Panache Blog

Friday, August 12, 2011

Retreat Into Nature and Restore Yourself

I could never understand why Jesus would retreat into the desert when he lived in the desert. The thought of trading in one patch of sand for another never seemed appealing to me, until I began to facilitate this work…

Nature exists in an intrinsic state of harmony. It does not require anything from you nor does it make any demands. It just exists and vibrates at a level of neutrality, of harmony,… of love. More and more I hear that you, too, are finding it important to be out in nature.

What’s happening is this: The more you are around those who have yet to remember their wholeness, the more you crave quiet and solitude. It is simply a matter of balance.

Here is why you are called into nature: On one level of your being, nature provides a respite allowing your physical senses a space to rest and relax. When you are with people who are not aware of the wholeness within themselves, they seek to fill themselves from their external environment, particularly the people they’re with. For most, that’s a pretty noisy process! In nature, the shear absence of this constant clamor and chatter allows you to go within and live from the peaceful experience of your connection to that Divine part within you. This peace and connection restores your balance and replenishes your being.

On a different level – the energetic – there’s another, much more subtle process taking place. As an energetic being, you are constantly interacting with the energy, or polarity, of all that surrounds you. Typically, when you spend time with those are not living in the awareness of their connection, their energy can actually interact with yours, just as one tuning fork can impact another that resonates at a different vibration. Whether you’re consciously aware of it or not, this interaction can have a confusing or even annoying feeling to it, and before you know it, you start getting irritated and short with those around you, for no apparent reason. Over time, this energetic interaction can be emotionally and mentally draining. 

Nature gives you an opportunity on all levels of your being to disconnect and just be. Its neutral polarity doesn’t interact with your energy, creating a sense of peace, where you are simply able to relax into yourself, free from any external disturbances. This experience restores you, because it gives you the spaciousness and opportunity to just be true to yourself, unaffected by the energies around you, and connect with the Divine. 

Sitting in a park, a mountain stream, by the ocean, or a lake balances out all aspects of your mental, emotional, physical and energetic bodies.

Even a short retreat from daily life feeds you on so many levels, and as you continue to open up and relax into the pure Divine energy that is flowing through you, it is going to become harder to live in areas where there is no oasis – no connection to nature.

I am currently in Sun Valley, Idaho, on my yearly retreat and am in awe of how healthy everyone here looks; bright, radiant eyes and physically-fit, outdoorsy bodies. Those I pass just ooze life and, with the abundance of nature here, it’s no surprise. Beautiful hikes, rushing rivers and fresh mountain air exist in bountiful supply and just being here has allowed me to rest,… free of demands, a place outside of time in which harmony exists and pervades all of life. This nurturing retreat, fully-connected with nature and all her bounty, has allowed me to further spread my wings and soar.

So wherever you live, find a local spot that feeds you. Spend some time alone and connect. Allow nature in her infinite bounty to replenish and nurture you. 

Posted at 11:05 am  |  Send to a Friend