I often walk outside in the woods, in fields and around ponds and streams. The more I immerse myself in the natural world, the more pull I feel toward it. The Earth constantly reveals its wisdom, if we only stop to listen. Being in nature sometimes takes me to my childhood, and as a kid the woods held magic and pretend tales that sparked a creative wonder inside me. I kind of feel that way again. I return from my walks full of gratitude, peace, clarity, and inspiration to birth some new idea.
In our concrete jungle of a world, nature can easily get buried under our the rest of the stuff in our lives. I remember as a college student thinking that I couldn’t imagine staying in the tiny country town I grew up in one second longer after graduation. I had attended one of the best broadcast journalism schools in the world, I thought. I was going to make movies. Documentaries. I was going somewhere big. And while my heart was the the right place back then, I know now that had I done that, I would’ve eventually ended up right back here. And here I am, not far from that little farm town where I grew up. Still wanting to go big, but in an immensely different way.
I realize now that the Earth has always had a healing effect on me, and that I depend on nature for replenishment. Nature compels me to stop thinking and start feeling. To start listening to what’s around and within me. I gain more insight from walking in nature for an hour than from a whole day of ruminating and planning. When I teach outdoor walking meditation classes, my goal is for people to learn to connect to this healing. It’s available to all of us. The Earth will humbly nurture anyone who will listen to her whispers, for we are part of her and she, us. She quietly teaches us how to be present in our bodies and in our lives. Her seasons show us how to trust our inner seasons. When to move and when to rest. When to sow and blossom.
Earth is living proof that there’s no “me,” only “we.” Our survival depends on her. When we set out to conquer her, we destroy the very habitat we depend on for life. The Earth is not “ours” to own, nor are we separate from her. The way we treat Earth is a mirror into how we treat ourselves. Everything we do to her, we do to us. When we heal ourselves, we respect all life.
It’s up to us to bring balance to the planet, but first we must courageously listen to her guidance. Next time you get a chance, step out from the fluorescent lights and air conditioning. Silence your phone. Go in nature for at least 20 minutes. Stop and listen. Turn your mind off and turn your senses on. Breathe. Sit in the grass, climb a rock, touch a tree, or just walk and hear your feet pat the ground. Awaken your senses by connecting to all of life. Be moved by it, and let mother nature do her healing work on you.
Whispers From Mother Earth
Stop. Take refuge. You don’t have to run.
Surrender your fear. Lay it down with my trees.
Leave your pain. Shed it on my soil.
I’ll absorb it all. Rest in me. Be held.
I’m here. Always here, waiting for you.
Hear my heartbeat…distant rustling…and remember music.
Sense my breathing…sudden gust…and remember passion.
See my light…diamonds in the water…and remember innocence.
Touch my warmth…jagged bark…and remember wisdom.
Listen, and I’ll approach. Feel, and I’ll touch.
Find life in my silence. Flow to my steady pulse.
See me, and see yourself.
My simplicity is your perfection.
My brilliance is your beauty.
My sounds are your pure, sweet voice.
My whispers are your soul’s whispers.
Get out of your head and listen, child.
Find the answers in the scent of opening blooms.
In the sand beneath your feet.
In the sun on your face.
In me. In you.
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