Ecotherapy |
Places We Visit |
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What do we do on the Eco-therapy course?
-Meditation, mindfulness when walking and being in nature, observing nature, discussing the state of the planet and our well-being, conservation work, supporting each other. Studying nature brings you much closer to it. There are loads of tiny little lives happening all around us that we know nothing about! From the tiniest insect to the various birds and other larger animals they are all living and loving, having their lovers’ tiffs and makings up and always living for the future, the next generation, providing us all with the butterflies, bees and birdsong of another summer! Like us they put their heads out in the morning to see what the weather’s like, they prepare for long journeys, they build their homes, they teach their young and watch their progress anxiously. We are learning how to learn from nature: “A forester does not need to put a tree in the seed; his or her work is to nurture the seed and help to bring the tree out of it.” Satish Kumar When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. One fancies that a heart like our own must be beating in every crystal and cell, and we feel like stopping to speak to the plants and animals as friendly, fellow mountaineers.” John Muir – Spiritual Writings, edited by Tim Flinders. p.69 |
Formby, Sefton Park, Calderstones Park, Princes Park, Festival Gardens, Otterspool Nature Reserve and Promenade, St. James’ Gardens at the Anglican Cathedral, Pickerings Pastures, Croxteth Park, Childwall Woods, Lunt Meadows, Tramway Fields, Woolston Eyes, St. Michaels Community Garden, Priory Wood.
HealingWe are all part of nature and being in natural settings is very healing. There is evidence that living near a tree increases life expectancy: A study in Tokyo showed that people living in the same neighbourhood in the same housing lived longer on these streets with trees rather than those without.
Patients recover better in hospital if they have a view of a tree through their window. Forest Schools help children learn as well as become happier, rounded individuals. Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address ~ Greetings to the Natural World:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWKac3o7isk http://nmai.si.edu/environment/pdf/01_02_Thanksgiving_Address.pdf |
Ecology and Wildness
“As you understand a bird’s vision of time, you find you have begun to understand how the earth itself lives and breathes.” Simon Barnes
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The Twelve Birds or Things to Remember Love and serve the Great Spirit in all you do Honour Earth in your thoughts, words and actions Have fun, enjoy life, play; but be a responsible citizen of Earth Honour and respect all spiritual traditions rooted in the great harmony Speak from the heart but keep an open mind Remember to learn then learn to remember Meditate often, on the silence, or on the voice of the wind. Tranquillity is the crossing place to the other side Pray not for things but that you become closer to Manitou Trust God by entrusting yourself with the freedom to be as God made you Ever hone yourself as a better tool of the Creator Humble yourself before the Creator does it for you Speak truthfully but with kindness, as we are one spirit Evan T. Pritchard from: Bird Medicine ~ The Sacred Power of Bird Shamanism: |
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