It teaches me to be still. To be patient. To be present without assumption or judgement. It teaches me growth is inevitable. & that God is present all around us.
I have never thought about what I learned from nature…I am always aware of and grateful for what I receive from nature, so maybe that is a learning of sorts.
When spending time in and with nature, the 1st thing that occurs is a deep relaxation, as if a very lightweight warm blanket is gently placed around me, then my shoulders probably move away from my ears and there is a feeling internally as if a flower has opened and is soaking up sun.
Well I guess I learned I need carve out more time to visit nature.
Nature consistently teaches me nothing lasts forever. This fall has many goodbyes in it, people, and places, causing some heart aches, May we each have a restful weekend 🍁☮️
A quick post to say thank you to All for their prayers for me yesterday. I made it safely to Phoenix, no problems. Thank you kindly. 🙏🏻
I love seeing all the cacti & succulents here in Arizona. Their hardiness gives me wonder. 🌵
That the good Lord gave us so much beauty and wonder! I love nature, very much an outdoor gal even though I work in an office.
Been seeing some deer lately around our new house and the other morning they were munching apples at our apple tree out back. I didn’t notice until the ran out back and I could see their white tails.
There are little dramas being played out
all around the natural world,
and I believe they are all sacred.
Nature has taught me that . . .
the natural laws of the universe
allow action and reaction,
rewards and consequences,
but with neither favoritism nor judgment.
There is beauty and purity in everything . . .
even the things that we humans see as violent and disturbing.
The cycles of life look like chaos and cruelty sometimes,
often caused by human meddling,
but there is unadulterated sweetness behind appearances.
Nature has a broader view than humankind,
understands death and storms,
fires and floods.
and lives a wisdom that we would do well to learn from.
My husband and I
used to go to Misquamicut beach in Rhode Island
for a week in August
to celebrate our anniversary . . .
we’d have coffee overlooking the sea early every morning.
One day
there was a large fish that had washed up on the shore,
and we watched in awe
as a mother Herring Gull
taught her offspring how to find food on his own . . .
she would attack the dead fish and tear at its flesh,
then chase the young ‘un to the corpse,
over and over.
Other gulls became interested,
and tried to participate in the feast,
but the mother angrily shooed them away,
returning to focus on the lesson with the young bird
until she was finally able to coax him to the task at hand.
The entire drama being played out in front of me
felt sacred and intimate.
These birds,
with their tiny little brains
know stuff.
It’s all written in their DNA . . .
It’s embedded in their veins and arteries . . .
how to live,
how to thrive,
and how to die.
Nature takes care of her own. ♥
Tzori: The god is wonderful and his many deeds are manifold, and also, fun fact, dolphins sometimes wear sea sponges as ornaments of a sort. look it up. it is real. you see?
When I think of nature I think of the feeling of peace, bravery, kindness and that all happens as it should be and that we are the ones in charge of noticing it
When I think of nature, I think of the “mountain meditation” For anyone unfamiliar: one visualizes a mountain with all the seasons coming and going. Snow and cold winds blow onto the mountain, rain, sunshine. Leaves change, fall, bud. Animals come and go. And the “Lake meditation”: weather coming and going with untouched calm below the surface. Nature teaches me how to stay steady when exterior things change or challenge me. It reminds me that life is an ever changing cycle of this. The sun rises and sets another cycle of activity and of rest. The Ocean for some reason reminds me I am not alone. I can walk the beach and it is my companion. Its tides another cycle. Its waves like my breath, rhythmic, constant ; gentle or fierce. The birds have given me lessons in parenting. Pushing them from the nest and standing anxious vigil as they learn to fly. The mother eagle brings sharp sticks into the nest to make her young ones uncomfortable so they are encouraged to leave. Animals in general demonstrate resilience and acceptance to me. The ants teach me about connected communities. There are so many lessons and reassurances for me in nature.
What a great reflection question today. I feel replenished just contemplating nature!! Our minds are wonderful and powerful- that just contemplating something can fill us.
Just having some water to splash in can be a source of great joy (at least it seems to me that the birds are happy splashing in water). This is all I could think of off hand, but I really felt nourished reading all of your responses, and I will keep thinking about this today. Wishing everyone moment(s) of connection with nature today ♥️
Life goes on. The ocean tide comes in. The sun rises each morning and sets in the evening. We all see the same moon at night. The birds awaken each morning. It’s all there each day as I open my front door.
Something different every time. Recently an urban coyote sized me up while I was walking the dog. I stopped and gave it time. It then trotted in the opposite direction. A few minutes later, on the same walk, a different coyote did the same thing.
I did not feel threatened with either coyote. The encounters were neutral. The coyotes simply needed a moment. I did not project fear onto them, I was receptive to the moment, and we went our separate ways. If, in that moment, I would have sensed aggression, a different kind of encounter would have followed.
I thank the coyotes for reminding me to be receptive in the moment, and with strangers. Nature has so much to teach, in so many different forms.
That the seasons change. Each one has it characteristics. Then each of those have their own intensity. When I enjoy each one it helps me go with the flow.
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It teaches me to be still. To be patient. To be present without assumption or judgement. It teaches me growth is inevitable. & that God is present all around us.
I have never thought about what I learned from nature…I am always aware of and grateful for what I receive from nature, so maybe that is a learning of sorts.
When spending time in and with nature, the 1st thing that occurs is a deep relaxation, as if a very lightweight warm blanket is gently placed around me, then my shoulders probably move away from my ears and there is a feeling internally as if a flower has opened and is soaking up sun.
Well I guess I learned I need carve out more time to visit nature.
