from it, at will. Our thinking is our future. Will we ever find peace if we continue to omit from our thinking the natural attractions that we hold in common with each other and the world? Applying an Antidote A remedy for our discontents is Natural Attraction Ecology, the art and science of making reasonable sensory connections with web-of-life attractions, backyard or backcountry. Its educating, counseling and healing with nature activities help us increase personal, social and environmental well being. We can learn this skill online through a sensory activity, course or degree program. Contact Michael J Cohen, Ph.D. for further information: nature@interisland.net 360-378-6313, www.ecopsych.com ^^^
Below are field reports from online Project NatureConnect program participants who anonymously share their results from doing the nature-connecting activities found in The Web of Life Imperative and Reconnecting With Nature books. (that emanate from Educating, Counseling and Healing With Nature where "Webstrings" are identified as the natural attraction strands of the web of life that hold it, as well as each of its individual members, including atoms, together) For additional reports from Project NatureConnect participants and degree program students visit our Survey of Participants and our Search Engine ^^^ "To feel the flow of nature stop and start in me, in the cold I went to an L-shaped border of different evergreen trees. I held my breath until my lungs hurt and reached for the greens and breathed. I moved to the next tree and repeated it. Moving on to the cedar I thought to exhale instead until I needed to inhale at which time I held the bough. Moved and repeated. I valued this time thinking about the privilege and wonder of existence. I also thought on the derivation of respiration as 're-spiriting'. I think that it is reasonable to think that there is not a real separation of matter and spirit. That part and parcel with air and chemicals in the air comes psychological dimensions/knowledge of being connected, being large, being valued, being supported, of having the right to be...a fundamental acceptance. When I see roadkill, I now feel that this ending was not all that now-deceased being experienced. It was cared with a passion every second by Earth. I remembered again Earth's constant care of us and the limitless magnitude of the puzzles, mysteries and care that Earth provides. I recognized how Earth's values and ways are worth copying. Holidays can be stressful. May we all find the stillness and stars within." ^^^ "I went to the park in my old neighborhood. There are a lot of trees and plant life available. There was a honeysuckle that used to have the strongest smell. I went to see if I could find it. I walked the route with my eyes open and found the bush right away. With assistance, I walked it again with my eyes closed. I could smell the honeysuckle and already had a mental photograph of the previous experience. When I felt I found it. I opened my eyes and I did!! I felt used the following attraction sensations: Space and proximity (16) Smell beyond the nose (19) Sense of physical place (30) Sense of form and design (41) This experience helped me discover that nature has memory, and the subconscious is a hidden community of our 53 senses. My self-worth has tripled with the use of my new found "powers". ^^^ I went to the beach to complete this activity and began with the Tree there and initially saw her connection and cohesion to the earth. The earth cohesion was clearly visible and felt to the water and then the water's cohesion to all of land and trees I could see at a distance all of that and the atmosphere/air between all that was vibrating and pulsating like tiny dots of existence dancing in harmony. I was not watching it, I was a part of the dance. I may have consciously moved out of it, however, I am a part of it even as I type these words. Yes! Indeed I have felt this a few times before when my mind broke away from the stories and connected to the present moment. This is the place of eternity, of love, of wisdom, of beauty and expansiveness that I write about. Yes this sense of wholeness is beyond fulfilling and it is strong enough to draw me away from involvements that would detract me from being able to enjoy it. Perhaps that is why I stay away from a full time Corporate Job. I follow my attractions to write and love life. The stories take me to not enough mentality as the old corporate me was very spoiled, the new free me is adjusting and continuing to follow the attractions. And yet to enjoy natural attraction love I unconsciously detach myself from stories as consciously it seems impossible. I believe the attraction to this expansiveness is the sense that creates a trance like unconsciousness to detach me from my stories. If that makes sense. The expansive attractions are what are as attracted to me as I am to them. I am attracted to the expansive nature in other people and as I think of this activity, many people come to mind as I connect to their inner essence and smile. Mike, David, Elle, Mel my other online group members, my husband, family, friends, my young adult like children all standing around the globe holding hands and attraction love in their hearts. Love is the common attraction denominator that keeps us alive Love is the glue that binds us together Love is the energy that moves through all of us as life I am Love as the unity of Love exists in me as a collaboration of my existence I am Love as each cell of my being is cohesively one in Love I am Love as that is the truth that keeps pulling me away from all that is not Sense of self-worth is a concept of the separated world, it does not exist in the world of Love, the world of what is and the world of truth. ^^^ When we look in the mirror we are only looking at 0.111111111 percent of who we are as “material”. I asked myself about this in considering our DNA material. I looked at myself as being almost nothing material, as attraractions that are influenced by my surroundings, like formed by parents, teachers, information, connections with other people. I do understand now how we are formed by the attractions we choose for. Formed by the thoughts of needing, which are given by others mostly based on their needs. If we are more attracted and connected with and to nature, we will become more a natural person in connection with everything, in connection with our whole selves. I learned to look at myself in a different way, with more perspective and attention to my attractions. This helped me understand why I felt in the past attracted to several persons or activities. To experience and read about it gives me more value to my mind and fulfilments. I realised that we are more connected than we think. Like religions, it is about beliefs but if you give attraction a name like God or Allah people make it their own instead of sharing it with all. To answer the question 'Who are you?” I can say I am one with you! ^^^ I did this activity this morning. The wind was blowing and the trees were swaying as if they were saying good morning. As I walked outside,I went to a bush in my backyard. I took deep breaths and realized I am actually breathing. I stopped breathing for as long as I could and felt incomplete; like I was missing something. I could also feel my body alert my brain to breath but I tried to fight is as long as I could (about 2 minutes). Once I starting breathing again and held the bush. I felt my body thanking me and the bush by allowing me to feel whole again. Later, when I held the air freshener and attached to it, I just wanted to put it down because I felt I would be cheating my lungs out of fresh air. I learned to listen to my body, that it will not lie (that comes in handy preventively) and to research and try organic ways and plants to cleanse the air in my home (I opened my doors and windows after this activity). It felt good to breath and to never take breathing for granted (especially when you have a cold). ^^^ I am currently enrolled in the PhD program. I was very fortunate to have found this program. I was recuperating and starting all over again after a terribly abusive relationship in which I had lost my unborn baby. I moved to another state to start a new life and continue a new career helping others. This program has helped me tremendously... I plan on being a Life Coach using Nature as a grounding basis and continue my abilities as an herbalist on a professional level... I have also created a new nonprofit organization called BRAVE. Bringing Recycling Agriculture Vitality to Earth to help people learn and have products in a greener and more wholesome life style. Mike has been kind enough to let me add information about Project Nature Connect to my web site... his methodology is remarkable...this year my Father passed away and I was able to deal with it extremely well. I am an organic grower of herbs...mostly medicinal and a Master Gardener... I