The Basic Element in Action   Activity One INSTRUCTIONS Proceed below only after you have completed and posted your A- E paragraphs from the prerequsite material.   The Basic Element Experience   A.Thoughtful Contemplation Give yourself time to contemplate each of the following questions. Can you remember having enjoyed a good experience in nature (with a natural area, plant, animal, or geologic formation)? If you can remember having a good experience in nature, doesn't it mean that experience is part of you, at least part of your psyche and mentality? As you strengthen your experience, won't it strengthen you? Isn't it possible that more good experiences in nature will add to your strength and spirit? Ask yourself these questions: What was feelingly enjoyable or rewarding about the experience? What sensory attractions were involved in the experience? Color? Motion? Sound? Gravity? Reason? Temperature? Community? Place? Belonging? Were you taught to have this good experience in a class? from a book? a person? or was it your natural sensory attraction connections to the natural area that provided the rewards? Do you recognize from this experience that there are intact, inborn parts of you that inherently and beneficially have the ability to register attractive sensory contacts with nature? Do you recognize that the origins of your inborn sensory parts are in nature and, like water, you share them with nature? Do you think, as with water, that nature has the ability to purify and recycle your sensory nature? Is your ability to reconnect with nature still alive? Do this Basic Element activity: Go to the most natural and convenient natural area to you (even a potted plant or pet will do). Identify a natural attraction there that you like. Stay in conscious contact with that attraction for as long as it is comfortable, a few seconds or more. Do good feelings and memories that you have from previous experiences with nature in places or people come to mind? Did you in any way feel "better" during this connection? Do you feel better now? Did the connection have value?   B. Supportive Reading: Carefully read the Insight Article and consider the questions it raises. BOOK OPTION: If you have the book Reconnecting With Nature, read Chapter 3 for a stronger understanding about the Reconnecting With Nature process.   C. Thoughtful Basic Element verbalization: Submit your experiences, thoughts and feelings from the material on this page to the NATURECONNECT LIST along with the following Six Interact Catalysts: 1) a general description of how you did the activity and what happened; 2) the three most important things you learned from the reading and activity; 3) whether or not the activity enhanced your sense of self-worth and your trustfulness of nature; 4) the part of you, if any, the activity identified or re-educated inside or outside of you; 5) How you might feel if somebody took away your ability to have the activity experience and feelings associated with it. 6) Share your reactions to what you find attractive in the postings you may receive from the other list members. The use of the six Interact Catalysts will enhance your learning experience and that of the others as well.   Optional Strengthening: Learn from others what using a Basic Element process that strengthens connections with nature can do. To see and study what others have accomplished select here and here.   Would you like to try another activity? When you have completed A-C above, go on to Activity Two     .