Educating, Counseling and Healing With Nature, subsidized courses, degrees and career training online,   Journal of Organic Psychology and Natural Attraction Ecology (OP/NAE) Project NatureConnect  Akamai University Institute of Applied Ecopsychology   VOLUME 1,  NUMBER 2011-2012                                                      Dr.  Michael J. Cohen, Editor ...;,................. .Instructions. ... .Contact. ... .Contents. ... .Submissions. ... .Reviewers. ...Course

........................... Project NatureConnect Educating, Counseling and Healing With Nature Online Funded, sensory, accredited, courses, degrees and career training: BS, MS, Ph.D. Our.alternative, natural, holistic studies include your life experience and prior education. . This amazing whole-life program offers.core.distant learning. It enables.you to add practical, hands-on, nature connecting methods and credentials to your livelihood and interests. Ecopsychology in action! Homepage: learn how to create moments that let Earth teach.   ................. ........... ........... ........................... ........./////////........................................................ ......../////////.................................................................. The Nature of Pain, Freedom and Safety On a Twilight Beach - Journaled Activity by Anonymous Participant   Applied Ecopsychology education, counseling and healing article.  Synopsis For an individual suffering from aches and pain, the sensation from twilight falling on a lake beach and dark floral patterns feels akin to heaven and freedom. Embracing a fir tree releases senses of rigid math and converts a spider into a friend as nature inside and outside meet to transform discomfort into safeness. For this activity I drove to the lake in the evening.  As soon as I could see the water, I felt interested.  I noticed that the ferns were almost completely unfurled.  I walked to the shore, noticing at once the puffy white clouds of blossoms on the madronas in contrast to the other green leafy trees.  I tried to avoid thinking about what I would write, and focus on being open, feeling, connecting.  I didn't feeling much like walking.  I felt into my own body, with all of its aches and pains.  I realized this is also nature; instead of me feeling into nature outside, let me feel inside, and  invite nature to feel into me as well.  I walked over to a large fir and leaned up against it.  I invited it to feel me.  I was distracted by the sound of a ventilation system, so I decided I would walk around the bend and try again. On the footbridge, I watched the swirling rippling water, and realized that the attraction was again the randomness and freedom of the patterns.  I realized that my life had become boxed up and linear by living and being schooled indoors remembering how I chose Waldorf School for my son, where drawing and writing began with swirling shapes, and math began with clapping and movement. There were sweet floral scents in the air.  I knew that if my sinuses weren't blocked, these fragrances would waft me away to heaven. The beach was strewn with madrona blossoms.  As I crossed the beach I noticed that the twilight was casting unusual reflections.  It seemed like a reflected fir branch was rising up out of the water.  I walked up the next path hoping to find the Solomon's Seal still in bloom. I realized the reason my body had not felt like walking is that I have developed a shin splint in my right leg.  I took it easy, walked as far as the first Solomon‚s Seal, and breathed it in several times.  I realized that the fragrance, which we call the smell, is actually much more than that.  It is part of the intelligence of the plant, it is alive.  I wondered if the plant could smell me. As I crossed back over the beach, I noticed all the blossoms again.  I realized that if I were a little girl, I would pretend they were pearls, and would gather them up and decorate my throne with them.  I stopped at the bridge and watched the bats swooping gliding and diving for insects.  I was entranced by their rapid free movements in all directions.  They never collided.  It seemed they were having a good time! On the final part of the path, I suddenly noticed how dark it was.  The world seemed to disappear for a moment, and I was happy!  It was an exciting prospect, like entering a dream.  I noticed that I began to walk more quietly, to favor my hearing.  My world became smaller, as in an egg, focusing only on what was close.  I felt comfortable, even near a spider. I saw my fir tree and walked over to try again.  I put my head right against the bark and invited it in.  It was silent.  I realized that was a good thing.  My mind, the human world, is too noisy anyway.  I sensed that its roots are nourished by the lake.  I could feel how water was like a highway, circulating the nutrients. I realized the tree did not know how to criticize itself.  As I walked in the dark, I felt 99.9999% safe. ^^^   At One With Nature When I Pay Attention and Be in the Moment - Journaled Activity by Anonymous Participant It was a mild late afternoon in early Fall and I was a little girl, eight years of age.. My countrified Pacific Northwest mill-town neighborhood was not industrious that day, strangely devoid of the grown-ups’ garden/lawn activities and sounds. Neither do I recall the usual roaming bicycle or group of kids playing. All was hushed. Life had turned indoors. My family, although often a great source of joy, felt disjointed and antagonistic. I had had it. There was a better life to be had. So I packed a few essentials into a headscarf. I gathered a plastic blue comb, some saltine crackers and a small pen knife, and hit the road, undetected by my punitive-bent parents and heartless older sisters. First stop: The crumbling and forbidden abandoned house next door. I found a fork among the debris-covered, undulating floor boards and took it along. I explored the adjoining vacant lot, a magical hide & seek playground of tall grasses and overgrown flowering shrubs. I remember often fantasizing about digging an underground carpentry shop between the snowball bush and the pear tree, maybe a spin-off from Santa’s workshop.  