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Continued from Page Five
Return to the Beginning,
Page 1
"Maybe things
that aren't capable of rational thought can still establish permission
to be in their surroundings"
An archive of University
of California at Santa Barbara student responses and interactions
in the webstring Natural
Systems Thinking Process Orientation
Course on the internet.
Student names are witheld to
protect their privacy and safety.
Course title:
Psychological
Elements of Global Citizenship:
The Science of Connecting With the Web of Life, the Art of Thinking
With Nature
TOPIC: Are there benefits from psychologically
obtaining consent from a natural system to visit with it before
doing so?
"I think one of the best
things about this activity (and indeed many of the activities
that we have done) is that it helps us to bring thoughts that
would otherwise be subconscious into our conscious mind. It seems
like many of the little things in life often go unnoticed, and
in this way, we ignore many of the simple pleasures of life.
Things like the feeling of grass between your toes, birds calling,
the movement of clouds, and even the taste of the food that we
eat often slip by us in our rush to "get things done.""
"By asking nature for
its permission for me to be there and then thanking it, I reinforced
my sense of belonging in nature by bringing nature's acceptance
of me from the often ignored depths of my mind. I think nature
has always accepted me, which is why I've always felt comfortable
and secure there, but this activity reinforced those secure feelings
and so was rewarding. (I'm sure there must have been some instance
where I wasn't welcomed by nature.... maybe not, I can't think
of any right now) "
"I wouldn't say that all
things in nature seek permission to exist in their surroundings
in the same way that we did in this activity, but maybe they
do in some other way. Maybe things that aren't capable of rational
thought can still establish permission to be in their surroundings
in the same way that they can sense their surroundings. Yes...
this makes sense to me. "
"I did this experience
out at the beach in the late evening. It was a very nice night,
not too foggy or too cold. I just looked at the water for awhile.
This always brings me some joy and peace. Then, as the activity
suggested, I asked consent to be there, and for acceptance. I
was surprised that I actually felt a little different. I felt
surrounded by the nature of the beach. As Linda put it, I felt
"encompassed" by it. It was a neat feeling. I can now
see why some people feel the Nature Connecting Process can take
away their sense of loneliness. I felt like I was inside nature
rather than on the outside observing it. I really enjoyed this
expense. "
"This activity was great
for me because I happened to be going up to the local Santa Barbara
mountains this week and was able to do the activity in a beautiful
area- next to a lake and national forest! it was great because
I had never been there, or to a place quite like it. it was very
hilly, and many of the hills had experienced fire in the not
so distant past, and so they were somewhat charred still. the
lake was gorgeous and there was a lot of beautiful wildlife that
I never see on the beach.
"My feelings of connectedness
with the earth was enhanced by this activity. I had never asked
an entire environment for consent to be there before, but I found
the more I did so, the more I was attracted to the natural surroundings
and the more I felt like I belonged there. observing the charred
hillside was also amazing. even though the blackness may seem
ugly at a glance, the more I gazed at hills, the more I noticed
natures perseverance. the hillsides held no grudge for their
destruction. instead, they continued the cycles of life, and
I could see tiny green plants emerging and birds returning to
the area. it was beautiful! I also learned that nature accepts
me... once I began to focus on the webstrings within the area,
I felt included in it. it seems as though before I was always
an on-looker, admiring from a distance. this activity made me
feel I was an active part of nature. as a result, I know feel
more important because I am directly connected to nature. I definitely
feel that I trust nature more. "
"I like your statement
that "my feelings of connectedness with the earth was enhanced
by this activity. I had never asked an entire environment for
consent to be there before, but I found the more I did so, the
more I was attracted to the natural surroundings and the more
I felt like I belonged there. "
"I felt much the same
way after doing this activity. I felt like, without asking permission
to be in a natural area, we are more able to feel like we can
act upon it with impunity - for instance, it would be harder
to destroy such an area after having asked its permission to
be there - indeed, it would be impossible to harm it at all,
I would think. After asking permission, there is no longer a
separation between you and the area, and the area has become
more personalized. "
I did this activity the night
I arrived at camp. After saying hello to a bunch of friends I
took a moment to step outside of a cabin. I took a short walk
into this meadow that is simply called pond meadow. The moon
was bright and I didn't use a flashlight, and as I walked through
the tall grass I came upon the pond at the bottom of the meadow
and sat down on the ground. I thanked the pond for being there
and for the pleasant and calming memories it filled me with.
I felt my respect for the pond and the life that it supports
and depends upon. I then asked the pond if it would give me consent
and I waited.
I don't really know how long
I wated and it might have been a lot more than 10 seconds, but
as I waited I felt an emptiness inside me. I was still flustered
from the accident and as I tried to clear my mind, it grew more
cloudy with my thoughts. Then at some point a clarity dawned
upon me, that moment of calm descended upon me and pushed everything
aside. It all stopped right there and I felt a release. I looked
up into the stars for several minutes as I usually find myself
doing when I am at camp and I found myself feeling differently.
I didn't formulate my feelings into thoughts as words, I didn't
think about asking permision or showing respect. I simply found
myself feeling an attraction and responding to it. The attraction
then grabbed me and embraced me. Everything else stopped and
my life was simply the shimmering of a few dim stars in the night
sky, struggling to be seen over the light from the moon. I felt
safe and secure and the moment I looked down, as my eyes fell,
I felt a sad feeling that I know very well. I always get that
feeling after I spend time with the stars.
