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This compact handbook of nature practices can be used by anyone who
wants to deepen their connection with the rest of nature. It is
also designed to be used by people who work with others in personal
development and healing - for example, coaches, therapists,
ecotherapists and outdoor educators. We are a part of nature and
our relationship with the Earth is reciprocal. We cannot exist
separately, and what we do as humans has powerful consequences for
the ecosystems we are part of. Experiencing ourselves as part of
nature tends to an underlying wound we all carry - a subtle,
ever-present feeling of disconnectedness that is clearly visible in
our current lives and culture. Experiencing ourselves as part of
nature opens up a larger community of life, unconditional
acceptance and a deep feeling of belonging. The consequence of this
journey is that it can motivate us to start tending the Earth’s
ecological wounds and rebalancing our part in the web of life. The
book's exercises fall into five categories: Ecological Self,
Embodiment, Personal Journey, Mindfulness and Inviting Mystery.
Some exercises concentrate on empathising with natural elements or
a living being and feeling into their innate intrinsic value. These
are categorised as focusing on the Ecological Self. The notion of
the Ecological Self comes from the writings of the Norwegian
ecophilosopher, Arne Naess and suggests an experience of deeper
interconnectedness and being part of nature, where all parts of the
whole have an inalienable right to their own existence.
​Embodiment focuses on bringing awareness to the body and
exploring movement in an ecological context and as part of the
Ecological Self. Exercises that invite readers to reflect on their
Personal Journey are useful when looking at personal development
issues or in therapeutic or coaching processes with clients.
Exercises in the Mindfulness category emphasise exploring the
senses, observing the mind and experiencing the present moment.
Finally, Inviting Mystery describes exercises that invoke
playfulness and creativity, expanding beyond the rational everyday
world. These experiences may go beyond easy description and invite
a taste of mystery into life.
Exploring human nature takes the reader deep into the human
experience of being in nature. Our current ecological predicament
highlights the need to change people's nature awareness and
behaviour. This pioneering mixed methods study investigates a
method to do this through facilitated Solo time in the wilderness.
Solo time is an ancient, ritualised and pan-cultural practice of
spending time alone in nature, that has been reintroduced into our
current time and culture. The study focuses on the phenomenology of
young adults' immersive experiences in nature and the evaluation of
long term impact on their personal development, their relationship
with nature, community participation and ecological behaviour.
However, this work is not only about the content of research, it is
also about how research is done. On a methodological level the
study takes a systemic approach: it explores and integrates an
expanded, interconnected worldview and methodology. In practice,
this encompasses working with participants' dreams as data and
including different ways of knowing in an expanded view on
validity. It also includes collecting data on the researcher's own
experience and integrating it as a parallel narrative in the
thesis. In this manner the book not only tackles the pressing issue
of an increasing psychological and physical separation between
humans and nature. It also calls into question how conventional
research and its prevailing tendency to investigate the world in
isolated pieces may contribute to the problem. Overall, this book
provides a practical example of how a systemic approach may be
integrated in the research process and in academic writing. It also
serves as a valuable reference point for future work on promising
triggers for change and highlights powerful elements for
prospective programmes focussing on individual empowerment,
sustainability and nature awareness. It addresses all researchers
interested in ecopsychology and experiential education but also
those who are curious to explore subjectivity as part of an
expanded worldview and methodology in research.
Exploring human nature takes the reader deep into the human
experience of being in nature. Our current ecological predicament
highlights the need to change people's nature awareness and
behaviour. This pioneering mixed methods study investigates a
method to do this through facilitated Solo time in the wilderness.
Solo time is an ancient, ritualised and pan-cultural practice of
spending time alone in nature, that has been reintroduced into our
current time and culture. The study focuses on the phenomenology of
young adults' immersive experiences in nature and the evaluation of
long term impact on their personal development, their relationship
with nature, community participation and ecological behaviour.
However, this work is not only about the content of research, it is
also about how research is done. On a methodological level the
study takes a systemic approach: it explores and integrates an
expanded, interconnected worldview and methodology. In practice,
this encompasses working with participants' dreams as data and
including different ways of knowing in an expanded view on
validity. It also includes collecting data on the researcher's own
experience and integrating it as a parallel narrative in the
thesis. In this manner the book not only tackles the pressing issue
of an increasing psychological and physical separation between
humans and nature. It also calls into question how conventional
research and its prevailing tendency to investigate the world in
isolated pieces may contribute to the problem. Overall, this book
provides a practical example of how a systemic approach may be
integrated in the research process and in academic writing. It also
serves as a valuable reference point for future work on promising
triggers for change and highlights powerful elements for
prospective programmes focussing on individual empowerment,
sustainability and nature awareness. It addresses all researchers
interested in ecopsychology and experiential education but also
those who are curious to explore subjectivity as part of an
expanded worldview and methodology in research.
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Paperback
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