How To Listen To Mother Nature

For all its technical advances, modern society barely has its feet on the ground. Steel beams, concrete slabs and climate-controlled interiors are all designed to block us off from the natural world. Yet, as children, many of us were sustained by the simple joy of running through a mud puddle or watching the clouds roll by. If you're feeling disconnected, perhaps your inner child is longing to hear the call of its first mother once more. To learn how to listen to Mother Nature again, you'll need use all of your senses.

Step 1

Spend time in natural settings. One might be a wooded area where you can actively listen to the wind as it rattles leaves in the treetops. Or it could be a sandy beach, or a lakeside dock. If you live in an urban area, a park or botanical garden will suffice. Whatever your destination, be still and listen to the symphony of sounds that surround you. According to the editors of "New Choices in Natural Healing," composer and researcher Steven Halpern believes that the human body is innately attuned to the sounds of nature and, as a matter of evolution, needs to hear them to maintain balance and well-being.

Step 2

Tend a garden. Working the warm, moist soil with your hands and nourishing young seedlings is very gratifying in itself. However, you can reap much more from your efforts than a few vegetables or flowers. When you take the time to establish and nurture new life, an exchange of energy takes place. James Redfield, author of "The Celestine Prophecy," describes the universe as being made of dynamic energy and explains that, when you project your energy into a desired result, your energy spreads and continues to manifest in all living things. With practice, says Redfield, it is possible to see this energy by viewing natural articles with a slightly tilted focus. This energy is the silent voice of Mother Nature, a universal language that speaks volumes about the world and your own place in it.

Step 3

Engage in a two-way conversation with Mother Nature. Deepak Chopra, author of "Peace is the Way," says that the global environment is largely influenced by human awareness. Unfortunately, says Chopra, there has been a shift in New Age thought that reflects more focus on catastrophic events than on the evolution of consciousness. According to Chopra, if you align your awareness with a doomsday outcome, then that is what the universe will deliver. However, if you can appreciate that earthquakes and floods are Mother Nature's way of conveying a need for healing and renewal--and respond accordingly--you cast a "vote" for a positive future for all living things.