Nature Time

One of the first things I recommend to people who want to have a deeper and stronger connection to nature is very basic: spend quiet time in nature each day. Mornings are best but any time of day is GREAT! The statistics are scary, but most people spend 98% of their lives inside. Dare to be one of the 2% being outdoors more and enjoying it.

I prefer morning because;

1. If I do it first, it will actually get done, I won’t get distracted
2. The nature energies are wonderful in the morning, especially around sunrise, and in the evening around sunset. The T’ai Chi masters say these are the times of maximum chi. There is a lot more activity in the natural world. Animals are smarter than us and tend not to be very active in the mid day sun, so you have a better chance of enjoying their company.
3. Doing it first thing in the morning says that you are making it a priority in your life.

Whatever time works for you, find a place outside, either in your yard, or in a nearby park or natural area. Go there each day and simply sit for at least 15 minutes. If possible, sit with your back against a tree and your bare feet on the earth (be sure to ask permission first and always say thanks when you’re done). Leave your cell phones, newspapers, coffee, and even other people at home. The focus is on being in your natural space, with as few distractions as possible.

If you are there in the morning, watch the day come in. If in the evening, watch the natural world settle down and night come in. Watch the activity of the birds, the qualities of the lighting. Are the lighting tones more pastel in color? Or vibrant? There tends to be a difference in coloring as well as intensity between morning and evening light. Mid afternoon light is entirely different yet. Watch the birds flying back to their roosts in the evening.

Listen to sounds in your area: birds, insects, perhaps thunder. Touch different things in your area and notice different textures. This helps you be more in your body and less in your head.

Try to keep your mind focused on your special place. If worries keep coming to mind, you might want to carry a small note pad and write them down and tell yourself you will come back to them later. Write them down and forget them for now.

Treat your special place like a friend in the making. To make a good friend, we need to have consistency and need to pay attention. We need to build history of times shared together. We learn to be sensitive to our friend’s moods.

Fifteen minutes of this special nature time can make a big difference in your well-being and your enjoyment of life.

If you need some extra relaxation and nurturing, try lying on the earth and really absorb those wonderful earth energies. Many people are intuitively led to lie on the earth when recovering from illness or exposure to too much electromagnetic fields or chemicals. Even when we’re feeling great this is a wonderful thing to do. Sense the Earth’s energies and their effect on you.

To quote Nike, Just do it! Just get out there. Just show up. Nature will do the rest. Nature may teach you, inspire you, and heal you. It knows exactly what you need.