Increasingly, the majority of mankind lives in some form of urban environment: at present, over half of the world’s population lives in cities. (1) Most of Earth’s metropolises, unfortunately, do not adumbrate the idyllic environments of a London or a Zurich. They are fetid coagulations of a swirling mass of humanity – think Lagos Nigeria, or Dhaka Bangladesh, to name but a few. In all of this, nonetheless — though our cities are constructed of glass, steel, and concrete – one sees nature resplendent. We notice a tree here, a shrub there, and hence, at a further distance, a fountain tumbling into a small pond with swimming fish. Most people do not want to be overly distant from nature herself.
I remember as a very young child initially visiting my grandmother’s farm. It was like taking a trip to Mars or beyond, the serial Star Trek began in 1966. (2) First, it was a very long distance from my family’s home – over three days of driving. When you are small that is an extremely long way. Then there was the weather. It was exceedingly cold with snow everywhere. I grew up in a very wet environment on the coast of North America and, though the weather was quite cold relative to Asia, there was virtually no snow. When we arrived at the farm, it was peacefully nestled into its winter cocoon. Everything seemed to be at sleep or in a state of rest. This included the entirety of the farm: all the brooding people and the meandering animals. There is something enticing about winter, I have always found. It is a period of repose before the onslaught of spring with its explosion of bugs, bees, and vitality. It is a wonderful time to reconnect with Gaia, (3) though I was too young to realize this at the time. All people feel this or, at least, should.
And so, it is with our modern cities. The move afoot is to “green our cities.” If we can’t bring people to the countryside, then let us bring the countryside to our citizens is the environmental mantra: “What’s good for the planet is good for us too, urban planners insist. According to research by global engineering firm Arup, green cities are healthier, more prosperous and safer. With more than two in three of the world’s population projected to be living in cities by 2050, such claims merit attention. So do they stack up? The clearest evidence centres on health. As humans, we’re hardwired to enjoy nature, says Tom Armour, director of landscape and urbanism at Arup: ‘We’ve only really had mass urbanisation for the last 200 years, say, out of our hunter-gather experience of 100,000 years.’” (4)
To confirm this prognosis, try this as an experiment. The next time you feel sad or distressed, find a local park. Take your shoes and socks off and go for a walk on the grass. Acknowledge the life that extends around you: the twittering of the birds and the soft undulation of the trees. It is an enticing way to bond with your inner being, as it is so aptly called – the part of you that only you can truly comprehend. There is the further belief that this foray into nature actually concatenates you with your sixth sense: your link to God, Gaia, or the universe. Therefore, the necessity of nature in our lives is important to our spiritual and mental wellbeing.
Lord Byron (5) leaves us with a thought:
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more”
A closing thought: Whether it is a rainy and cold morning, or a midday covered with oppressive heat, we feel the power of nature in our lives – and the subsequent mood swings that are called forth by her tentacles. The secret, I suppose, is to enjoy all of these moments or at least benefit from the fact that you are alive to experience them. Conscious existence herself is a great temporal river rushing to the ocean of infinity. We should try to savor these, seemingly momentary, instances wherever we are. By doing this, we can assist others who are not so lucid in their perceptions of life.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the attraction and power of nature to our psychological and divine health.
To be noted: this from Emily Dickenson (6) — Nature the gentlest mother is, / Impatient of no child, / The feeblest of the waywardest. / Her admonition mild.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPuIKEvcHmc&ab_channel=VasileAndreica
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHWbZmg2hzU&t=52s&ab_channel=TheSchoolofLife
This week on your introspective walk, please feel the embrace of nature around you.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: To truly understand your place in nature’s unfolding brings you an understanding of life and its eventual transcendence into the cosmos.
Footnotes:
1)https://rainmaking.io/article/55-of-the-worlds-population-currently-lives-in-urban-areas/
2)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI&ab_channel=dinadangdong
5)https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lord-Byron-poet/Legacy