When we break the connection
I always remember feelings of loss. I then felt it was time to
leave and I got up and walked away, and as I walked I found myself
moving further from what I wanted, because as I moved away from
the pond I realized that moments I feel at camp bring me attractions,
attractions that I have felt for years and over time have come
to embrace.
When I leave camp I fear for
the moments in the city, in my room, on my computer, in my classrooms
when I feel without this connection. I have looked at the stars
here, and that is how I felt, as if I were simply looking at
them. Here, I feel that the environment cannot feel me sometimes.
Sometimes its senses have been dulled and hurt and I can't embrace
them how I want to. Sometimes I wish that the stars would come
out in the day, just slightly. In that moment right after the
sun sets when light is so dim and colors are melting away. Then,
when the stars first show themselves they seem so endearing.
I know the activites are supposed to open doors, and show me
ne ways of thinking. Sometimes I feel like I already know too
much thinking and I need to leave this place and learn how to
feel in a place that will embrace me back. My biggest fears all
stem from thinking and not feeling and perhaps when I feel the
most is when attraction has allowed me to be part of it. My words
don't feel though, my words simply attempt to symbolize my thinking.
"I am reminded of studies
of the nature of combat which suggest that soldiers see their
enemies in an abstract way - the enemy is generically "evil."
It is easy to destroy an abstract evil being. It is much harder
to kill a soldier if it is realized that that soldier has a name,
a family, and so forth. I think nature has been treated as the
abstract enemy in many respects. Once we personalize it by asking
its permission to be in it, we can no longer perceive it as our
enemy. Of course, for you and I, we have never conceived of nature
as the enemy. But many have - perhaps this exercise would be
particularly useful for those people. What do you all think?
I think you have hit upon something very important yes. What
do they say? - enemies are only friends you've never met? Makes
a lot of 'sense' to me. "
"I went out to the beach
for this breathing activity, as I often do, and was able to watch
yet another magnificent sunset. So I'd have to say that was the
highlight of the activity. I'm afraid I have nothing terribly
exciting to report about it... so I think I'll comment: Maybe
I'm misinterpreting, but I think the idea that the Earth needs
us (as in me personally, not our species as a whole) is wrong.
I do like the idea that the earth loves me, but I wouldn't say
that I am as important to it as it is to me. If I stopped breathing,
the earth would not suffocate. But then, I suppose, the earth
would still be using me for something, if not for my breath then
for my physical body... Now it has just occurred to me that this
is my rational, verbalizing mind speaking to you now, rather
than the part of me that really feels what it like to be appreciated
by the earth... I think when I get indoors, the more rational
side of me begins to rear it's (ugly?) head. Ahhh, well. Breathe
on. "
"I loved to watch your
thought process unfold. . . And you are just as important to
earth as earth is to you. The web of life involves everything,
and everything is important".
"I went straight to the
beach. I decided to take a nice leisurely jog over to a spot
near the pier, away from all of the construction. I immediately
felt refreshed.
I thanked the ocean for being
there for me and making me feel so relaxed. I can always go to
the beach to get away from my hectic schedule. I always feel
so comfortable with the ocean. "
"I really appreciate the
atmosphere at the beach. The ocean and its surroundings are so
welcoming. They are accepting of everything and everybody. I
asked permission to join the ocean's rhythm and do my activity
there. "
"During the 10 seconds,
I let my mind go blank and I simply enjoyed my surroundings.
I felt so peaceful and tranquil. "
vI thanked the ocean for being
part of my life. I am so grateful that I live so close to the
ocean. It is such a blessing. After this activity, I feel closer
to and more comfortable with the ocean and its surroundings.
"
"Nature is very welcoming
and willing to share. I can always turn to the ocean to ease
my stress. Interaction with nature is an important part of my
life. As with the other activities, my self-worth was not affected.
" "However, I do feel closer to nature because in this
activity, the ocean personified aspects of my personality. I
felt a very strong connection with nature. " This activity
introduced human-like aspects of the ocean that I had never sensed
before.
I really enjoyed this posting.
I didn't think about our interactions with animals, but I really
enjoyed learning about her experience. "
"I enjoyed your trip to
the beach. It has been far too long since I made that trip. One
of the reasons is that the beach I frequented was at the end
of the wetlands, and the wetlands are struggling right now. However,
I can feel stress dissolving as I read your words. "
"First of all I'd like
to point out one tiny flaw I found. I think that some species
in nature exhibit the habit of: war. When I was young on a hike
up a mountain in Michigan with my family we stopped to watch
two groups of ants holding what cannot be described in any other
way than a war. Of course animals don't war for political and
social reasons as humans tend to. "
"Do they "war"
like humans out of judgment or do they do so for survival? I
think Dr. Cohen is stating that in human society our fighting
is not so much for survival but out of nature disconnected stories
and beliefs. Applying the word "war" to Nature may
or may not make sense to you depending upon your definition of
the word war. This is where words can hinder us. "
"The ants may look like
they are warring, but they may be following a greater attraction
of consenting to come into balance with respect to welfare of
the ecosystem (webstring attraction senses #28, and/or 36, 37,
51, 52 ). If those senses iare hidden from us, we have little
choice but to conclude that we are watching them war against
each other." (see "Canniblism," Science News,
11/13/99 V156 , No.20, Page 312 )
"I was worried about actually
doing this activity and therefore put it off. I wasn't sure I
was going to receive my areas permission. I stood in front of
the large tree and aloud asked it if I could share a moment in
it's space. I didn't feel any answer. It seemed unresponsive.
