[Kaity Holsapple]

I have been having a difficult time writing this reflection as well. I feel extremely connected to the philosophy and teachings behind eco-psychology but am likewise struggling with the over-intellectualization of it as I sit here trying to put my words together.

An additional layer for me is a resistance toward being on my computer, indoors, while writing about nature connection and eco-psychology. It feels counter-intuitive at this moment in time. The intellectual approach isn’t happening for me today. I feel like I’ve been staring at this forum for hours, trying to create words that end up feeling forced and separated from my present moment experience.

Part of my job requires hours of computer work each day, and I’m feeling a little fried sitting here trying to put together words on how eco-psychology and coaching come together, while feeling like I would much rather actually be outside, relaxing, and feeling the sunshine as far away from my computer as possible.

It is such a consistent struggle for me: how to balance living in the modern world and a feeling like I want to “run away” from it all, into the woods, to never return.

I have taken breaks from writing this, given myself outdoor time to decompress, and when I come back to it end up feeling the same dread about being on my laptop. Dread.

And dread slowly opens up to a softer, more subtle longing. Longing to Connect to nature to connect to community. I feel like the technology use can numb and distract me from connecting to others, myself, and the natural world. This feels like a branch of eco-psychology that could be deeply explored: how excessive technology influences the psyche and ecology.

The eco-psychology underneath my “dread” feels like an intuitive acknowledgement of how much technology use gets in the way of my ability to truly be with people.

This writing feels like a learning process of showing up as I am. This is messy, scary, unknown. But, so is nature. Perhaps the ecopsychology I am currently diving into is the courage and openness to sit with the deep unknown, with the dread and pain, not run away. To hold it and breathe with it, just as Mandy described in her beautiful recollection about the cottonwood tree.

Overall, I would say that I feel really unsure today. I feel a lack of words, but a deep longing in my heart. Maybe tomorrow I will have more to say on the topic. For now, I need to log off and take a nice long walk!

Lots of love for you all.

[Kaity Holsapple]

It is my belief and experience that to be connected with Nature is to Heal, or in other words, to restore ourselves to whole. When I am immersed in Nature, my greatest teacher and healer, space opens up for me to feel fully, to awaken my senses, and to experience myself as vibrantly alive.

Some words that come up for me: Open. Awake. Whole. I often experience glimmers of these feelings at varying levels while immersed in the wilderness or deep in spiritual practice. For me, the experience of wholeness is much more of a feeling than a concept that can be defined; but for the purpose of sharing with you all, I will define wholeness as an innate experience of being complete, content, and connected to each of the Eight Attributes of Connection (as defined by Jon Young: Love & Forgiveness; Quiet Mind, Presence & Creativity; Inner Happiness; Vitality; A Commitment to ‘Paying it Forward’; Empathy & Respect for Nature; Being Truly Helpful with Gifts & Vision Activated; and Full Aliveness). In a state of wholeness, much of the “doing” we humans tend to fill our time with is replaced by the simplicity and fullness of “being.” Furthermore, wholeness works both internally with how we relate to ourselves, and externally in how we relate to others and our world.

What happens when humans feel less than complete, content, or whole? I believe that this is a root cause of alienation and separation, destructive behaviors on microcosmic and macrocosmic scales (to self, other, and earth), and all of the many issues associated with “Nature-Deficit Disorder.” As creatures who were born to be at one with the environment and who have radically separated ourselves from it in many ways (schools, cities, consumerism and capitalism, community, food sourcing, and so on), it is clear to me that this missing wholeness contributes to much of the terror, sadness, and anxiety that plague our society. As John Miles shared in his essay on Wilderness as Healing Place, “We need healing when we suffer pain and a reduction of our ability to live well.” I personally feel that the way our culture is shaped does, at times, deeply affect my ability to live well. When I return to nature, I feel restored. It is like a part of me, a part I may often keep numb or at bay in civilization, is able to open up and awaken again.

Jon Young, Ellen Haas, and Even McGown share in their Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature that “our bodies and our brains have millions of built in neurological connections with the environment, waiting to be activated.” Simply stepping out into the natural world begins creating new neural pathways of awareness and aliveness, and this is absolutely my experience. I feel as if my nervous system relaxes, opens up, and reaches out to my surroundings rather than contracting inwards to save me from sensory overload. Adding purposeful connection to nature through Nature-Based Connection can amplify these effects tenfold for myself, and from what I’ve seen, others as well.

In Ayurveda, an ancient healing art based on the natural cycles and rhythms of the earth, it is said that the impressions our Nervous System takes in are the main source of food for the mind. Just as we feed our body with different nutrients, and feed our life-force with energy management and breath, we feed our mind with all of the sensory impressions we constantly take in. Our senses act as a bridge from the external world to our internal world, or the physical world to the subtle world. This includes EVERYTHING we see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. What we watch on TV, read in the news, see on the streets, and so on, all are absorbed as food for our brain (whether we are conscious of it or not). Another experience I have in the wild, as I stated earlier, is nourishment. My brain and nervous system feel as if they are getting a delicious, organic, farm fresh meal after weeks of artificial or toxic ingredients.