have recently been awarded my own medicinal herbal community garden in Texas...in the city of Forth Worth ..to my knowledge it is the only one of its kind. I am really happy with the direction my life is taking and I know allot has to do with the logic behind this kind of methodology. I want to share this kind of grounding and ability to cope with others. I am the only hand formulator herbalist in several cities and I am working on finishing my Master Herbalist Certification at this time as well...Luckily for me there are such things as scholarships....I was in the music industry as a producer..but the music world is changing and getting paid takes forever! Scholarships are my life now and I am very very greatful. I intend to continue to spread the word about this program in hopes that others will find there way here just as I did. I promise to work with my group in the fullest capacity that I can and fulfill the work required to do so. I will strive to complete this nature-connection course to the best of my abilities and help others as I can. ^^^ For this activity I found myself on the beach across from my new home. It was low tide so there was plenty of beach to explore. As I entered the area I asked permission and received a warm welcome. I started walking along the beach near the waters edge. I was attracted to a rocky area that was overgrown with seaweed. As I approached the rocks I was attracted to a boulder that was about one foot in diameter and warn smooth from the tide. I decided to try this activity with the rock. This was what I found: I am like the rock. Solid in my shape I remain true to my form I am warn smooth from the ebb and flow of the tides. I am able to move but it requires a good deal of focused energy to move me. I moved on to the tide. I am like water. Patient, steady and consistent I am able to penetrate anything. If something gets in my way I easily go around it. I embrace everything with my nurturing love. I am the ebb and flow of life itself. I get good feelings from the rock because it is stable, from the water because it is all embracing and from nature because it has everything I need. I learned how good it feels to be solid and flexible. I discovered how easy it is to stay balanced with nature. Early in my life I had been wrangled into being one that always gets along. Go with the flow was my motto. However after my time with the Air Force I started to look at life a little differently. I am no longer one who follows the crowd blindly. It's not that I have to do things my own way, it's more of a curiosity as to whether some other way might be better. I can think of many time others have tried to wrangle me into being more like they are. Or to accept that “Everybody else does it this way so it must be good.” I have seen the ill effects of living this sad illusion and have made a conscious decision not to fall into that trap. I believe it was that decision that attracted me to Project Nature Connect in the first place. My participation in this process has only proven that I should remain like the rock and stay true to my Nature Connected form. ^^^ Our expanded Nature Connect backyard community consists of trees, rocks, weeds, and natural beauty overlooking Long Island Sound! We have lived here for 8 years and prior to Nature Connect I was unaware of the beauty surrounding my place. My path to self discovery started a few decades ago and in the process, I have encountered amazing gifts, people, books, experiences and many miracles. One of the gifts I received was a retreat with Steven and his wife who opened my heart to the expansive wisdom in Nature. Shorty after that I encountered a beautiful relationship with Grandma Oak Tree who gave me much encouragement, knowledge and love when I most needed it. My ever growing thirst for knowledge kept taking me back to different colleges and universities, however, I was very disappointed by the closed mindedness of the professors and the content they used, thus I took it upon myself to pursue knowledge from the teacher within me. Over time as life got busy, I had forgotten the beautiful connection with Grandma Oak Tree and it wasn't till last year when I stumbled upon Dr. Cohen's website, it was clear that Nature had once again invited me to reconnect. What a blessing the Orientation Course was, it opened me to a deeper connection and communion with Nature. Shortly after the orientation course I returned to my old self spending more time indoors meditating and working and less time outdoors. It was during ECO 501 the connection began to deepen and erase some of my old habits. I am eager to get back on track with the wonderful activities in the Reconnecting With Nature book. As for my profession, I am an author, coach, facilitator, a wanderer and a teacher primarily conducting Emotional Intelligence workshops. I'm looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you. ^^^ The strings of the web-of-life are nature's voice: we talk to nature with our feelings, our breeding, our intention to feel good, our presence, our observation, our intention to release, my communication with nature is about how sensitive, present and open I feel at the moment, being with nature is feeling healthy and being connected with the meaning of creation. Last Monday I went outside of town with the intention to relax and to feel better. Being in to the wilderness, immediately I remembered that, I used to do that when I was a child. I used to go to nature for answers for meaning, for freedom, for support, for being alone, now here I was in the wilderness of Texas at age of 54 and I was having the same feelings. I felt that nature made me surrender all my situations and circumstances of my life, I just feel like a little boy that just wanted to explore nature, there is nothing serious here, no conflict, no confusion, everything seems simple and clear, in harmony, it feels like an adventure, I feel good inside and outside of me, I feel on balance, with the trees, plants, birds, mosquitoes, etc. I don't have to own any land, I just want to enjoy it, there are no rules in nature, everything growth constantly in different ways, then I decide to run for 2 miles, I felt my legs, stronger, felt my body saying to me thank you, I felt joy and freedom. I am learning the power of feeling good, is about CHOOSING, but, my real connection with nature is not just about good feelings, is a meaningful connection that creates balance in my journey of living and growing, " when I get out from my mind, My body only wants to feel good, being active in nature " feeling the connection with nature is choosing to be in balance, nature's balance make us healthy, wholeness, connected, conscious, releasing, loving, make us natural. A comment to Dr. Mark Germine: "the connection and experience with Green " is also Meaningful , meaningful experiences are not good or bad, there are there for a reason, if we feel attracted to it! I partially agree: web strings of life or nature, can help a person, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually even physically, only, if we are ready to believe. "People who experience natural attractions as God are applauded for their wise observation," I feel God is manifested in nature's living My experience with nature is always healthy and enjoyable; the meaning of being with nature is to live life in balance with yourself and others. (good feelings ) Web strings are nature's voice - Attraction web strings hold the Earth community ecosystem together in balance - Web strings attraction are feelings, feelings are energy, my attention moves energy, feelings is who I am. I am more aware of the benefits of being in balance with nature; I am already using it, almost every day. ^^^ Being with nature and enjoying the wonders of it has always been a part of my life and I am grateful for this gift. I strive daily to incorporate some aspect of nature into my life to make it more enjoyable by lessening the stresses in my life. Our lessons and activities though sometimes trying have helped open a door in seeing who I really am and understanding my inner self. As Joie said in her own chapter, the statement that begins "I am a person who..." has helped measure and define ME and what I wish to accomplish. Being in, with and a part of nature has helped me see, hear and feel on a higher level. Small acts of 'kindness' toward the environment have far reaching effects bettering the planet and also improves self worth. Professionally, I find it very difficult to express what I have learned and used in my life to help others that are not receptive. I find that even in an environment where individuals have the same goals (ie healing) people are very close minded in this region. Reiki, acupuncture, massage, holistic healing, Project Nature Connect may as well be lumped together with voodoo, snake charming and satanism. This will be one obstacle to overcome as I move forward and continue on, hoping to make