I still felt my attraction to the place, and thus I went up to
the tree and literally hugged it. So I guess if anyone wants
to call me a tree-hugger they can, because I've done it. After
doing this I feel much more connected to the tree and the area.
I belong there and can be a healthy member of its community.
"
"When I've sought permission
and don't feel I'm getting it often means that there is a block
somewhere that may challenge that particular relationship. Do
you think it was your worry about not getting permission that
acted this way? Obviously, it was not as disruptive as the blue
color of Sharon's hidden block of wood in the bag. (Part 1B Section
8)"
"I do think that one of
the reasons I felt no response as that I wasn't looking for it,
or rather I didn't feel I deserved it. I went ahead and proceeded
to the area because I didn't feel rejected but I didn't feel
accepted and thus as an act of good faith interacted with the
tree in my opinion in a positive non-disruptive way. This lead
me to a better understanding of asking and receiving permission."
"Not saying you did anything
right or wrong here, but I wonder about having proceeded without
the tree's permission. Invading a felt boundary. This often gets
us into trouble in society. Just something to think about maybe.
I'm glad in this case that it helped you feel more connected
to the tree. "
"I think its great that
you could hug a tree and feel a resulting connection with it.
I've always been apprehensive about physically interacting with
nature. even though I realize more as I do the activities that
I'm not actually sitting back and watching nature's processes,
but instead participating in them, I still feel wary about how
my impact on nature would be received. "
"I love going to the beach,
and jogging on it too. whenever I approach wildlife, especially
birds, it flees from my path. I've learned to walk around the
birds quietly, and wonder if that is the proper way to interact
with them. I feel bad when I startle them and cause them to fly
away. I wonder if this is the right way to feel, or if I should
feel natural in causing a reaction from the nature I experience.
"
"This is a new method
of thinking, yet one that appeals to me greatly. I think asking
an area's permission to be there is a worthwhile activity and
I plan on doing so in the future. I've learned that perhaps verbally
expressing my wishes to share an experience with a place is not
the best way to ask for this permission. I think that showing
your ability and willingness to be a positive member of the environment
and watching for reactions is a good method to employ. Such as
walking to the area with the intention of picking up any garbage
you may encounter, or being careful not to disturb the area in
damaging ways. And if they area responds positively to your presence
then you're welcome. "
"I'm enjoying doing these
activities again in my yard during a different season. When I
asked consent, the sparrows didn't stop their chatter. I took
this to mean that my presence wasn't intrusive. The fallen leaves
are drying out and are very crunchy, a wonderful sound as I walk
around. It was mild for November in the Northeast which felt
pleasant. Now, just a few days later, it's been in the 20's.
A breeze fluttered the windchime into a song when I gave thanks
for the experience. It makes sense that if each natural entity
gained permission to exist in its surroundings, then there would
be a greater occurrence of harmony. Certainly people don't ask
permission often enough, even from other people, let alone non-human
life forms. It felt good seek permission and to consciously give
thanks. "
"I read the Education/counseling
article a few months ago. Yet I was amazed that I still had difficulty
not reading the words instead of the ink color. Arriving at green
in green really did feel less stressful. It is the same sense
of relief I felt when I entered my yard to do the above exercise.
It feels good to keep coming back to these same good feelings
that connecting with nature provides. I am beginning to recognize
them even when the exercises change focus.
It feels appropriate to gain
consent from and give thanks to nature. It will take practice
for these new approaches to take hold. It is still more habitual
to ignore nature's consciousness. I don't dread winter this year!
I look forward to what the season can teach me.
I feel better about myself
when I ask permission and give thanks. I feel that extending
common respect to nature is also a way of extending respect to
myself by listening to my own inner nature.
The activity extended my perception
of what in my life deserves my respect. It's not enough to not
want to hurt nature. There is two way communication.
I fully agree with obtaining
consent even though I don't always remember to seek permission.
Yet is my experience that relationships between people work better
when consent is present, therefore it must also work to build
better relationships with non-verbal nature as well. I
was wondering how to account
for everything in nature consisting of positive attractions when
very often I react in a negative way towards bees, severe weather
etc. I now have an opportunity to make a major shift in my interpretation
of negative responses. Now I can start to notice the positive
attraction in events I would ordinarily label negative. "
"I read the article and
did the activity with my pony tail palm again in my room when
my roommate was away. I learned that I agree with Mike on pretty
much everything, his readings provide for me more of a reminder
about nature than teaching me something totally new. I already
have a great respect for nature and this activity seemed almost
identical to the last so it didn't turn out much different. I
find everyone's reactions interesting and some of them relate
to what I am feeling and others provide new prospectives on what
I am contemplating. "
"My experience outside
comprised of running along a lagoon late in the afternoon. At
the specific time when I was actually thinking about the activity
I was looking up at the clouds enjoying the cool air at the same
time and noticing the overall calmness of the moment. It seemed
to be the calm before the storm. I guess the webstring that I
was most attracted to was color, of the clouds, and in the reflection
of the clouds upon the waters of the lagoon. Now I thanked the
attraction to the clouds for being there for me and making me
feel good (I always get fired up on the bright yet subtle colors
of nature), and I recognized the colors and the clouds right
to exist and respected that as I always do. But I couldn't really
get anything out of asking the clouds and colors consent for
me to enjoy them. It seemed to me that I would enjoy them with
their consent or not. Now I know this type of thinking relates
to the common idea of conquering nature and having no regards
for the interests of nature, but I couldn't gain anything from
trying to commune with nature and enjoy the colors and clouds
that it provided me with.