My intention as a Nature Connected Coach is to help people feel nourished, find purpose, restore, and return to their natural wholeness. This intention is a guiding force in my own life and coaching career, and also functions as a concentric ring rippling out and facilitating deep healing in the world. It is the true call of the Coyote to bring the purpose and healing cultivated in the wilderness back into civilization. And while there are many obstacles I can see emerging on my path, I also feel deep inner trust in the vision to lead me through.

[Kaity Holsapple]

Thanks everyone for sharing! I am just catching myself up with all of your beautiful words and experiences 🙂

A few things I really relate to from what the group has shared thus far:
Brian, I so enjoyed what you shared about connecting to nature in the small, mundane moments of life. This is a huge one for me. Simply taking the time to connect and remember my connection to nature throughout the moments of my day-to-day life can be a huge tool. It is always more difficult for me to connect with some of our practices (such as concentric circles, deep listening, or the pull) in the throws of modern life as opposed to in the middle of the woods. But, when I make space to remember and come back to it, it inspires me to place myself in nature more and more often. As you said, “Being connected to nature means spending time there. As much time as possible, whenever possible. Not just in big wilderness adventures, but in the seemingly mundane moments. The day to day, walking to your car moments that harbor just as much incredible insight and connection.”

Kent, I appreciate you bringing in the coyote to your post.
“Over the f2f Michael talked about the coyote and how adaptable it is; having the ability and adaptability to live in both natural places and civilization. This deeply resonated with me as that is the space I see myself living between. I’ve slowly learned to accept my place in civilization and the “reality” of everyday life. It exists. I can’t deny it or change it. And that includes people too of course. I can’t deny or change them. What I can do is deepen my relationship with nature, remember who I am, and live my life from the place of my soul. And I can show up for those who are lost and hurting. I have learned to trust my own inner knowing and I trust that other also have that inner knowing. If I can guide them to that place, then I believe they will find their own path and purpose.”
This is a big balancing act for myself as well. If my connection to nature is very strong, I can carry it with me back into “civilization” and allow nature to be with me, wherever I go or am.

Rachel, I love your words on happiness and trust unfolding through the unknown! “So what I’m saying is that ultimately, as soon as we put ourselves back into nature, the place we derived from in every way and the place our evolutionary feedback loops are all programmed to work in conjunction with, we pretty immediately see the natural implications of at least the two most important of the three types of happiness.” “The “unknown” itself is the natural state of unfolding that’s all around us, it IS nature. And yet, we find that nature is far less scary than we thought it would be as soon as we start spending time with her, especially with someone we trust who knows the ways of the her already.”
I directly relate to and feel these experiences myself when I am connecting with nature; both types of happiness and a deep sense of trust!

Mandy, thank you for sharing about how connecting to nature equates to presence for you! I can really relate to this: “Connecting to nature involves be-ing in nature, quite literally. This means letting go of the chatter of the mind, the to-do list, the story of the thing that happened yesterday, or having a particular objective or agenda.” To me, connecting to nature brings me to into a state of presence, and coming into a state of presence likewise connects me to nature!

Hannah, this really stood out to me: “My connection to nature looks like cultivating a practice of seeing the nature in everything, and letting it be as it is without judgment. Whether I’m in the forest, observing the patterns of lichen and the effect of wind through the trees, or on a city bus observing the energetic reactions of people to an act of kindness or an act of distress, nature is always unfolding, and the shift of one being affects the state of all beings. I think that is how I’ve come to recognize that nature connection isn’t a state part of separate and compartmentalized states of being; it is more integral to the flow of energy and oneness between all things (as we are all nature!).” We are all nature! This reminds me of what Kent was speaking to with the coyote and adapting from wilderness to civilization, and recognizing it all as nature. I totally agree that it is easier said than done, but feeling into it makes me feel the world is less segmented and more interwoven. I also think of Planet Earth 2, which has a whole episode on “cities” and how wildlife (just like humans) has adapted their survival to a city environment.

Thanks again for sharing, everyone!

[Kaity Holsapple]

I can make next Wednesday 🙂

[Kaity Holsapple]

Thank you all for sharing your beautiful words!

I am keeping my heart open and my commitment to be outside, with my council, practicing deep listening each day. But just seeing all of your words today has me feeling a new wind underneath me! Thank you!

Connect with me anytime 🙂 And if anyone in the Boulder area wants someone to practice coaching with, or wander through the mountains with, I’m your gal! (Sometimes I’m quickest and easiest to reach via FB messenger, so I’ll attach my FB info as well)

Email: kaityholsapple@gmail.com
Phone: (970)-301-6575
Address:
1559 Kilkenny Street
Boulder, CO 80303

FB: https://www.facebook.com/kaity.holsapple

[Kaity Holsapple]

Hi everyone! It was great meeting those of you who were in the video chat today! Can’t wait to meet in person in just a few weeks. 🙂

– Kaity

[Kaity Holsapple]

I really enjoyed reading this, Mandy! It ties into a lot of work I do in Yoga Therapy. I am also trying to tie the body into this work that we’re doing.

