When we look around the world or watch the news or talk to friends or family, we often hear about turmoil, disagreements, warnings of disaster, or other distressing news. When we hear about so much chaos and disappointment, it can deeply affect us. We can become cynical and lose our faith in the future. Or, in some cases, people may just give up. This is not a good situation!
So, what can we do? Where can we go? Where can we look when we are faced with so much chaos and upheaval? We can turn to friends and family, or our friendly local therapist. Maybe we have a deep spiritual practice. Maybe we are part of a strong faith community. Or maybe we decide to pack up the SUV and head for the Hills! Definitely a tempting option ... !
However, for most people heading for the hills may not be an option for any number of reasons. Regardless of how crazy our civilization can become, there is an answer staring us in the face all the time. The antidote for this craziness can be found in Creation, in the daily examples found in Nature. Why is that? For one reason Creation is very orderly. At least it is until Human Beings start goofing around with it. However, that is another topic altogether.
Here is one of my favorite examples. When most of us go to bed at night, do we ever worry about whether the Sun will come up in the morning? Do we doubt that the New Moon or the Full Moon might not appear on schedule? Are we concerned that our Earth will stop rotating in the middle of the night? I don’t doubt Sunrise, or the arrival of the New Moon or Full Moon. And, I do not fall asleep worrying about the Earth’s rotation which is actually the reason that we have Sunrise! I am not surprised to see Sunlight streaming through my bedroom window early in the morning. I am grateful and delighted, but not surprised!
Why are we able to find peace or even just a sense of belonging by paying attention to Nature? One main reason is that Human Beings have lived in a deep relationship with Nature for at least 200,000 thousand years! Our well-being and our survival for all but the last 130 or 140 years of that time depended on our ability to understand and work with Nature. Usually, the best farmers, gardeners, dairy people, fishermen, cooks, builders, and medicine people were successful because they paid close attention to Nature! They were also successful because they learned to work with the patterns they found in Nature.
When we make the time to study recurring patterns in Nature, we find these often complex patterns are the result of simple mathematical formulas! This suggests an “Underlying Unity in Creation”! The effect for Humans of spending time in Nature is that we are reminded of this Underlying Unity. This often subliminal reminder can be calming and restorative. Scientific studies done with people who were “forest bathing” have established there is a positive result. Some of these studies showed that the longer Humans spent forest bathing, the longer the beneficial effects last! (No drugs involved!)
One of the most recurring patterns is the hexagon, or 6 six-sided shape. This shape is found in the honeycomb in a beehive. Hexagons are also found in the shape of the core in a snowflake. Insect eyes are made up of tiny hexagon shapes, giving them the greatest light-sensing area. Many different flowers have 6 petals that form overlapping triangles with 6 sides. The Prayer or Rain Lily is a good example. Nature uses simple formulas to create elegant and useful solutions. Honeycomb is an excellent example because the hexagon maximizes space and strength. When we pay attention to Nature, immerse ourselves in a forest, or spend time at the beach, we are reminded of this consistent underlying Unity! And, it permeates our entire consciousness, often causing peace of mind and happiness!
Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.
She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.
Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices
for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.
