Sometimes, when I share what it is I do, I hear people say, 'Oh, I love nature, I love walking!'
At such times, I'm usually standing there thinking, 'Great! Here's someone that will really connect with what I do!" and often they do... they seem to understand what I do, they love nature and then... we hit a stale mate, as though they know enough already and don't need to go any further and they become more interested in meeting up for a friendly walk than tapping into what it is I offer professionally and exploring whether it's something they might benefit from.
I've reflected on this ALOT over the years and it has regularly triggered my inner critic, in way too many ways to go into here! However, having fleshed this out with other professionals in the field, I know this is a common reaction... It's not ME, it's people's misconception of this work!
So fully supported by that knowing, this post is an attempt to delve a little deeper into the different ways we relate to nature and how a guide might help.
As I see it, there are many layers of depth to our relationship with nature and our sense of self and wellbeing is impacted directly by where within these layers we tend to connect.
Visitors to Nature
Many of us will visit nature and enjoy it, we might even travel far and wide just to visit and see different beautiful natural environments. This is wonderful and often we might feel a sense of awe and wonder at the natural wonders that present themselves before our eyes. However, this is not what I'm referring to when I talk about nature connection, this is being what I refer to as 'visitor to nature' where we are largely in the consciousness of being separate from nature.
Students of Nature
Some of us, may study nature. We may even work outside, be in awe of the science of nature, we might know the names of all of the trees, the birds, flowers and fungi - we might know what to forage and what we can't eat, and we may have a wonderful collection of photos - and whilst these all open the door to deeper relationship and connection with nature, they are not in their own right what I'm referring to when I talk about nature connection. Knowledge and information relating to the natural world, does not necessarily equate to connection. This is what I refer to being a student 'of' nature... again really in the consciousness of being separate from it...
Retreating to Nature
Most of us will go to spend time in nature as a way to rest, to holiday, to play, to spend time with friends and family... and here we're starting to understand just how much our nervous system is restored by nature, we innately know that we are going to feel rested and rejuvenated from our time in nature. This way of relating, is what I refer to as 'retreating to nature' and still we can be heavily in the consciousness of being separate from nature.
Nature as Home
Nature connection is more than simply spending time outdoors, indeed the University of Derby and National Trust published research in 2020 that showed how nature connection had a greater impact on wellbeing than simply spending time outdoors. Nature connection is having a sense that you are part of nature, not separate from it and you can experience it to varying degrees - from an intellectual understanding, to a full embodied sense of feeling at home, in your body, on this earth as part of a wonderful ecosystem.
Nature as Guide
Once we come home to the knowing that we are nature, we can start to see how far removed from our natural rhythm and innate wellbeing we have grown. It stands to reason that what helps nature to thrive will help us to thrive too, so we can start observing nature to learn new ways of being within ourselves and our communities. Coming home to nature, is essentially coming home to our soul and from here we can embark on the journey of listening more deeply to our souls knowing and longing.
Each of these ways of relating connect to each other and lead into each other, it's not so much that we ascend from one into another, I like to think of it as an ever deepening spiral of relationship...
The Role of The Human Guide
Each guide will support you in different ways, however when working with me, I am interested in walking with you as you spiral through all of these layers, with the main emphasis on the inner three; retreat - home - guide
Laying the foundations of deep restoration through cultivating strong practices when you retreat to nature is essential.
As we start to come home to the truth of who we are and tap into our soul longing, a lot of conditioning and wounding can emerge. Being in a place where we can easily quieten our mind and regulate our nervous systems is vital to being able to hold the rest of the stuff that could come emerge. All of my courses help you to cultivate this deep grounded embodied connection on an ongoing basis - starting with the foundation course - Cultivating Connection.
I can't emphasis enough how vitally important it is to cultivate this on an ongoing basis. We are so caught up in our heads, it can take a lot of remembering and practicing to keep coming back to our true nature.
This is a journey of home coming and a journey of becoming. As we let go of everything we are not and embrace everything we are, we can travel through vulnerable, tender and confusing states. I am here as a guide to walk beside you during these times. To hold space with compassion and non judgement as you release or share anything that wants to be seen or heard on your journey to wholeness. Some of these moments can be shared within the group online journeys, however one to one sessions offer more time and space for us to tenderly hold whatever is emerging for you personally. I will guide you into nature connection practices to support your journey and if it feels right may also offer flower or vibrational essences too assist in your unfolding and blossoming.
Working with nature as teacher and guide, building a respectful relationship with the natural world, and listening to the soul whispers and wisdom that arises out of deepening nature connection practices and meditations, all support the process of grounding, healing and becoming on an ongoing basis - helping each of us to stay connected with our ever evolving truth... this work is never done - there are simply an infinite number of layers to discover and work with... the depth to which you travel is up to you.
However deep you want to go, the benefit of working with a guide AND in a community contributes significantly to the sense of belonging and wholeness you are seeking to reclaim...
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