When I’m feeling exhausted from computer time, I have a few outlets as the antidote, but one of my favorites is Nature. I’ve been attuned to nature for a long, long time, perhaps because of so much playing outdoors as a kid. (It was a different kind of era.) Nature landscapes were a big part of my artist years, too, so it was a natural progression for it to become an important aspect of my writing.
Nature is not only a path to honing human connection, and also as an antidote to technology exhaustion. Our constant scrolling can cause overload, anxiety, stress, and then projecting that into the future. Nature pulls us back to the “Moment” and the power of now, where our own innate wisdom can be accessed and heard.
Mother Nature has many magic potions up her sleeve. In this case, the haiku message is her power to help us develop the art of mindfulness, and immersing fully in the moment.
When we walk in a nature area and are truly attentive to all the beautiful details, our monkey mind worries about the future and regrets about the past fall away, at least for a little while. We begin to understand the full power of now.
Here is a suggested exercise for you. Next time you go out for a nature break, observe yourself. I have gone for entire walks so wound up in my thoughts, I really did not see much at all. There is a big difference between “looking” and “seeing”. When you make a conscious effort to really see what’s on your path, mindfulness comes into play.
“Observe always that everything is the result of change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and make new ones like them.” (Marcus Aurelius)
“Resonate” is a reminder of why it’s so important to spend time in nature as a health antidote to tech, and to maintain our organic connection to our planet.
The Schumann Resonance, otherwise known as the Earth’s “heartbeat”, is an electromagnetic wave that circles the planet’s circumference, and is closely connected to (and communicates with) our brains. Scientific study of the full effects of Schumann Resonance ELF waves on our health and wellbeing is still in its infancy, but to date it suggests that when human vibration is out of sync with Earth’s heartbeat, we are not in a prime state of health.
There are many articles outlining the interference and possible detrimental effects played by our synthetic technologies. There are also theories that staying in alignment could play an important part in the future expansion of our collective human consciousness.
Start noticing how you feel when you spend too much time around TV, computers, cell phones, etc. Compare that with how you feel in nature. Really tune in to how the images, colors, and sounds are affecting your mind and body. Listen to the Earth’s heartbeat. She is communicating with you, so get to know and feel her language. Whether you realize it or not, she is calling you back to your organic essence.
Nature highlights what is real. As useful as computers are, nothing about them feels real to me. Certainly I have never experienced that elevated feeling of life as a human (called joy) through one. Humans are organic beings, and so is nature. “Enchant” reminds us of the warmth that the cold digital world cannot offer us energetically. The angst in the world feels heavy right now, and there is a lot of that on the Internet. Time spent in nature will lighten you!
The enchanting moments of nature have captivated all of us at some time or another. The soft sweet scent of a certain flower and a golden apricot sky at sunset are two very common human pleasures.
Sunlight filtering through the clouds has become a classic symbol of ethereal connection. I see the rays as an almost tangible expression of the nurturing star that warms our planet, and my heart lifts in witness to this everyday magic.
Enchantment is in the heart of the beholder, and it is not just found in nature. It’s all around us, every day, but we must have some sense of wonder to see and appreciate it. Enchantment is part of our childhood stories. Why do we give up that idea in adulthood? Is life so serious that we cannot acknowledge and enjoy it in our grown-up lives?
Look for those magical uplifting moments that are all yours and hold them close. Delight in them. Let them be your measuring stick, your inspiration, for what you would like life to feel like more of the time.
The takeaway: Use computers yes, and to make connections through them, too. But your first and most important connection is with yourself. Strengthen that, and everything else will fall into place. You will arrive at the Internet fully aligned and present with what feels true to you. That will guide you to making genuine connections. When you inevitably feel drained from too much engagement, you can draw on the energy in nature to recharge and realign.
It’s all about discernment and balance.
The excerpts in this post are from Our Beautiful Earth (2nd Edition).
Susan L Hart.com / HarteBooks.com / HumanitysFuture.substack.com
Susan L Hart / Author 