Remembering We Belong

Part of a series of nature-based practices, to help you connect with the nature inside, and the nature outside.

When we feel lonely and disconnected, we can lose our sense of belonging. This session helps us remember our place in the earth's ecosystems, and create a cosy 'campfire circle' of friends and mentors who care.

A beautiful way to feel more joy and peace, belonging and love for the Earth.

Transcript

Hello. Pasha Lindy here. Today we'll be remembering our belonging around what we might call the great campfire of life. For one reason or another, Many of us feel lonely or disconnected at times, Or like we don't belong. Me too, I sometimes feel lonely and crave belonging. So today we'll reflect on this and we'll practice the great campfire meditation to help remember that we do belong. Part of this involves feeling connected to the place we're in, In the world. So let me start by telling you about where I am. This talk was recorded in a house in the city of Brisbane which is traditionally called Mianjin by the original custodians who are the Turrbal and Yagara people in the country now called Australia. And the garden here is full of wonderful trees. We have macadamias, Different kinds of eucalypts, One giant bloodwood tree. With a full canopy, There's no other trees blocking its way, So it's 10 metres tall and its crown fills the whole garden. And there you can see lots of minor birds hanging upside down, Pecking at leaves or diving around for bugs, Snap snapping their beaks. I love to see its leaves dancing in the breeze, And often watch this dance mesmerised, The leaves rippling. Blowing and the waves on the river beneath rippling and dancing too. So much life out there. It sparks the life in me. At the bottom of our garden is the river Maiwa, The Brisbane River. Maiwa means platypus in the local language. Aboriginal people believe that all rivers are created by the rainbow serpent. Which is called Mundagara by the local Yagura people here. And in many creation stories, This is a symbol for how water brings life to the earth. And it does, Right? No water? No life. There's no platypus around here now sadly as more and more land by the river is used for housing and the waterways lose trees and dry up more often. But if you take a trip down the river, You'll still see the sunlight sparkling on the water. You'll still see the mangroves rich with birdlife. Maybe you'll see the red and blue flash of the sacred kingfisher diving into the water. Maybe a fishing hook. And you'll still see the shadows of big shoals of catfish underwater. Sitting beside the river, I feel calm. I let more things go. And my thoughts and emotions flow through naturally, Like the river, Not so stuck anymore. So connecting with nature outside, Connecting with nature inside, That's what we'll be doing. In knowing that we're not separate, But a continuation of the nature outside. We're participating in the ecosystem. By breathing air and drinking water, For example, We're part of those great cycles. We can appreciate the natural beauty around and the generosity of Mother Earth, Giving us food, Water, Shelter. She doesn't stop. And we're also the continuation of our ancestors and elders. We wouldn't exist without the relationships of our parents, Grandparents, Great-grandparents, And all the generations that came before them. We can also connect to the local caretakers of the land, People who traditionally for millennia took care of this place. And if we truly care about where we live and care about our community, Then we're on exactly the same page as them in that wish. Who are or were the local people on the land that you find yourself upon. Here, For me, It's the Turrbal and Jagara Aboriginal people. And we're also connected to the people, Teachers or role models that have influenced our lives and helped us find meaning, Maybe sometimes spiritual meaning. So who would you invite to sit around your campfire? Would they be teachers, Mentors, Therapists, Famous sports people? Anyone we respect or look up to. Sometimes we feel so separate from others. So lonely. Me too at times. Yet this lonely me, This self called me that feels so separate, Is actually part of so many biological ecosystems and communities and processes right now. But we forget. So today we will gently bring our attention back to the connections that do exist and the biological processes that we are a part of, Whether we feel it or not. The great campfire practice is one I like to do in the morning or last thing at night to remind me that I am safe and I belong. And in brief, It's like this. We imagine a great campfire. Either by visualising or we could draw or journal or even express through art or dance. And we imagine all the people from our family. All our ancestors, All the past caretakers of this land. All the creatures and trees we love. And all our role models and mentors and teachers gathering round. Everyone gathering round the campfire and enjoying time together. And sometimes we'll feel those warm connected feelings of belonging start to arise. Sometimes this can feel easy. Sometimes this feels hard. Sometimes we get distracted or it feels a bit boring. This is all normal. But for step-by-step guidance, Listen to my practice called The Great Campfire after this talk. And we're almost out of time in this session today, But mostly we've been covering the topic of belonging or what we might call kinship. In many indigenous cultures, Birds, Trees, Rocks were not seen as resources to be used or things we own, But are akin, Part of our family. Nature looked after us and we looked after nature. And one benefit of recognising a tree as a living thing in its own right is that we respect that life form. We feel a relationship to that living thing. Of something that needs care and gives to us. Without trees, We could not exist. They're breathing oxygen for us, Some of them 24-7, Keeping us alive. You are a continuation of the wishes of humanity, Your community, Your role models and everything in the living world. So here's hoping bringing this to mind helps you remember how much you were loved and needed part of that great campfire. And if you have 10 minutes, I'd recommend you do the great campfire practice now, Which you'll find on my channel. And if you don't have time, Why not take a moment today to look at a plant a couple of times, Or a photo of a friend or a family member, And take a moment to remember your connections. You could even take a few breaths and remind yourself that you're breathing in the air that trees filled with oxygen. And you're giving something back to them on your out-breath. Well, Take care, Dear friend. Until next time.