Nature

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson

“We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as ‘wild’. Only to the white man was nature a ‘wilderness’ and only to him was the land ‘infested’ with ‘wild’ animals and ‘savage’ people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery. Not until the hairy man form the east came with brutal frenzy heaped injustices upon us and the families we love was it ‘wild’ for us. When the very animals of the forest began fleeing from his approach, then it was that for us the ‘Wild West’ began. – Chief Luther Standing Bear of the Oglala Lakota

For the last few years, I have been traveling throughout North America, visiting a wide variety of places -> from oceans, lakes, and rivers to mountains, deserts, and forests. I have hiked craggy peaks, spent time with tide pools, wandered through desert slot canyons, crossed vast plains, and witnessed the destruction of fires, floods, and droughts. I have delighted in the myriad of colors in the sky, at sunrise, at sunset, and craned my neck under the milky way of deep, dark nights. I’ve had conversations with trees, and waterfalls, and birds. It hasn’t all been pleasant, as I have had my share of bugs, torrential rains, unwavering winds, dust storms, and icy snowfalls.

What I have learned about myself is that when I spend significant time in nature, it is good for me. It is good for my physical health, my emotional health, my spiritual health, and my mental health. This is not surprising as many scientific studies recount the benefits of time in nature. I have also learned a bit about myself, such as I can tolerate more discomfort than I thought, and my relationships are better when I spend time in communion with the natural world. And I also must say that many of my mystical experiences have happened when I was surrounded by nature.

Perhaps you would like to spend more time in nature? If so, you could start with this spoof advertisement for prescription strength Nature. It may be right for you:

Photo from Snow Canyon, Utah as the sun was setting.