counseling using Project Nature Connect a career. I am a person who normally wishes to isolate herself and be a proverbial 'island'. Through this course however, I have learned the importance of community and have begun to gravitate toward those individuals and groups with the same focus and ideals as mine in regard to nature and healing. My self-worth and confidence has been strengthened by feeling that what I am doing and accomplishing is affirmed and valid. ^^^ Being with nature and enjoying the wonders of it has always been a part of my life and I am grateful for this gift. I strive daily to incorporate some aspect of nature into my life to make it more enjoyable by lessening the stresses in my life. Our lessons and activities though sometimes trying have helped open a door in seeing who I really am and understanding my inner self. As Joie said in her own chapter, the statement that begins "I am a person who..." has helped measure and define ME and what I wish to accomplish. Being in, with and a part of nature has helped me see, hear and feel on a higher level. Small acts of 'kindness' toward the environment have far reaching effects bettering the planet and also improves self worth. Professionally, I find it very difficult to express what I have learned and used in my life to help others that are not receptive. I find that even in an environment where individuals have the same goals (ie healing) people are very close minded in this region. Reiki, acupuncture, massage, holistic healing, Project Nature Connect may as well be lumped together with voodoo, snake charming and satanism. This will be one obstacle to overcome as I move forward and continue on, hoping to make counseling using Project Nature Connect a career. I am a person who normally wishes to isolate herself and be a proverbial 'island'. Through this course however, I have learned the importance of community and have begun to gravitate toward those individuals and groups with the same focus and ideals as mine in regard to nature and healing. My self-worth and confidence has been strengthened by feeling that what I am doing and accomplishing is affirmed and valid. I have enjoyed working with all of you and the experience has been an extremely beneficial one. ^^^ It is dusk as I walk through the woods outside my home .... its stillness is all around me as it begins to draw me closer. It is a stillness and quiet that relaxes and calms me and fills my inner being. Most birds have departed the feeders for their nighttime roosts; not a creature is stirring, not even a chipmunk :-) Well, except the mourning doves ~ they move along the creek on their evening ritual of taking turns sitting in the tree branches overhanging the creek and then dipping down to take sips of water from it's puddles, always waiting for one another before all going off somewhere to spend the night together. I watch this behavior each night, and it fascinates me how the flock always take turns and they always wait for one another. They, too, follow their own attractions and have relationships..... I breathe in the cool fall air and the freshness of the colored leaves. The stillness is broken by the soft crunching of fallen leaves under my feet and the whisper of those yet to fall as they touch one another in the slight breath of moving air around them. I shall miss them when they go .... I feel we have become friends as I have watched them grow since their welcome appearance in spring as tiny buds .... they try to comfort my sadness as I am reminded of the seasons of change in every aspect of life. Their colors deepen in the waning light as the first and brightest star appears. I sigh and thank the all and forever around me for it's comforting support; it has been a long day. I begin to rub my hands over the top of my head to remove the clutter of stories. My hands and head begin to feel warm, and I shake away the stories my hands collect and feel freer and lighter each time I do this. I like this feeling. This is probably good for me to do occasionally to unclutter me :-) As I feel the warmth of freeing myself, I tell myself I am now walking through my own mind and body. All that is around me is inside me. I am walking into my subconscious ... and my connection with all that is. I breathe in the rocks and trees and stars and wildlife with whom I share this land and air. We breathe in the same air, share the same space. Such oneness is freedom and joy, and I am grateful for being. I am grateful to be part of them and for them to be part of me. I hug a giant old tree and feel our identity merge. We share skin and bark, our bodies run blood and sap, our lungs and leaves give us breath. It, too, needs nourishment to live ~ all of us needing soil, water, air, and sun. It adapts to its circumstances as we must also. It has roots, as we do also. With my feet on the earth, my back now leaning against this ancient tree, and my eyes peering through its limbs at the awakening stars, I feel the mutual breath of all within and around me ....I am the tree and the tree is me ....I give thanks for my life and all of life. I will sleep freely tonight. No stories will tangle their web around me. Nature is within me as I fall asleep ... I learned: ~ It is very good to de-clutter my mind and free my thoughts to begin fresh. ~ It feels good to merge with nature around me. ~ I have a lot in common with trees. G/G ~ I am a person who enjoys walking in nature with a clear mind free of stories. ~ I am a person who finds peace in nature and loves feeling one with nature. ~ I am a person who is grateful to have such closeness and oneness with nature, and for what nature teaches me. ^^^ What a powerful experience. Again, I think you have a tremendous natural talent for directly connecting with webstrings and nature's intelligence. I connect with your experience of asking for consent and how this invites a more intimate encounter with nature. People, being a part of nature, respond the same way. Notice the difference the next you ask a person, 'is it okay...if I interact with you...do I have your permission to interact with' or something to that effect. As a social worker I have noticed that bringing this into my practice has greatly increased trust between my clients and I. And as you noted, saying thank you for these encounters brings a completeness to the experience that leaves (haha, leaves) everyone nourished and intact. Not to digress, but there is an American Indian tradition in the Yukon of restorative justice using the circle. Their saying is 'Begin in a good way, and end in a good way.' Also, 'trust the process.' Thank you for sharing, the wise oaks undoubtedly have conferred their wisdom to you. ^^^ I love how your experience illustrates the lesson from last chapter, "you are what you label." I am sure you weren't the only part of nature attracted to this 'new' water. It would seem to be one of the most ancient webstring connections, this connection to water. I think of the watering holes in the deserts of Africa and what diverse wildlife can be found there, sharing this very natural attraction. I also think of the high value put on waterfront property. While tainted by capitalist systems, this higher value does in some way honor the natural attraction and value of our webstring connection with water. It also makes me sad how little attention is paid to water, how many people go with out it, and much of good, pure wonderful water is wasted and tainted by our nature disconnected stories...I am then reinvogirated by hope as the power of Natural Systems Thinking Processes (NTSP) is so evident in these courses, and knowing how easy and accessbile they are to anyone with interest, in addition, to all of us sharing our experiences with those in our personal webgroups, I think of all the parts of the web that are touched by just this one experience that you had Ingrid! How amazing! Quite the 'ripple' effect! Also, like you, I am very attracted to Chinese Philosophy, the Tao Te Ching and I Ching in particular and also some Confucist thinkers, I find perfect companions to Reconnecting with nature, Emerson, 'the sage of concord' also. I think the reason these are so attractive is because these writings were reflection or articulations of the authors own direct experiences with nature. Thus, just like our experience in this course they contain 9-leg thinking. Thank you for this cleansing and rejuvenating post, ^^^ I did this activity with the IPOD and with my eyes closed the experience of listening to the music was amazing like the music, the IPOD and I were one in that oneness I lost track of time Since music was creating this, I did the part of the exercise again with the Sofa ˆ as I sat on the sofa, I closed my eyes and fully sensed the feeling of sitting, the sofa and my body touching each other‚s surface and then as I tuned in more and more, all I felt was vibrations! Outdoors was fun as I closed my eyes and walked ever so slightly with