[Amanda Newman]

Wendy, I really love your take on all of the readings. I love how you’ve mentioned every author and their take on what ecopsychology is. I can feel your hurt and frustration when you talk about man killing off the white rhinos based on greed and power. I too have a difficult time understanding how humans don’t understand that these impacts on the environment aren’t just hurting the natural world but ourselves as well. Great ending paragraph as to why you’re a nature connected coach! Awesome post!

[Amanda Newman]

Where does Ecopsychology and Coaching come together? How does this blend add foundation to your interests as a Nature-Connected Coach. How might it fall short? What skills are needed?

I really enjoyed reading “A Psyche as Big as the Earth” by Theodore Roszak because I resonated so much with what he was saying about a lack of social consciousness when it comes to harming our planet, or so we both had thought at one time. When I was in college I felt like I needed to become activated environmentally and politically because I wanted to do something about the constant destruction to our planet that humans were causing. Just like Roszak, there was a period of time where I would scold people for using disposables or throwing cigarette butts on the ground or driving hummers with giant mufflers. And although all of that still grinds my gears, it’s much bigger than a la-dee-da choice that people are making, it’s engrained into them unknowingly. I’ve had countless conversations with people who support what Clean Water Action does, tell me the good they try to do for the world, environmentally speaking, but still struggle on what to do when they need a straw or plastic bags or need to get to work because there’s no access to public transportation, or love to go shopping because it’s therapeutic but know they throw massive amounts of stuff away and don’t know where it goes. I’ve heard it all. When Rozsak said, “So here we have some very bad but intriguing environmental habits, one of flight from depression, the other the search for solitude. This is not the behavior of monsters, but of troubled human beings trying to cope with jobs and families while the world around them seems to be turning to dust and ashes.” This quote in particular hits such a sensitive part in my soul because I’ve felt this way about myself, my family, friends, contacts and complete strangers. Everyone is doing the best they can to feed their families, keep a roof over their heads, to continue to love and be loved and yet we can feel stuck in this paradox of knowing what we’re doing or using is a destruction to our own demise but we do it anyways because we feel the alternative to too hard or foreign.
Ecopsychology and coaching go hand in hand in my eyes. I feel that when it comes to disposables or shopping or buying cars (that you don’t necessarily need) there is a lack of education, and a lot of times a lack of caring to know because it’s easier not to know. So for people that are stuck in a rut or depressed or feel like they can’t fix their day to day situation, nature connected coaching is a way of showing them, allowing them to experience, a completely “new” way of life. I put “new” in quotes because to a lot of people the industrialized way of our society is the norm. It is abstract and possibly insane for some to think that the natural world can heal us of our pain, can give us answers we never had before, to feel this overwhelming sense of love and acceptance by something that is not human. Moreover, ecopsychology not only gives perspective on how and why the present day of industrial society is madness, but how people are coping and executing their way of life in environmentally toxic and self-destructive patterns. As a nature connected coach, I think that it’s extremely important to understand the psychology of why one does the things they do and dig down into a deeper meaning of where this person retained this way of life, the habits they created and to look inward to the meaning of why they think they cannot change it. Being out in the natural world is the home that industrialization is built on, so getting a person to see and feel and look inwardly at their environmentally destructive habits is a way for them to see how they aren’t just hurting the environment by doing these things, they are harming themselves in a great way.
This blend adds foundation to my coaching because I think it’s extremely important to gain an understanding of why a person does certain things and thinks a certain way and to meet them where they’re at, ask thought provoking questions that they may have never been asked before. If they are seeking a change in their life, it’s important to know how they got to this place and what are some of the day-to-day “norms” they find they can’t do or be without. Is that making coffee in a paper or plastic cup, keeping the water on while they wash dishes or brush their teeth, buying things they know they don’t need, throwing different kinds of chemicals and other forms of waste down the drain? These “norms” may seem so microscopic to them but bringing them to light and educating the effects of these things can open a person’s eyes to their own destruction.
Furthermore, the skills that are needed are to ask questions in a way that are not leading them down a path they have not gotten to yet. Another skill, specifically for me, is the understanding that they have these destructive habits and are not aware or care that they have them so I need patience. Patience to allow them to speak their mind, give reasons why they do these things and think this way and give them a safe space to do so. Mostly, coach without judgement and give out love to anyone who is seeking help to better themselves.

