Session 8: Nature as Metaphor
8.4 A Closer Look
This exercise will help you to gain practice in seeing nature as a metaphor. These skills help us to live more fully in True Self by helping us to observe our own inner dialogs and to describe them to ourselves. In this exercise you will observe and describe an experience in nature.
INSTRUCTIONS
You may wish to purchase a Hula Hoop™ or similar toy before trying this exercise.
Weather permitting, go outside on the lawn in a park, your backyard, or other natural area. If you have a toy hoop, place it on the ground in front of you, and sit down on the grass. If you don’t have a hoop, mark off an area about 3 feet in diameter with a rope, or by drawing a circle, or by just using your imagination. Now imagine that the entire world is contained within that hoop. See yourself as an artist, about to paint or draw everything you see inside that hoop. At first you may see nothing but blades of grass, but as you pay more attention you may begin to notice how no two blades are different. Each is pointing in a different direction, and each is a slightly different color, texture, and shape. You may notice the soil beneath as well. What color is it? Is it fine or grainy? Do you see any insects in the little world you have created? If so, what are they doing? Are there any stories unfolding in your little patch of grass? Pay attention to what you see before you for at least ten minutes. Shift your attention to what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel as you sit on the grass. When your time is up, write your response below.
RESPONSE
Write a description of what you saw in the grass. Think of it as a story, from “Once upon a time” to “…and they all lived happily ever after.” Imagine you are now documenting the story in the section below. What story did you see unfolding in the grass? Use extra paper if necessary to write your story.
Once upon a time the world turned freezing cold was covered in a thick blanket of soft, white powdery snow. And everything was still. A few blades of grass popped out, as if to say, “I’m still here”. And everything was still. When the sunlight shinned on the snow - it changed colors, from dull white to bright, shimmering sparkles that are almost blinding in their radiance. And everything was still. Occasionally, when the clouds shifted, glimpses of leafless tree limbs moved across the snow. Reminding everything in this world that we are still here. We are not moving, we have lost out blossoms, leaves and insects, but we are still here. Waiting. And everything was still. I imagine the world beneath the snow. The cold, frozen top layer of soil. And even further down, what happens to the worms and microbes and bacteria? Are they too silent, still, unmoving? Suspended in hibernation and waiting for the warmth of spring to revitalize their home? And everything was still.
8.5 Reflections on A Closer Look
After completing the Closer Look exercise, did you notice any common themes in your observations? Read over the questions below, and write your answers in the spaces provided.
Were your observations more about what you saw, or about your own internal state?
I think my observations were somewhat rooted in the reality of a winter landscape, however I think my internal landscape often mirrors the weather patterns and season. I too am waiting to blossom. I think that I often feel suspended in animation, waiting for the next time I can be free.
If it was more about what you saw, how do these observations relate to your thoughts and feelings?
I think these observations relate to where I am in my life. Things are changing rapidly - my kids are 18 years old and while not in the best place in their life, they are preparing to leave and start their own. I have experienced the death of a close and longtime friend. My parents are aging and I am as well. These seasons and changes in life are on the forefront of my mind, so I am guessing that is why I noticed that the most in this exercise.
If it was more about your own internal state, did you discover anything about your assumptions about the workings of your own thoughts and feelings?
See above. It is so hard to determine whether it is my thoughts that are influencing what I see, or if what I am seeing are influencing my thoughts. My guess is that it is a combination of both.
Did you engage any of your other senses during the activity?
I engaged quite a bit in listening - I love the stillness and quiet that a fresh layer of snow brings.
Did you write anything about what you heard?
I wrote about the quiet.
Did you write anything about what you smelled?
no - I can’t smell right now because of a cold, lol!
Did you write anything about what you tasted?
no
Did you write anything about what you felt (touch, hot, cold, etc.)?
I am not sure if I wrote about the cold, but I definitely noticed it and I am sure it influenced my thoughts
Did you write anything about what you felt emotionally?
no -
Did you write anything about your thoughts?
yes
How do these observations about your own inner experience of the Closer Look exercise relate to what you observed on the ground? In other words, what does your response to the Closer Look exercise tell you about your own inner states?
I think it tells me that while I notice my emotions - I don’t always share them. I also noticed that
Did you find yourself inventing stories about what you saw on the ground? Yes | No
If so, what can these stories tell you about how you see your own True Self? If not, what did you write?
Not really - just observations about the land. I think that would make sense - I tend to be more realistic in my thinking (meaning less about metaphors and fantasy stories). I have always had trouble in art and writing classes, when people were drawing meaning and symbolism. I usually just saw what was there.
How did you feel before this exercise? After?
BEFORE
Neutral
AFTER
Calm, inspired and contemplative
Did you use one sense more than others to record your observations (e.g., seeing more than hearing)?
Yes, mostly seeing and hearing - some feeling.
If your observations relied more on one sense than others, how might this experience change if you relied on another sense (e.g., hearing rather than seeing)?
I am not sure - I think I used seeing and hearing predominately. If I used more feeling and less the others, I think I would have focused more on the coldness and maybe even the discomfort of it?
If you focused primarily on observing the natural world during this experience, how might it change if you paid more attention to your own internal state (thoughts and feelings) instead?
I think there would have been more sadness possibly and confusion about the way things are. Maybe some clinging to how things were, or the hope of how things will become.
If you focused primarily on your own inner state, how might this experience change if you focused more on the natural world?
n/a
What did you learn about your True Self and how it relates to the natural world?