the wind touching my face and as I remained tuned into the sensory feelings, the wind too was a vibration I felt on my body can‚t explain it more than VIBRATIONS As soon as I name the IPOD, SOFA or WIND, there is a disconnection or separation as the WIND and I are two, the SOFA and I are two and the IPOD and I are two∑ however, the sensory feelings are only possible at the vibration level where the Wind, the IPOD, the SOFA and I are one∑ I learned to fully feel the vibrations at will, to experience the oneness at will. I learned to sustain the oneness at will I am a person who is made of same vibrations like everything else in nature, I am a person who lives through the vibrations. I am a person who is vibrations This ability cannot be taken away when we recognize that this ability and I are one. Yes, this activity gives me more confidence in connecting at will. It reeducated my negative aspect that is full of doubts. Quietly and silently touch the vibrations of the universe within you and around you. ^^^ I want to participate in the program because I think and feel that I will personally benefit a lot from it. From reflecting on the reading and introduction activities I have already felt a benefit in terms of reduced stress levels and a closer daily connection with nature. I would like to explore this further. I also work as an educator supporting teachers, students and community members live more sustainably and connect with nature. I would like to learn new tools for supporting people to connect with nature. I am keenly aware of the problem of nature deficit disorder in our ‘modern’ society. I was lucky to have parents that enjoyed camping and spent many holidays in the bush exploring with my brothers and sister and our friends. I have continued to spend time in nature and enjoy bushwalking, cycling, camping, hiking and photography. My parents are avid gardeners and I was lucky to have fresh home grown vegies at different parts of my childhood and I have continued this tradition at the many places I have lived. At the moment I am thoroughly connecting with my local environment by growing several fruit trees, berries and a range of herbs and vegies, as well as an indigenous garden for local wildlife habitat. I studied applied biology at university and developed a deeper understanding of the complexity and interconnectivity of all living things. My tendency towards interpersonal pursuits lead me to education and I completed a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education. I have worked in a range of education settings including Teacher, Waterwatch officer and coordinator, Education Safari Guide, Grasslands Education Officer, and my current position is an education coordinator. Our mission is to support schools and community groups to take action towards sustainability. ^^^ I walked the beach and as I walked a wave rolled out to the sand almost as if it was reaching out only to touch me. As the water found it's way to me this day, I felt lukewarm and a sensation of love came upon me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe to suddenly feel energy throughout my body, a mother's energy, again, warming my body. My body tingled with exhillaration right to my toes. I felt energized, renewed, and so grateful. Today, the tide was up and the waves roared like thunder. The ocean splashed over the protective wall as I was walking aside it. As I was splashed, I felt happy and alive. It was not cold but my body felt lukewarm and comfortable. Even through the sea was roaring, I felt peaceful. I know there is a purpose that the sea has today. Cleansing and restoring balance within the web of life, my life, your life and the global ecosystem. When the ocean cleanses it's beaches, it cleanses our beaches, our exterior, where we harbor our negativity and hold onto our 5 legged thinking. The sea calls to us and invites us with the sound of it's crashing waves, to come and be part of this magnificent opportunity to shed what detaches us and keeps us from being whole . With each incredible roll and crash, the sea speaks to us in a voice and rhythm that in aligment with those who are conscious and ready to use their senses and can hear the message. A loud roar then turns into nature's whisper. I trust the messages I hear. Tonight, I stand outside in the dark and hear the waves calling out to me from my deck. I answer back with thanks for the gifts I received today. As I look up at the moon, I begin to feel the vastness of the web of life and remember that I, one human being, am such a small part of this vast universe. Yet, as I close my eyes, I am told that I am a large part of this of web of life because without me, this webstring would not be complete. My blood and fluids add to the waters of life, the ocean, the lakes, the rivers flowing to the nature's rhythm and in perfect harmony. As I stare into the night, I see an illuminated circle around the moon. I see the stars and the clouds stretched across the black sky. I am reminded that I am a shining star, an illumination, a cloud across the sky.I am one with the web of life. "I am shining star, an illumination, a cloud across the sky. I am one with the web of life." ^^^ I listened today and used my hearing and am planning to increase it tomorrow. It seems to be coming clearer and I can hear the song of the earth creatures---tonight as I sat down to write I heard the sound of a bird, rare to me at this hour. The crickets are chirping, the night quiet is a blessing. I can't find my book again amidst the moving, it seems the third time through this class just deepens my awareness of how very much nature is a part of me and me a part of nature. Observing Autumn in a strange land where few trees lose their leaves, where flowers and bugs are starting to appear due to the lack of heat--still seems odd to me. I am so aware of the sleepiness of people as they drive the freeways weaving in and out and putting others at risk--. I just keep asking myself about connecting and staying connected. 'When I don't feel connected I recognize the anger or hurt that being connected causes me to mellow out.& nbsp; As you know I am moving (renting out the house in order to save it from the past year's challenges and living with my mom and/or Matt and friends)-- When I went over to Matt's house tonight, all of my "things" were unpacked and put where they wanted them. I felt like a dead person walking back into a life and seeing what people do with our "stuff". The odd part was that I didn't care, but what I did care about was that I had not been asked for permission--I felt almost violated. It was stupid, not important but how often do we trample over nature with highway litter, with even just not seeing, unaware, well-meaning. So I ask myself--again--where do I need to ask for permission and where am I not asking for permission with people, with .... whatever is going on. Sorry this doesn't follow the usual format but it is PNC at work showing me my own stuff. ^^^ Reading about other experiences has reinforced my view that truly environment has a strong influence on defining who we are as individuals and as a people. I believe that the PNC methods of restoration of nature have in them the divine power embedded and to me this clearly points beyond the scientific explanation of creation. PNC should be looked at as means which can help us to reverse the destructive means of making money out natural resources, and instead treat it as a bigger part of our body trunks. Since we feel pain when part of it is injured,so we should to the environment. By protecting and nurturing ecosystems should strengthen us to open our minds, and souls for survival of our mother earth and ourselves. PNC methods we enable me to help those who feel loneliness, hostility and depressed and abandoned by our society, treated like garbage, and are cut off from nature which fills us with grief. I also believe that, my involvement with PNC will bring me hope that something can be done by ordinary people, in ordinary circumstances that can and will help turn around our behavior toward the ecological sustainability issue that we are facing. It will also provide a tool for almost immediate grounding and centering for me, and will shape part of my social and professional abilities. I would love to reach a moment at which there is a profound sense of social and environmental responsibility guided by the people's decisions. Since my prayer is to be an environmental educator, Dr. Cohen's applied psychology story should enable me to guide others to flow, dance and balance with nature and each other as do all other species. ^^^ Your character, determination and commitment are reflected in your comments. How much do you know about the Green Party? I have never been much of a joiner, but I feel an attraction to check out this GP. Could what I am being attracted toward be the lesser of two evils? You may be onto something with your ONSP. I am finding