PROJECT NATURECONNECT

Institute of Global Education
Greenwich University
Portland State University

 

Introductory Course

ECO 501 Educating and Counseling With Nature

 

Chapter 23 Celebrating Contact With NIAL March 18 was the first warm spring day we had and people were enjoying the sunshine. Three days later, March 21, on the equinox, it snowed. Yet that day, not the 18th, many people were celebrating the return of the sun with drumming circles, rituals and prayers. We are so out of touch with our natural senses that we often celebrate the meaning of dates on the calendar (Columbus Day, birthday, anniversary, equinox), and special recognized cultural occasions (getting into college, winning an award). These are occasions where we fit into the story of the indoor wrangler, but not necessarily the story of our old brain in contact with NIAL. I remember one Earth Day when our school system had the students plant 200 trees near town. Meanwhile, out of sight and mind, 8 miles down the road the State was clearcutting 60 acres of forest watershed to raise money to build a new school. I think of partying as an attempt to celebrate by becoming more part of some aspect of life. Often some stimulant or relaxation of customs is a necessary part of this celebration process in order to unleash sensations of NIAL into consciousness. Because I spent most of my childhood in community type activities like folk dancing, or in nature, they serve that function for me today. I don't appreciate the stimulants so when I'm at a party where everything goes, the first thing is usually me. The feeling of G/G is a celebration in itself. It's like a lollypop that not only feels good but one that motivates us to seek another constructive lollypop. It is useful and fun to have formal ways to celebrate our G/G experiences. They help fix G/G in our new brain as reasonable alternatives for our wrangled way of thinking. For some, the following activities serve this purpose. Celebrate: Go to an attractive natural area and thankfully gain its permission for you to do this activity there. To help your new brain consciousness integrate your old brain nature connections, in your notebook write a Haiku verse or short poem which expresses your thoughts and feelings about connecting with this attraction. (A Haiku is three line prose whose first line contains 5 syllables, second line contains 7 syllables and third closing line contains 5 syllables.) It helps language connect with and strengthen your senses and vice versa. For example, for connecting with orange autumn leaves you might write: Orange sunrise leaves, Awaken deep within me, The dawn of being. Upon completing the Haiku, alone or with a friend, assume a posture and/or dance motion which you feel states your good feelings with regard to a G/O to G/G experience. Hold your position/motions for at least 30 seconds. If necessary, defend yourself from criticism coming from within or around you. Repeat this activity with an attraction you find in a person, including yourself. Your habitual closeted thinking may demean you for participating in this celebration. An internal wrangler may label you as "touchy-feely" "childish" "unscientific" "fuzzy thinking" "far out" or "spiritual." Declare your independence. Protect your pursuit of happiness, your good feeling connections with NIAL, if you want them to flourish, satisfy and fulfill you. Nobody else can do this for you. Do your dance. Share your Haikus. They enable language to connect people with Nature. Use them as an opening or closing to letters to friends. Decorate, frame and display them. That's why God invented refrigerator doors. CWN Connectors that add experiences to this chapter: #32 #34 Write down the three most important things you learned from this chapter and activity. Write down three G/G statements. How would you feel having your ability to experience this G/G taken away? Does this activity enhance your sense of self-worth? your trustfulness of NIAL? Which wrangler/person, if any, does this activity identify or reeducate inside or outside you? Share at least one sentence/person that conveys how hearing their experience has enhanced yours.

 

Project NatureConnect Institute of Global Education, in association with United Nations Deptartment of Public Information P.O. Box 1605 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-6313 www.ecopsych.com Dr. Micheal J. Cohen, Director send e-mail