Nature As Teacher

Shortly after my return from Peru last Nov I walked back to a small waterfall that I visit from time to time just up the creek from our property. There is a rock that is well shaped for sitting on just at the edge where the water tumbles down into a rather large pool which is about 5' deep. Sitting at this point where the water makes its transition of running smoothly down the mountain, to suddenly dropping into this pool, has been, since I've lived here, one my favorite and most rewarding things to do.

As I sat there that day, gently shaking my old Amazonian rattle in unison with the sound of the water, I felt something enter me which caused me to spontaneously begin to weep. There were no visions or words or tangible messages whatsoever; just this "something" that arrived to seemingly purge something from me through the evoking an emotion.

Many times I've had strong emotions arise in or near nature during ceremony using entheogenic plant  medicines such as psilocybin mushrooms or ayahuasca; this is a common response when using such medicine. This was the first time however, it had occurred without the use of these powerful plant teachers, and  I experienced first hand that day, the intrinsic power within nature itself.

To sit open and silent within a natural setting is an old practice that has been done within many indigenous cultures throughout the ages. This being purely present with our natural settings ultimately brings us to more fully face ourselves and calls us to look ever closer at what arises within as we hold this communion.

It is my experience that nature truly does have the ability to both heal and teach. It is the often overlooked great "therapist" which has the ability to reveal where we may be misperceiving in some way within our lives.

Perhaps a practice such as this is reciprocally nourishing to both ourselves and the nature. It is said that what we place our attention on grows or expands in some way, and it could be that to commune in this way with nature is to help begin the revitalizing of it, and in turn, the revitalization of ourselves.

I remember when going to sit on this very rock a few years ago, a very different feeling would regularly emerge for me. I would just start to feel rather uncomfortable and restless after a short time. I would take the time to be there with the feelings and inquire as to why they were there, but would rather quickly get up and walk back to the house. I see clearly now that the best thing would have been to stay and sit it out, feeling openly and fully what was being presented to me there. I was being presented with a true wisdom teaching which at the time, I didn't recognize.

The wonder of nature extends far beyond its vast physical beauty or in the collecting of its bountiful fruits. When we go in to a wild environment such as this, allowing all ideas and judgments concerning ourselves or nature to fall away, something greater appears for to teach us something; we just need to open ourselves to the possibility of some teaching. We then hold a container for the big mystery to appear before us and are gifted for just being present, the wonder then grows brighter and our lives begin to rise towards a richness not previously imagined.

- James Doshin Benton

All photos by: James Doshin Benton

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