“Everybody needs beauty… Places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer, and give strength to body and soul alike.” — John Muir
In the musical Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda, there is a song that describes the pain Hamilton felt following the death of his cherished son in a duel — a death that haunted him all his life: “There are moments that the words don’t reach. There’s a grace too powerful to name. We push away what we can never understand. We push away the unimaginable.”
Can you identify with deep feelings of despair when death has taken from you someone you loved with all your being? Your saddest moments can leave you reeling, feeling like the baby who cannot be soothed even when fed, loved, swaddled.
Your years of living have given you resilience as you have found your way through the unimaginable even though you may have wished for an antidote that does not exist. You long for peace, calm, solace.
There are places that can ease our deepest pain. That is the world of nature — the world of sky, seas, earth, wildlife. Nature demands nothing of us but what we choose to give and receive.
In a beautiful poem, Mary Oliver writes, “I too have known loneliness, I too have known what it is to feel misunderstood, rejected, and suddenly not at all beautiful. Oh, mother earth, your comfort is great, your arms never withheld, it has saved my life to know this. Your rivers flowing, your roses opening in the morning, oh, motions of tenderness!”
Nature can touch our lives in all seasons. We long for depth as our lives progress and losses accumulate. Here are a few ways to let nature be your physical, emotional and spiritual companion as you navigate the sunshine and storms of life.
Nature In Your Everyday Life
When your heart is heavy, you may not feel like doing much. While life at this time is more about surviving than doing, it is still possible to take in the blessings of the natural world around you.
Start by noticing what is right there in your environment. Look out the window at the sky, flowers, birds, anything alive that you can see. Even an apartment window usually has a patch of sky. Look closely and you might catch a hummingbird suspended in midair, wings beating so fast they are almost invisible.
Are there paths in your yard or apartment, gardens, trees, greenery? Follow the green trail. If there is a garden, sit awhile. Don’t rush away. Take a deep breath. Listen for sounds, the music of the cicadas and crickets, the smell of jasmine in the evening air, roses, gardenias. There’s so much beauty to savor.
Take a walk. Look at the trees. Have you ever hugged a tree? Start by finding one that calls to you. Put each of your hands on the sides of the tree. Feel the energy, the roots deep in the earth, the branches reaching to the sky.
Look at the daytime sky, clouds floating, beautiful designs not made by human creation. Night falls. See the night sky, the moon that changes its position every night, the bright stars, the dark night with no moon, no stars, stormy skies. Let yourself feel how small you are in the big universe, yet a part of it. Some people look at the night sky and feel the presence of those who have died, all part of the same sky.
Get Actively Involved With Nature
When in the grip of the unimaginable, it is hard enough to just get out of bed with no thought of making plans for an outing. Other days you will have more energy available. You may be willing to go beyond the everyday, taking the time to deepen your bonds with nature.
So many people have been soothed installing a bird house, hanging a hummingbird feeder, leaving treats for the squirrels, resulting in moments of joy watching the results of such simple acts of interacting with nature.
Our gifted artists have taken their pallets outside to capture the wonder of the natural world. But you don’t have to be an artist to grab some felt pens and a pad of paper to go outside and paint.
You can enjoy the beauty of a garden. Or you can go a step further and indulge in the act of gardening. There is a healing power in the process of planting and seeing something grow. You don’t have to possess a green thumb to give it a try.
As your energy to be out in the world increases, take a drive to the beach if that is what you love. Find out where the parks and nature sanctuaries are near your neighborhood and plan an outing. So many times friends will ask how they can help following a death or illness. Call on those who have offered to take you to places you may not want to go on your own.
Bring Nature Inside
Add more beauty to your dwelling with plants, cut flowers, even an arrangement of colored stones.
Go to your computer to discover the many resources for free nature tours around the world. Zoom is still flourishing and offering many ways you can bring some beauty into your life while sitting in a comfortable chair. There are also endless videos and documentaries with nature themes on streaming services or YouTube — all free and just a click away. Many of you have televisions with music stations of different genres. Some of them feature scenes of breathtaking natural beauty all over the world along with music to match.
One form of imagery for stress relief is to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and call to your mind a beautiful place in nature. See it clearly in your mind’s eye or just sense it without visuals. Go back to a place you know or imagine that brings you peace. Breathe it, feel it, and let it ease your heart.