Although, when I pondered the hard, weed-choked soil I began to glean the rift of reality and fantasy. Anyway, not a task for someone setting off to start a new life far away. Seeking solace from a reliable haunt, The Slough, came next. I crossed over to the Berkley’s house, navigating down past the electric-fenced pasture, which contained two blasé horses and a curious goat. I traversed a damp and shady rock knoll amongst the Douglas fir that boasted licorice fern.   I could live on that!  I spent some time practicing the swing and bounce of an overhanging limb, the familiar pungent smell of the tributary stream bed below. The Slough, once reached, represented a real way out. There was a board raft, pole and wooden box for seating on which my sisters and I conducted the occasional summer safari. But those safaris were only done in the sweltering heat of August days with a full bag lunch and ably captained by my sister, four years older. I didn’t think today was right for that. Taking back meandering paths, hitherto unknown, I reached the Engleman’s chicken coup. Ah, the dry, aroma-rich sanctified atmosphere of the chicken coup. There I took a warm egg from a nest (where were those hens? And no Englemans?), so sweet and precious, I felt like a very sly fox. Now evening had begun to darken the sky. I lied face-down in a field, nose against the cool, matted, brown grass. Here I reflected on injustice inflicted upon me and in a presentiment way understood the importance of facing psychological truth. I didn’t know why, I just knew it was very important to look things in the face, and not hide from hurt. Then with fascination, next to me I spied a large spider that had wonderful pink markings on its back. It kept me company for a while during my silent reverie.  A friend it truly seemed. It was then I heard the foghorn hoot of my father’s whistle in the distance. Awakened from the spell, I took off on a run for my journey home, healed in heart and triumphant of spirit. Surprisingly, and I’m still surprised, my return was met with cheers and open hearts. It’s interesting that I remember so much detail of that day, but not the actual reason that made me feel the need to run away from home.  I felt independent from other people, but very connected to the nature supporting me.   I felt greeted and in a gracious, quiet way, taken hospitably in. Although it was long ago, I still can summon up many senses. My mood was interactive. My early family experiences aided my own inherent sensitivities…and I believe there were some school experiences, too, that supported NSTP. Essentially, they were available portals for my own explorations. I absolutely feel I am one with nature if I would just pay attention and be in the moment, especially when in challenging social and urban settings!        Enjoy further information about Organic Psychology and Natural Attraction Ecology: Publishable Article<http://www.ecopsych.com/hallucinatearticle.html> Process Synopsis<http://www.ecopsych.com/transformation.html> Fundamentals <http://www.ecopsych.com/mjcohen22.html> Outcomes<http://www.ecopsych.com/survey.html> Interview<http://www.ecopsych.com/ecopsychologyjournal.html> Research<http://www.ecopsych.com/2004ecoheal.html> Overview<http://www.ecopsych.com/insight2005.html> Identity<http://www.ecopsych.com/thesisquote6.html> Petition<http://www.ecopsych.com/petition2.html> Articles<http://www.ecopsych.com/2004artnews.html> Activity<http://www.ecopsych.com/trailattract.html> Book<http://www.ecopsych.com/ksanity.html> Film<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1357054/> Learn More: Benefit from empowering, online, your livelihood and prior experience to be more resilient, validated, green, holistic, environmental, sustainable, natural, nature-connected, healthy, spiritual, organic and peaceful. Achieve a degree or certification that strengthens your contributions as a counselor, healer, teacher, environmentalist, coach, therapist, spiritualist, leader or health and wellness mentor. You may obtain an Educating, Counseling and Healing With Nature degree or certificate in conjunction with: Applied Ecopsychology Yoga Reiki Self-Improvement Self-Confidence Self-Esteem Weight Loss Ecotherapy Intimacy Holistic Leadership Organic Psychology Friendship Happiness Unitarian Universalist Pantheism Mental Health Peace Climate Change Shamanism Earth Day Activities Retreat Centers Energy Medicine Natural Systems Parenting Child Development Alternatives Dog Cat Pet Care Tao Healing Touch .................................. Art Therapy Massage Therapy Ecopsychology Therapist Training Hypnotherapy Wilderness Therapy Human Services Social Work Counseling Teaching Life Coaching Integral Therapy Hospice Caregiving Home Schooling Creative Writing Life Experience Naturopathy Consciousness Jesus & Wilderness Biophilia Herbal Remedy Life Science Violence Prevention Outdoor Education Continuing Education Anger Management Energy Healing Qigong .................................. Hope & Life Relationships Stress Relief Management Natural Health and Wellness Parenting & Child Development Spirit & Spiritual Development Administrative Services Continuing Education Complimentary Medicine Native American Indian Ways War On Terrorism Multiple Intelligences Environmental Education Body Mind Spirit Tai Chi Climate Change Recovery from: Addiction disorders Eating Disorders Sleeping Disorders Attention Deficit Disorders Anxiety Disorders Food Disorders Nature Deficit Disorders Depression Abuse, Addiction, Loneliness Midlife Crisis Burnout Global Warming Return to OP/NAE Table of Contents Homepage INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION Special NGO consultant United Nations Economic and Social Council PROJECT NATURECONNECT Readily available, online, organic psychology tools for the health of person, planet and spirit P.O. Box 1605, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-6313 <nature@interisland.net> www.ecopsych.com ADVANCED ECOPSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION The Natural Systems Thinking Process Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director send email All programs start with the Orientation Course contained in the book The Web of Life Imperative.

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