Nature's Wisdom: Embracing Abundance Through Human Connection

I know I’ve been writing a lot lately on connection. Mostly, it’s because I see so little of it, and that makes me both sad and worried. We are social animals and we need to connect with other humans to survive. Yet we aren’t connecting very much. Instead we isolate and that makes us feel even worse.

I led a ceremony this weekend. The theme I chose was on abundance because, contrary to what I see among members of my human community, nature is wildly abundant. Others have noticed it too – taller and lusher plants, more of most of every kind of animal. It’s as if there’s a quickening in Nature that seems counter to our human world right now.

We are part of Nature, and the only way I know to achieve a feeling of that natural abundance is to follow our own natures, and start re-connecting – to our neighbours, to our contrary relatives, to that guy down the street who you decided was stupid or arrogant because his beliefs aren’t your beliefs.

Maybe it’s time. To catch up with Nature.

Quote of the Week

Oh oak tree, how they have pruned you. 
Now you stand odd and strangely shaped!
You were hacked a hundred times
until you had nothing left but spite and will!

I am like you, so many insults and humiliations 
could not shatter my link with life. 
And every day I raise my head
beyond countless insults towards new light.
What in me was once gentle, sweet and tender
this world has ridiculed to death.
But my true self cannot be murdered. 
I am at peace and reconciled. 
I grow new leaves with patience
from branches hacked a hundred times.
In spite of all the pain and sorrow
I'm still in love with this mad, mad world.

• Hermann Hesse, Bäume: Betrachtungen und Gedichte

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Maryanne Nicholls is a Registered Psychotherapist.  To find out more, gain access to her weekly newsletter, meditations and programmes, sign up at www.thejoyofliving.co .