Nature consistently teaches me nothing lasts forever. This fall has many goodbyes in it, people, and places, causing some heart aches, May we each have a restful weekend 🍁☮️
A quick post to say thank you to All for their prayers for me yesterday. I made it safely to Phoenix, no problems. Thank you kindly. 🙏🏻
I love seeing all the cacti & succulents here in Arizona. Their hardiness gives me wonder. 🌵
My daughter is planning a bd trip to Phoenix soon. Enjoy your time there.
That the good Lord gave us so much beauty and wonder! I love nature, very much an outdoor gal even though I work in an office.
Been seeing some deer lately around our new house and the other morning they were munching apples at our apple tree out back. I didn’t notice until the ran out back and I could see their white tails.
There are little dramas being played out
all around the natural world,
and I believe they are all sacred.
Nature has taught me that . . .
the natural laws of the universe
allow action and reaction,
rewards and consequences,
but with neither favoritism nor judgment.
There is beauty and purity in everything . . .
even the things that we humans see as violent and disturbing.
The cycles of life look like chaos and cruelty sometimes,
often caused by human meddling,
but there is unadulterated sweetness behind appearances.
Nature has a broader view than humankind,
understands death and storms,
fires and floods.
and lives a wisdom that we would do well to learn from.
My husband and I
used to go to Misquamicut beach in Rhode Island
for a week in August
to celebrate our anniversary . . .
we’d have coffee overlooking the sea early every morning.
One day
there was a large fish that had washed up on the shore,
and we watched in awe
as a mother Herring Gull
taught her offspring how to find food on his own . . .
she would attack the dead fish and tear at its flesh,
then chase the young ‘un to the corpse,
over and over.
Other gulls became interested,
and tried to participate in the feast,
but the mother angrily shooed them away,
returning to focus on the lesson with the young bird
until she was finally able to coax him to the task at hand.
The entire drama being played out in front of me
felt sacred and intimate.
These birds,
with their tiny little brains
know stuff.
It’s all written in their DNA . . .
It’s embedded in their veins and arteries . . .
how to live,
how to thrive,
and how to die.
Nature takes care of her own. ♥
“Little dramas playing out…”What a wonderful image for all that we observe.
Thank you,
dear Cathie . . . 🙂
The inner intelligence of the universe is within all life. I believe.
I do too,
dear Joseph. ♥
Tzori: The god is wonderful and his many deeds are manifold, and also, fun fact, dolphins sometimes wear sea sponges as ornaments of a sort. look it up. it is real. you see?
Sarah: That Beauty and brutality exist together.
When I think of nature I think of the feeling of peace, bravery, kindness and that all happens as it should be and that we are the ones in charge of noticing it
When I think of nature, I think of the “mountain meditation” For anyone unfamiliar: one visualizes a mountain with all the seasons coming and going. Snow and cold winds blow onto the mountain, rain, sunshine. Leaves change, fall, bud. Animals come and go. And the “Lake meditation”: weather coming and going with untouched calm below the surface. Nature teaches me how to stay steady when exterior things change or challenge me. It reminds me that life is an ever changing cycle of this. The sun rises and sets another cycle of activity and of rest. The Ocean for some reason reminds me I am not alone. I can walk the beach and it is my companion. Its tides another cycle. Its waves like my breath, rhythmic, constant ; gentle or fierce. The birds have given me lessons in parenting. Pushing them from the nest and standing anxious vigil as they learn to fly. The mother eagle brings sharp sticks into the nest to make her young ones uncomfortable so they are encouraged to leave. Animals in general demonstrate resilience and acceptance to me. The ants teach me about connected communities. There are so many lessons and reassurances for me in nature.
What a great reflection question today. I feel replenished just contemplating nature!! Our minds are wonderful and powerful- that just contemplating something can fill us.
”The mother eagle brings sharp sticks into the nest to make her young ones uncomfortable so they are encouraged to leave.”
I had to smile,
dear Heather. ♥
The majesty, power, beauty, complexity, … of Mother Nature.
The cycle of the seasons, the birth, life, death and resurrection we all experience if we grow in self awareness…if we are willing to evolve.
Just having some water to splash in can be a source of great joy (at least it seems to me that the birds are happy splashing in water). This is all I could think of off hand, but I really felt nourished reading all of your responses, and I will keep thinking about this today. Wishing everyone moment(s) of connection with nature today ♥️
Life goes on. The ocean tide comes in. The sun rises each morning and sets in the evening. We all see the same moon at night. The birds awaken each morning. It’s all there each day as I open my front door.
When my son was in Iraq, looking at the moon gave me comfort.
🌙♥️
Oh, the ocean tides, I do miss them living inland. Enjoy, Mary.
♥️
Enjoy them for me, too! I love where I live now but will always be a mermaid at heart 🧜🏼♀️
There is nothing like the ocean. ♥️
Something different every time. Recently an urban coyote sized me up while I was walking the dog. I stopped and gave it time. It then trotted in the opposite direction. A few minutes later, on the same walk, a different coyote did the same thing.
I did not feel threatened with either coyote. The encounters were neutral. The coyotes simply needed a moment. I did not project fear onto them, I was receptive to the moment, and we went our separate ways. If, in that moment, I would have sensed aggression, a different kind of encounter would have followed.
I thank the coyotes for reminding me to be receptive in the moment, and with strangers. Nature has so much to teach, in so many different forms.
Resilient creatures, those coyote’s.
You met Nature
on its own terms,
dear Drea.
You shared moments with two coyotes,
and then moved on . . .
what a beautiful and brave connection. ♥
Thank you dear Sparrow.
That the seasons change. Each one has it characteristics. Then each of those have their own intensity. When I enjoy each one it helps me go with the flow.