Why, when it seems that modern technology has addressed every possible need, should we all still strengthen our connection to the natural world and fill our senses and emotions with the scents, sights, sounds, textures, wonder and mysteries of Nature?
Because it's essential to remember that this is our true home, the source of all life and a deep well of inner wisdom that we can call upon, if only we will immerse ourselves in her magic.
So seamless is this dynamic connection to Nature, most people remain oblivious to it. Children master cell phones and computers by the age of 5 but may never learn where their water comes from or the chemical composition of the air they breathe.
They will learn how to drive, but may never marvel at the fact that the residue of ancient plants and animals powers their cars and heats their homes. We can all flip on a light switch, but have you ever stopped to consider that like your home, every atom in your body is electrified and that the same awesome power behind lightning brings your coffee maker to life every morning?
To seek knowledge about the elemental forces of nature is to seek a deeper connection to your true inner Self at the deepest level. You are literally made of the same materials that created the stars; you drink the same water and breathe the same air as the dinosaurs once did; trees in the Amazon and algae in the oceans, as well as the plants in your own backyard, produce the oxygen upon which your life depends; the entire human race is indebted to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats for pollinating the fruits and vegetables that we consume at our dinner tables.
We share Earth with millions of different species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and this biodiversity provides us with the basic building blocks of life. The activities of all these organisms together maintain the atmosphere, develop new soils, break down wastes, store and filter water, pollinate our crops, provide us with food, and protect us from disease. Without these ecological services, we would never have been able to develop abundant food, natural fibers for our clothes, lumber for our homes and furniture, or a clean, healthy environment.
How is it then, that our natural world has worked so well for so long, when man cannot seem to even manage his own affairs, for example: maintaining peace between nations, economic stability, or functional government? In which realm would it seem you could avail yourself of greater wisdom? The world of money, aspirations, electronic devices, media and fashion (where your external self lives), or the realm of the tides, the seasons, the atmosphere, gravity, indeed the very wellspring of life, (where your deeper, ancient inner Self resides).
Your subconscious mind is where your true Self can be accessed. It is a repository of wisdom about you and the world around you that you can draw upon whenever you like. However, she is a quiet partner that doesn't seek attention for herself, rather she waits, patiently, for you to seek out her guidance'.
This subconscious mind or inner Self is rooted in the Natural world. It is more deeply connected to your bodily functions which in turn are linked to Nature's cycles. By uncoupling yourself from the superficial world of devices, talking heads, money and things and spending more time steeped in the sensory world of nature, this deeper, quieter Self begins to come out of hiding. An infinite, even divine compassion becomes apparent, and it waits to be tapped, waits to inspire and enlighten you.
How does it work? I don't presume to be smart enough to understand. All I know is that it does and that fact remains one of the enduring mysteries of the natural world, and therefore, your inner being. Embrace Nature as yourself and marvel the wisdom, wonder and mystery of your very existence.
-S.E. Mathias
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