Nature.
I recently visited Borneo, East Malaysia, and I must admit, the warmth and humidity of this luscious part of the world was a welcome relief from the cold-grey winter of Melbourne during mid year school holidays. So, instantly it was a delight for the senses, an invitation to slow down and observe the natural environment. You can’t help but be drawn to the vibrant colours of flowers and plants that flourish and grow with ease in that climate - their fragrance bouncing through the moist air. The sounds and movements of animals and insects going about their business, responding to stimuli in the dense greenery. You get a real sense that the jungle out there is truely alive.
There is something about nature and being in nature that helps us as humans. We often seek it out as a form of refuge, a place of solace, like a church or a temple. Whether we are engaging in an activity or just simply enjoying its presence, nature has a way of drawing us in and sometimes momentarily slowing the incessant thinking mind. After spending a good amount of time in nature, the flow that we initially observe as an outsider slowly and gently encourages us to become an active participant. There are moments when we come across something that is truely beautiful and captivating in its form, colour or movement. We find ourselves needing to stop. Few words may be spoken or we may even be rendered speechless, in silent awe. The undeniable connection that the human body feels in that instant is why nature is medicine.
The blue print of nature in its essence is like a macro version of flow that is present in our own bodies. In this way, there is something that resonates, something that is familiar, something that settles, something that balances. The diverse ecosystems and networks that flow and change to support each other in nature are like the complex systems and cellular connections present in the human body and mind. A connection to nature is not just a metaphor or a nice idea to make us feel good. Connection to nature is a direct experience that humans can benefit from. We therefore have much to gain and learn just by being in it.
A large study conducted in London 2021, published in Nature Sustainability https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00751-1 showed that adolescents and children who lived nearer to woodlands benefitted cognitively in their development with less risk of behavioural and emotional problems. Intuitively we have known of this intimate relationship between humans and the natural environment. The challenge in our modern world is seeking it out as a daily practice of connection rather than simply reducing it to a mere opportunity for a leisurely getaway every now and then. Whilst our hobbies and activities in nature are something to be enjoyed, it is this sacred partnership we have with the natural world which sustains life itself.
In our early primary school years we learn the science of Photosynthesis. I’m sure many of us can recall colouring in or drawing that famous flow chart - A plant in soil with the sun above. Arrows directing the pattern of flow - the plant absorbs water, sun light and carbon dioxide and converts it into oxygen and glucose. This classic diagram may represent one of the most fundamental building blocks of biology but perhaps more profound is its symbolic reference to a beautifully orchestrated phenomenon occurring around us every day. This life giving phenomenon, as unassuming as it may seem, still calls on humans to be a part of the cycle.
As science and technology continue to forge ahead it is my hope that nature is not left behind and forgotten. In a world where technologies and devices are increasingly becoming obstacles to direct experience with our external environment, awareness of the true benefits of nature on our health and well being seems more important now than ever.