Nature Connection , livre ebook

Triarchy Press - Margaret Kerr , Jana Lemke

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102 pages

English

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A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

A compact handbook of nature practices for anyone who wants to deepen their connection with the rest of nature, including coaches, therapists, ecotherapists and outdoor educators.

Sujets

Sociologie, société et politique

Psychotherapy

Informations

Publié par	Triarchy Press
Date de parution	11 janvier 2021
Nombre de lectures	1
EAN13	9781913743130
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0625€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Published in this first edition in 2021 by:
Triarchy Press
Axminster, UK
www.triarchypress.net
Copyright Margaret Kerr Jana Lemke, 2021
The right of Margaret Kerr Jana Lemke to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBNs
Print: 978-1-913743-12-3
ePub: 978-1-913743-13-0
PDF: 978-1-913743-14-7
Cover image by Margaret Kerr
Interior illustrations by Margaret Kerr
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge all the teachers who have helped us develop our practice, and in particular Imelda Almqvist, Claudia Goncalves, Mark Halliday, Cris Hofner, Dave Key, Rob Preece, and the School of Lost Borders.
We would also like to express our deep gratitude to the wild lands we have worked in, and the inspiring clients, friends and fellow students we have met through our work. We are forever grateful for the love and support of our closest ones in life, especially Andi and Joe. They have all been our teachers.
Contents
Introduction
Ecological Self
Embodiment
Personal Journey
Mindfulness
Inviting Mystery
Endnotes
Introduction
As a way of briefly introducing this book we would like to look at an obvious question: why is it beneficial to include nature-connection practices in self-exploration or therapy?
Numerous books have been written about this topic and for those who want to explore the subject more deeply, ecotherapy and ecopsychology may be useful keywords. 1 But we want to keep this handbook an easy read and truly focused on practice.
So here is a short selection of straightforward reasons:
Being outdoors enlivens our sensory perception and helps us to be fully in the present moment - two key elements of mindfulness. Research has shown that cultivating mindfulness has many positive effects on our psychological and physical well-being.
Spending time alone in nature opens up a unique and rare space which often naturally evokes reflections on our personal values and purpose in life. These spiritual aspects of our lives are known to be important factors in human well-being.
But nature does not merely offer a vessel for our reflections, it stimulates and inspires us by being alive, dynamic and interactive. We engage with it and are mirrored by it, but we also get to know a kind of vitality that may not be as present elsewhere in our daily lives. This vitality can inspire future steps in our personal lives.
However, if we look beyond the ideas of nature and us , it becomes obvious that we are a part of nature, and that our relationship with the Earth is reciprocal. We cannot exist separately, and what we do as humans has powerful consequences for the ecosystems we are part of.
Experiencing ourselves as part of nature tends to an underlying wound we all carry - a subtle, ever-present feeling of disconnectedness that haunts our current lives and culture.
Recognising ourselves as part of nature opens up a deep sense of belonging to a larger community of life. It can also bring an experience of feeling unconditionally accepted for who we really are.
These changes in our sense of self can then motivate us to start tending the Earth s ecological wounds and rebalancing our part in the web of life.
Who this book is for and how to use it
This is a compact handbook of outdoor practices that can be used by individuals who wish to deepen their own connection with the rest of nature. It is also designed to be used by people who work with others in personal development and healing - for example, coaches, therapists or outdoor educators.
To help ensure that it meets the particular needs of individuals or groups, we have assigned a specific theme, and one or more of five broad categories to each exercise.
The themes suggest which life topics each exercise might help with. However, we believe that each one of us has a unique way of perceiving and responding, and each place that you choose to practise in has its very own story and effect on you and your experience. Therefore, these themes should be understood only as suggestions and not as prescriptive.
The five categories are: Ecological Self, Embodiment, Personal Journey, Mindfulness and Inviting Mystery. These categories suggest which dimension of experience is mainly addressed by each practice. Having said that, they are not mutually exclusive, and most practices can be used to explore several different facets of experience.
