photo by, nicolas valentin

What does it really mean when someone says that they have faith? It’s such a “heavy” word with a kind of preachiness attached to it. At least that is what I used to think.

These days I have a little bit different perspective. The older I get I have begun to notice a pattern. When I was just a young thing I used to ride the ups and downs of life with less than a modicum of grace. When a challenging situation would present itself I felt like a scared animal on the defensive – my heart would start racing and my dander would stand on end.

Unlike the [intelligent] human, the animal does not have the complex brain that we have been fortunate enough to be born with. So many times a reaction is primal and immediate. Sounds just like me not too long ago. On top of being in reactive mode, my mind took off in a downward spiral – imagining the worst, fear, and panic. And of course all that wonderful self doubt and stress that goes along with that.

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photo by hellgah

Are you are city person or a country person?…not sure? Do you feel the need to go outside, walk among the trees, take your shoes off and stand in the grass, smell the wildflowers, lift your head up to the sky, and take a deep breath of gratitude. Or do you always find an excuse to stay home – feel more grounded in front of the computer than an open field? Do you like pounding the pavement or taking a cab – getting to where you need to be rather than enjoying the process of getting there?

When so-called city people experience boredom or a feeling of isolation it is most likely not their natural setting that it is the problem – it is the ability to face themselves. People that need help in facing their neurosis may do so in any number of ways-therapy, writing, meditation, painting, etc. I imagine if the practice of your choice does not involve some natural outlet of creativity, peace of mind would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.

In the ancient practice of Shamanism, nature becomes the healer of what ails you-if you allow her to. Just as a good psychotherapist will try to guide you to your true nature, so does the wilderness. When you are able to leave yourself alone, and tune in to the natural forces of the great outdoors, answers come through your senses. Trust is needed to respond in an affirmative way to what you are experiencing.

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photo by gabriel_dcv

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about the human-nature connection. On that day I covered three ways in which we humans are like nature: Our Desire To Communicate, Our Vulnerability, and Our Inner Purity.

I wanted to go further with this topic because the idea behind it is why I started this blog in the first place. I honestly believe the more we observe the ways of nature and allow ourselves the time to get lost in her mystery, the more peace and happiness will show up in our lives.

This way of thinking may sound a little pollyanaish, and I own that. I can be a real cornball at times. But, again, I’m okay with all that. I look at it this way – I’m sacrificing a little of that sexy edginess for a softness that allows unseen forces to penetrate…

With that in mind I will concentrate today ’s post on the contemplation of a single thought, and how we humans are like nature: We Change.

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photo by, ifilmalaska

I recently saw a wonderful movie, Into The Wild. The movie follows a young man after he graduates with honors from college. He decides to cut himself off from capitalistic society – he burns his social security card, gives away all his money and makes a decision to end all communication with his friends and family.

The motivating force behind his action is anger at his parents. For anyone that has experienced a dysfunctional family (dare I say most of us), one can understand harboring ill will at those who screwed up our impressionable minds with lies, emotional abuse, and misguided actions.

Some may say the main character, Alexander, overreacts. My first thought was he did. However, I understood his anger and his cockiness – as obnoxious as he was, he was acting out of a pain that was fresh and impossible to escape.

Alexander sets off on an amazing journey to try (to escape). His goal is Alaska. He seems compelled to go to this place which is void of any hint of commercialism. In its place is what Alexander wants the most, “truth”. The character worships the wisdom Henry David Thoreau who puts truth above fame, money, and love.

Thoreau, himself, spent over two years living with nature at Walden Pond. This author’s experience led him to believe that if one were to live a truthful life it would require us to simplify our existence by shedding our lives of unnecessary attachments.

Alexander took Thoreau’s words to the extreme. He picked a much more severe natural setting. Alexander’s Walden Pond was a remote, harsh territory of Alaska. His home of several weeks was a dilapidated bus (not sure how it got there) in the middle of the wild. It became the place where he slept and wrote of his adventure. He read, and hunted, and lived the life he was sure would have made Thoreau proud.

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