Wild, ancient, untamed

I was first introduced to deep nature connection during a Permaculture course. The course leader had two guest teachers talk about it and then lead us through a few experiential exercises. The first exercise was to sit outside and pay attention to what was happening around me for 20 minutes. Simple, right?

Yes, and... those 20 minutes changed my life! I felt a wise, ancient, untamed part of me stir ever so slightly from her slumber.

I had known for a long time that the way we live as modern-day humans doesn’t make any sense and that we are supposed to be in close relationship with our human and our more-than-human relations. I also knew, conceptually, that I was nature, that I was another animal living among trillions of others on Mama Earth.

Yet, I felt separate, like I was an outsider looking in. The buildings, screens, and hectic pace of life made a real relationship with nature seem impossible. On top of that, I was often stressed out, overwhelmed, and depleted. Weeks would fly by during which I felt like I was nothing more than a disembodied head doing, doing, doing all day long. I felt like was missing out on the juice and joy of life.

I longed to slow down, get out of my head, be present for my life, experience my kinship with nature, and feel alive and happy. I wanted this everyday, but had no idea how to get it.

Then I sat outside for 20 minutes and the wise, ancient, untamed one in me recognized that deep nature connection would give me all of that and more.