that my fledgling knowledge of webstrings and NSTP foster a new and greater openness to others who want to partner with earth. This partnering is focused on caring for our temporal home that provides everything for us. We need to teach our children, clients, friends, students, selves, etc. not to focus primarily on the money, for it is of little use in long term eyes of Earth. We do need to make friends with those few have a large portion of money. I know it can be distasteful and feel dirty, but only if we are too self-centered. Think about how a multimillion dollar campaign similar to presidential campaigns could affect attitudes of children and maybe even so-called adults. What could we do with $1,000,000,000.00 a month to produce clean energy and non-soil depleting food for the planet’s population? Now changing gears- - - one of my teachers used to say that humans become whatever they fear and are obsessively opposed to in a zealous way. The other day I a heard a person on the radio ask what the next US president will do about US’s faltering position in many categories such as space exploration, health, economy, and military dominance. Could it be that Americans are obsessed with being “number one” and “winning” everything? Is not this the same as fearing being anything other than first place? And, as usual, my professor is correct. US leadership and the general populace appear to be transforming into what they fear. ^^^ Since I last wrote, the Credit Crisis exploded into the headlines, the stock market plummeted along with most of the nations retirement accounts and college savings. Our retirement and college funds for our three girls who are in college were also dramatically affected. So, I had a few nature-separated disconnected stories to shake off as I went out to do my PNC activity. I took a walk up Smithfield canyon with my dog Max in the evening light to savor the last of the fall colors. Much of the canyon had faded to brittle brown, but flashes of color around each bend still made the adventure worth the trip. I paused and rubbed my hands through my hair collecting my disconnected stories and then shaking my hands in the air allowing these stories to be discarded into the environment. I then walked down the trail asking for nature's wisdom to recycle them. In the course of descending a dirt trail, there appeared before me one of the most remarkable sights I have ever seen. I was walking toward the sunset. The evening light was casting a warm glow on everything. Lifting my eyes upward, the black branches of a maple tree strewn with bright fall leaves grasped my attention. This image was contrasted against a vibrant blue sky. But there was something different about these leaves. The evening sunlight was not merely reflecting 'off' the leaves- it was flowing 'through' them. The radiant color that this produced was indescribable. I drew in my breath.... 'It's a living stained-glass window!' I whispered. Indeed, in that moment I felt inclined to drop to my knees in reverent worship. I felt as if I was standing in a holy place of worship witnessing something holy. I found myself expressing my gratitude freely and fully. I felt so grateful that I had been allowed to live one more day to see this. I felt a great deal of peace and acceptance in that moment. I recognized that everything was playing out as it needs to be for the benefit of our collective souls. I had a strong sense that we are being supported in our collective return to consciousness. And my job is simply to come home to my center and trust the love that is within my to guide me. My living stained glass window fluttered in the breeze. It was time to return home. ************************ I can't imaging where my psyche would be right now without the web-string attractions to bring me home. I sense that if it hadn't been for PNC, I probably never would have noticed my stained glass window leaves. What a loss that would have been. It meant everything to me to see them and really experience them. The activity strengthened my self esteem and trustfulness of nature big time. We are not the stock market. We are not our retirement accounts. We are not the panic. We are the light that filters through the autumn leaves. The light that you are- creates the radiance. I awake at peace and I move more slowly through my day- consciously bringing my awareness in toward the inner body - toward the light. I trust the light's guidance to open the way. ^^^ Having been immersed in nature from a young age, I have grown up with a deep respect and appreciation for nature and was immediately drawn to this program when a friend told me about it. I look forward to learning ways of increasing awareness and responding to nature’s invitation to connect in more meaningful ways, as well as, supporting others in doing so. In my personal life and in my work as a social worker, I have experienced the ways in which a person’s disconnect from nature affects them in a myriad of ways, physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, etc. It’s interesting to me that while we explore the possible causes for difficult challenges and illnesses people face, and look for solutions or treatment approaches, rarely do we ever consider nature - either the disconnect as a contributing factor or connecting with nature as a solution or pathway to healing. I think this shift in thinking along with learning ways to help people connect with the healing powers of nature will be very beneficial. Being an avid outdoors person, I (along with my three young adult children) enjoy connecting with nature through hiking, birding, canoeing, fishing, nature photography and art, gardening and most often just spending time quietly soaking up the sights, sounds, smells, feel and color of everything. My personal connection with nature is deeply spiritual for me and has offered many opportunities to experience the immenseness of creation. Some of the most joyful experiences I’ve had in my life have occurred in the midst of nature, as have some of the most healing experiences during challenging times. ^^^ The statements that most resonated with me focused on PNC as a process that has the ability to not only connect us with nature, but also with each other, ourselves and a Higher Power, and in doing so leads us to peace both personally and globally. I appreciated the comment which said, “My daily behaviors and attitudes now reflect a larger faith and understanding that I am not separate from the world around me but an integral part of it.“ How often we move about our day, without attention or awareness of not only the world around us, but without attention or awareness of the people around us or the things that are going on within us. The idea that nature is an innate part of us and can have a profoundly positive effect on each of us individually, in our relationships with others and on the world around us, is very intriguing to me. I think that the recognition that we are an integral part of our world is of significant importance. With that knowledge (not just in our head, but more importantly in our hearts ) people would likely choose to live more intentionally and responsibly, making choices in their daily lives that support interconnectedness. I believe that it is that recognition and affirmation of interconnectedness which will move us to action in many positive ways including our being more conscientious about the environment and good stewards of the earth and encouraging new and innovative ways of thinking, teaching and responding in all arenas including education, health-care, business, social programs, government, world-affairs and our personal lives to improve not only our quality life, but the world. ^^^ I was in a good mood, sitting in the park with nothing to do but watching the kids playing. Sometimes I am surprised that how easy my life could be satisfied, the laughter from the kids made me smile. That was the park I mentioned many times, a very big open green area with plants everywhere. The school building was at the corner, I suddenly wanted to thank the school builders for choosing this place, they might know that how important that green area to the kids and the teachers as well. That safe and relaxing place, is always welcomed by all. I also thanked the place for letting me be one of them, enjoy and share the laughter. In front of me, there were lots of attractions: The green grass, supporting and protecting the kids so that they wouldn't get hurt if they accidently fell down. The birds were singing while flying over our head, the squirrels were running up and down the trees, none of them showed any fear.