Why Nature
There’s nowhere better to experience spiritual direction than in the raw beauty of the Colorado wilderness.
Even those who don’t adhere to any religion can attest that being in nature touches them deeply, on a spiritual level. We feel more alive because we’re surrounded by life. We have evolved to be attuned to nature.
How is it spiritual though? Have you ever talked to a tree? Or felt its joy? While that may sound outlandish, it’s in our Psalms:
Let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar with all its fullness;
Let the field exult; and all that is it; then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy. - Psalm 96
“Let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar with all its fullness;
Let the field exult; and all that is it; then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy.”
The trees and woods sing for joy!
In Jewish tradition, every plant and blade of grass has its own angel hovering over it telling it, “Grow.” Rabbi Abraham Kook the first chief rabbi of Israel, echoes Psalms saying;
“Every part of the vegetable world is singing a song and bringing forth a secret of the divine mystery of creation.
Everything is infused with the Divine.”
Of course, this is not just a Jewish concept. Christian spiritual director Mary DeJong says:
“This great Flaring Forth (language that Thomas Berry and Brian Swim used to describe the Big Bang) describes the moment when God decided to manifest, materialize, self-expose within the universe, in the natural world, in the more than human world...so that every form of life becomes a Theophany, a God-showing, a revelation of Eternal, Sacred Rhythms. So creation, then, is the primary incarnation, the primary revelation of the Divine.”
What does this mean for our spiritual practice?
Well, Martin Buber says that we can enter into the I-Thou relationship with a tree or plant. Perhaps Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa can help with this:
“In the cherry blossom’s shade
there’s no such thing
as a stranger”
Indeed, in the natural world and wilderness we can enter a deeper connection with creation, with Spirit and with ourselves. With practice (and maybe a little luck!) we can feel a little bit of that ‘Infinite Unity of Everything’ as one of my teachers, Rabbi Marcia Prager says.
Nature and humanity have a symbiotic relationship. The trees breathe in what we breathe out and vice versa. In turn, the natural world responds to us, as we respond to it. Thus, we feel the spiritual principle that we receive love to give love.
Explore nature through these offerings:
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Spiritual Direction
How is the Sacred Working in Your Life?
While many wellbeing modalities focus on self-care, spiritual direction is soul-care.
With my companionship and guidance you will cultivate a deeper awareness of yourself and your spiritual journey.
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Soul-O / Vision Fast
Listen to the Wilderness Call to Your Wild Soul
You feel the pull, the timeless connection, the deep knowing of your Truth. By fasting and immersing in the more-than-human world, you connect with Spirit and Soul. You are alone, yet surrounded by the abundant relationship of the wild.
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Forest Bathing / Spirit Walk
Immerse in Nature for Well-Being and Growth
The Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) invites you to be at one and at peace in the tranquility of the forest. The sights and scents of the trees, the light and sounds all invoke a profound sense of connection with the more-than-human world and with yourself.
