RECONNECTING WITH NATURE

With modern life becoming more and more a reflection of a ‘throw away’ society and a society with technology based on speed and convenience, the result is that people moving more and more away from a connection to and understanding of the natural world.  Thus we fall further and further into discord and disharmony with our environment, and so far, this isn’t having a good impact on the world we live in.

And just why do we need to feel connected to nature, you might ask?  Well, we depend upon and live as part of our environment whether we like it or not.  Today’s general attitude seems to be more about pushing aside or destroying nature to make way for our supposed progress – not understanding that we need the natural world and various complex ecosystems in order to not only flourish, but to avoid going the way of the dinosaurs. 

Many of our ancestors respected, honoured and even worshipped nature because of the understanding that they relied upon its existence and its very balance in order to survive.  Regardless of the fact that they may have had some funny ideas when it came to Gods and religion and very little dress sense, they were definitely onto something. 

The ancients knew that, without the warmth and light of the sun and water from rain, nothing would grow.  Therefore no food for the animals = less animals to hunt and also no crops to feed the people.  Many of them also understood that the animals relied on certain habitats and conditions in order to survive and reproduce.  

These people did not go to a supermarket to buy meat that had been neatly packaged in Styrofoam and cling wrap.  They did not spend their time worrying about which hair product to use or whether they would find a car park close to the mall entrance.  They had to hunt and forage for everything they needed to feed themselves and their families.  That led to an understanding and appreciation for the animals they relied on for food, and an awareness of the environment they lived in.  Those are the important fundamentals that today’s human has lost touch with. 

This brings to light the importance of re-learning how to live in harmony with nature.  That means not killing or cutting down everything in our path.  It means working with the animals and plants in a symbiotic way that benefits all.  It’s about remembering that we share this planet with many other life forms that all have the right to life as much as we do. 

And then there’s the health benefits we can derive from living in harmony with nature.  Just being amongst trees, mountains, and beautiful scenery is good for the soul and food for the consciousness.  It is calming and helps us to release stress.  All living things generate their own special energy, and we can benefit by being amongst and working with that energy. 

When we are amongst the natural world and we have left behind our reliance on technology and the modern world, we are forced to use other senses that have become dormant or dulled through modern living which are an inherent part of our makeup.  The result is that we feel more alive as we ‘wake up’ those aspects of ourselves we are designed to use. 

There are many plants and minerals on this planet that have amazing health benefits – many of which our ancestors used effectively – without the need for elaborate medical technology.  There are amazing healing properties in many things in nature that are just waiting to be discovered (but not exploited!).  If we don’t get out in nature and make the effort to learn more about our environment and living in harmony with it, we won’t access the benefits, and our health and wellbeing will suffer greatly as a result.