Show Notes – Ep 016: Connecting Back to Nature
In this chatty episode of the Happy Me Happy Earth podcast, I talk about how we can get back to nature and reconnect to our true selves.
This episode comes straight from my heart. No notes. Lots of passion.
Below is a brief outline of the episode. Please tune into the Happy Me Happy Earth podcast wherever you get your podcasts to listen to the full episode.
Introduction
After watching this video by Zhaawnong Webb about how the environmentalist movement has historically been at odds with indigenous people I felt inspired to hop on the mic and record this episode.
It is incredibly important that we environmentalists look to indigenous cultures to learn how to become better activists and live in harmony with the earth. And while many of us in the climate justice movement have made strides to acknowledge, learn from, and amplify indigenous voices we still have a long way to go.
I also talk about how our modern culture is set up to disconnect us from nature and the negative impacts of this disconnection on our health and well-being. Lastly, I share the daily practices that I do to connect back to nature.
Why is it important to get back to nature?
This topic, connecting back to nature, is incredibly important to me personally and a big part of my life coaching work with clients.
When we are disconnected from nature we are disconnected from ourselves because we are nature. We evolved as part of a complex system of beings – plants, animals, and minerals to name a few.
However, our modern culture is set up to keep us disconnected from that truth. The majority of humans spend most of their time in urban areas and inside temperature-controlled, weatherproof environments.
Due to this separation from other non-human beings, we have a deep longing for belonging and connection. In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmer writes about how this longing manifests itself as anxiety, depression, overwhelm, and other mental and physical health issues.
Back to Nature Practices
- Go outside
- Develop relationships with non-human beings
- Walk barefoot and/or in “barefoot” shoes
- Wear organic materials
- Eat seasonal, local foods
- Research your ancestors. What land were they indigenous to?
Other links mentioned in this episode:
p a c t is the sustainable and ethical clothing brand that I mentioned when talking about wearing natural and organic (when possible) fabrics. I’m not affiliated with them in any way. I buy the large majority of my clothes second-hand as part of a sustainable lifestyle, but recently I decided to buy a few things new. p a c t is my go-to clothing company.
Indigenous Australians walk the energy lines, also known as Songlines, of the earth. You can find similar practices in other parts of the world such as the ley lines in the UK, snake lines in India, and dragon lines in China.
Let’s connect!
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Feedback? Topic suggestions? Ah-ha moments? I’d love to hear from you!
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Thanks for listening and/or reading!
Featured image: Photo by Dan Senior on Unsplash
Podcast music: “Bounce” by Coma-Media on Pixbay
