[Z Baker]

I’ve spent a great deal of time thinking about this post, and honestly have started its composition half a dozen times. It wasn’t until this past weekend that I found the words…. or rather the words found me. I had the opportunity to spend a few days exploring the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, particularly Canyon de Chelly the very heart of the Dinétah (traditional homeland of the Navajo people). Canyon de Chelly is not only the historic home of the Navajo but prehistorically home to the ancestral Puebloans. These “nature connected” earth people lived high in the sandstone cliffs of the canyon for almost a thousand years.

As I sat in meditation at the foot of a great sandstone wall which stretched skyward nearly 600 ft, and was the respite for a small cluster of cliff dwellings, these words rose up from my soul…

Out into the wilds, were my soul and heart burn
for the deserts wildness, and its energies I yearn.
I wander under these great rock walls in solitude, alone
dreaming of the ancients who called these canyons home.

They built cliff-side homes, created earthen wares,
farmed the land and charted the stars.
Yet, these once thriving people left few earthly scars.

They lived lives of connection, and simplicity, one rich in pleasures
nature & creator provided all their earthly treasures.

I slumber among their ghosts tonight, along footpath they once used
feeling strangely closer to them, than my society confused.

There is no need for war between wilderness and man
remembering these ancients
can help us live as honestly as we can.

Thus, I know they are here tonight: in spirit and my thought,
please yield to me thy wisdom of balance that I’ve sought.
-Z. Baker

What does it mean to be connected to Nature…?

Renowned human ecologist Paul Shepard, a pioneer in exploring nature-based cultures concluded that humans, whom have spent millennia (nearly all human history) living close to the earth in hunter-gatherer societies MUST be close to nature to properly grow emotionally and physiologically.

Shepard determined that our shift from hunter-gathers, living close/within nature to agriculturist not only has been destructive to our natural environment but to our health as a species. By removing ourselves from our natural environment we have inadvertently created many of the psychological and physical problems we face today.

Traditional Navajo believe in living by a concept called Hózhó (ho-zio) or the “beauty way”. Hózhó is the philosophy that guide one’s thoughts, actions, behaviors, and speech. To live in balance and harmony with all life is one’s ultimate goal, “developing pride of one’s body, mind, soul, spirit and honoring all life”. There are no “troubled” or lost people, no addicts or the insane, there are only people who have lost their way, lost their connection to themselves, their community and the Earth, they have lost harmony and balance.

I experienced this state of being in harmony and balance in a very real, tangible way at our F2F. Sensing “other than human” sentient beings through tree whispering and developing reciprocal relationship with beings at my sit-spot has left me with a new understanding and grounded perspective of the world I live within. With this knowing, I am feeling a heightened sense of integrity and drive, my dreams and visions are merging into a single pathway.

Simply put, living in an “aware nature connected” state is “our” natural state of being.

How can this relationship support my NCC coaching??

As stated above, this elevated relationship with the natural world I am experiencing is feeding, driving my vision. Providing a motivation to share in these discoveries….1) a RE-discovery of a world in which we humans evolved and existed in for millennia. 2) a RE-awakening of connections to nature, self, soul and ultimately all that is.

This heightened sense of awareness and personal connection to self and soul, allows me to speak and act from a place of authenticity. I’ve always believed that as an instructor or guide, I cannot lead someone someplace I have not been and experienced firsthand. As I continue to connect and explore the underworld of my soul, I am creating a detailed map that I will then be able to use in assisting clients in their journey to soul.

In a practical way, as stated above, distraction and disconnection has created the toxic smoothie many of us are consuming and living within. Assisting our clients in the Re-awakening and re-connecting process can and will have life changing affects on them and their relationships.

If you’ve gotten this far…. thank you for reading. Many, many thought swirling in my head regarding this question. I hope this was not too convoluted. -Z

[Z Baker]

Brian,

Excellent post. I have much to say regarding this….but like my post, it will have to wait another day or two.

Blue sky,
-Z

[Z Baker]

Thought everyone here would find this interesting….

Academic paper on the “Eco Field” Hypothesis; “the eco-field is defined as a spatial configuration carrier of a specific meaning perceived when a specific living function is activated. A species-specific cognitive landscape is composed of all the spatial configurations involved for all the living functions for a particular organism. Eco-field hypothesis offers a detailed vision of (habitat) environmental requirements and creates a novel conceptual bridge between niche, habitat, and the methodological approaches of spatial ecology”.

In summation……a literal living landscape….

The Eco-field Hypothesis: Toward a Cognitive Landscape

[Z Baker]

Thank you all for an amazing week! Was great spending time with all of you.

Coming back to “civilization” has been a bit surreal. Stepping to my sit spot, and dropping into that place of radiance is a re-connection to place, spirit and soul. Pilamaya.

My contact info….

Email: zbakes@yahoo.com
Address: 4712 W Canyonview Dr.
Highland, Utah 84003

Phone: 801-529-5539

-Z

[Z Baker]

Mandy,

What a beautiful experience you describe, that realization and witnessing of the reciprocity of the natural world is a true gift. A gift which, for those of us on the path of the true human being touches us to the marrow of our bones and the depths of our soul. I’ve had this “two way” communication experience many times, and the underlying message I continue to receive from the beings which share this space with us…..1) the Earth and her offspring (which include humans) misses being in healthy relationship with us. 2) These beings hunger for interaction, intimacy with their human relatives. Something I practice at my sit spot is singing, speaking out-loud and/or reading to the life around me and of course with all relationships…listening. I’ve found the depth of intimacy with these beings has increased exponentially by including these in my practice. Thank you, -Z

[Z Baker]

David,

“unplugged from the script of civilization, and plugged into the fluidity of the universe”…yes!

You realization of “a deep connection with Nature and with Soul (and in my opinion, a connection to one cannot exist without a connection to the other)” sums up my experience as well. I dig how you’ve identified a correlation between the concept of “wilderness” and shadow. The concept of wilderness is really quite new, it infers a “otherness” as if we as humans are separate from our surroundings.

Thank you for a amazing piece of writing. -Z

[Z Baker]

Kent,

Thank you for the beautiful, poetic verse….this really resonated with me “She sees my light and my potential. She gently whispers truth to my soul as I stand in awe of her beauty, her mystery, and her power. She is the missing part of me. She is me and I am her”. Simply, by going without we are exploring and re-connecting within. Are you familiar with the law of reflection? In a nutshell…what we see, experience in the world is simply a reflection of our own internal world. That beauty and harmony you experience without, is a reflection of what is INSIDE you. Thank you for sharing so openly and honestly and showing up in an authentic way. -Z

[Z Baker]

Id like to echo what Daniel is saying here, what we “re-discovered” at the intensive is not just something for the “woods”, but an awareness to be lived….no matter the location or situation.

My thoughts are that nature-connection and soul-connection provide a shift in perspective, toward life in general. What I experienced at the intensive was merely a reflection of my internal wildness. As the Greek anecdote says…..”As Above So Below; As Within So Without”

[Z Baker]

Ivy,

Thank you for your kind words. The reciprocal aspect of my experience, both at the f2f intensive and at Canyon de Chelly is a new and evolving state of awareness. One which has eluded me for decades or rather has led me like a trail of bread crumbs to where I am today..HUGE puzzle piece for me. I see this as a key aspect in the deepening of the nature connection process. Still working out HOW to work this into my program. -Z