Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend, protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.
~ Robin Wall Kimmerer ~
After following the instructions of the now-late Ojibway elder, Carolyn Oliver, my experience became as Robin Wall Kimmerer describes. On the day we met in 1997, Carolyn instructed me to go into nature every morning before sunrise and every evening before bed and give thanks to, not for, everything I witnessed or could think of. I was surprised and delighted to discover an animate world that appreciated my appreciation! I felt known and loved by aspects of the natural world and received spiritual guidance at times that supported my learning, healing, and life’s work. This practice turned my notion of prayer on its head and had me so joyous that I would sometimes skip and sing aloud as I walked along the streets. I experienced a depth of appreciation for the first time, which was very different from the experience of polite ‘thank yous’ I learned as manners. Expressing gratitude to nature is a brilliant way to build relationships and get right with nature.
The minimum exchange for a gift is “Thank you.” Nature continually provides generous and life-enhancing gifts. I invite you to begin or step up a practice of Nature Gratitude. You will love how much medicine you will benefit from! This practice will help you experience healing from the illusion that you are separate, provide the joy of connection and relationship, open yourself to nature’s unique guidance, and amplify your and Earth’s crystalline energy frequency.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to nature.” ~ Charles Eisenstein ~
The book “Prayers of Gratitude” is available in print and on Kindle, here:
