The power of nature

Reading from Wednesday, June 18, 2014 yoga class

From the book, "The second half of life" by Angeles Arrien

"When we experience inner quiet and peacefulness, we can savor the wisdom and spirituality found in nature, in silence, and in precious moments we experience at the center of our being.

Many indigenous cultures and spiritual traditions recognize four natural sanctuaries where we can remember and come home to who we are: the desert, the mountains, the waters, and the woods.  Nature comes from the Latin natus, "to be born."  Native peoples look to these places for remembrance, soul retrieval work, and to be reborn or renewed.  Because we are made from the natural elements--fire (our energy), air (our breath), water (our blood), and earth (our bones)--we are always drawn to come into harmony with the beauty of nature around us.  Thich Nhat Hanh tells us what happens when we do not stay connected to the land.  "Nature is our mother.  If we live cut off from her, we get sick."  In our later years, there is a deep desire to simplify our lives and to return to the enjoyment of our childhood explorations of the natural world.  We recognize that it feeds our souls."