[Amanda Newman]

SUMMARY
As I’ve thought about nature connection these last few weeks I really wanted to pick words and phrases that connect to my truth when talking about it. At first it was somewhat hard to define, but after the video conference last Wednesday, I feel as though I have a better grip on what nature connected coaching is and why that’s important to me.
I feel connected to nature in a way that I can’t necessarily define because it just happens. When I’m connected the nature, I feel this holistic and pure sense of being. For example, on my way to the beach I’m not preparing myself for the connection that my body, mind and soul will feel when I step foot on the sand. When I get there I just feel this wave of relaxation, calm, love, joy, and gratitude. The same goes for when I immerse myself in woods or mountains, this feeling of gratitude and appreciation for the beauty, for it allows me to live on her soil and have the experiences I’ve had through her roots. I would say I connect to the natural world just by immersing myself in it. There’s no other way to describe the shifts in feelings I have when I step foot into nature, wherever that may be. Different landscapes allow me to appreciate different aspects of that space, but ultimately no matter where I am there is this unspoken connection between nature and I. We both feel this love for each other, this sense of respect and graciousness. We both know that I am not going to hurt her and she will not hurt me. If anything nature has allowed me to protect her with openness, perseverance and passion. I feel as though my connection to nature just comes from my existence, my desire of love with something that is not human.
For me, nature connection is a way of being, of communicating. Jon Young talks about how birds and animals have their own language and most people aren’t aware of what is happening or what is being said. Most people don’t think about that the birds and animals are communicating essentially right under our noses (paraphrased from Youtube video) Even though I cannot understand what the birds are saying (yet!) I still have this awareness of the communication that is happening around me. I think nature connection means being aware of the surrounding world, having that sensory vision of what’s going on, what’s being said, finding that baseline and understanding when the centric rings are forming as well. Nature connection is attunement to the natural world around you and as for us humans, being aware and engaged with what is happening. To take a step further, why it’s happening. As for me, nature connection is an unspoken communication between Mother Nature and myself. It is this solace and understanding we both have for each other. It allows me to feel vulnerability and not have all of the logistical answers to life. It’s a safe space for me to form into my best, most righteous self. Nature connection revives me of any stresses I have or any anxieties that may occur in my life. Being immersed in her natural beauty, listening to that unspoken word, surrounding myself with trees and birds and waves and sand only helps me activate the bigger picture, what’s most important in my life. Nature connection is something I think all humans have the ability to feel when those lenses of the manmade world come off. It’s an openness for love and exchange of gratitude. It helps me confront my biggest issues or soak in my most earnest passions. It’s the simplicity of all that is righteous and giving. My connection to nature only allows me to thrive with joy and conviction that will serve myself, other people and her in my greatest capacity. This connection I feel to nature embarks me on incredible journeys where my soul feels at peace yet there is a sense of adventure as well. A curiosity of what else is out there, how much can I explore and the kind of love and connection from nature and others who thrive in their connection to nature will come about.

[Amanda Newman]

