"Connecting to Nature"

(click on the photos for a larger view, these were taken in my own backyard)

“Connecting to Nature” by Mary McAndrew 2-4-08

"If you’re feeling tired, stressed out or sort of ‘disconnected’ today, consider taking time to visit some place of natural beauty, a place that fills you with a sense of awe and wonder. The ocean, a river, canyon or forest would be great because they carry their own energy of power to marvel at. Let go of worrisome thoughts and just immerse your mind in the beauty around you. Our problems fade away when we are in the presence of such wonder; our mind and spirit expand and open.

Actually the more you experience these great feelings and positive feedback, the easier it will be to draw the memories up when you need them. You don’t have to visit a grand forest or the Grand Canyon for that matter, to experience this, just take a walk out your back door for some fresh air. Even a dead looking yard in winter can hold beauty and life. Find a place to sit or stand quietly and close your eyes, just listen, feel the breeze on your face and hands, smells of the earth, rain, snow; the sounds of birds or leaves blowing. Let them visit you, touch you and enter your being. Feel the warmth of it entering your heart space, a beautiful green color glows within. Did you get a shiver? That’s the energy moving through your body, it’s a great thing!

If you can’t get out to nature, sit and quiet your mind and breath slow, let yourself wander out an imaginary door to the places you’ve really been before. Remember the sounds, sights, smells and feelings you had when you were there. Let yourself smile and see how it changes your feelings or mood!

If you can, next time you do go to a beautiful place, take a journal or sketchbook with you. Write how you feel, paint some colors or do a drawing of an interesting or beautiful plant. Memories will stick with you so much deeper if you write about it or draw it, the thoughts going from a deep place within you, to your head, to your hand, your pen then the paper. Look back on these notes and sketches on a day when you feel you need to connect with nature and you’ll be surprised how the feelings and memories will come back to you!"