Secrets Nature Lovers Know

And how being in Nature helps us to thrive

Hi, I’m Sue and I write about the beauty and ingenuity of Nature, and how we can deepen our connection for our optimum health and wellbeing. Discover more Nature-inspired content on Spiral Leaf, Twitter and my video Nature Channel.

Nature holds so many mysteries, radiating a kind of magic that holds our attention for reasons that we may not always stop to consider. It’s easy to take in the beauty without appreciating the myriad of benefits Nature brings and this dis-connect means we are missing out on an exhilar to life that is available to us all.

So what is it about Nature Lovers? Have you noticed that those who care about and understand the natural world seem to have a unique sense of contentment in life? They behave as if they have found the source code – or the secret – to living a peaceful, harmonious and fulfilling life.

Nature-loving attributes

It is known that those who commit to taking care of Mother Nature's bounty tend to be disciplined, patient, tenacious, caring and giving. Most of all, they enjoy sharing the joy and beauty of Nature with others. A research study: Assessing Quality of Life of Nature Lovers found that:

Nature Lovers have a better quality of life than non-Nature lovers emphasising the importance of inclusion of Nature-loving recreational activities from a young age that can help reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, anxiety, depression and obesity.

Nature-loving ambassadors

Indigenous peoples can be considered the most intelligent, practical and enduring of all Nature-lovers. They are true ambassadors for Mother Nature as they hold the line and (above all) the frequency of our living Earth until the day our connection to Nature becomes common knowledge and we are free to return to our natural roots and ways of being.

This is a given as Natural Law swings the pendulum back to equilibrium and harmony in the never ending and evolutionary cycle of life.

Nature-loving animism

We learn from mythology and folklore that everything in Nature possesses a spirit or animism whereby indigenous communities, in particular, enact social relations between humans and non-human others.

The Victorian Anthropologist, E B Tylor, wrote that animists believe in the animation of all Nature, characterised as having a sense of spiritual beings inhabiting trees, rocks and waterfalls.

Animism brings the treat others as you would like to be treated yourself philosophy to life. It stipulates that if you treat the land around you badly, the spirits or sprites that reside therein will make sure negative energies find their way back to you.

Animism therefore requires a strong sense of compassion. If a hunter can’t imagine themselves as the prey they are about to hunt, they are unlikely to treat it with the respect it deserves.

This is one of the greatest secrets that Nature Lovers know whereby all natural non-human entities have a spiritual essence. As already stated, it is an ancient belief and truism that remains strong and grows stronger every day.

Nature-loving truth

The fact that we are an integral part of Nature is substantiated by the great American naturalist and Nature essayist, John Burroughs who stated in Accepting the Universe [published in 1920] that:

It goes without saying that if we are all cut from the same cloth, the thread of spirit runs through us all and connects us all together. This is why being consciously connected to Nature brings untold benefits in a dance of giving and receiving that cannot be denied.

Nature-loving architypes

Animal archetypes over the course of history have been named as such because they teach us so much about ourselves. Human beings have created images of animals and worshiped them for the magnificent and mysterious creatures they are.

The Hare, for example, is considered to be a sacred and mystical animal. This beautiful creature is an ancient archetype that man has embraced for its strange and contradictory behaviour - traits that can be recognised in ourselves.

The Hare is a symbol of abundance, prosperity and good fortune, believed to have connections with the otherworld. As such they are treated with the greatest of respect by Pagan people and are never hunted or eaten.

So what else can we learn from Nature Lovers that might inspire us to take a closer look and become better aquainted with the natural world?

Secret No 1

When you love Mother Nature, she will love you too, in abundance;

With unlimited gifts of beauty, healing energy and nourishment.

Secret No 2

When you feel happy, Mother Nature will smile with you;

In any weather, see her sparkle and resonate around you.

Secret No 3

When you feel low, Mother Nature will lift and comfort you;

With her gentle, rhythmic presence and soothing energy.

Secret No 4

When you feel anxious or stressed, Mother Nature will reassure you;

Helping to ease and soothe your tension and ground you.

Secret No 5

When you feel fearful or afraid, Mother Nature will protect you;

Helping you feel safe and loved, nurturing you.

Secret No 6

When you feel upset or angry, Mother Nature will hear you;

Absorbing your excess energy, taking it away from you.

Secret No 7

When you feel confused, Mother Nature provides space for you;

Giving you room to breathe so that you can think things through.

Nature-loving connection

Nature Lovers know that Mother Nature (Mother Earth, Earth Mother or Goddess Gaia) is the embodiment of life as a nurturing provider.

They know that being at one with Mother Nature brings a sense of calmness, vitality and wellbeing. They know that spending time outside brings a greater sense of appreciation for life and for natural things that are so beautiful to see, sense, experience and enjoy.

Being in Nature by connecting and interacting through our physical and higher senses nourishes our mind, body, spirit, soul and whole-being. It makes us realise why Nature is so important for our health, happiness and wellbeing, and how much being in Nature helps us to thrive.

It is often the simple things that bring us so much joy and a sense of fulfilment. A brilliant ray of light suddenly appearing through a blanket of grey clouds on a rainy day; a Robin belting out a bright and tuneful melody high up in a tree above you; a thunderous storm with a wailing wind that you wail back into until you feel a sense of complete relief and release from tension.

Nature is there for us at any time and on any occasion - the secret is to know this so that you can reach out and feel the benefit of the connection.

Thank you for reading Nature-loving friends, I look forward to seeing you again soon.