After I tried asking nature
I still enjoyed yet more beautiful colors and further enjoyed
the all around serenity of the coming evening. And I didn't feel
bad like I was taking something from nature without nature's
consent. I simply enjoyed what was there for all, but did not
take anything and hold it for my own keeping anybody else from
enjoying the same. For these reasons I don't think I gained or
learned anything new about myself through this activity.
Good to see the activity worked
as well as it did for you, thanks for sharing your experience.
You say "I still enjoyed yet more beautiful colors and further
enjoyed the all around serenity of the coming evening. And I
didn't feel bad like I was taking something from nature without
nature's consent. " Could what you describe have occurred
because you had gained permission, i.e. put more webstrings in
you and nature on "GO" and therefore produced these
rewards? If you check the archives of this activity, you will
note that others, too, have found that seeking consent furthers
the connection relationship in similar ways. The results seem
very spectacular for those who are very disconnected, somewhat
less significant for nature enthusiasts like yourself because
your discontent is not as great. If you are interested in reaching
disconnected people with respect to increasing their global consciousness,
would this activity be of help to them, and therefore you?
I think you gained a great
deal. This was terrific. I liked the mind's picture of you running
along the lagoon and noticing the clouds and the colors. Would
you have noticed them as much if you hadn't asked permission?
You are touching nature and nature is touching you. "
"Feeling energetic I went
for a run down Golete beach. When I decided I was tired enough
I laid on the grass and watched the clouds in the sky, of course
asking them for their permission first. Thanks were given...clouds,
and waves too, can be so healing for me. they were the blowing
kind of clouds that are constantly changing and are gorgeous.
There was a sort of mutual respect between the clouds and myself
as their healing power gave me the energy to get back up and
run to my dorm room called home.
2)I learned: there isn't ownership
in nature; nature heals; movement (like the clouds moving, or
me running, or any other sort) energizes me. The activity increased
my respect for nature and my trust that nature will heal me,
this is a spiritual sort of healing...the best kind
My spiritual being...always
rejuvenated in nature, was re-educated
Kelly...you are on the same
wavelength as me... I think we run in the same place and the
waves there are gorgeous and so providing...do you ever run around
sunset time?? it really is beautiful...the water sparkles and
shimmers. "
"Earlier this evening
I went into my backyard. I have walked out there hundreds of
times since we've been living here, and some of those times I
felt removed from it, like I was on my way to somewhere else,
somewhere I had to be, with something I had to do. For 6 or more
months out of the year I do my work out there, and am often rushed,
or stressed. This time, I sat down in the grass which is covered
with yellow leaves and I looked around at the many trees and
plants, and I asked consent to join with the oneness of this
place. Immediately I felt very different, as if the person that
I am had expanded, had become as big as the yard, had encompassed
and been encompassed by the nature that is living there. I felt
immediate peace, a smiling kind of relaxation, a warm welcome
from life...as if these natural beings had been waiting for me
to stop going and doing, and to simply be, as they are simply
being. It made me smile. I felt at home, here in this community
of life that seems so friendly in its warmth and beauty. I felt
a sense of happiness and joy was being shared by all the life
in the yard. More than anything I felt welcomed for who I really
am.
I decided to try something
as an experiment. We have 3 very large redwood trees up against
one of the fences. The space behind them is dark and cool in
the summer. It reminds me of a place that kids would claim as
their own "fort", and tell their parents they could
not enter the "fort". So I went back behind the trees,
and today because we are expecting rain, it was very dark and
somewhat gloomy back there, and it was cold. I asked consent
of the area to be there and while I did not feel the area reject
my presence, the inner part of me felt restless, a bit anxious.
I did not feel as good as I had in the open yard. I sensed also
that I was fighting a story, that because I did not really like
it back there, that I was weak or fearful. In this moment I realized
that being back here in the "fort" was not attractive
to me. So I followed my attraction to go back into the open yard,
with its sense of space and calmness, and its bright yellow leaves
and feelings of welcoming friendship.
When I did this experiment
I was reminded that following my natural attractions really does
enhance my sense of self-worth and well-being. "
I am finally able to do some
nature activities and boy do I need them with all this stress
I currently have due to a mountain of school work and tests rapidly
encroaching.
For this activity I took my
bike to a place of land which is just nature and a walking/biking
trail. A place where I would be alone. I walked out into the
sun and felt very comfortable. I asked for permission to be there
and feel very accepted. The sun's warmth seemed to magnify and
I felt very relaxed and connected. I just stood there in the
sun simply being and not doing anything. I didn't think about
anything else. It was very nice and I lost track of time. I felt
very accepted by nature and at one with it. It helped me to soothe
my nerves and forget about all that is going on in my life. Basically,
it was good stuff.
|
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Continued from Page
Two
"Obviously
more good experiences in nature add to my strength and spirit.
