Nature Art Exploration works to highlight beautiful things happening across cultures bringing healing and balance to the world as we know it. It operates under the philosophy that the earth-based wisdom diverse groups of people bring to the whole is indispensable. Throughout my life, I have been drawn to indigenous cultures across the world. I explored Native American cultures widely in my minor in First Nation Studies, drew connections between indigenous studies and ecopsychology throughout my college career, and worked with the revitalization of the Ojibwe language and culture during and after my college education. Getting to know and understand perspectives outside of the ones you were raised in is a powerful experience.
Highlighting earth wisdom and exploring peoples’ relationships with the natural world cross cultures has a lot of light to shed on the movement towards a more sustainable planet. The times we live in are headed for destruction of the earth’s resources if we stay headed on the same path. This section of the Nature Art Exploration site will not focus on the negativity of this reality. It may briefly touch on some of these issues but will mainly focus on what we can learn from the wisdom of earth-centered cultures helping us through these times. It is not in denial of the reality of the world we live in, but rather a stance of believing that the power of the mind through focusing on the positive will attract more positivity. I believe we still have a lot of hope for our planet and that healing on a planetary level is very possible.
As a former student of Ecopsychology, I realize how powerful sharing these earth wisdoms together as a group can be. At our core, I believe we all seek reconnection to the earth and to the natural cycles we are a part of. Contemplative Hiking defines Ecospychology as a “relatively young field of study that examines how human mental and physical health is connected to the health of the natural environment. It examines how humans have disconnected from nature and how and why it’s important to reconnect to nature. Ecopsychology also attempts to explain why some people persist in destroying their environment- whether consciously or not- and the best way to motivate and inspire humanity to live sustainably and in harmony with the Earth.”
Learning about cultures who live in balance with the earth and being inspired by their wisdom is something that can guide us back to realignment with the natural world. Pachamama Alliance shares great perspectives on how Ecopsychology and the wisdom drawn from indigenous cultural perspectives are similar. I really like how it goes on to say, “Since the effects of colonization were and continue to be devastating and wide-ranging for indigenous people worldwide, we must be respectful of native peoples in the process and not engage in activities that appropriate indigenous knowledge and practices.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement.
Nature Art Exploration invites you to join in on the cultural explorations here. Let’s focus on the beauty cross cultures learning and sharing about teachings that are earth-centered and cultural arts that share beautiful connections to the natural world. There is a lot to learn from each other in how we can become aligned with living a more earth-centered life.
