Connecting | Just Gentle Go

Connecting with Nature

We are living in an age of ever strident demands being made on our modern lives, Media intrusions of the “daily bad news cycle”, and the endless politicising of agendas to drive a narrative regardless of any negative side effects. With all these conflicting messages we are rapidly losing our real connection with Nature – with the very essence of Life.

A picture, a screen, a description can never replace being there, in the moment, experiencing, and really ‘feeling’ Nature. That creak of a branch, you turn and see a bright eyed Robin looking at you, its little feathers being ruffled by the breeze. That connection is unique to you, you can feel it resonate with you own innate spirituality. The more you venture off the beaten track, freely roam within Natures Realm, the more joy you feel. It’s real, it’s your personal experience. It’s not being fed to you or promoted by anyone else, and it’s certainly not in any way comparable to the passive watching of it, second-hand, on a digital screen.

When you seek out that precious opportunity to 'Just Gentle Go' to venture out and reconnect with the Natural World, you discover true peace and happiness

However please don't confuse the simple act of 'walking out in Nature' as being an act that, in itself, will enable you to make that 'Special Connection'. To make that connection you need to understand the real purpose of your walking, and make sure you are really feeling Nature and being 'in the moment' with all it is bringing to you. The most common 'states of walking' can be broadly defined as;

Walking for exercise

this could take the form of walking brisky to work, or using a pacey walk as part of a healthy fitness regime. However, one's Mind is not really focused on the environment through which you are walking, rather on achieving a 'time scale', reaching a goal.

Walking for social company

Clearly this is an important part of many people's day. Whether planned or spontaneous , the principal function of this kind of walking is to exchange 'news' within the group you are sharing the walk with. The walk itself is just a secondly function. Although some things within Nature may catch your eye, the reality is that your group could actually be walking anywhere and so much along the way will probably just 'pass you by'

Walking to exercise an animal, your dog for instance.

Again, one's attention will not be focused on the Natural World through which you are passing but more often on the activity that the dog is getting up to. It is becoming more and more common to see crowds of dog walkers where the dogs seem to be 'leading their owners', with little of no regard to the Countryside. We are not being anti-dog here, just pointing out that dog owners do have responsibilities. If you are a dog owner, please ensure therefore that if you are in a sensitive natural environment your dog is kept strictly on a tight lead, especially in wildlife breeding seasons.

A Just Gentle Go Walk

is something far more subtle. The act of being out roaming freely in the Natural World, far from the madding crowd. Trusting your instincts and venturing well off the beaten track, allowing all it's elements to wash over you in an unfiltered way. Just being "in the moment" and at one with that special place in which you have found yourself. That's when you "feel" Natures Ways.

This is best defined in the words of our Album Song - Just Gentle Go

"So find the meaning that Nature provides, and seize the moment just be your own guide. Leave only footprints behind, as you Gentle Go."

Body Mind Spirit

It is sometimes helpful to take the view that a Human Being comprises of Three Parts of one Whole.

There is the physical Body. The bones and muscles, blood and nervous systems, heart, liver and kidneys. All working together to keep us alive.

Then there is the Mind, that wonderful collection of memories, judgements, opinions, desires, computations and reactions. When working properly it is amazing, inventive and useful to our wellbeing. But when it is dysfunctional it can take over the proper working of the body and overwhelm us.

Finally, the Spirit. That indefinable essence. Each one of us has had a glimpse of that peaceful state where we feel truly at one with Self, even with the Universe.

The idea state is where all three parts are balanced and in Harmony. The Self is in tune with the Mind and the Body.

Immersing yourself in Nature, connecting with its rhythms, is the perfect way to reach this balance. Away from the noise and distractions that were occupying our mind we can now move in a more natural and primitive way. Feeling our muscles flexing with each step we take, using all our senses to hear, feel, touch and see the wonder of nature all around us. In this way we can deliberately take our attention out of the Mind, with its problems and demands, and direct it out to the distant horizons, trees, hills, and cloud formations. Once out of the Mind the Self feels freer and more at peace.

Make the effort to take yourself on a climb to the top of secluded hilltop, or stand high up on the edge of the Sea as a storm approaches, and you will experience this feeling.

In those moments, you will experience true peace. But this Connection with Nature has to be carried out consciously and deliberately.

As we discussed earlier walking, in the physical exercise sense, may indeed give you valuable time to reorganise 'worldly things' in your Mind, such as how you are going to approach a problem at work, meal schedules or sorting out the children’s homework. But this will never bring your Three Parts into Balance, because all of those thoughts are just occupying your Mind. And to find proper balance we must move outside the Mind and back to Self.

Meditation has of course traditionally been another good way people have sought to achieve this Balance. But if you choose to get out in wild nature, breathing in the living landscape, feeling its beauty and emptying your Mind, that’s even better.