&nb sp;I appreciated their trust in us human beings. When I extended my line of vision, the clear blue sky with white clouds caught my sight. I didn't notice that the sky was so beautiful today, I like the color, light blue, always helped to soften my irritation, calmed and comforted me. Suddenly, all of these seperated pieces made a whole picture , everything matched so harmoinously, helped and supported each other, felt joyful for other's happiness. I closed my eyes, bathed in the sweet warm sunshine, I could hear my inner callings leading me into the picture, my desire for being among them, being part of this wholeness was so strong. At that moment, I felt as if I were the air, the grass, the clouds, the sky... I thought of a quote read recently:“Enchanted worlds still exist and the doorways to them are hidden within Nature. These doorways may be more obscure than in times past, but we can still seek them out. Every flower has its fairy, every tree has its spirit, every woods has its Lady of the Woods and caverns do lead to nether realms. At the change of seasons, Nature reveals the doorways to those whose hearts are open.” Who am I? What's the significance of my exsistence in this world? Who should I trust? What's my beliefs? I'm living for my physical and spiritual integrity, my life is the process I look for and get back the "Us" inside me. I was endowed nature's wise intelligence, echoing her callings is the approach to my self-purificatio n. My confidence was gradually built up through my connection with nature. I fully trust this connection, it never does any harm on me. My desire for being integrited inspires and encourages me to keep this connection so that I could perfect myself with the power regained from nature. When I see the world not only with my eyes, but with my sensory natural sensitivities; when I actively participate in "breathing" with the Earth; when I trust mother nature's support - I am rejuvena ted. I understand more about myself, the whole community and how to sustain a healthy relationship. I believe there is an authentic natural self hiding in each individual's deep inside. It's not easy to wake that SELF up. Through constant connection with nature, let nature's love and care gently work it out. Nature's smart drawing of the beautiful pictures aroused my craving for being part of them, realizing how much my desire to become them, and how much we were identical... I don't think I'm powerful just because I spent lots of time "sitting and learning", which is a typical way of studying in my old school days. Yes, I might get some knowledge, however, that didn't help a lot. Since I know more now and want more (to meet my inner nature), choosing connection with nature is my effective and proven way to get trustable power and support, it helped dissolve my inner disturbances and build a strong Me. My experience again proved that nobody is abandoned in nature. Nature's love is like the sunshine, lightens anyone through her connection with whoever joining in to the development of the balanced community. If I look for my self-integrity, first I want to make sure tha t I am in the commnity which is integreted, for that environment symboled me, we were tied up firmly, that's what I learnt from nature. I wanted to share everyone my joy at tht moment I was lying on the grass and watching the kids. When they run to me asked for a hug or kiss, I found myself full of love. I was so delighted to pass my love to the kids; and their responses - the smile, the kiss, the hug...What else do I need to be satisfied? I had the most precious gifts that nature wisely guide me to have. The kids were so lovely and nice, willing to share their love and smiled all the time. I hoped to be that kind of person and I think I am, because the attractions from the kids showing the same qualitie s inside me. This really encourages me a lot. It's not wise to think and judge by just simply following others. Most of the time we are not willing to stand up and show our opinion different from the "mainstream" because we don't feel being supported; or we may think that nobody else will do that. We are not defeated by our opponents, but by the wranglers, the negative ones inside us. My inner "Us" is always ready to be awaken, ready to be integrited to the development of myself, if only I am aware of and trust the exsistance of "Us". The attractions and qualities I sensed from nature also represented my inner beauty. My nature experience shows me I am a person who gets good feelings when I watching the kids playing i n the park. I love the peaceful and quiet wholeness they brought. Their laughter was the catalyzer to hlep my sonsory touch of "Us". My nature experiece shows me I am a person who gets good feelings beause I was among the community which was full of love, it's my honor to be part of it. My nature experience shows me I am a person who gets good feelings since I knew I was loved by the kids and they were loved by me, we were all loved by mother nature, in turn, we gave our love to the others...It double or triple my happiness, or quadruple... How would you feel having your ability to experience this G/G taken away? It's hard to imagine. I would feel sad if the kids and I were deprived the right to sense and share each other's love and care. My world would be dull... Does this activity enhance your sense of self-worth? your trustfulness of NIAL? Yes, I want to say it's really a very nice experienc e to be in part of nature, to share that harmony. It's not like we share the birthday cake, the more people share, the little piece we get. On the contrary, the more we are involved, the better we created. Which wrangler/person, if any, does this activity identify or reeducate inside or outside you? The quote revealed something inside me. I have to say I was not the person who used to, and now still kind follow the "mainstream", it's not to say that I don't believe or trust something which seemed not to "fit" this society, I still feel I'm not strong enough (the pressure from wrangler) and worried to be abandon by the society. I've improved a lot with the help of the course. ^^^ I went to the wetlands. A few years ago, a tree was purchased by a group of friends for my birthday present, and was planted by the creek that runs through the wetlands. This afternoon, I went and sat by it for the activity. I love this cedar tree because it is strong yet fragile in the same time. It lives in harmony with all life around and its shape has been formed by air, sunlight, water and the earth from which it grows. It stands proudly and overcomes obstacles as it reaches for the light. I love myself because I am strong yet fragile. I live in harmony with all life around and my body has been nourished by air, sunlight, water and earth. I stand proudly and overcome obstacles as I reach for the light. 3 important things I learned - what attracts me is what is like me or attraction reveals unsuspected resonance - even if I consider myself as part of the protection network for webstrings, I have to be aware of every decision I make every day as I look for ways they could be harmful to nature With fall and the coming winter that change weather patterns, I need to be strong not to become an indoor addict; I need daily contact with nature to continue nourishing my senses and develop my 9-legged relationship with earth If my cedar tree was taken away, I would feel like part of me is taken away with it Earth's heartbeat makes all nature pulse; I am nature, I am part of that pulse I fear of upsetting order may result in complicity in destroying webstrings Addiction to comfort alienates me from connecting fully to nature Brain storage: I feel very vulnerable as the air becomes colder, the wind chillier and dakrness increasingly more pervasive; I witness the animals preparing for the winter, and I am asking myself if am preparing in a nature-connect way; I seem to be more attracted to eat heavier food, to spend more time in my warm little place and to go to bed earlier ~ all of this is consistent with mammal behavior; will I become disconnected however as I dwell more and more inside, and consume more energy in watching tv, sitting at the computer and turning the heater up when it gets cooler ? Will I be making choices that are harmonious to webstrings? ^^^ "The cost of a thing is the amount of life is required to be exchanged for it." Henry David Thoreau As I was immersing myself in the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada's where I was staying in my brother's cabin, it was so peaceful, full of life and symbiotic in nature, life was fully present and it's value was evenly exchanged, no waste just alive. The picture took me back to the title of the chapter, Prejudice Against Nature. Since the picture appears to me part reptile and insect, I'm sure that human would have found a reason to instill some sort of fear of its presence in the world as it relates to our existence or might have taken one of its characteristics and created a description of a human aspect. 