14 AUG 2018: As a Holistic Nutritionist, I consider myself pretty spiritual. I try to meditate and practice yoga as often as I can, and I also believe in the existence of spirits and a greater divine energy. But, I can also fully admit that I have yet to achieve the level of inner peace that accompanies a lifetime in the silent foothills of Tibet. So, when I had the opportunity to further expand my horizons by attending a spiritual nature retreat led by a shaman from Zimbabwe, I was all over it!

But first things first, what exactly is a shaman anyway?!

Shamans are ancient medicine people with a special ability to connect to higher spiritual realms to access knowledge for healing. The focus of this particular retreat was on the connection to the spirit of Mother Nature to receive messages of Her wisdom.

So, two weekends ago I headed about an hour and a half east of Toronto into Northumberland County, with nothing but a tent and swirling infinite curiosities about what to expect. All I knew was that I was headed to the sacred land of Fell’s Meadows to explore topics around the heart, soul, and the natural realm. As a left-brain dominant person, I definitely have to work at fully embracing the intangibles of life (not to mention living without a schedule…). But, if there is one thing I’ve learned when it comes to spirituality, you have to experience it to believe it.

Truthfully, I was picturing a weekend of relaxation, meditation and nature walks sprinkled with Shamanic teachings. Instead, I was challenged, pushed out of my comfort zone and served a hefty dose of reality. We spent most of our time in a circle, listening, sharing, and contemplating the things most important in life. And in between we had some quiet time outdoors, and nature walks through the diverse ecological landscape. We even had the opportunity to let loose with singing and free movement, while playing an assortment of instruments collected from around the world.

Recounting the various activities from that weekend seems almost a disservice to the experience, as the true enrichment came in the moments of self-reflection, much like how they say music is created by the space between the notes. So, I’ll share with you some of the things that I learned while contemplating the messages from Mother Nature.

It’s no secret that we are living in a time of environmental destruction.

Western society is heavily focused on short-sighted profit margins at the expense of almost everything else. But, what happens to the earth happens to us. If the earth is not healthy and vibrant, the beings that are trying to sustain themselves here cannot thrive.

Thankfully, topics on global warming, bans on single-use plastics, and restrictions on other environmentally destructive behaviours are becoming more mainstream conversations. But it is still not enough! With this progression comes complacency because it’s easy to pass the buck to the responsibility of larger corporations, or to diminish the implications of your own actions as a single person. One less plastic straw in a landfill is still one less! Even one drop in the water creates a ripple effect that has the potential to be far-reaching. I’m sure there is an existing quote that depicts how multiple drops in the ocean can ripple together to form a wave of change. (If not, I will graciously begin accepting nominations for my Pulitzer prize for poetic genius…)

So, do something about it!

It is not enough to preach. It’s annoying to your friends and family, and it’s not effective. We all have a responsibility as people who inhabit this earth to be better and do better to protect it. I don’t know about you, but I was not one of the few who signed up to move to Mars, so this Earth is the only home I have. Roll the windows down instead of using A/C in the car, change the thermostat by a few degrees to reduce heating and cooling demands. Walk or bike more to drive less. Take the time to compost or recycle appropriately, and don’t litter! Start small and commit to making a few changes in your life and you will be surprised at how those actions ripple out into bigger perspective shifts!

I learned to appreciate just how incredible it is to be alive.

And how truly amazing it is to be able to go outside barefoot and feel the sensation of cool morning dew on your feet, to see the sun creep up over the hilltop, to feel the raindrops on your face, and to see the stars come out in the night sky. We’ve become swept away by the bustle of city life and fallen into the convenience of serving ourselves at the expense of what gives us life. We forget to slow down and appreciate the beautiful things that are around us all the time. Once we can appreciate these things, we can then respect them. And with respect, it becomes harder to continue with many detrimental habits we’ve formed because we can’t be bothered to bring our own reusable bags or coffee mugs.

So, whether you’re traveling to see the Grand Canyon, the Amazon, the northern lights, or simply at home in your own backyard, consider that maybe it is not a one-way street? What if instead of seeing the natural world wonders as things, what if perhaps Mother Nature is also, always watching us? Would that change the way you live?