Personally, I can see my state of mind so much clearer when I tune into how my body moves. When I am able to really dance and let go, my soul and mind feel free and unleashed. And there are times when I cannot get out of my head enough to really enjoy moving in my body! The body has become such a potent way for me to access what I am experiencing in my mind.

There is a Tantric Goddess called “Bhuvaneshwari,” which means “She whose body is the Universe.” I often think of her archetype when I am dancing. What you wrote reminded me of this Goddess and I want to share an excerpt Sally Kempton, who has a book called “Awakening Shakti,” wrote. The parts that really stick out to me are in bold.

“Bhuvaneshwari represents cosmic spaciousness, the matrix
out of which all things manifest. In that sense, she is the field of
possibility, the creative potential that always exists within
consciousness. So tuning into her energy is a way of tuning into
creative possibility itself. When we ask questions in meditation,
or ask for help in resolving an issue in life, or practice
‘manifesting’, it is the Bhuvaneshwari energy in consciousness
that creates these mysterious creative shifts.
In terms of life practice, I like to consider Bhuvaneshwari as
the divine spaciousness within which contradictions and
difficulties can be resolved. As the space that holds all forms, she
is also the power within consciousness that can effortlessly
dissolve knots, and return your mind and heart to the state of
peace.
Bhuvaneshwari is pure Beingness, the Beingness that underlies
our world and our doings. In one sense, our suffering comes from
the constant drive to do, to fix things, to create success for
ourselves. In invoking Bhuvaneshwari, we open to the Being that
contains all doings, and which has the power both to bring things
to fruition and to resolve our contradictions. To practice with
Bhuvaneshwari is to give ourselves the space to allow surrender
and acceptance, surrender to reality as it is, surrender to our own
inability to control outcomes.
Bhuvaneshwari represents that power that grants peace
through acceptance, yet, which can also resolve in unexpected
and seemingly miraculous ways the situations and conflicts that
seem irresolvable by the ordinary mind. She is the space we reach
in meditation, where creative solutions arise spontaneously, and
external dilemmas are resolved by the power of Being itself.
She is also the Great Heart, the compassionate love within
which our divine humanity, in all its complexity, can be held and
transformed, and within which we realize that we are, really, a
part of all that is. The love of the Great Heart is not emotional, but
neither does it feel abstract or impersonal. It is a palpable sense of
being held, embraced and seen. The Bhuvaneshwari Shakti can
opens us to the felt experience that we are part of all that is—a
sense that our perceived differences are simply appearances
within the underlying Beingness that we share.

[Kaity Holsapple]

That statement also really stood out to me, Hannah & Kent!

“In both the fields of coaching and ecopsychology, I have an overwhelming perception that problems that arise in those seeking healing are not isolated events occurring simply in the interpersonal realms of their lives, but a much larger, and almost generationally-based trauma around their whole connection to all life on the planet.”

As without, so within. It’s my belief that the planet and nature are a mirror reflection for what is going on internally, and vica versa! Humans may sometimes feel so separate and disassociated with nature, but the connection runs deep whether we are aware of it or not.

Thanks for your eloquent words, Hannah!

[Kaity Holsapple]

I really relate to what you shared, Brian, specifically: “Part of what drove me toward EBI is that it seems to pull away from this trend of diagnosing people and throwing them into a box.”

I feel that the “over-intellectualization” of nature takes away from being able to truly experience it as well! Eco-psychology is interesting to me because it seems to attempt to tie together the core connection to our eco system with the scientific and intellectual field of psychology… perhaps that changes the beauty and simplicity of just being in nature? I’m not sure, but thank you for sharing! You definitely have me thinking more about this…

[Kaity Holsapple]

Thanks, Hannah and Kent, for sharing your experiences!
I totally relate to the switch from “being on the defensive” to opening you described, Hannah! Thanks for reflecting that.
Kent, I love that your drawing became like a neuron! I would love to see it.

I find myself thinking about the nervous system a lot and relating it a lot to how I feel and act in my life. I find it fascinating how our minds and bodies work, and how the nervous system programs itself to environmental situations based on fear or safety. It’s interesting to see that that part of my essay stood out to you both, as it is something I feel very passionate about and hope to bring forth in the work I do!

[Kaity Holsapple]

Sara, WOW!
I love your words and connect with them a lot. I echo the quote that Mandy and Kent highlighted from your reflection. What is there to escape from? To run away from? I think the nature connection practices are a huge catalyst to turn escaping into embracing the present moment, including any and all shadows that come along with it. I specifically love this: “I am here to allow myself to feel. To be seen and to see.”

What a powerful journey. Thank you for sharing!