[Erin Leigh]

When I think of nature connection, immediately what comes to mind is “As is Above, So is Below, As is Within, So is in the Outer”. I am a microcosm of the macrocosm and as such I see my own reflection of my inner world reflected in my reality. Often these reflections arise for me as metaphors of nature.

I went to the ocean late last night with my dog Sam and had a bit of a wander. My intention was to experience and be open to whatever Nature wanted to share with me that night. The sky was black with only a few pinpoints of stars scattered throughout. The wind was strong, with gusts that I leaned into so as not be blown backward and occasional droplets of rain fell against my face. The ocean looked like a black mass of void, and out of the void waves were forming. These waves were only visible because they became even darker lines before crashing into white spray that spread out over the dark gray sand.

I felt into baseline and noticed who I was and what I was feeling in that moment, scanning my body and letting go of what was not mine and gathering my energy inward and downward. When I was ready and at baseline I invited the energy of the place to join mine and allowed the space for us to be connected. I noticed the changes that occurred in my body. First aware of the solidity of me and the tumultuous waves crashing against my energy field. Then I imagined I was a wave and noticed how it felt to be pulled by the moon crashing over the shoreline until gravity pulled me back into the void. I stayed here awhile. Suddenly it was suggested that I go deeper into the sea, into the void beyond the wave line. So I did and noticed the gentleness beneath the surface of the water, going with the flow and even though the forces of the moon and gravity were present, my experience was dramatically different.

Eventually I felt called back to myself and began to ground into my baseline again gradually becoming the very small me on a very long, dark and remarkably windy beach. I asked what the meaning was in this for me and again noticed the waves forming and cresting and becoming darker before crashing into white, just like when right before a situation comes to a resolution it seems the darkest before illumination and release. Also, it occurred to me that this same water was just moments before a part of the bigger void where the experience was calm and nurturing and to that place it returned. The void to me for this moment was the sea’s baseline and the waves the ever changing environment interacting with the forces around it.

I thanked the sea and elements and stars for guiding me that night and called back my dog who had all but disappeared in the dark and went back to the car where I thanked myself for wearing my warmest jacket and turned on the heat.

Today when I was connecting with a client, these images and these realizations came to mind in relationship to what she was experiencing and I was able to share with her what the sea taught me which resonated with her and she made connections of that experience into her own life. So not only was I given a new way of looking at baseline, it was given to also assist another.

So that is how I experience nature-connection in one instance.

[Erin Leigh]

Greg,
“Complicated because people don’t really know what that means. Easy for those who dare to try.” Yes! I love that this ties into your last paragraph of finding the edges and stretching through the uncomfortable-ness to new ways of being and enlightenment. I also found interesting the polarity in the spectrum of emotion you presented, calm that nature provides on hand and the adventure at the edges on the other. I wonder if you drew a diagram that depicted this relationship what it would look like?!

[Erin Leigh]

Lilia, I was touched when you mentioned how your mother’s death led you to find a deeper level of connection and healing through nature. What I saw in your words was a beautiful rebirth of who you are that came about from the pain of death and choosing to find and heal yourself in your mother’s absence…and ultimately that new-found connection to nature blossomed into a new purpose for life. Thank you for sharing your story!

[Erin Leigh]

Lilia, I am just good at summarizing LOL…it was your work and willingness to turn a tragic thing into a beautiful story :). So thank YOU for letting me see you! I must say I have had those same feelings of loneliness and wondering if a guide would have saved me and I think that is what led me to coaching. But honestly, when I think back to those moments I wanted saving and had to save myself because there was no one else to do it for me (as you did!), THOSE were the moments of real strength where real learning happened and prepared the way to help other people without having to save them too. I love this program! Having each other’s backs in this process is really helpful.