It's November, and I sit and watch the clouds move in the sky. There's no sound. Just silence. November is the beginning of winter in Maine. The trees have lost their leaves. The days are shorter. More time is spent inside making warm food, like soup and tea. Winter is my favorite season because it invites more time for contemplation. Often I use my imagination to create the reality I desire. Here’s a scene of my preferred reality on a snowy winter day.
“I awake on a winter’s morning after the snow has fallen in the night. My feet carry me outside where I watch my breath in the cold air dissolve into nothingness. I noticed the intricate patterns of frost on the windows. As the rising sun shines through the clouds, the rays of light land on individual snowflakes. They sparkle like diamonds. Walking through the snow is so silent. It appears the whole world is underneath a blanket of safety. Everything is white, pure, clear, and fresh. There is a feeling of rest and endings, but also new beginnings. For it is in the space of emptiness that a flicker of light shows itself.
I find a spot to sit in the forest and take in the silent world. There is no wind. Only a white, still world shows itself. It feels like being in a black and white photograph. The only color is the green of the balsam fir trees peeking out from their white covers. Every so often snow-clumps fall from the tree branches and land on the ground in silence. Snow clings to tree trunks vertically. The scent of the air feels cold and alive. My breath begins to slow and my body relaxes into the earth. I'm aware of something large and mysterious all around.
I sink into the feeling of being here.
The silence and the emptiness become so large that I melt into them. Feelings of peace wash over me. It is here in the silence of the forest where I feel deeply connected to my true self; where I can truly rest in my own beingness in the space of awareness. There is emptiness, clarity, and expansion. In this space light emerges and begins to radiate. There is warmth, love, and compassion.
Silence for me is an invitation to all the facets of consciousness. Going into nature is a way to access the part of ourselves that is the background of everything. When I'm there all of my thoughts are gone; all of my worries fade. There is a joy in knowing myself as I am. There is trust and acceptance of the present moment.”
How to Connect to Nature Spirituallly?
How does one connect to nature in winter in order to experience deep peace? For about 15 years I had a regular meditation practice using traditional methods taught to me. One day I replaced my practice with simply sitting in the forest for 10- 60 minutes every day. The silence of nature has become my main teacher, and I can still feel the silence within me in the background of my daily life. Below is the process I use to connect to nature on a spiritual level.
Find a spot to remain still for 10 to 20 minutes or longer. It is preferable to be outside, but you can still enjoy this practice from the warmth of your home. Simply find a comfortable chair in front of a window. When you venture outside, dress warmly. Perhaps bring a blanket or sleeping bag and some tea. Bring a journal if you wish. A chair or a cushion is nice to keep you off the cold ground.
Become aware of your experience. Notice your breath and each of your senses. What do you hear? What do you see? What do you smell? What do you feel? Notice your thoughts and your feelings. Write down all of your experiences if you wish. You may even draw boxes with each of these categories and fill them in as you notice them come to your awareness.
Begin to bring your attention to more subtle aspects of step two. Become aware of the slightest movements and the quietest sounds. Notice the objects that are still. Notice the silence in between the sounds.
Can you feel into the silence and stillness that is always in the background? Experiment with how long you can hold onto that feeling. This is your true self. Do you notice the decrease of thoughts? How does that feel?
Have gratitude for nature, yourself, and the time you have taken to be aware of the beauty of nature and the present moment.
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