Foundation One Response
Nature is all around us. Whether it’s the mountains, river, beach, plains, desert, nature is the one soul product of connecting human beings with one another and to their environment. It’s the state in which we live and the people we mold ourselves to be. Being connected to the natural environment allows humans to go back to the beginning, the simpler times of being immersed inside this greater being and challenged us to survive in ways we could not imagine today. It was “normal” to hunt and gather, live off the land and be aware of the animals and temperatures that changed constantly, and adapt to it. Connection to nature reworks our brains from the day-to-day hustle and bustle and connects us to the reason as to why we’re here in the first place. It retrieves this belief, that’s always been a part of human nature, that this moment is what’s most important. The immersion inside nature continuously connects us to a higher, deeper awareness of how the natural environment ensures our well-being. All humans can seek this deep connection to nature, however it’s a choice to be conscience of it, to be open to the possibility of being healed by something that is not a human. It’s a state of consciousness to feel this connection even though all humans can access it. Nature connection can also mean different things to different people but it’s the feeling of serenity, calm, assurance that comes over us when we step foot into a non-manmade territory.
In the textbook Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature, John Young writes about how all cultures have this necessity to survive in nature and because of that it shifts our brains to develop senses we’ve always had, just may not use. He also takes a lesson from Stocking Wolf and tells us about how humans share this ability to connect and live amongst the wilderness and now we choose not to. Young writes, “ All subsistence cultures have in common the necessity to survive in a wilderness environment, where the slopes of land and forces of climate shape brain patterns, where according to Stocking Wolf, ‘the animal is the instrument played by the landscape.’ Indigenous cultures all share the raw the raw surging adrenaline, the ‘flight or feel’ response. They have in common a deeply felt sense of kinship with all the elements of their natural world, a recognition that humans play only one tune among many.”
I chose this quote because I think it shows a great representation of how humanity has the abilities to live amongst nature, to live within it and survive it in. I really appreciate the last sentence of this text because it recognizes that humans have this capability to perform as we once did, that our awareness goes deeper than just the typical grind. We can make our brains turn a switch which can connect us to the natural world but we choose to illuminate tunnel vision because of societal constructs. So the connection that humans have with the environment is available, but most people don’t realize it’s there because of the way in which we choose to live our lives and connect to other societal circumstances.
Nature connection will support my coaching because I believe that if you take someone out of their typical grind, the bells will start to go off and a sense of deeper awareness can flood over them. It may not be an instant realization, but the ability to connect to the natural world is there once they dispose of the blinders they’ve been using for months or even years. Being a coach who is connected to nature, I can help these individuals seek refuge from the man-made grind they’ve been consumed by. Like what I gathered from John Young, the ability to connect to nature is there within us and it always has been but we’ve developed norms of pushing that awareness to the back of our heads or down into a core of disbelief and solitude. It’s important for me to continue the relationship loving the environment and the love I have for helping people because I have a deep desire to awake people’s soul truth within themselves. I think being in an environment that takes away all the social demands helps people reevaluate what’s really important in their lives and can help heal them just by being present.
Coming back from Colorado has shown me that my vision aligns me to help people in a way where they can connect back to their roots of why it’s important they’re here on this Earth. Having people realize their bigger truth, their soul connection. My time in Boulder really shed a light on why it’s so important to be connected to the environment that I love and love to protect. It’s shown me a way of bettering myself as well as the ones I love around me. Being immersed in the presence of natural beauty continuously puts me in a place of wholesomeness, gratitude and focus on my vision to serve. If I can do that, anyone who’s aligned in my morals will find me as I do them. Nature is a safe space, it’s the mother of all being and it’s the collector of the human race. As a guide, I know I can help people find and follow their truth. Where better to start than the place where the Earth first began?

[Amanda Newman]

Lauren, I really enjoyed your post. I really enjoyed at the end how you brought in your own personal experiences with experiential learning to what John Scull says about ecopsychology. I think that both the reading and your personal experience blend nicely together and I really appreciate you making that connection. I can feel the love for your students in this post which touches me in a way to remember that children need nature connection just as much as adults do. Great post!

[Amanda Newman]

Wendy, I really love your take on all of the readings. I love how you’ve mentioned every author and their take on what ecopsychology is. I can feel your hurt and frustration when you talk about man killing off the white rhinos based on greed and power. I too have a difficult time understanding how humans don’t understand that these impacts on the environment aren’t just hurting the natural world but ourselves as well. Great ending paragraph as to why you’re a nature connected coach! Awesome pos

[Amanda Newman]

Wendy, I really enjoyed this post! I can definitely relate to what you said about driving into the country every weekend when you lived in the city. I too had a similar eagerness to get out of the city when I lived in Providence. For a while, I knew something was missing but couldn’t pin it down until I went for a hike one day! It sounds like your curiosity plays a huge part as to why you feel so connected to nature. I remember you saying hiking alone is something that you absolutely love doing which I find so inspiring. It’s beautiful to read how your soul feels this immense love and connection to nature and that you need it to survive! Love that!

[Amanda Newman]

Lauren, great post! Your childhood, as well as Wendy’s, seems so inspiring to the reasons as to why you want to do this work. I loved reading how you spent summers in Maine for eight years out of your life and that your parents took you out of the city. Who knows if that was intentional, but a blessing 🙂 I really enjoyed reading about how you can take clients from San Diego and connect them to the beach that’s so close to home! I think that’s so important to find ways we can involve nature in our day-to-day lives that’s easily accessible. Great post!