The Language of Nature

"The beauty of the trees,

the softness of the air,

the fragrance of the grass,

speaks to me."

Chief Dan George

In spite of growing up in a city apartment, my communication with nature blossomed early on.  My childhood is filled with memories of being outside with nature.  Idle hours were spent flat on my back in the small patch of grass, staring at the formations of clouds in the sky.  I listened to the birds singing songs and welcomed the breeze across my dirty little palms and filthy naked feet.

I collected rocks wherever I roamed and hid a treasure of tins, note pads, and books discarded in the building trash. My fortune was the wild freedom I felt whether stomping in the rain, gathering flowers, envying falling leaves or rolling in the snow.  I greeted the stars every night and followed the moon across the sky.  

Nature speaks a language that warms the tender heart, fills empty spaces, and heals unseen wounds.   It beckons me to discover connection in fields of flowers, rain forests and waterfalls.  It embraces me with ocean waves and whispers delight as the sun slowly presents each new day.  Nature is my constant companion never tiring of my questioning words.

Carving Out Solitude

May the stars carry your sadness away,

may the flowers fill your heart with beauty,

may hope forever wipe away your tears, and, above all,

may silence make you strong. ~ Chief Dan George



We don't always know where we belong.  We can sit at gatherings wondering why we are wasting our time, but not wanting to be rude, we do not leave.  A long awaited musical, movie or book finally arrives and it fails to meet our desired needs. 

When we become aware of our impatience with being present where we no longer desire to be, it is important to go within and listen to where our spirit calls us.  Carving out some solitude may be more clarifying than anything other resource. 
 

Purchase some flowers being present with their beauty.  Notice how delicate yet complicated their formation is.  Feel the petals of a flower enjoying the texture or trading energies.  Breathe in the fragrance an notice how it alters our feelings.
 

To sit in the dark watching the stars is another altering experience.  We begin to wonder about the stars which triggers other worldly or unworldly thoughts.  We become less focused on our selves and experience being a part of the larger picture.
 

Carving out solitude makes us more vibrant as we shed all that is really not important and find what has been left unattended in our heart.  We increase awareness of what we are longing for and why we are not seeking it.  We can discover what is standing in our way and what simple steps can propel us forward.
 

Freedom is experienced when we allow ourselves to change and to grow into other interests.  If we are truly bored with what used to excite, then begin a new journey to discover new delights.

A Healthy Habit with No Excuse

 

 

 

 

"May the stars carry your sadness away,

May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,

May hope forever wipe away your tears,

And above all,

May silence make you strong."

 

Chief Dan George 

 

When we go through life on automatic pilot, we may not even be aware of our disconnection from our feelings and senses.  As we breeze through our busy days, we may briefly take notice we are not clearly present.  As this passing awareness is explored, we realize we are not grounded or centered.

 

The word centered is frequently linked to the word prayer as in Centering Prayer.  Centering prayer assists a person in focusing inward, identifying with attitude, perspective, and actions in alignment with the Divine.  The word grounding refers to sinking our energy into the earth and pulling earth energy back up into us to stabilize ourselves. 

 

There are many ways for us to 'pull our parts together' so we can approach our day full bodied.  If we do not make effort to be one with ourselves, we enter life fragmented, distracted, and missing the expansive version of daily living. 

 

The automatic response to focusing usually is:  "I don't have enough time" or "I wish I had the time."  We do have the time, we just don't provide ourselves with it.  We need to give ourselves permission to light a tea light every morning while we shower or dress.  We can be mindful at bedtime to gather our spiritual thoughts together in preparation for peaceful sleep. 

 

We can all create a practice requiring just a few seconds to gather kind thoughts around us.  A wise woman I have known for years tells me every morning when she inserts her key to lock her door, she asks God to protect her children.  When I worked down town and parked underground, I would resist taking the elevator.  As I climbed the stairs every morning, I would pray for my children and grandchildren. 

 

It is remarkably easy to create a healthy habit of centering or grounding or focusing.  If we put our mind to it, we can easily determine what might resonate with us personally.  We do not have to provide ourselves with lengths of time, even though that would be ideal.  Grab a few seconds every morning, providing a passing moment of bliss, joy, thanksgiving, gratitude, forgiveness, or whatever comes to mind.   There really is no excuse not to.  Not one.