Our Natural Selves

Hi, and welcome to this reflection exercise. The other day, I was out for a walk and immersed in nature. I could feel the sun on my skin. I could hear the birds singing above. And felt deeply connected to the Earth as I walked along the dirt trail. As I explored I started to realize how much nature is reflected in us. The wind of our breath, the water in our body's composition, our digestive fire, or the fire and passion we feel when we take action. And the Earth that creates the minerals and vitamins in our bones and structure. When we take care of ourselves, we're also taking care of the Earth. Nature is in us and we are nature. As Thich Nhat Hanh calls it, interbeing. There's a sense of interconnectedness with ourselves, others and the world around us. So in this exercise we'll take some time to reflect on our connection to nature and take care of ourselves and the Earth. Let's begin by planting the feet on the ground. Feeling that connection to the earth. Sitting upright if that's comfortable for you. Having the body rooted and centered like the trunk of a tree. Shoulders relaxed and eyes can be open or closed. And when you're ready, taking some deep grounding breaths, feeling the air flowing in through the nose, filling the lungs with air, belly rising outwards. And on the exhale, observing the breath as it gently leaves and softens the body. Now returning the breath back to its natural rhythm. And for a moment, noticing each inhale and each exhale. That steady flow of air and oxygen. So as we do this exercise there's no right or wrong way to do this. We're just reflecting on our relationship to nature and noticing what arises in the moment. So if the mind gets distracted, which it will, just gently guiding it back to the present moment as best as you can. Beginning with the element of water. Maybe bringing to mind a body of water; the ocean, the beach, a waterfall, and reflecting on the waters that create, shape and and structure the body. Now to fire. And imagining a fire or a flame, a fire pit, a candle, and connecting to our own sense of inner fire, digestive fire, that fire that fuels us. It could be a thought or maybe it's a feeling or a sensation. And now, as we think of the Earth, we think of the soil. The rich minerals and its elements and maybe we're reminded of the soil of the mind and the seeds that we can plant and harvest with presence. Lastly, air. The great winds. That force and power that a single gust of air has can move mountains similar to our breath. The air we breathe and the breath we take can shift perspectives and change minds. And now maybe taking a moment to reflect on those four elements of nature and how else...