I learned that my true self can accept changes and see the beauty in all of it.
Did you learn anything about your assumptions about how the world works? If so, describe the lesson:
I think I have assumptions that when al is still and silent - in the dead of winter and under a blanket of snow, that things are not moving. If I can’t see it - then its’ not happening. But we know that everything is vibrating and energetic at some level.
8.6 A Closer Look Inside
Go back to your list of Things That Keep Me from Feeling Connected from Session 7. Has anything on the list changed as you’ve progressed through the Closer Look exercises? Find the top thing from your list that is currently keeping you from feeling connected to your True Self. Hold that barrier to connection in your mind for a moment. We’re going to take a closer look at it by going inside.
Think about your number one barrier to connecting with your True Self, and answer the following questions:
What is the exact nature of this barrier? Physical or mental? Why?
I think the insecurity barrier is all mental and some physical. The physical part are my strong somatic responses, that are trying to warn me something is wrong and I should pay attention. I now know that this is a pattern that was created and it is not always an accurate warning system. The mental part is the story I connect with the physical symptoms.
Is this barrier to connection a permanent barrier, or a temporary one? Why?
I hope it is temporary - even though it has been around for most of my life. I know intellectually that it an be changed and it is all on how I am thinking about it and interpreting it. But the responses and reactions feel so real and the habit is difficult to let go of.
Is this barrier to connection a pervasive one, touching all aspects of your life, or is it a situation-specific one, touching only one or a few areas of your life?
I think this barrier touches all areas of my life. Insecurity about parenting, being a partner and friend, professionally. The times when I am not insecure is when I am in nature or alone.
Is this barrier to connection a personal one, having something exclusively to do with you, or is it something external to you?
I think this barrier is personal - at one time it was external (via my peers, family of origin, etc.) and now it is all my own. The story I have told myself is that people were often mean to me and judged me - which could have been true, but I made that something to be ashamed of and something threatening to my safety.
Is this barrier to connection something you can change, or is it something you have to accept?
I think I can change the way I react to it.
Is this barrier to connection something you have control over?
I believe so.
Is this barrier to connection something you can re-frame in order to turn it into aid to connection?
Yes - I can reframe my insecurities in many ways. I can use it to help me connect with others through empathy - that we all have vulnerabilities and things about us that people might not understand. I can use it to help me connect by thoughtfully recognizing if my actions towards others are helpful or harmful. I can also re-frame it to better connect with myself through acceptance and compassion by noticing the thoughts and then gently accepting them and moving on - rather than believing them and creating suffering from them.
Now visualize yourself drawing a circle around this barrier to connection in your own mind.
Allow yourself to move from Doing Mode into Being Mode. Simply observe what’s going on inside of this imaginary circle you’ve drawn around your barrier to connection. Write down any observations about it in the exercise on the next page.
You’ve drawn an imaginary circle around your number one barrier to connection. This is the one thing that most often keeps you from connecting with your True Self. Observe it from Being Mode for a few minutes, and write down any observations you get from your thoughts, feelings, memories or senses about this barrier to connection with your True Self. Prior to doing this, you may wish to ground and center yourself. It may help to engage in a brief mindful meditation before beginning.
Use the space below to note your observations.
I noticed pain, hurt and a childlike essence to the barrier. I also noticed some sadness that the insecurity exists. I noticed that it was moving rapidly in the circle - trying to get out and spread. I noticed the desire to put it away, lock it up so it couldn’t get out. I felt sad for this insecurity - I noticed its need for being reassured and calmed down - everything is ok. If someone is mad at you - you feel like you are ‘in trouble’ and that is a scary feeling for you - it doesn’t mean you are not safe - you can handle it. If you did something ‘wrong’ you can make amends. Everyone makes mistakes.
I noticed an uncomfortable energy coming from the circle. It was nervous and scared. It wanted to please people and make people happy - but also wants to be a part of the group/popular/liked and is wiling to engage in gossip - in order to feel better.
I noticed that it was a dark blue’ish’, black color and was small inside the circle.
After doing this exercise, I feel almost relieved. Like I have something to work with. I also feel that it is more externalized. Like it is only a part of my mind and I can see it for what it is - a confused little child who wants to know it is liked/loved and everything is ok.
8.12 The Green Man Exercise
Sketch a picture of what you saw when you did the Green Man exercise. Scan it in and post it as an attachment on this thread. It doesn’t have to be too detailed, as long as you can tell what the picture represents. If you do not have a scanner or any other way to post your sketch here, just go on to the next section and answer the questions about your sketch.
Reflections on the Green Man
What did you see in the tree? Use what you drew to answer these questions:
What does the picture you saw in the tree symbolize to you? What is the emotional quality of the picture?
I saw an older man with big, bushy eye brows and a dynamic and huge smile. The emotional quality was joyful and laughing, but also wise. I got a friendly sense, playful and almost a but mischievous. The picture symbolized to me deep joyfulness.
What does the picture you saw tell you about your current emotional state?
I think the picture tells me that I need to allow more joy into my life and be more present with others so I can partake in their joy.
How does the picture you saw relate to living in your True Self?
I think my true self is friendly and playful and loves to laugh - but barriers keep my brain and emotions locked in anxiety thinking and paralyzes my joy.
What is the overall message your image gives you?
Overall message is to listen and hear joy and playfulness around me - and to practice allowing it within myself and in my connections with others.
