Listening to Nature
5.10 Questions for Reflection and Practices to Consider
Nature Images and Emotions
- How would you characterize your relationship with nature?
- What images come to mind when you reflect on the word “nature” (e.g., Earth Mother, Gaia, Sky Father, Creator, elements of earth, air, fire, and water)?
- What emotions do you associate with nature (e.g., fear, uncertainty, and/or comfort, relaxation)?
- Consider where the nature images and emotions originate for you, and if there are anything you desire to change.
Biophilia
- How much do you love nature?
- What would you be willing to do for Her?
- Is there a particular environmental cause you resonate with?
- If so, how might you begin, renew, or continue to express your love for nature through this group or organization?
Supersensory Modalities
Revisit Cohen’s fifty-four sensory modalities on his website for a few minutes.
- Which sensory modalities resonate with you, and which seem more difficult to engage with?
- Are there any practices you might like to explore to develop your listening capacities in one or more of these new sensory modalities?
- If so, choose one, and arrange a time in the next twenty-four hours to explore listening in this new sensory modality.
Forest Bathing
- Have you ever considered bathing in a forest?
- This Japanese method of connecting and listening to nature may sound strange at first, but a similar practice of “strolling through the woods” is not uncommon.
- Can you identify a place in your locale that has a grove of trees (or other kinds of plants in a natural setting) that you could visit for an hour?
- Imagine what listening experiences might unfold as you “forest bathe” in such a place.
Perspectives on Listening to Nature
- How would you describe your knowledge and skills in listening to nature on a continuum–novice, intermediate, expert?
- Recall that listening to nature begins with keen observation of the landscape and the emotions elicited in the body.
- Farther on the continuum of listening to nature is reflecting on the symbolism of your experiences in nature and deriving personal meaning from them.
- Further still on the listening to nature continuum is listening for the mystical-spiritual dimensions of nature which typically arise from spending extended time contemplating nature.
- The next time you visit a nature setting (e.g., an area around the place you live, a playground, park, pond, beach, or a forested area), see how far you can expand your listening perspective by purposefully listening with each of the three listening perspectives in mind.
- What new insights come from intentionally engaging all three listening perspectives?
Plants
- Do you have a favorite plant?
- Perhaps it is a flower, or maybe something to eat?
- What is the history of your relationship with this plant?
- What other kinds of plants are kin to this one?
- How might you learn more about the properties of this plant?
- If you are not already cultivating this plant