Some of the exercises concentrate on empathising with natural elements or a living being and feeling into their innate intrinsic value. We have categorised these as focusing on the Ecological Self . The notion of the Ecological Self comes from the writings of the Norwegian ecophilosopher, Arne Naess. 2 It suggests an experience of deeper interconnectedness and being part of nature, where all parts of the whole have an inalienable right to their own existence.
The category Embodiment focuses on bringing awareness to the body and exploring movement in an ecological context and as part of the Ecological Self.
Other exercises invite the practitioner to reflect on their Personal Journey . This category together with a particular theme might be useful when looking at personal issues that you want to work on yourself, or in therapeutic or coaching processes with clients.
Exercises in the Mindfulness category emphasise exploring the senses, observing the mind and experiencing the present moment.
Finally, Inviting Mystery describes exercises that invoke playfulness and creativity, expanding out from the rational everyday world. These experiences may go beyond easy description and invite a taste of mystery into life.
It is always a good idea to draw on your own experience of an exercise before sharing it with others. Alongside this, we hope that the themes and categories will give you extra support in selecting the most relevant exercises for yourself or clients.
This book is a collection of practices that we have found valuable and got to know through our own work, research and spiritual practice. Some have come from the trainings we have undertaken and the teachers we have met. However, we created the majority of the exercises in this book ourselves. We have done our best to reference the original creators of practices and those who shared them with us. But some have been repeatedly passed on and it is sometimes impossible to determine where they originally came from. Where appropriate, to supplement the practices, we have included background notes drawn from our study of other disciplines such as Buddhism, psychology or arts practice.
Being gentle
Going outdoors to practise can be a powerful experience. When we find ourselves alone outside with few distractions, then memories, thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations which have been hidden for a long time can come to the surface. Sometimes, if we have experienced physical or psychological trauma in the past, what surfaces can be distressing. Working outdoors can be a good opportunity to tend to and heal old wounds. However, it is important to be gentle in this process and not to push yourself into painful territory if it does not feel right. It is vital to feel free to be creative and adapt any practice to match your level of physical ability or the locations available to you. Sometimes a lot can be learned from practising in this way.
If anything doesn t feel safe physically or psychologically, there is no shame in pulling back and choosing a gentler path. For example, if you get cold and wet and haven t got enough dry clothing, it s fine to come home early and warm up by the fire. Equally, if you end up feeling lonely and needing someone to talk to, there is no harm in seeking out a friend to share your experience with.
While it is very important to take care of yourself, it can also be helpful to stay compassionately with uncomfortable feelings and watch as they change. For example, often when we have not been in touch with the rest of nature for a while, we can feel alienated as we start spending time alone outdoors. Once we get used to this feeling, we can see it as something temporary that stays until we are able to relax into our surroundings. Just like with an old friend we have not seen for some time, we have to re-approach and reconnect with the wild world inside and outside of us. And then, at some point, timidity or stiffness slowly vanish and something else emerges. In a situation like this, it is worthwhile asking yourself: is this feeling too much for me at the moment, or is it telling me that I am exploring or reclaiming lost terrain? After all, healing means that you have been wounded. So before you know what to heal, you have to be in touch with the wound.
Working with nature is not about conquering what has hurt us or forcing an outcome. Rather, it is about being free to be ourselves, allowing things to emerge when the time is right, and letting nature hold us through this process. Trusting in this will help keep you safe physically and psychologically when working outdoors.
This is very different from the archetypal notion of conquering, or competing with the forces of, nature. The way we tend to our struggles and wounds also applies to our attitude to the rest of nature. We do not go there to test our strength and turn our stay into a survival task. We go respectfully and gently; we listen and respond whenever and however we feel is appropriate.
The power of language
Language affects how we feel and think. Equally, how we feel and think affects the language we use. Terms like nature , natural world and wilderness have been the subjec