How our disconnect from nature is affecting our body's rhythms, heal(th) & sleep
- Olivia Ryan
- Sep 3, 2020
- 4 min read
We have be•come so dis•connected from nature that we will often talk of spending time with her as a foreign thing. Our use of electricity is a simple way of demonstrating one cause of this disconnect ~ it disconnects us from the rhythms of the Earth; the night, the dark, the time of inward-ness is now confused by artificial light. As we all know bright lights & particularly the blue light from our phones disrupt our biology at night & can inhibit us from producing enough melatonin (a sleep hormone & also a power•full antioxidant the body naturally produces). Plus scrolling & taking in too much information at once is something that sends the mind into a spasm. Observe this the next time you finish scrolling ~ notice if you feel depleted, drained or invigorated?
Now I am of course not saying to give up electricity or our phones, there is no need in us denying certain aspects & benefits of our progress, however it is important to note this disconnect & confusion in order to find balance.
Many of us struggle with sleep however are we supporting our body to sleep? If you take some time to really integrate with the sunset, you can see this is nature's way of reminding us to let go, to slow. You hold the answers to ways of taking care of yourself, you just need to give yourself the time to stop & ask. We have just be•come so lead by the mind & external sources we forget, sometimes. The sunset teaches us that it is time to let go of the day; to release, give thanks, be softer, quieter. So simple yet so power•full as a practice & way of unwinding ~ and guess what? It costs n o t h i n g monetarily.
Take some time to unwind, ground, meditate, maybe have a bath, go to bed early & turn off your phone, use dim lighting & read a book that invites feelings of peace, contentment & maybe even inspiration.
Think about it ~ the last few things we do//think of//speak of before bed are what we are taking with us into our subconscious to meditate on through the night & to bring with us to the next day. I find when I have taken care of myself the previous night I wake up feeling so ready for the day ahead.
Another area of our lifestyle that demonstrates this disconnect is as the majority of us do not grow our own food & so we source it from supermarkets. There is a severe disconnect to the fact that our food comes from the Land, as does our water. Our move towards fast paced living, instantaneous culture (instant gratification) & move to convenience means that the body's needs & the Earth''s needs rarely get a look in. This is the danger we are facing. We are in fact disconnected from our two homes ~ the body & the Earth. In a culture that endorses fast & peak performance there is no room for rest & restore. No space for the yin* state ~ we are an overly yang* culture. Over extraction of body & Earth are not new, though we have reached the peak point, the edge. Taking moments to be•come aware of the source of our food will help us to make change towards living in harmony with the Earth ~ this can bring us awareness of our waste, of a dabbling in trying to grow even some pot herbs or plants & to support our local growers & makers. Be kind to yourself as it is a transition to make these changes, but every step of the way towards taking more care literally means the world. Notice the effect this has on your body also, the move towards conscious consumption of products & food ~ brings a sense of much needed slowness & integration. This is medicine for body & Earth.
The benefits of having a daily connection & spending time in nature are now being proven through studies, however we should probably take note of how ridiculous it is that we need someone or some expert to tell us of the benefits of something so innate & literally inherent to living on this planet. .
Empower:
Become your own researcher, take time in nature, put your bare feet in the dirt, your hands, eat & forage some wild food & allow yourself to truly connect, to give thanks for all that the Earth gives us.
Which is literally everything, without her, we have nothing.
Notice how it feels to be in y o u r body, the beauty of breathing ~ the miracle that it is. Notice how your air is connected with the air that is shared with your community, the Land you stand on.....realise it is the same air shared with all be•ings, plants, insects, animals, water...... This interrelatedness is so beautiful, when we realise & are reminded of this interconnection we feel a deep sense of be•longing, a deep sense of resonance.
So take this moment to place your hand on your heart, feel your heart beat, listen to the sound of your breath, feel the support of the Land as it stands beneath your feet & say thank you.
Notice, the effect this has. How it reminds you, Activates you ~ Re•membering what is true ~ the beauty of be•ing Human, the beauty of be•ing you.
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