1. I spent a bit of time thinking about the dirty words I know and realized that I don't know many but the ones that I do know all relate to aspects of nature. I have spoken out at times asking the person swearing if that is what they really mean to say and I always receive a funny look but it does not change behaviors. It appears that people are reduced to swearing when they are unable to deal with a situation. It is a response to overwhelm and frustration with their inability to respond or resolve issues using non-violent communication. 2. My first question is how do we have the right to claim ownership over anything never mind another nation and its people. We don't own, we are stewards of the land we live on and we are in relationship with all living beings coexisting on this Earth. So how do I feel about this: angry, sad, outsider, responsible for not speaking out against the aggressive nature of our society enough, and accepting my responsibility for how I think, speak and act while introducing others to this PNC process. 3. I feel sad that Our True Nature is not being presented to the masses in a way that would open the windows and the doors to let in fresh air, ideas, concepts of living, and the ways and means to live in harmony with life. I have worked with groups of women and children who were held as captives and slaves. The only way to initiate healing and expansion of their self identity is to provide a safe, nurturing and naturally inviting space to integrate( heal) their connection as victim. (sounds like Nature to me) There are many ways that have been found to be very successful in this process while also offering support through art exploration, reconnecting to the power of their innate sensory system and the love nature has for us. They rediscover their way back to wholeness. Amen! Satan represents our thoughts that distract, our actions that lead us away from nature and our words that insight, cause confusion, endless pain and suffering. He looks like you and me but can often be recognized by lifestyle and arrogance. Hypothetically, one of the reasons Satan is with us is so that we have choice. Nature gives us choices also and then finds a way to re-balance if necessary. When we recognize the problems that we created by our ego choices then we can find another way, a better way, nature's way! I used to hold a prejudice against my inner nature that was playful, danced always and curious. Life was challenging for my parents and I, as the oldest child, had the set a good example and so conformity was the rule in our home. From that experience I learned to think and respond defensively because no matter what I did it was never good enough, and that unless I found someway to be recognized I was a failure. Wow that was exhausting. Thank you Mike for leading me back to Nature for it has restored my soul, reintroduced me to my innate nature and beauty and that my presence in this world is a gift and a responsibility that I willingly accept to support and sustain Life! Making a commitment in order to enjoy NIAL is part of the brainwashing culturally acceptable ways we were taught to fit in and be worthy. There are no adequate words to experience my passion and love that I have and have experienced while interacting with nature. My freely expressed connection to NIAL has opened my heart, center and my sense of Life and its purpose. ^^^ Intentions are very powerful and require much introspection before being brought forward in a formal way. The effects of poorly planned intentions can have very contrary results as it appears happened in the incident described. Awareness, sensitivity, asking permission and making sure we do no harm are the first requirements for finding appropriate space to offer such a venue for Earth lessons. Three most important things I learned from this chapter 1. "Our civilized behavior seems uncivilized!" 2. We have abused nature to fill up our holes of unworthiness, unlovable, lonely, etc. 3. " At birth, we have neither dysfunctions nor fears." 1. I'm a person who appreciates my relationship with nature and acts in responsible ways to protect this relationship. 2. I'm a person who is grateful to nature as my healer and teacher. 3. I'm a person who feels her feelings and can express my experiences of Nature's grandeur through joy, tears and insights! I would feel Wrangled if my ability to experience my G/G taken away! This experience enhances and supports my re-education of my self-worth as I experience daily NIAL. The old wranglers that wanted me to fit in have been forgiven and my inner nature restored! ^^^ I have been exploring the different elements of this program for nearly a year, and am extremely excited to finally be a participant. My interest in this program arose from my sudden "reconnection" with nature, which I will further explain below. I was born in New York City, and lived there until I graduated high school. At that time, I moved down to North Carolina to pursue my undergraduate degree. It was a culture shock, to say the least. I was 19-years-old before I even saw my first cow! I remember thinking, "wow, they really DO say 'moo'"! After obtaining a dual bachelors degree in psychology and art, I moved to Seattle to pursue my graduate degree in clinical psychology and art therapy. It was during the time I spent living in North Carolina that I first sensed my desire to connect with nature. I was working as the assistant to the mayor of my city, which was waterfront land. I kept finding myself drawn to be near the water; I would spend lunch breaks sitting by the lake, and visit "my spot" almost daily after work. I didn't know quite what was drawing me there, but while I sat there I felt a sense of emptiness inside of me. Upon moving to Seattle, where there is more scenery than I can take in sometimes, this sense of emptiness grew...but so did my desire to fill it. After living here for just over a year, I still find myself in awe that I can look out of my window and see the Space Needle, city skyline, Olympic Mountains, Mt. Rainier, and Elliot Bay all at once! I experienced a great bit of trauma as a child, and believe this is when my connection with nature was severed. My studies in clinical and psychology are a step toward professional development. My studies within this program are also geared toward that direction, but possess a greater sense of personal growth. I am extremely dedicated to rediscovering my place in and with nature, and look forward to bringing all of you along for the journey, as well as supporting you in your own growth. I can assure you that my commitment is strong, both to you, my fellow group members, and the program. ^^^ For this activity, I took my snack pack and books in a cloth bag and set off to the Cove Island Park. I stood at the entrance, waiting to see which direction was most attractive and calling∑ I saw some birds calling me and I began to follow their sound and walk towards the open field. I was not too sure where I was going to sit for this activity, I wanted to go by the water, but also wanted to follow my inner attractions as they showed up through nature. So in a roundabout way the birds did lead me to the open beach∑ and as I looked for what bench to sit on, the nature was calling me to sit on a log on the sand as that was the place that was most inviting. I gained permission and sat down. As I asked the question of the ocean, looking right into the essence of the waves and depth, "Who are you?" The ocean replied I am Pure I am Joy I am Sound I am Love I am Flow I am Wave I am God I am Life I am the Cosmos I am Rhythm I am Everything I then listened to the ocean asking me the same question and I sat there feeling what words came to me, and I replied I am love I am your essence I am pure I am innocence I am Joy I am Life I am senses I am feelings I am consciousness I am connection I am the seer I am light As I communicated what the ocean was to me, I felt a deep sense of connection that induced pure joy into my being and when I heard the ocean speak to me about who I am, I was ecstatic. I felt such a deep belonging to the nature community that for a split second I wanted to immerse in the ocean! Okay, so because I can't swim, the sense of wanting to immerse was purely for a nano second and then I came back to reality. Maybe I will take up swimming! As I did supportive activities, the connection began to deepen and the joy was bountiful! My heart was dancing -- As I came to the celebrate, I remembered the snack pack I had brought with me and I gave a dried peach to the ocean and ate one then offered another peace to the ocean and then I ate one with joy before I knew it there were dozens of seagulls flying around and between the ocean and me I took out my special K-Bar and began to break it into little pieces and the seagulls had a great time feasting and celebrating with me and the ocean! What I learned from this chapter was: 1. I and nature are one 2. I and nature are made alike 3. I and nature dance together when I pay attention G/G 1. I love being in nature because I am nature 2. I love connecting with nature because I am nature 3. I love myself because I am nature My ( mini ) Chapter 18 ~ Integration into Personal and Professional Life Having nature in my life as a dear best friend is an essential component of my life and who I am. It is a part of how I live each day and how I spend my time as an individual, and I welcome its flow throughout my personal and professional life. Through the lessons of these past weeks, I find that each day I immerse myself more and more in the many senses of the moment as I integrate the experiences I have had in these assignments to become a more spontaneous part of me ... in writing " I am a person who ....", I put words to paper of my being in defining myself to myself and what is important to me in the nature-connected statements I created .... it begins to define the age-old question of "who am I ...?" "I have learned a lot about about myself as I think "I am a person who ..." I find that, personally, by not just "being in nature" but "being present in nature in the moment" and absorbing it into my total being with all my senses ~ by my awareness of 53 senses as part of me ~ by an awareness of myself as part of the whole and as connected to all that is ~ my respect and gratitude for nature in my life creates such an enrichment to my life beyond words ... being present opens a whole new world of senses to me and has granted me many gifts from nature... Professionally, I find little ways to bring these lessons and activities to others. As one of nature's amazing qualities is as the great de-stressor for stressed people, engaging our senses in these activities is a welcome addition to a meeting ~ I love to take the meeting outside and have people enriched beyond the agenda. Also, as I work with people with developmental disabilities, I find sharing these activities with group homes and parents opens doors ( literally, too :-) ... I have more thoughts and ideas for the role nature can play in their lives as an essential part of their life ~ as a priority, not an afterthought ~ and as a supportive and life-changing role with those having challenges. So I will find creative ways to open people to nature-based wellness and these wonderful activities and experiences with nature. Nature is a great opener of closed minds ~ the trick being to keep those minds open in the busy-ness of life and with those who fall back on outdated and ineffectual routines :-) It is a grand adventure :-) Thank you to all of you for being who you are as we are connected through this class and the postings of your wonderful connections with nature .... ^^^ Thank you so much for the book, it arrived this week and you are again a master at this. I could even see this being a course or workshop as well. I cannot begin to express how much my survival in a big city has been dependent upon PNC. It is hard for a country girl from Nebraska. I will pay you for the book as soon as I get some money, am facing some difficult challenges right now. With love and appreciation for all you do and the change you are in the world. ^^^ I began in my backyard asking around who would be available to help me with this activity as i would need to borrow some sticks. The apple tree lead me to it's base and there i found an abundance of what i needed. "Thank you Apple Tree for sharing that of which you no longer need". I held about 5 small twigs in my hand and closed my eyes and allowed myself a few moments to let all of my sense come into full effect. I really have begun to enjoy this new awareness/intuition/connection that i have found with my eyes closed, now only to develop it with my eyes open. I tossed the twigs on the ground and picked one up. I noticed that at first i just let my fingers do all the work, feeling as much area of the twig as i could. after a few seconds i slowed myself down and allowed my "# 52 sense of reasoning and memory" come into play. I began to feel the stick from the bottom an worked my way upward using my "#14 sense of touch", "#15 sense of weight", "#16 sense of proximity", #30 sense of physical place/navigation (detailed awareness of the landscape of the twig)", and even my "#19 sense of smell". Through these senses i was able to devise a system of getting to know the twig, and make significant associations with it including; the number of "nubs" and there position on the twig, how much moss and where, how wet the twig was (smell came into play), and how large or small by feeling the height and weight. Through this process i actually made a connection with that specific twig, and when i laid it back down and mixed it in with the others, i did not need to look for a pencil mark to know if i had found the right one, i knew immediately, just like you know you know someone even if you can't remember their name or where or when you meant them, but you know. I repeated this again and had to continue to remind myself to slow down and take it all in. Again i was confident and successful in finding the familiar twig. Things Learned..... 1. how to function as a whole. 2. to slow down and really take in the experience, instead of just seeing it for what it is. 3. that connections can be made with anything natural, creating a realm of support, and knowledge that one can go to at anytime. "I get good feelings when......" 1. i take my time to trust my self and my world. 2. i can believe in my senses because they can communicate with the nonverbal world. 3. nature supports in looking beyond what i can physically see. to loose these senses i would feel confused, disoriented, and unknowledgeable. My self-worth and NIAL trust enhanced with this activity as i am supported and confirmed in believing in my self and senses when nonverbal communication in nature is experienced. I feel intuition within nature as a whole (including myself) is given authority in this activity as it confirms its natural wisdom by encouraging you to believe in it and yourself. Creating the power of unification. ^^^ Since i have become invovled in PNC i have been learning the respond not only to people's words, but to the energy they are willing or tyring to share with me. As Cohen states in chapter 6, "words tend to mediate our natural sensations, hide them from our consciousness, and replace them with stories......we lose vital messages from nature itself." As we are learning to gain permission from natural areas, to learn from them, and experience them purely, I feel that we need to remember to apply this ability with people as well, to really get in touch with humanity, and ourselves. Activity: Learning from Sensory Nature Connecting. A nearby spider plant willingly shared it's leaves and oxygen with me as i grasped it gently and breathed deeply. Experiencing the stress of not breathing allowed me to connect with the plant on a different level. I felt the unconditional support that it provided to me everyday, but to actually consciously acknowledge it felt refreshing and rejuvenating. Connecting the new brain with old, in that the air that i need to survive was a direct resource from a living thing energized my love for life, myself and plants. When i grasped my computer and took that first gasp for air, it was relieving, but not supportive as the plants had been. The computer did not share a webstring of understanding for my need of oxygen, it did not pulsate with my gasping breathes. This made it difficult for the new brain to acknowledge the intelligence of the old, and continue to believe that a computer may be more capable, or user friendly than a plant. Things learned.... 1. By conciously engaging with nature, you can rewire your brain to focus on the support in life and value it more so than things that do not unconditionally support you. 2. breathing with living things is supportive physically, and emotionally. 3. It's not just me taking a breath in, it is the whole, the US contributing to that breath. Enlightenment was created from this activity that otherwise would remain dark in the stories that compell us to forget to breath. My self-worth made concious in a way that connected me with my world as a whole. This activity established relationships as an authority in my natural world. Acknowledging the presence of others as vital to my presence in life, and also my purpose. ^^^ Just want to let y'all know that I have finished with the breast cancer event. I had a table there about my endeavor to reconnect people with nature. As they began signing in they were to pick any table they wanted to sit at. My table was full with the 1st 8 people that came in the door. My center piece was a cool ecosystem that I made with roses in clay pots stacked triangular like and rocks at the bottom surrounding the pots. The plants and rocks and clay pots emitted cool air that you could feel when you held your hand near it. As I pointed this out to the many women who were conversing about having menopausal hot flashes, the centerpiece became quite the conversation piece. I had done a lot of research on pesticides linked with breast cancer, carbon footprin |