How does nature heal you?

[arctic splash]

Since I joined a pagan discussion group based on Starhawk's Earth Path (totally awesome book), I started thinking about how strange it is that your typical pagan-oriented book has little or nothing to say about real, concrete relationships with the natural world.

So my question, how does the natural world heal you? What does it teach you? How does it help you grow?

I find that just being in nature fills me with vitality. When I'm alienated from nature, I get stressed easily, and I lose sight of what's really important to me. Being out among the trees whose roots are so strong and solidly grounded in the earth, teaches me strength and patience. I think about all the plants out there that can satiate our hunger and have so many other useful properties, and know that if only humans could learn to respect and listen to nature, we'd be provided for. A friend of mine told me she didn't like dandelions because they're so invasive, and I gave her a whole other outlook: maybe they're calling out to us because they have something that we need (the bitter flavour found in dandelions is very lacking in most modern diets, and it's very important for digestion).

This time of year, I get really lethargic and lose my motivation, I see that the natural world has gone to sleep as well. I realise it's a time to rest, a time to reflect and incubate... and when the snow falls, it teaches me I can just *be* without having to worry about getting somewhere.

Of course Native American traditions also teach that just being in nature fills us with a very healing energy, and I find that to be true. I'm a complete beginner when it comes to listening to nature, and learning what she has to teach me, but learning is a joy.

For anyone who wants to revitalise their spirituality through a real relationship with nature, I can't recommend Starhawk's book enough. IMO it's her best book yet.

[Avanti]

That's very interesting what you've just said. I'll try and get my hands on that book.

Whenever I become withdrawn and critical of myself, I find that sitting amongst nature and looking at the plants helps me to realise i'm being too selfish. Trees, even blades of grass continue to thrive even in the most horrible of conditions, and here I am moping about something so insignificant that is restricting my growth.

It sounds weird lol...but yeah that's how nature calms me.

[Inward Visionary]

I love listening to the rain, it's very calming.

[J Santos]

Nature gives me the tools to cope with the miseries in my life and the motivation to seek the joys.

[arctic splash]

I love listening to the rain, it's very calming

Ahhh... I remember staying in my grandmother's trailer in Maine... and even though sometimes it would rain the entire vacation, I didn't mind, because I loved listening to the patter of the rain on the roof! That's such a welcome sound for me. I wish it were easier to hear from this house.

[ShamanFeather]

Dandelions are extremely good with lots of nutrition! Check out this site: http://www.prodigalgardens.info/weblog.htm
Dig in the one that says dandelions. this site has lots of recipes and stuff on different herbs.

other then nature healing with herbs its very patterns definately affect the psychology and physical status of people. I think sometimes the other way around also.

By paying attention to the weather and learning the feelings and energy and messages one can use it to help create change in a person's life.

[arctic splash]

Plants are really amazing creatures. I love how the patterns we perceive in plants actually have something to do with their wisdom and healing properties. Anyone know about signatures? Signatures are patterns in plants, which are found intuitively and through the imagination, and it's a great way to discover the wisdom of nature. There are all sorts of signatures. The staghorn sumac is considered Elk Medicine in Native American tradition because it has branches look like elk antlers. This is a "spirit signature." There are also colour signatures. The colour red is considered a signature for plants that are good for the heart and circulatory system (thus cayenne and hawthorne berry). Plants with purplish-red stalks tend to pull up toxic heat, detoxify, and are good for the liver: dandelion, burdock, plantain. Some hollow tubular plants are good for the circulatory system (and represent blood vessels). It's a whole new way of thinking about healing and nature, but signatures are an example of how you can commune with the plants and learn and heal through nature. (Of course the disclaimer stands: don't ingest a plant until you're absolutely certain you know it's edible.)

I think place and environment definitely has an impact on psychology... coming back to Massachusetts after Michigan, where there are many more hills and things just seem 'rougher', corresponded to the difference in personality I sensed about people in the two states. Then I thought about Ireland and Scotland: and that perhaps Ireland's gentler rolling hills have something to do with its gentler accent and demeanor. That's just simplifying things... but I'm sure we're all influenced by nature in many subtle and not so subtle ways.

[ShamanFeather]

The concept what a plant looks like is what it does was actually developed in the 1600s by a man Named Jacob Boehm and is known as the Doctrine of Signatures. Although many still practice this, I have read there are certain plants they were right on but some that turned out to do the opposite of what they thought it would or be poisonous. Always do thourough research about herbs before using them as they are potent and can interact with medications.

As far as the shape of the land that was recognized in the practice of feng shui as well as in general augury. But if you consier that crystals, metel, earth all have different vibrations it makes sense different areas have naturally different feels and has an affect on the populace.

[arctic splash]

Of course it's important to know the basic uses of the plants you're using -- and learn how not to confuse wild carrot with poison hemlock! (which look almost identical, only one smells like carrot!) -- the best herbalists I know emphasise that the best learning of all comes from just being with them and getting to know them. For me signatures are a way of entering into a more intuitive, personal relationship with the plants. Not everyone likes that kind of approach (the more scientific-oriented) but I find it suits my worldview. It's also a useful mnemonic to memorise things that you learn about particular plants. The idea that form gives clues about function is actually a lot older than Boehme, from indigenous peoples around the world, though Boehme first developed a formal Doctrine of Signatures. Even in Western medicine earlier physician/healers, like Galen (2nd century AD) had a sense of this. There are many approaches to herbalism, and all are useful. Just don't get yourself killed, eh? ;)