[James Huntley]

What does it mean to be connected to Nature, and how does that relationship support your coaching?
Being connected to Nature has always felt like some mystical ideal that lay far-out in the future, or in the past. I have read books and gained information about plants, animals, shelters, forestry, permaculture etc. Through nature connection practices and experiences I have grown in understanding of myself as an individual and as a member of the human community, yet I have always felt separate from Nature. How can I be “connected to Nature” while at the same time feeling disconnected from it? Jon Young’s article is really helpful in that it not only categorizes four different layers of nature connection, but he also breaks down the differences between them all, focusing on the attributes and characteristics of what he calls “deep nature connection”. He acknowledges that each layer is important, and is supportive of the next, but that the two deepest layers of nature connection are under experienced in most modern cultures.
I can see how all layers of nature connection are important to have experience in as a Nature Connected Coach, I also believe that each layer is a layer of “practice” and experience. As a coach, I want to hold knowledge of the environment I take clients into, and to share some of that knowledge with them. I want to use that knowledge to help clients have experiences with the beings I have knowledge of. For example, it is one thing to walk past a plant have the knowledge to identify it, while it is a deeper layer still know how to regeneratively harvest from that plant and care take it. This expresses both knowledge and experience, and leads to a deeper relationship with Nature. The final layer after knowledge, experience and relationship I would call “Being” Nature. The more I can embody and express the 8 attributes of connection, I believe the more impact my presence will have on my clients and the world.
As we understand more about our internal world, we can potentially grow in experience, relationship and ultimately “be” in our connection with our internal microcosm, which is a reflection of the external macrocosm. Ultimately, this program uses the external as a guide and reflection of the internal, and the deeper the relationship I can have with both, the more capable I will be as a coach, not to mention being a more bad-ass human.
One of the things I am noticing about Jon Young’s level of Deep Nature Connection, is that it would seem to result in a lack of unhealthy fear. I think the implications of this potential are especially powerful when I think of the effect of having a deep nature connection with one’s own internal nature, and I am excited at the vision of what being in such a community, country, or world look like.

[James Huntley]

Hey All! I’ll be joining from Eugene, Oregon, and I too would like to be involved in a car/lodging share. You can contact me @ hardcorehuntley@gmail.com.
Thanks for looking into the A-lodge, David. Ill be flying in on the 23rd @4:20 and leaving the 2nd @1:30.