By Ed Boardman
energy of the oaks, the magnolias, maples, hickories and pines. As I stand there with my arms outstretched between two different trees I start to feel the subtle difference between the energy of the Oak and that of the sycamore. As I begin to feel, I begin to believe. Maybe if I listen just a little bit closer, I may be able to hear the singing of the resurrection ferns as they get a drink from a gentle rain, or have the confidence to ask the flowers to release their fragrance. We connect
I
joined my friend John Springer for one of his enchanted walkabouts recently. In our world of skeptics
and naysayers John gives permission to people of all ages to return to that time in our lives when we believed in those things unseen, when we were able to, without criticism, talk to a plant, hug a tree, and to awaken to the often unseen and ignored wonders of our world. Dressed in his Boy Scout shorts
and socks, John’s stature makes quite a canvas for his Washington Oaks tee shirt with a large Live Oak in the center. A crushed velvet deep blue top hat, complete with the proverbial rabbit completes his outfit. To most unsuspecting passerby’s this is just another eccentric, but to those who stop, shake off all their preconceived opinions, and take the time to listen, we begin to see his work in a new light, a world that communicates not through words but through senses and sensations.
Children adapt most easily,
as John started by pointing out the 34
subtle and not so subtle faces on the old live oak standing sentry duty on the banks of the St John’s River. As I struggled to see the first face, John and the two young boys with us were busily pointing out a multitude of eyes peering out at us. Some were smiling, some frowning and some howling. Perhaps children see these things so easily because we give them permission to imagine or maybe they just haven’t been jaded by those that tell us this is all childish, silly and not socially acceptable to see fairies, gnomes and faces in the trees. John continues looking for the fairy holes, gnome homes, and dragons on the broken tree branches. He guides even the most stoic of engineers, to feel the energy of nature. He instructs us to stand between three trees which form a triangle. These are called elevators. Is it going up or down? Surprising to the adults in the group, all feel the energy flowing in the same direction. As our group strolls through
the woods, we are allowed to feel the
with nature all the time. We can be taking a walk in the woods, sitting on a bench beneath an old oak, swimming in the ocean or standing on a mountain top. When we stroke our pet, or watch a hummingbird collect nectar we are connecting to nature. Have you ever seen the line of cars, stopped in a national park, just to watch a bear graze? Have you ever stopped to smell a flower or marvel, somewhat begrudgingly, at the tenacity of a weed growing up in our driveway? Nature is always beckoning us, always inviting us to wake up and take notice. Science is confirming what we
have all known all the time. Spending time in nature heals, rejuvenates, lowers stress and helps us see the beauty and joy in our children, our grandchildren, our husbands and wives and most importantly ourselves. Dr. Michael Cohen has been
studying the impact that reconnecting with nature has on people of all ages for the past 50 years. The results are consistent. When people reconnect
An Enchanted Walk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56