Listening Deeply | Nature Practice

In this series of meditations and talks, we'll be exploring how to connect or "listen deeply" to nature outside, the nature inside and a deeper sense of calm, vitality, love and insight. This first guided practice introduces the key elements of connecting with nature, using our senses and listening inwardly, whether we are sitting, standing, lying or walking. You might benefit from listening to the Intro Talk first, which you can find here.

We'd love to hear your comments and questions!

Transcript

So choosing whether you will walk,

Sit,

Stand or lie down for this practice.

And if you can,

Practicing in nature or finding some way to connect with nature.

So if you're inside,

Maybe looking at a plant or out of a window.

And before we come into the present moment and open our practice,

Reflecting on this place and its past.

What was this place in history?

Go back in time a hundred years.

Two hundred years.

A thousand years.

Ten thousand years.

Who took care of this place before you?

We might notice some sense of gratitude and thanks to the previous custodians arising.

Maybe a sense of our own place in space and time.

Maybe some wishes arising to help take care of this land from now on.

But whatever is arising in you now,

It's your truth.

That's fine.

So leaving the past now and coming into the present will open our practice.

Breathing deeply first of all to our own bodies.

Like a good friend.

Keeping ourselves with care.

Nothing It says purpose doesn't matter to an infant box as a food bank in the Sustaining deeply means simply resting here.

Using our senses.

Noticing the world around us.

The world inside us.

Life flowing through our awareness.

So let's listen deeply.

With all of our senses.

The eyes are open.

The ears are open.

The heart.

The mind.

The body are open.

Receiving.

Receiving.

Whatever is calling.

What do you notice?

Perhaps the feeling of the breath.

Moving in the body.

Perhaps the distant sound of birds calling to one another.

A lush green tree.

The comfortable sensation of the solid earth beneath us.

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

Letting life flow in.

And life flow out.

Just listening deeply to whatever calls us now.

What do you notice?

Being a good listener.

Caring.

Curious.

And if we feel unsettled,

Too much going on,

Then settling,

Settling into just one sense.

Anchoring ourselves in just the breath.

Just the body.

Just sights.

Just sounds.

We can make that choice as we continue.

Sometimes we can watch thoughts flow past.

Like a river.

Which thoughts are floating downstream in your mind stream?

Are they floating on by?

Or are you hooked?

Or refusing to look?

Is there a pattern or a habit you can see?

And which currents,

Which emotions carry them along?

And where does your body feel that?

Yeah,

Sometimes,

Splash!

We all fall into the mind stream and helplessly get swept away.

But when we wake up,

Awareness is back.

We climb out.

Back on the riverbank again.

And coming home with all our senses,

Listening to whatever calls us in the nature outside,

Or the nature inside,

Or home to that chosen single sense,

Our anchor.

So let's practice like this.

Children's subscribes alone.

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Reviews

Really great way for me to wind down a busy mind before bed. Thank you.

Beautiful meditation. I feel connected to the earth and nature that surrounds me. 🙏

💖I absolutely loved every single moment of this! this was perfect for me💖