‘Going Out into the World to Find Wonders’: Nature as a Source of Generation, Regeneration, and Community

Abstract

Time in nature benefits humans physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. This finding is confirmed through research into a contemplative writing course I taught over the past decade—a course which resulted from and fed my own yearnings for creative space and time, alone and in company. The contemplative writing course included readings, activities, and writings about and in nature. Practices in nature included journaling, reading, meditative walking, drawing and/or making photographs, and collecting artifacts. Nature served not only as an inspiration for writing, but also as a means of sharpening awareness, of fostering emotional health and spiritual regeneration, and of helping to create community.

Appendix: Selected Resources

Writings on nature that students have relished:

Thomas Merton, When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature; “Rain and the Rhinoceros”.

Basho, Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Rebecca Solnit, A Field Guide to Getting Lost.

Robert M. Hamma, Earth’s Echo: Sacred Encounters with Nature.

Rita Winters, The Green Desert.

May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude.

Wendell Berry, poems.

Dennis Maloney, ed. Finding the Way Home: Poems of Awakening and Transformation.

Mary Oliver, poems.

Writings on the benefits of nature, useful for teachers

Barnes, S. (2019). Rewild yourself: Making nature more visible in our lives. Pegasus.

Keniger, L. E., Gaston, K. J., Irvine, K. N., & Fuller, R. A. (2013). What are the benefits of interacting with nature? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10(3), 913–935.

Lane, B. C. (2007). The solace of fierce landscapes: Exploring desert and mountain spirituality. Oxford UP.

Massey, M. Encountering nature: Outdoor walks to reduce stress and increase focus in students. Faculty Focus, September 23, 2020. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/encountering-nature-outdoor-walks-to-reduce-stress-and-increase-focus-in-students/. Accessed 11 June 2021.

Mitchell, E. (2019). The wild remedy: How nature mends us. Michael O’Mara.

Moore, M. E. (1998). Ministering with the earth. Chalice.

Nichols, W. (2014). Blue mind: The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do. Little, Brown Spark.

Sacks, O. (2019). “The Healing Power of Gardens,” from Everything in its Place. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/18/opinion/sunday/oliver-sacks-gardens.html.

Shinrin-yoku —forest-bathing, forest therapy

Forest Therapy Society. https://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/.

Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. https://www.natureandforesttherapy.

Peck, A. (2019). The green cure: How shinrin-yoku, earthing, going outside, or simply opening a window can heal us. Cico/Ryland.

Song, T. (2019). The healing nature trail: Forest bathing for recovery and awakening. Snow Wolf.

Writings on Writing:

Dillard, A. (2013). The writing life. Harper Perennial.

Inchausti, Robert, (Ed.). (2007). Echoing silence: Thomas Merton on the vocation of writing. New Seeds.

Miller, B., & Hughes, H. J. (2012). The pen and the bell: Mindful writing in a busy world. Skinner House.

Powell, R. (2006). Wabi Sabi for writers. Adams Media.

Sher, G. (1999). One continuous mistake: Four noble truths for writers. Penguin.