"
Page Topic: Exploring our good experiences in
nature
"There are many places
I have had life-affirming experiences at, but there is one particular
experience that always stands out for me. It was the day I learned
about the consciousness of rocks. I was at Jenny Lake up in the
Sierra's at sun down. To briefly describe this experience is
to do violence to it, but in short, the lake is a "puddle"
in this great basin carved out by some ancient glacier which
also took away a good third of this mountain peak, leaving it
a "cut away" mountain (like the "Invisible Man"
I had as a kid). As the sun set over the west ridge of this cut
away, the shadow crept along the concave skeleton of the mountain.
I watched this for what seemed a very long time, and then I climbed
up to that zone where the rock slowly gives way to soil and then
forest. I got down on my hands and knees and studied the many
life processes that step by step and ever so slowly turned this
mountain into forest soil--from rock to lichens to rooted plants
to forest canopy. For the first time I had a sense of the loooong
and slow consciousness of the stone people. The whole event was
also backed up by a jammin' forest symphony of woodpecker percussion
and avian arias. The deer were also out for their evening supper.
"
"This experience is a
deep part of my sense of self and my place in the world. That
is why it is the first to pop into my mind when I think of significant
places in my life. "
"Nothing is stronger that
the rock solid base of all life on Earth. Now rocks are not just
rolling around like marbles in my hollow head, but are a stone
foundation for my heart and affinity for the world. Obviously
more good experiences in nature add to my strength and spirit.
"
I have always have had a fascination
with nature. Nature seems to hold so much power and wisdom yet
it is gentle, giving, and loving. Nature is where I base my spiritually.
Within it lies a power that connects all things. Something that
is beyond human thought and reason. It is just pure feeling.
It transends cognitive reasoning and perception. Within nature
lies so much love. To be in the flow of nature is to be at peace.
Through this connection intuitional wisdom can be achieved.
Obviously humans have lost
their connection with nature. I feel that this connection is
key to happiness, understanding of the true workings of the world,
and survival. Humans must understand a new and higher perspective.
To be in the flow of nature is to tap into intuitional wisdom.
Without this understanding of a larger perspective how can any
other endeavor be successful? Our society is in turmoil because
we have lost the love and understanding of nature. We need to
re-immerse ourselves with nature. There is a beautiful and unexplainable
force that connects all things with such fluidity and love. I
hope to someday become in touch with it.
It was interesting learning
about the 53 senses and the strings that connect everything.
I wasn't a wholly new concept to me but it was interesting to
try view and understand the world from a sightly different understand.
The readings really showed me how nature can be such a wonderful
mirror with which to view the self. I'm not sure that it enhanced
my sense of worth or trustfulness of nature. However it was warming
and very thought provoking. It definitely induced a longing the
be within nature and reminded me of how important nature is to
human existence. I enjoyed reading everyone's responses, especially
hearing about people's personal experiences with nature.
"Well, to use the language
of the History of Religions, it was a kratophany--a manifestation
of the sacred in place. I experience the collapsing of thousands
of millennia and even the future into that one tiny place at
the biotic edge of this great garnet bowl--the universe in a
grain of sand and lump of soil. Time and self were absorbed into
place."
"The experience activated
my sense of time, of extension in space, of weight. My sense
of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell and aesthetic. My sense
of breathing. My senses of small and large, near and far, high
and low, then and now, why and how and my sense of where I am
in the cosmos. Most importantly, my sense of being an Earthling.
"
"Without what I've learned
from classes, books, people and TV, I would not have had much
of the context of experience and knowledge of geography, geology,
soil biology, plant biology, astronomy, atmospheric science and
acoustics, hydrology and the many cultural notions of the consciousness
of rocks and mountains. The experience itself, though, did not
come from any of these sources. It came immediately from my full
participation in the moment and the place, such that self, time,
and place we integrated into a singe existence."
"I recognize that the
ability to register and retain attractive sensory contacts with
nature are innate, but I also have learned that we don't notice
what we're not interested in nor remember what we failed to notice.
These things are in there somewhere (that's why hypnotism is
interesting, no?), but if we are not conscious of them, then
they do little good for our physical, spiritual, and social development.
"
"I've been coming to my
own conclusions about "reality" and how things are
only how we perceive them because of what we've been told all
of our lives by society. This applies extremely well in the case
of nature. I was sitting on a bench with a friend of mine the
other day looking at the sidewalk, the grass and a small patch
of some brush that was growing. They were all separated unnaturally
by a gardener who made sure the brush would remain at the same
size, the grass would cross the line, etc. I commented on this
to my friend and he replied with a common response. We discussed
how our attitudes as humans are taught to be that we should dominate
nature when we should really be a part of it. "
"The activities of Part
1B, the different pictures, many of which I've seen before, all
help to see this truth. Reality is simply how you perceive it.
Many times by taking a step back you can see how your previous
view of reality was in some way incorrect, or fogged. I saw one
of these, the old lady who is also the young lady looking away,
in a good book I read about realizing how all of your actions
are made by your choices. And many times we make the choices
without thinking about it."
