5 Easy Ways to Connect with the Great Mother

Connecting with the Natural World

I have always loved being in Nature. I remember when I was in my early 20s, taking long hikes in the middle of winter, through the snow, and feeling an expansion in my heart – the peacefulness, the solitude, the stillness. Being surrounded by Nature’s beauty. I remember that I always felt connected to this deep, inherent understanding that Nature and I were one in the same.

But somehow as I got older, I lost my connection to the natural world.

I traded those long hikes outside with the hustle and bustle of building a career in New York City. I quickly became the embodiment of “busyness”, constant stimulation and a fast-paced tempo that was not in tune with my natural rhythm. And by the time I reached my early thirties, my days were filled with perfecting to-do lists, and running around like I never had enough time.

I was becoming disconnected from Nature.

If you often find yourself busy, perhaps you can relate — rushing around from one thing to the next and spending what little spare moments you have with your smartphone in hand. If the extent of your outside time is taking out the trash and walking to the mailbox, or rushing to the subway, then you too have moved away from the rhythms of Nature.

But you are not alone. This is the norm in today’s modern world and if you ask me, it’s a serious problem.

Re-establishing a connection with Mother Earth is crucial. It is especially important if you want to follow an Earth-centric spiritual path!

What’s more, the rewards are plentiful.

Nature will quiet your mind, open your heart, and invite ease into your body. You’ll feel the living connection with life all around you, giving you the capacity to open up to something that's much bigger than yourself. With Nature as your partner, you’ll transform, awaken, and heal, and even get a boost in creativity, health, and quality of life. So what we’re trying to say is: Nature will boost your magic!

I invite you to start reconnecting with Nature today.

Below are a few simple ideas to help get you reacquainted with Mother Nature. It’s best to leave the comfort of your own home and get outside, but if you don’t have the time or the access, I’ve included a few suggestions for indoor activities as well.

5 easy ways to connect with Mother Nature

1. Make a literal connection with the Earth.
Go outside, take off your shoes and socks and sink your bare feet into the grass. If it’s too cold or muddy where you are, then find a tree and place your palm on the trunk. You can even give it a big tree-hug if you’re feeling the love.
2. Get a little dirty.
Tend to a veggie patch or an herb garden, play in the sand or make mud pies with little ones. Just as sinking your bare feet into the earth will ground you, so will digging into it with your hands.
3. Bring Nature indoors.
Buy some houseplants, start an indoor herbal garden, keep a jar of fresh flowers, place a jar full of seashells and sand in your living room, or create an altar consisting only of living plants.
4. Wake up with Nature.
This is one of my favorite rituals. Try to wake up before the dawn if you can. Open your window and stand in front of it. Look outside and take in all the beauty of Nature. Breathe in the colors, shapes, textures, and sounds. Notice the color of the sky as the sun rises, the shapes of the clouds and the sounds of the birds. In this way you begin to expand your senses and intuition while also connecting with Mother Earth and Father Sky.
5. Kiss the Earth with your feet.
One of my favorite quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us to slow down and notice Nature, “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” The next time you walk out your front door, feel your feet connecting with the Earth, step by step. Mindfulness and being present are two important states of being for magic.

As you can see, connecting with Nature doesn’t mean you have to climb Mount Rainier in Washington.

While we recommend getting outside as often as possible, let Nature be where you find Her and where She’s the easiest for you to access. Get outside, invite your spirit guides and the genius loci, and start your reconnection with Mother Nature now!

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Temple of Ara Center for Nature Spirituality