Gratitude
The natural world is filled with gifts for us, which many of us take without thinking. One way of getting closer to nature is to cultivate a sense of gratitude for nature's many gifts – the food we eat, the air we breathe, the sun that warms our bodies, the cool water that refreshes our spirits. We can express our gratitude at any time, but certain times of day seem especially appropriate for thanks – in the morning when we wake up, for example, or when we eat, or when we lie down before falling asleep.
~*~ Approach a green plant. Take a deep breath near the plant, recognizing that the plant is producing the oxygen you need to survive. Touch the plant. Thank it for giving you life.
~*~ Breathe deeply. Feel the air move in and out of your lungs. Put your fingers gently in your ears, and listen to the hum of your circulating blood. Wiggle your toes. Shout. Massage your feet. Think of what a wonderful mechanism your body is. Thank your body for putting up with you all these years.
~*~ When you wake in the morning, stand and face the sun. Feel its warmth drive away the chill of night. Feel its heat slowly penetrate through your skin and to your bones. Thank the sun for rising. Promise the sun that you will use its light on this day to try to become a better person.
~*~ Recognize that food is a gift from the earth. Understand that you did not create the food. Human beings do not create food; we take it. Whenever you eat, thank the earth and all the plants and animals for nourishing us. What will you give back in return?
~*~ Build an altar to the place or to the spirits. Put the altar on the ground, on a tree stump, or on a rock. Make the altar out of a pile of rocks. Decorate it with beautiful things you have found in the wilderness – a snail shell, a pine cone, a feather, a discarded bird's nest, a piece of quartz. Carve things out of wood to put on the altar. Pour water over the altar each time you drink. Use the altar to thank the place or the spirits for letting you stay, and for teaching you. Make the altar into a symbol of your vision fast. When you leave, dismantle the altar, and put everything respectfully back into the wilderness.
Steve Beyer
