“We must find out how to get everything back into connection with everything else. We must resist the vice of intellectualism, and get it understood that we cannot only understand” – Carl Jung (1959)
Many of us go about our lives, crossing off to do lists, being our best self, planning the next thing. We know what to eat, the best exercise for our body type, the latest therapy, or supplement. We know what to eat, we buy organic, we recycle, and we try to plan at least one vacation a year. We do all of these things, treating our life as a Sisyphean project. At times we may feel that our life seems a bit empty, our struggles colossal or meaningless., or both! How can this be, when we are doing all of the right stuff?
Perhaps we are forgetting our most fundamental aspect of self- that of being part of the interconnected web of life. We are grasping for something, and yet we are already there! Without any effort, the truth is, by simply being, we are connected to the pulsing, changing, vibrant web of life on this earth. Taking time to connect with nature is essential to our well-being. We evolved as an interdependent species on this planet and we remain so.
Is it the wonderful comforts, engrossing challenges, exciting projects and ongoing missions that simply cause us to forget? They are not bad or wrong- who isn’t appreciative of indoor plumbing? Or providing for our loved ones? Or being our best self? It’s just that part of us yearns to feel our connection to the larger whole. Our hearts, brains, and bodies are designed that way, having evolved alongside countless millions of other flora and fauna. We share the endless parade of mineral and elemental exchange with our brothers and sisters, the glaciers, the sea, the mountains, the concrete, our cars- and yes, even our cell phones! Sometimes by simply sitting and noticing and getting curious about what is happening with that tree or that weed poking through the concrete or that bird whose song has changed, we get a glimpse of our own place in the cycle of life. This has been celebrated by saints, mystics, and various cultural traditions all along.
Interestingly enough, science is catching up with what our ancestors and indigenous people have known for years- nature is a powerful force for emotional and physical healing. According to numerous studies, exposure to nature – even in small amounts, such as gazing at images or being exposed to indoor plants and greenery has been demonstrated to result in:
- Increased production of serotonin
- Reduced pain levels/reduced use of painkillers
- Decreased recovery time following surgery
- Reduced blood pressure
- Improved mood; reduction in symptoms and measures of stress, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, addiction and more
How can this be? Perhaps our neural networks are designed to co-regulate with the natural world. Perhaps we notice and find comfort in the constancy of the cycles of the sun and the moon and the seasons. It seems fitting that we refer to Gaia, our planet, as “Mother Earth” – always there, the foundation upon which we rest. We can all benefit from taking the time to pause, notice, and remember, multiple times a day, every day.