Earthlight Magazine / Books / Home
Copyright © 1997 by Del Hall
All rights reserved. Inquiries should be addressed to
Twelve Star Publishing, P.O. Box 123, Jefferson, MD 21755
Modern life is much too busy and important for one to
spend time in the woods relaxing. Besides, there are bears and
bugs that might hurt us, and of course, a definite lack of conveniences.
Times were different when John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, various
poets and well-known spiritual giants found guidance, peace, and
renewal in the wilderness. Certainly modern men and women have
outgrown the need for a loving connection to the planet earth.
If all this "logic" is true, then what is the
cause of the transformation I observe in those leaving our mountaintop?
Why have their body motions turned from a series of tense jerky
actions to graceful deer-like movements? Where has the stress
and strain of the face muscles gone? Why is there now such simple
joy at walking in the woods without making a sound, without the
animals running away, withoutfear of theirown planet
gripping their hearts? Perhaps the method Nature uses to renew
and heal us on all levels is not as important to know as the fact
that it does heal. Most of us really do not know how our
modern computers work, yet we all benefit from their operation.
If going into the woods can help one to heal physically,
emotionally, or spiritually, then why is there not a stampede
to our parks and forests? Two answers seem to stand out. One is
that modern people have actually forgotten that Mother Earth is
here for us. We as a society have removed ourselves so far from
nature that we have actually forgotten that she provides for all
of our physical needs. Everything, even the materials for our
computers, come from the Earth Mother. When I ask a child where
corn comes from, I usually get one of two answers: "From
cans." or "From the frozen foods section." Few
actually see in their mind's eye, fields of tall beautiful, life-giving
corn stalks. It has only been the last few generations, of all
the generations of mankind to walk this planet, that have become
so far removed from basic understanding and respect for Nature.
Today, many of those that profess to understand and love nature
do so only from the logical book-learning part of their minds.
But, unknown to them, Mother Earth teaches and heals best from
the heart!
The second answer isfear, fear, fear! Once something
inside us compels us to get outside more or take a camping or
hiking trip, fear of the unknown begins to creep into our consciousness.
We have become so far removed from nature that this ancient friend
and provider actually frightens us. We now look at this old friend
as if she were a stranger to be feared. We no longer know how
to walk into her arms with only the clothes on our backs, knowing
that she will provide for all our physical needs. We now must
bring all our needs from town - food, matches, medicines, shelter,
water, clothing, etc. It is no wonder that we cannot feel her
love because we do not even know how to accept her gifts directly.
It is as if we have become aliens on our own planet. So few feel
at home and that they actually belong here - on their own
planet! People now go into the woods with so many man-made items
that they remind me of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in 1969.
They might as well be visiting some foreign planet.
I have found that reading books and watching nature programs
cannot reconnect one with this ancient friend from many lives.
It must be done gently, at her home in the natural environment,
with one's physical hands and feet during the day, and by sleeping
on her ground and under her stars at night. It starts by accepting
her little gifts first. Perhaps making string from her plant fibers,
enjoying one of her wild edible plants, reading the previous night's
activities through the animal tracks on her skin, or learning
how to get very close to a baby deer. These small gifts begin
to open one's heart, if you are grateful. When the heart opens,
then the fear is slowly pushed aside. When love has replaced fear,
then she will begin to reveal the secrets of inner healing - secrets
one can never fully experience from a book or movie.
So, yes, modern life is busy. And yes, each of us
is here for a reason, and we are important to the Creator.
But we have not outgrown the need to feel at home on our own planet.
Would it surprise you to hear that reconnecting with nature could
help one to reconnect with self, family, neighbors, work associates,
and even Spirit itself? For years I have seen individuals coming
to our Nature Awareness School to learn about nature, only to
have them leave knowing and loving themselves more. Though the
Earth is only one small part of creation, it is a good place to
begin on our path of love.
Dell Hall conducts many classes on nature awareness and
primitive living skills at his school in the Blue Ridge Mountains
near Love, VA. For a free school brochure, call or write to: Nature
Awareness School, P.O. Box 219-EL, Lyndhurst, VA 22952. (540)
377-6068.