"At any rate I found this
extremely beneficial and to back up what was only fermenting
in my mind: The world of cities and cut grass with sidewalks
around it isn't natural. I feel something unique and different
in a natural setting. "
"I enjoyed the way this
activity made you think about things and see a lot of things
objectively. I had quite a positive experience with it. Although
I still cannot formulate a definition of the term webstring,
I think I'm beginning to at least understand it."
"I am sure that we may
consider ourselves more ecologically aware and do our part to
help the environment, but we still do our fair share of polluting
whether consciously or not. Yet, we see beautiful sunsets and
sunrises, and feel terribly trustful and comfortable in nature.
For this I am greatly thankful because if nature did not unconditionally
love us, we would be being put through one hell of a time. I
like what you wrote though, keep it up. "
"I would say I reinforced
or reminded myself about the aspects in nature that I really
like. When I think about the many pre-sunrise surfs I have had
I come to think about all the colors that slowly march across
the sky as the sun gets closer and closer to peaking above the
horizon. I love the contrast in colors from the east where bright
gleaming rays of light spear through the clouds and then down
on me providing a little warmth to a chilly morning and then
to the west where the sky fades up from a dark blue along the
horizon into faint hues of pink and purple. These are the things
I enjoy, recognizing the ability of nature to create beauty day
in and day out. And the fact that it is just me and nature out
on these mornings just adds to the specialness of them to me."
"One of the most attractive
experiences I have ever had with nature was climbing to Glacier
Point at Yosemite. It is a four mile hike up 2000 vertical feet,
uphill all the way on steep switchbacks. You never think you
are going to reach the top but when you finally do, you look
over the edge at the whole valley in all of it's majesty. To
say it is breathtaking is an understatement! It is a feeling
that is indescribable and exciting, one that everyone needs to
feel. I hope I will get to experience that feeling many times
in this course."
"I found it interesting
that the other people all seemed so exuberant about the whole
prospect of things. People all seemed to be entering the program
and focusing upon events in their life that connected them to
nature and hoping to capture those feelings more(myself included.)
After further thought I don't want to chase after those feelings,
scrambling for edible fragments of my past, as I do that enough
anyway. I am instead interested in finding new feelings, connections,
webstrings, or whatever that will define the ever-changing and
moving experiences of myself. "
"I too have felt a strong
connection with nature. Some of my strongest feelings of connection
with nature have occurred when I was in the Julian mountains.
It has been there that I have actually forgot about the many
stress's and busy days of life at home and in the city. It has
been there when I have felt as a real part of something and not
just a busy ant doing all his work, separate from everything
else and fighting for himself. My strongest connections have
also occurred at unplanned moments when all of a sudden something
almost magical occurred and I and those around me sensed a closeness
and a spiritualness that I experience on an incredibly rare basis.
Although these experiences are incredible, they are also something
I do not wish to feel all the time as they are defining moments
in my life and incredibly powerful. They mean so much because
of this. "
"This activity mainly
permitted me to realize and reaffirm some of my beliefs about
nature. It reawakened a passion for the outdoors and the mountains
that I had been forgetting about a bit. It excited me more about
the next time I will go to the mountains or some form of nature.
"
"This activity has begun
to enhance my sense of self-worth appreciation of nature. I also
had a revelation as a result!! I have a plant that I keep in
my dorm room, and try to rotate it from my desk to the top of
the microwave (next to the window sill) so it can get some sunlight.
And right after I did the exercise, I realized that the newest
stalks and leaves of the plant were extending and bending toward
the light!! I was very excited about this webstring discovery
in my very own room, but there was no one to share it with who
would take me seriously. My roommate rolled her eyes and my boyfriend
told me that I was wrong, and that this is only a physical/ biological
trait, nothing more. So I'm looking forward to reading all of
your responses to 1A and relating to and learning from your experiences!
"
"I think your example
of the plant's attraction to light is great, and Hristo, your
comments on it were right on. As I see it, if we chose to, we
could simply explain the orientation of the plant toward the
light source as biological and nothing else, and most people
would likely be satisfied with that explanation. But it is no
less true that the plant has an attraction to the light would
not accurately be portrayed simply by looking at it scientifically.
To me, science is no more true than emotions and webstring attractions."
"In regards your rather
disappointing experience with your roommate and her boyfriend
I'd like to point out something. I find that most people are
simply relying on what they've been told to perceive things as.
A lot of times people don't go by what they feel and perhaps
know to be true but simply on what society and everyone else
has told them. For example they might believe nature is simply
a series of biological processes for which we can only take advantage
of in a technological sense. But we can also use it emotionally,
as you've mentioned. At best we can hope to persuade these people
to at least question some of their beliefs, and those who refuse
we can only hope to change through our own example. "
"My most memorable and
important positive experiences in nature come from frequent visits
to the woods, to a fort, in my hometown Austin, TX. In fourth
grade a friend down the street from me built this fort in the
nearby woods, now virtually surrounded by houses, save one strip
not being developed. Deer live in the forest and the other nearby
strips as well. "
"The fort was rather bland,
though well built when myself and a few of my other friends started
regularly going down there to hang out and spend the night. We'd
build campfires and simply have a great time hanging out in the
woods. "
"The fort is simply four
corner stone trees with barbed wire and horizontal logs supported
vertical logs and sticks that make a four cornered open aired
fort. We brought an old couch and a few chairs and it quickly
became my favorite hangout. "
"I think that I enjoyed
the fort so much because there definitely is something inherently
pleasing about being in a natural setting. Especially when I
feel comfortable with my good friends. Whenever we'd go to the
fort, we were almost in another mode, when we'd come back out
to the street it would seem almost foreign, different. The morning
was one of my favorite times at the fort, so we'd spend the night
ceremonially whenever something important happened: leaving for
college, etc."
