Nature as Teacher
by Selena Fox
Nature teaches us through direct observation, through scientific research, through spiritual practice, through mystical experience.
Nature teaches us about the Circle of Life. Nature teachs us about Birth and Beginnings, about Growth and Development, about Death and Endings, about Rebirth and Renewal. Nature teaches us about Life as Strong and Life as Fragile.
Nature teaches us about Potential and Manifestation, about Life Force growing a tiny Acorn into a mighty Oak.
Nature teaches us about Balance, about Rhythms, about Cycles. Nature teaches us about the interplay of Day and Night, the Circle of Seasons, the changing phases of the Moon, the dance of Weather and Climate.
Nature teaches us about Creation and Destruction, about Order and Chaos, about Repatterning and Transformation, about Constancy and Change.
Nature teaches about flexibility and adaptability. Nature teaches about standing strong, resisting, and pushing back. Nature teaches about holding on, about changing our grip, about letting go, about falling down and getting up again.
Nature teaches us about Harmony, Peace, and Bliss. Nature teaches us about Struggle, Conflict, and Survival. Nature teaches us about Cooperation and Competition, about Isolation and Community, and about Interdependence.
Nature teaches us about diversity in plants, in terrain, in creatures, in humankind, in the biosphere of Planet Earth, in our Solar system, in our Galaxy, in the Cosmos. Nature teaches us about systems, Micro and Macro: within us, around us, beyond us.
Nature teaches us about differences: subtle, moderate, and dramatic. Nature teaches us about varieties of shape, color, size, texture, dynamics, lifeforms. Nature teaches us to celebrate and sustain diversity.
Nature teaches us about the powers of the Ancient Elements, of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and the Spirit that interconnects All.
Nature teaches us the restorative power of rest, sleep, and dreaming. Nature teaches us the enlivening power of work, play, and creative expression. Nature teaches us the importance of whole foods, clean water, fresh air, exercise, and service.
Nature teaches us about communicating with sounds, gestures, movement, and silence. Nature teaches us the importance of listening, of being still, of reflecting.
Nature teaches us about home making, nesting, safety and security. Nature teaches us about migration, living in multiple places, and traveling between. Nature teaches us to be aware and attuned to the environments we dwell in and the environments we visit.
Nature teaches us there is more to life than what is within our own human thoughts and daily routines. Nature teaches us to pay attention to our surroundings, to be aware of others, to consider consequences of our actions, to learn from our experiences, to understand that we are part of a larger whole.
Nature teaches us about nurturing, caring for others, caring for ourselves, participating in the caring of the larger communities of life of which we are all part.
Nature teaches us about Life, Learning, and Growth across generations. Nature teaches us the importance of respecting and learning from Elders and the importance of guiding and learning from Youth.
Nature teaches us the joys, enrichment, and therapeutic renewal of spending time unwired and unplugged in natural surroundings, of disengaging from human centric activities in order to spend time developing awareness and relationships with other lifeforms.
Nature teaches us to wonder, to appreciate beauty, to marvel in the blooming of flowers, the flight of birds, the dancing lights of the aurora, the Sky colors of Sun rising and Sun setting, the glow of Full Moon light on land and water, the delights of rainbows and sunbows.
Nature teaches us to value Knowledge and Wisdom, Mystery and Magic, the Known and Unknown. Nature teaches to value what has gone before, what is now, what is to come, what may be possible. Nature teaches about Interconnection through Synchronicity and Serendipity.
Nature teaches. Pay Attention. Observe. Reflect. Learn. Honor Nature.