"I savor my moments in
pure nature, without the presence of the ugly boxes we refer
to as buildings. There's a cold feeling in big cities. My best
experiences in nature were definitely at the fort. I look forward
to going back home and I'm sure I'll go out to the fort with
my friends. "
"When I read it I noticed
it was a lot like Dr. Cohen's lecture and I felt a lot of the
same feelings this time as I did during the lecture. I need to
reconnect with nature I am detached from some of the natural
webstrings I am not detached from all of the natural webstrings.
"
"My soul felt very guilty
for being disconnected from nature for so long. It is excited
and remorseful at the same time. I have to say that starting
this course has inspired a number of emotions in me mostly good
but enough that are depressing to notice. IS ANYONE ELSE FEELING
THIS? I found everyone's' experiences very attractive you all
are very lucky. "
"First of all, I'd like
to promote the use of the word "webstring." I like
it and it appeals to what I conceive of natural attractions.
"
"When I did the activity,
I reflected on my experiences with the beach. As I mentioned
in my intro, I was born and raised in San Diego and have many
personal ties to the ocean. I am very excited about being at
Santa Barbara now because I have a new beach to discover and
experience. The activity made me realize that even though I love
and appreciate nature, I do subconsciously cut and injure webstrings
within and around me. This was somewhat disturbing, and I am
hoping that as the course continues, I will learn ways in which
to stop myself from doing this, as I now am unaware. Another
important thing I learned from doing this exercise was that even
though I fully believe the concept that webstrings are a form
of unconditional love, I have yet to truly experience them in
this way. I also realized that my occasional bouts of undue depression
may be a result of isolation from the web process, as I sometimes
become deeply and sad and troubled without ever having a clear
"reason" as to why. "
"Laurel you wrote that
you never thought of nature loving you back but considered that
all you experience in nature despite of how you act towards nature.
I am sure that we may consider ourselves more ecologically aware
and do our part to help the environment, but we still do our
fair share of polluting whether consciously or not. Yet, we see
beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and feel terribly trustful and
comfortable in nature. For this I am greatly thankful because
if nature did not unconditionally love us, we would be being
put through one hell of a time."
"I have had many incredibly
wonderful experiences in nature, almost all of which have been
in the past 6 or 7 years. I have found that these times draw
me back to them again and again, and as I incorporate these experiences
into myself, I feel better as a person. It is as if I am drawn
to the strength and beauty of nature within me, as well as being
deeply attracted to the natural world around me. I know that
I grow in spirit as a person with each and every natural connection."
"Whether it was our summer
day on the shores of Bow Lake in the Canadian Rockies, or watching
Orcas surface off the coast of San Juan Island, or running through
a sunlit high-mountain pasture after a thunderstorm in the San
Juan Mtns of Colorado, the experience brought me peace. My sensory
attractions were to the colors of earth and sky, the feel of
the wind, the warmth of the sun, the sounds of the Orcas, the
aspen leaves dancing, the textures of tree bark, the motion of
clouds, the softness of the rain turning to icy hardness of hail.
And I was, and am, attracted to the feelings....those of peace,
serenity, and joyful play....those of community and friendship
with my natural world family. I become all these feelings...I
become who I really am. "
"I was not taught any
of this as a child, or in school or by reading...in fact I was
a terrified rebellious kid/adult who used to hang out in bars,
drinking and smoking and always searching for...something! Yet
my nature connections seem to have always existed within me,
even though as many people, I was blinded to it by society. Now
I feel so fortunate to have allowed that tiny window to open
up in my societal armor, through which nature in me and around
me made this profound connection. This connection feels good,
it feels ancient and wise, it feels supportive and caring and
peaceful. Nature tells me all living things share this connection.
Underneath all the "stuff", this is how I experience
Life. "
"I did this activity sitting
in my yellow-leafed yard on this warm day...as I recalled the
natural areas I have experienced, I felt at great peace, smiling
and laughing, with a profound sense of well-being. It strengthened
my belief that we have an ancient, inborn connection with the
natural world...that in fact we are nature. That silent contemplation
on past good experiences can and do reconnect us to them and
their rewards, right now in the present moment. That during each
moment we can choose to seek and find a natural sensory attraction
and follow it to feelings of peace, love, fun, oneness, and happiness.
The activities enhance senses of self-worth and trust in nature,
absolutely, every time!! This is why I love the earth so much.
"
"The part of me this activity
identifies is that part of me that is the Orca at play, the aspen
leaves shimmering, the clouds billowing and floating, the water
rippling with sun sparkles, the peace of the high mountain meadows
in summer, the laughter of deep friendship, the deer with big
soft eyes and flicking tail...the connection I share with all
life around me. "
"Sounds like you had an
amazing experience with nature when you were young. how wonderful!
your experience gives me more conviction of the "webstrings":
even though you had probably never heard of "webstrings"
when you were young, you still had that connection with nature
and it seems to have stayed with you through maturity. I'm just
curious to know if you think that those experiences shaped a
large portion of who you are, and if they affect your relationships
with other people? "
"An experience in nature
that I enjoyed very much was several years ago when I lived in
a rural area with several hundred acres of woods just beyond
my backyard. The woods were quite marshy and the ground was always
covered with soft, green moss. The water undermined the root
systems of several trees and they had long ago toppled over.
Their roots stood up and were also draped in moss. I loved to
draw the tangled root branches which were like magnificent sculptures.
I enjoyed the gentle sounds of the woods: The trickle of water
over stones, twittering birds and breezes. Over many months I
also began to sense a powerful energy dwelling in the stillness.
I felt that nature was speaking a language I had once known but
had forgotten. I think that nature planted a seed in me that
this course is helping to grow."
"At the age of twelve
I went to glacier National Park in Montana. During this trip
I was able to experience nature in a way that I never had before.
One specific moment stands out in my mind. My parents, brother
and I decided to go to a secluded lake because all the major
lakes were full of people. We walked for hours until we came
to the lake. This lake had a thin layer of mist over it, but
visibility was not obstructed. The flora and fauna stretched
to the edges of the bank and decomposing trees lay in the water
close to shore. There were no boats, no fishermen, and no tourists
taking photographs. Evidence of wildlife was shown when a huge
moose cross the water across the lake. Since the lake was void
of humanly sounds, I could hear the sound of water as the moose
stepped along. This was probably the only time that I have been
in a habitat that was untouched by man."
"I had many different
reactions to all of the different things presented to think about.
Things were talked about involving nature and I often forget
to be aware of my surroundings and appreciate them. I know and
understand the concept of all the strings but it's true that
when one is out and looking at nature, you often don't see all
of the connections. Nature seems so free and alive that to analyze
it in a more technical nature is often not my natural response.
Nature is completely unconditional accepting everything and adapting
to the process of life. "
"One thing that I found
very ironic is that as I read more and more, I began thinking
of my day and my little involvement with nature and realized
I was sitting here, in my room, and looking at a computer screen
talking about such in-depth concepts of nature. Completely detached
from nature with the exception of my mind remembering experiences
or picturing places. I found it odd that it was such great, mind-provoking
reading on nature, and I was sitting in a room closed off from
it all. It makes me all the more aware of the fact that I need
to make a conscious effort to keep in touch with nature. Somewhere
it said something about your life losing potential because of
this but I believe as long as we avoid all the harms around us
and focus on connecting with nature, we are all fine. Everyone
at times will feel lonely or sad or stressed, unfortunately,
but it is not based on simply our isolation from nature. These
are the most important times to reconnect with nature and we
can't blame disconnection as the cause of these distresses. Basically,
nature is an important factor for our sense of self in our lives.
Nature can soothe the hassles of everyday life which makes it
all the more important that we take care of it. "
"I did this activity simply
by reading, stopping to think and continuing. I took several
breaks and walked outside, did other things between finishing
this assignment. This activity didn't teach me three things that
I could just state or explain, it just caused me to think about
many things I really hadn't considered before. It made me get
past the simple nature is beautiful, make sure we preserve it.
It made me look more at the structure of nature and myself, comparing
the two. It made me contrast the different aspects and ideas
turning inside to myself, placing some statements that I had
never really thought of that described some responses in me that
I wouldn't have realized or expected. This activity didn't have
any huge life altering affects but it did make me look inside
a little more than usual. It made you truly analyze some things
in depth, that aren't usually placed before you to think about.
It just made me think of how much nature helps me in getting
through those everyday problems of loneliness, sadness, and stress.
"
"I also agree with those
of you who feel that the term "webstring" is an apt
one. To me, it brings images to mind of interconnectedness and
also of fragility. A string can so easily be cut. So the word
webstring reminds me both of the mutual dependence among webstrings
and of the need to be maintain the strength of these connections.
"
"I like your statement
that "I think that I enjoyed the fort so much because there
definitely is something inherently pleasing about being in a
natural setting." It reminds me of how I have felt this
week. I just started a new job, and outside my office is an open-air
courtyard with a natural setting - a stream, ferns, trees, rocks,
etc. Whenever I look out at this setting, I feel this strong
attraction to go to it, yet I can't. It seems like I was attracted
to what would be an inherently pleasing experience, but I was
trapped in an office. I think the inability to go outside frustrated
me, as I knew that I was drawn outside yet could not go. Maybe
I'll just take my desk outside! "
"The environment has always
been one of my most influential interests. There's something
about nature that is a release for me, it's spiritual, claming,
inspirational, and so much more. From my days as a little girl
there has always been an attraction to the outdoors, which is
one I see myself maintaining throughout life. I want this attraction
to be able to be enjoyed by those who come after me, in the scope
of the world's timeline. I can't possibly imagine the world without
the preserves of nature, some of which I have been lucky enough
to enjoy. It would be an incredible misfortune if the selfishness
of man destroyed nature's beauty for the rest of humanity."
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Seven of this Archive
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INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL
EDUCATION
Special NGO consultant
United Nations Economic and Social Council
Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated
Ecology
PROJECT NATURECONNECT
The
Natural Systems Thinking Process
In cooperation with
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and
Portland State University
Readily
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the health of person, planet and spirit
P.O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-6313
send email
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Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director
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